Find your adventure in Geauga Park District this winter – from birdwatching and Travelogue programs inside to snowshoeing and celebrating the return of maple sugaring outdoors!
Here are our offerings for March, 2019. You may also view these programs and events published on our new website, Geauga Park District, and in our quarterly Park Explorer newsletter, which is mailed to every Geauga County household and available from all in-county libraries.
- Frog Fest & Salamander Run Call List – Sometime in March – April from 8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. at The West Woods, Nature Center
Register your name on a call list to witness the phenomenon of Wood Frogs, Spring Peepers and possibly large salamanders moving into woodland pools on a rainy night. Anticipated date between early March and early April. Notification by phone the day of the program. Wheelchair/stroller accessible. Registration required. Nature’s Not to Be Missed.
- discARTed Family Day – Saturday, March 2nd from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at The West Woods, Nature Center
Bring your family to The West Woods Nature Center to create make-n-take projects from recycled materials anytime during listed hours, then view the discARTed Recycled Art Exhibition. Free and fun for all ages! Wheelchair/stroller accessible.
- Nature Trek Hearty Hike – Saturday, March 2nd from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Swine Creek Reservation, Woods Edge
Let’s move it, move it, people! Burn off some extra winter calories on this fitness hike turned up a notch. We’ll hike almost all the trails of Swine Creek Reservation. Participants should have the ability to walk at least 6.5 miles with hills, rain or shine. Please prepare for the weather and bring water and a snack.
- Winter Campfire & Night Hike – Saturday, March 2nd from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Sunnybrook Preserve, Lodge
Gather around a blazing outdoor campfire with hot chocolate for a story or two, then journey into the darkness to experience the curious world of Nature at night!
- Maple Driving Tour – Sunday, March 3rd from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Swine Creek Reservation, Sugar House
Geauga Park District is a featured stop on both the statewide Maple Madness Tour and the local Northeast Ohio Maple Tour. Stop in any time during listed hours. From 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. we will collect sap in our sugarbush with a horse-drawn sap sled. Also featured on the tour March 10th. Visit Ohio Maple for details.
- Sap’s-a-Risin’! – Sunday, March 3rd from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Swine Creek Reservation
Visit Geauga Park District’s sugar house, sugarbush and lodge for a sweet taste of how maple sugaring methods have evolved from the Native American tradition to modern methods! Help gather sap in the sugarbush with a horse-drawn sap sled, experience the tapping, gathering and boiling methods used throughout history, see sap boiling in the sugar house and taste some maple syrup, then warm up with live music by The Real Deal String Band and maple treats in the lodge. Also held March 10th and 17th.
- Timbertots: Maple Sugar Time! (Ages 3-5 w/adult) – Tuesday, March 5th from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Swine Creek Reservation, Woods Edge
Explore outdoors and enjoy hands-on activities to discover where and how we get real maple syrup! Entirely outdoors, so dress for the weather. Registration required.
- Black Holes – Friday, March 8th from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Observatory Park, Robert McCullough Science Center
Black holes are the universe’s ultimate mystery! Learn all about these extreme gravity regions and where to find them. Program followed by night sky viewing until 11:00 p.m. if weather permits. Wheelchair/stroller accessible.
- Timbertots: Maple Sugar Time! (Ages 3-5 w/adult) – Saturday, March 9th from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Swine Creek Reservation
See description for March 5th. Registration required.
- Nassau Night Sky Viewing – Saturday, March 9th from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at Observatory Park, Nassau Astronomical Station
Observe the wonders of the night sky using this facility’s giant research-grade telescope! If weather prevents sky viewing, join us for a planetarium presentation in the McCullough Science Center instead. Wheelchair/stroller accessible.
- Tree Tapper’s Ball – Saturday, March 9th from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Parkman Community House, 16295 Main Market (Rt. 422), Parkman, OH 44080
Celebrate the maple season with our old-fashioned square dance. Novices needn’t feel like saps; all dances are taught in fun fashion. The Swine Creek Sapsuckers will provide rip-snortin’, old-time string band music for roof-raisin’ entertainment. Dress casually. Registration is required and begins February 25th; limit of eight per registering group.
- Maple Driving Tour – Sunday, March 10th from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Swine Creek Reservation, Sugar House
See description for March 3rd.
- Sap’s-a-Risin’! – Sunday, March 10th from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Swine Creek Reservation
Visit Geauga Park District’s sugar house, sugarbush and lodge for a sweet taste of how maple sugaring methods have evolved from the Native American tradition to modern methods! Help gather sap in the sugarbush with a horse-drawn sap sled, experience the tapping, gathering and boiling methods used throughout history, see sap boiling in the sugar house and taste some maple syrup, then warm up with live music by Mr. Haney String Band and maple treats in the lodge. Also held March 17th.
- The Sky Tonight Planetarium Show – Sunday, March 10th from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Observatory Park, Robert McCullough Science Center
Join us for a planetarium presentation about what to watch for in the night sky this week. Building open house 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Weather permitting, also view the sun using our safe solar-viewing equipment. Wheelchair/stroller accessible.
- Geauga Walkers – Tuesday, March 12th from 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. at Swine Creek Reservation, Woods Edge
Join other active seniors on weekly hikes of 1 to 1 ½ miles in Geauga County and the surrounding area. Naturalist leads hikes in Geauga Park District parks. Call Geauga Senior Center for full schedule, 440-279-2137.