- Elderberries: Fall Wagon Ride – Thursday, October 18th from 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at Swine Creek Reservation, Woods Edge
Join us for a naturalist-led wagon ride to enjoy natural wonders unique to autumn! As part of this special seasonal event, the Geauga County Department on Aging and University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center will also host a picnic lunch for you at 11:30 a.m. Partially wheelchair/stroller accessible. Registration required. Nature’s Not to Be Missed.
- Meet the Artists: Margaret Khairallah & John Tillotson – Friday, October 19 from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at The West Woods, Nature Center
Meet artists Margaret Khairallah and John Tillotson and explore the beauty of Nature through images rendered in paintings, prints and black & white fine art photography. Refreshments served. Wheelchair/stroller accessible.
- Scout Day: Brownie Girl Scouts Hiker Badge – Saturday, October 20th from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at The West Woods, Nature Center
Join us to work on the Brownie Hiker Badge! We’ll take an autumn hike, enjoying this special time to enjoy the outdoors. Badge requirements 1, 2, 3 & 5 will be covered during this program. Registration required.
- Earthquake Van Trip – Saturday, October 20th from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Big Creek Park, Meyer Center
Join a naturalist on this van trip to visit the sites of some past Northeast Ohio earthquakes and the present-day seismographs that study them. We’ll drive to each site, then make a quick exploration on foot. Participants should bring a packed lunch and dress for the weather. Registration required.
- Horse-drawn Wagon Rides – Saturday, October 20th from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Swine Creek Reservation, Woods Edge
Enjoy the sights, sounds and scents of fall with a horse-drawn wagon ride! Free passes ensure first-come, first-served boarding. No pets. Rides last about a half hour and are cancelled by bad weather. Last ride leaves at 4:30 p.m. Also October 21st, 27th and 28th. Nature’s Not to Be Missed.
- Scout Day: Webelos Walkabout – Saturday, October 20th from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at The West Woods Nature
Webelos Scouts, join us for the Walkabout Core Adventure! We’ll complete requirements 1, 2, 3 4 (partial) & 5. We’ll start indoors for a brief opening program, then proceed outside for the hike. Dress for the weather. Registration required.
- Nassau Astronomy Night with CVAS – Saturday, October 20th from 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. at Observatory Park, Nassau Astronomical Station
Join members of the Chagrin Valley Astronomical Society to take in the wonders of the night sky using our newly restored telescope! Stop in to discover this amazing facility and all it has to offer. Wheelchair/stroller accessible.
- Horse-drawn Wagon Rides – Sunday, October 21st from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Swine Creek Reservation, Woods Edge
See the description for October 20th.
- Headwaters Horse Ride – Sunday, October 21st from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Headwaters Park, Crystal Lake Picnic Area
Bring your own horse for this leisurely ride on the Buckeye and Maple Bridle Trails. Enjoy autumn color, views of the reservoir and Nature lore. Expect gravel, bridge crossing, possibly bikes and/or Amish buggies. Helmets encouraged. Please bring a shovel to clean up after your horse in the parking lot. Registration is limited, so please let us know if you must cancel in consideration for the waiting list. Registration required.
- Horseback Moonlight Ride – Sunday, October 21st from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at Headwaters Park, Crystal Lake Picnic Area
Bring your own horse for this leisurely naturalist-led ride to experience the sights and sounds of autumn as the sun sets and the moon rises over the East Branch Reservoir, a 4-mile ride on the Buckeye and Maple Bridle Trails. Hills, gravel, bridge and stream crossings should be anticipated. Helmets encouraged. Please bring a shovel to clean up after your horse in the parking lot. Registration is limited, so please let us know if you must cancel in consideration for the waiting list. Registration required.
- Geauga Walkers – Tuesday, October 23rd from Sunday, October 7th from 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. at Frohring Meadows
Join other active seniors on weekly hikes of 1-1 ½ miles long in Geauga County and the surrounding area. A naturalist leads hikes scheduled in Geauga Park District parks. Call Geauga Senior Center for full schedule, 440-279-2137. Held year round.
- The Full Hunter’s Moon – Wednesday, October 24th from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at Observatory Park
October’s full moon is known as the Hunter’s Moon. Join us for some autumn sky legends, then watch the full moon rise over Observatory Park! Wheelchair/stroller accessible.
- Maple Town Tune Traders – Thursday, October 25th from 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. at The West Woods, Nature Center
Singers and musicians present short performances followed by a jam session. All musical genres, instruments and musicianship levels welcome. Come to play, sing or simply enjoy as audience. Snacks to share welcome. Wheelchair/stroller accessible.
- Pumpkin Centerpiece Workshop – Friday, October 26th from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at The West Woods, Affelder House
Join floral designer Louise Reiling from Auburn Pointe Greenhouse to create a beautiful floral arrangement in a hollowed-out pumpkin. Fee: $22 includes materials and refreshments. Ages 15+. Wheelchair/stroller accessible. Registration required.
- Ohio’s Ancient Sky-Watchers – Friday, October 26th from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Observatory Park, Robert McCullough Science Center
Explore the fascinating connections between Ohio’s prehistoric people and the sky before constructing a model of the ancient Newark Earthworks using 2,000-year-old Hopewellian geometry. If weather permits, this program will be followed by night sky viewing using park telescopes until 11:00 p.m.
- Ohio Moss Workshop – Saturday, October 27th from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at The West Woods, Nature Center
Janet Traub and Jim Toppin are with the Ohio Moss and Lichen Association and will give an introductory session on local mosses and how to identify them with samples to view. A lunch break will be followed by a field foray to search for mosses. Bring a lunch and a hand lens. This program is in collaboration with Native Plant Society of Northeastern Ohio. Registration required.
- Horse-drawn Wagon Rides – Saturday, October 27th from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Swine Creek Reservation, Woods Edge
See description for October 20th.
- Nassau Night Sky Viewing – Saturday, October 27th from 7:00 p.m. – 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.
- Horse-drawn Wagon Rides – Sunday, October 28th from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Swine Creek Reservation, Woods Edge
See description for October 20th.
- The Sky Tonight Planetarium Show – Sunday, October 28th from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at 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. to 4:00 p.m. Weather permitting, also view the sun using our safe solar-viewing equipment. Wheelchair/stroller accessible.
