Geauga Park District’s Observatory Park in Montville Township is open daily 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. now through Memorial Day, then 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. through Labor Day, and naturalists including “Astro-Nat” Chris Mentrek are eager to show you around your International Dark Sky Park this spring!
To kick off the warmer weather, outdoor movie nights return to Observatory Park this spring beginning with “Captain America: The First Avenger” (PG-13) on Saturday, June 18. Bring your own blankets, lawn chairs and refreshments, and the movie will begin at dusk, moving indoors in case of inclement weather.
Want to try out a variety of park telescopes to view the night sky? Walk-up guided night sky viewing will be held the following Fridays and Saturdays from dark until 11 p.m.: April 22 and 23, May 13, 14, 27 and 28, and June 10, 11, 24 and 25. If cloudy, enjoy a planetarium show instead! Additionally, members of the Chagrin Valley Astronomical Society will host walk-up night sky viewing at Nassau Astronomical Station (accessed by a different entrance to the park) the following Saturdays from dark until 11 p.m.: April 16, May 21 and June 18. Nassau nights are cancelled by cloudy weather, though, so please watch our website and social media before coming out.
Did you know that Ohio will experience a total lunar eclipse this May? The big event begins at 10:30 p.m. Sunday, May 15, and wraps up around 2 a.m. the next morning – but don’t worry, we’ll understand if you only want to stick around for the most dramatic part of the eclipse, from 10 p.m. till midnight, when the moon passes into Earth’s shadow.
Do you have a telescope but feel unsure how to use it? Bring it in for a daylight practice session on Saturday, June 25, and we’ll help you get started! Registration is required at www.geaugaparkdistrict.org or 440-286-9516.
Registration is also required this season to make a simple sun projector, followed by night sky viewing if skies are clear, on Friday, June 10, from 7 to 8 p.m., or to make a simple wooden stargazing/campfire chair ($25 Geauga residents, $30 out-of-county) on Friday, June 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. All tools and instruction will be provided.
For youth, only a handful of spots are left for kids ages 3-5 to enjoy Astrotots: Planet Pals, complete with a make-and-take craft, on Friday, May 13, from 11 a.m. to noon. Additionally, three day camp sessions tailored to youth entering grades 5 through 10 will end their weeks with an outing to Observatory Park. Learn more about these experiences on our website.
If you have a horse, register to ride this park during Horseback Trail Rides on Thursday, June 9, and/or Sunday, June 12. Both walk-only and walk-and-trot rides are available each day. A World Migratory Bird Day Evening Bird Walk requires registration on Monday, May 16. And registration for Daisy Girl Scouts and Tiger Cub Scouts programs is also open for Friday, May 20, and Saturday, May 21, respectively.
If you’re still preferring to do things virtually, don’t worry – we’re offering a Zoom presentation of 20 Things to See on the Moon on Friday, May 13, from 7 to 8 p.m. Just register in advance and we’ll send you the link!
And finally, “Astro-Nat” Chris will present his famous Sky Tonight Planetarium Shows inside the Robert McCullough Science Center the following Sundays at both 2 and 3 p.m.: April 24, May 29 and June 26. Be sure to register for your 45-minute time slot in advance!
Due to COVID-19, face coverings are again strongly recommended indoors. Please check the website before you come out in case of changes or cancellations. And don’t forget that our mobile-friendly website is also available 24/7 to learn more about Observatory Park, its features and its trails totaling almost four miles. By all means, enjoy!
For more on Geauga Park District offerings, please call 440-286-9516 or visit Geauga Park District online via www.geaugaparkdistrict.org, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube.
