Geauga Park District Quarterly Offerings: August 2017

There is something for everyone in Geauga Park District this summer – from a “Night Out” with an Elvis tribute artist, to a chance to earn a burger or hot dog by catching a bug, to bat exploration on a bike or fish exploration in snorkeling gear, to the brand new West Woods Wednesdays Farm Market! Here are our offerings for August 2017.

Pick-up Bocce for Seniors

• Tuesday, August 1st, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, August 8th, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, August 15th, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, August 22nd 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, August 29nd, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Sunnybrook Preserve, Bocce Court – Make new friends and play bocce ball in a beautiful setting. No experience or equipment needed. Partially wheelchair/stroller accessible.

Biking with the Bats

• Friday, August 4th, 8:00 – 9:30 p.m.
• Mountain Run Station – Bring your bike and enjoy a leisurely 10-mile ride from Mountain Run Station to Stillwell Road and back. Stops will be made at various locations and a bat detector device will be used to identify bat species that are in flight by amplifying the frequency of their echo-location signals. Helmets and bike lights are recommended. Cancelled in the event of rain. Not wheelchair/stroller accessible. Nature’s Not to Be Missed.

Interurban Van Tour: North Line

• Saturday, August 5th, 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• The West Woods – Enjoy a 45-minute video followed by a van tour of the routes of the Interurban Railroad through Geauga County with a few short stops to walk the line and compare pictures from the 1800s. Registration required. Not wheelchair/stroller accessible.

Nature Arts Festival

• Sunday, August 6th, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Big Creek Park – Don’t miss this day of fine Nature-inspired arts on display and for sale by regional artists with activities for the whole family to enjoy! Media include woodcarvings, paintings, photography, handcrafted jewelry and more at various price ranges. Activities for the whole family include live music, family make-n-take projects, entertainment, chalk art, Nature Writing Contest winner readings, food trucks and much more! Park at Chardon Arts Festival on Chardon Square and take a FREE 5-minute Lolly the Trolley ride to the Big Creek Park! Wheelchair/stroller accessible.

Discover Underwater Life Through Snorkeling (Ages 8+)

• Sunday, August 6th, 11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., 12:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., 1:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., 2:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Walter C. Best Wildlife Preserve, Sunset Shelter – Fee: $25.00 – Seize this unique opportunity to see fish, plants and other aquatic life from an underwater perspective in your Geauga parks! Registration required. Fee: $25.00 for snorkel instruction by Just Add Water. Bring your own equipment and wet suits or use provided equipment. Rain or shine. Not wheelchair/stroller accessible.

Adventure Day Camp (Youth entering grades 5-7)

• Monday, August 7th – Friday, August 11th, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• The West Woods – Fee: $150.00 – Are you adventure ready? Sign up for an exciting week of exploring, biking, kayaking, fishing, sending rockets high into the sky and more. Each day begins and ends at The West Woods Nature Center, with transportation provided to other parks for various activities with highly qualified staff. Schedules and required waivers sent after registration. Bring lunch, water and a raincoat in a backpack each day; other equipment is provided by the fee. Optional before care will be available at an additional fee for campers enrolled the weeks of July 17th and 31st. Scholarship sources available. Please call 440-286-9516 for details and to register your camper. Registration required. Not wheelchair/stroller accessible.

The Full Sturgeon Moon

• Monday, August 7th, 8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
• Observatory Park – August’s full moon is known as the Sturgeon Moon, since it was once the season to harvest the Great Lakes’ sturgeon. Learn about these amazing, ancient fish, then watch the full moon rise! Wheelchair/stroller accessible.

Geauga Walkers

• Tuesday, August 8th, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
• Whitlam Woods – Hikes for active seniors 1 to 1 ½ miles long. Naturalist led. Call Geauga Senior Center for full schedule, 440-279-2137. Not wheelchair/stroller accessible.

Meet the Artists: Geauga Arts Council Juried Art Show

• Wednesday, August 9th, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
• The West Woods, Nature Center – Meet local artists representing their works featured in this annual juried art show, now in its third year at this location. Artwork on display through October 9. Refreshments served. Wheelchair/stroller accessible.

Timbertots: Camp Day! (Ages 3-5 w/adult)

• Friday, August 11th, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Sunday, August 13th, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Chickagami Park, Overlook Shelter – Summer is not complete until you go to camp! Enjoy fun Nature activities, games and a sweet treat by campfire! Registration required. Wheelchair/stroller accessible.

Get Ready For an Eclipse

• Friday, August 11th, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
• Observatory Park – Get ready for August’s solar eclipse! Learn how to observe it safely, and predict future eclipses. If weather conditions allow, stick around for night-sky viewing the park telescopes until 11:00 p.m. Wheelchair/stroller accessible.

Sunrise Kayak: In Search of Otters! (Ages 12 +)

• Saturday, August 12th, 6:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
• Eldon Russell Park, Horwath’s Boat Launch Area – Search for River Otters and other cool river creatures! Basic kayaking skills required; no instruction given. Registration opens August 5. Registration required. Not wheelchair/stroller accessible.

Hound Hike: Burton Wetlands Adventure

• Saturday, August 12th, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
• Burton Wetlands Nature Preserve – Explore these trails with your dog! Walkers without dogs also welcome. Only one non-aggressive dog per handler, kept on leash at all times (8 ft. max). Registration required. Not wheelchair/stroller accessible.

Meteors & Moths Overnight Event

• Saturday, August 12th 9:00 p.m. – Sunday, August 13th, 6:00 a.m.
• Observatory Park – Bring a tent and spend the night enjoying the Perseid Meteor Shower and the night-flying moths attracted by our black light and mercury vapor lamps! Best meteor viewing should be 1:00 a.m. – 3:00 a.m.; a naturalist will be on hand from sunset to sunrise. Whatever the weather, interact with moths and other nocturnal insects as you help sample and survey on-site wildlife. Partially wheelchair/stroller accessible. Nature’s Not to Be Missed.

Hidden Gems Hike: Metzenbaum Park

• Sunday, August 13th, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
• B Benner Metzenbaum Park – Discover this often-overlooked hidden gem of a park as we hike 1.2 miles over hilly terrain through beech-maple forest and a pine plantation. Rain or shine. Not wheelchair/stroller accessible.

The Sky Tonight Planetarium Show

• Sunday, August 13th, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• Sunday, August 27th, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• Observatory Park – Learn what to watch for in the night sky each week. Building open house 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Weather permitting, also view the sun using our safe solar-viewing equipment. Wheelchair/stroller accessible.