Find your adventure at the Geauga Park District this winter – from learning to snowshoe to live reindeer encounters to our rebranded “Elderberries: Seniors Ripe for Adventure!” programming to sweet maple sugaring memories!
Here are their offerings for March 2018. You may also view these programs and more in their quarterly Park Explorer newsletter, which is distributed to every Geauga County household and published online at Geauga Park District under About Your Parks, then Publications & Forms.
- Frog Fest & Salamander Call List – Sometime between March 1st –April 10th, 8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
The West Woods, Nature Center – Register your name on a call list to witness the natural phenomenon of spring breeding behavior of Wood Frogs, Spring Peepers and possibly large salamanders as they move into woodland pools on a warm, rainy night. Anticipated between early March and early April. Notification by phone the day of the program. Dress for the weather. Bring flashlights. Wheelchair/stroller accessible. Registration required. Nature’s Not to be Missed.
- Full Moon Program: The Worm Moon – Thursday, March 1st, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Observatory Park – The full moon in March is known as a “The Worm Moon.” Get a grip on earthworm anatomy and behavior, then watch the full moon rise using park telescopes, weather permitting. Wheelchair/stroller accessible.
- Make a Bluebird House – Saturday, March 3rd, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Big Creek Park, Meyer Center – Fee: $10 – Build and take home a house that any bluebird would be proud to call home. We’ll also give you some pointers on where and when to place your birdhouse to attract bluebirds (and thwart rivals)! Fee: $10 covers supplies; participants should register “by the birdhouse” rather than “by the person.” Wheelchair/stroller accessible. Registration required.
- Maple Driving Tour – Sunday, March 4th, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
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. This year we will collect sap in our sugarbush with a horse-drawn sap sled from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Also featured on the tour March 11th. Visit Ohio Maple Producers Association for more information about the statewide tour and Facebook Maple Syrup Producers of NE Ohio for a complete listing of local sugar houses that will be open for the tour. Partially wheelchair/stroller accessible.
- Sap’s-a-Risin’! – Sunday, March 4th, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
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 the help of a horse-drawn sap sled, experience the tapping, gathering and boiling methods used throughout history, see sap boiling in the sugar house and have a taste of maple syrup, then warm up with live music by the Oak Island Sunk Jumpers and maple treats in the lodge. Also March 11th and 18th. Partially wheelchair/stroller accessible.
- Beech Leaf Disease Update – Wednesday, March 7th, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
The West Woods, Nature Center – What’s happening with our beech trees? Constance Hausman, PhD, Cleveland Metroparks Plant and Restoration Ecologist, will provide an update on Beech Leaf Disease and how it is affecting Northeast Ohio woodlands. Presented in conjunction with the Native Plant Society of Northeast Ohio. Wheelchair/stroller accessible.
- Timbertots: Maple Sugar Time! (Ages 3-5 w/adult) – Thursday, March 8th, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Swine Creek Reservation, Woods Edge Parking Area – Collecting sap with small buckets and visiting the sugar house are some of the fun things we’ll do to learn about how maple syrup comes from maple trees! Entirely outdoors, so please dress for the weather. Snow boots encouraged. Also March 10. Partially wheelchair/stroller accessible. Registration required.
- Weather Satellites & How To Use Them – Friday, March 9th, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Observatory Park – A new crop of weather satellites launches this year. Learn how to access satellite data from home and make your own forecasts! Night sky viewing using park telescopes until 11:00 p.m., weather permitting. Also March 23rd. Partially wheelchair/stroller accessible.
- Coffee with the Birds – Saturday, March 10th, 8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
The West Woods, Nature Center – Relax in a seat in front of the big windows at The West Woods Nature Center and enjoy watching the feeder birds while sipping a cup of shade-grown coffee. A naturalist will be on hand to discuss the benefits of this environmental product and help with bird identification. Truly a great way to start your day! Wheelchair/stroller accessible.
- Scout Day: Brownie Girl Scouts Outdoor Art Creator Badge – Saturday, March 10th, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
The West Woods, Nature Center – Join us for a fun morning celebrating art in Nature working on the Outdoor Art Creator Badge. We’ll cover requirements 1, 2 and 4. If you’re able, bring a camera or phone to complete Nature photography requirements. Partially wheelchair/stroller accessible. Registration required.
- Scout Day: Boy Scout Nature Merit Badge – Saturday, March 10th, 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
The West Woods, Nature Center – Let’s work on the Nature Merit Badge. We’ll cover requirements 1, 2, 3 and part of 4. A merit badge counselor will be on site. Bring your own merit badge worksheets and Blue Card. Partially wheelchair/stroller accessible. Registration required.
- Timbertots: Maple Sugar Time! (Ages 3-5 w/adult) – Saturday, March 10th, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Swine Creek Reservation, Woods Edge Parking Area – See description for March 8th. Partially wheelchair/stroller accessible. Registration required.
- Nassau Night Sky Viewing – Saturday, March 10th, 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Observatory Park, Nassau Astronomical Station – Observe the wonders of the night sky using this facility’s giant research-grade telescope! If weather conditions prevent sky viewing, join us for a planetarium presentation in the McCullough Science Center instead. Also March 24th. Wheelchair/stroller accessible.
- 30th Annual Tree Tapper’s Ball – Saturday, March 10th, 7:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Parkman Community House, 16295 Main Market (Rt. 422), Parkman, OH 44080 – Celebrate the maple season with our 30th annual old-fashioned square dance. Novices needn’t feel like saps; all dances are taught in fun fashion by caller Bob Smakula. The Sap Run Revelers will provide rip-snortin’, old-time string band music for roof-raisin’ entertainment. Dress casually. Registration begins February 26th; limit of eight per registering group. Not wheelchair/stroller accessible. Registration required.
- Maple Driving Tour – Sunday, March 11th, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Swine Creek Reservation, Sugar House Sugar House – See description for March 4. Partially wheelchair/stroller accessible.
- Sap’s-a-Risin’! – Sunday, March 11th, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Swine Creek Reservation – See description for March 4th. Performances by Mr. Haney String Band featured in the lodge. Also March 18. Partially wheelchair/stroller accessible.
- The Sky Tonight Planetarium Show – Sunday, March 11th, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Observatory Park – Join us for a planetarium presentation about what to watch for in the night sky this week. Building open house 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. If the weather permits, also get a chance to view the sun using our safe, solar-viewing equipment. Also March 25th. Wheelchair/stroller accessible.
- Geauga Walkers – Tuesday, March 13th, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Swine Creek Reservation, Woods Edge Shelter – Hikes for active seniors 1 to 1 ½ miles long. Naturalist led. Call Geauga Senior Center for full schedule, 440-279-2137. Also March 27th. Not wheelchair/stroller accessible.
