- Homeschool Days: Tremendous Trees (Ages 5-7 & Ages 8-12) – Friday, September 21st, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Big Creek Park, Cherry Room
Homeschoolers, join naturalists to discover the amazing world of trees through fun activities and exploration. Adults may attend (need not register) or drop off child with waiver. Outdoors, so please dress accordingly and wear long pants for field work. Partially wheelchair/stroller accessible. Registration required.
- Relativity For Beginners – Friday, September 21st, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Observatory Park, Robert McCullough Science Center
See September 7th for description. Partially wheelchair/stroller accessible.
- Scout Day: Explore Claridon Woodlands – Saturday, September 22nd, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at Claridon Woodlands
Calling all scouts of all ages: stop by Claridon Woodlands for an open-house scavenger hunt to discover the features of this new park! Check in at the pavilion for a discovery program, then take a self-guided exploration. Activities can be done individually or with a troop. Partially wheelchair/stroller accessible.
- Goldenrods of Northeast Ohio – Saturday, September 22nd, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at The West Woods, Nature Center
Jim Bissell, curator of botany with the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and co-author of a new goldenrod guide, gives an introduction to goldenrods using the Goldenrods of Northeast Ohio book available at the program for $10. An introductory session will be followed by an outdoor search for goldenrods. Collaboration with the Native Plant Society of Northeastern Ohio. Partially wheelchair/stroller accessible. Registration required.
- Trail Horse Nature Challenge – Saturday, September 22nd, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Swine Creek Reservation, Lake Side Shelter
Sign up to challenge yourself and your horse on a 1-to-2-hour challenge course with natural trail obstacles and questions about Nature along park trails. Awards and certificates given in youth and adult divisions. Helmets recommended. Participants trailer their horses to the shelter. Trails will have hills, gravel, mud, streams, bicycles, hikers, Amish buggies and other challenges. Registration required.
- Kelso Canoe (Ages 10+ w/adult) – Saturday, September 22nd, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Burton Wetlands Nature Preserve
Search for signs of wildlife while afloat on beautiful Lake Kelso. Ages 10+ with adult; must be 12+ to paddle. Phone registration begins September 15. Registration required.
- Nassau Night Sky Viewing – Saturday, September 22nd, 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. at Observatory Park, Nassau Astronomical Station
See September 8th for description. Wheelchair/stroller accessible.
- Hidden Gems Hike: Whitlam Woods – Sunday, September 23rd, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Whitlam Woods
Discover this often-overlooked, hidden gem of a park as we hike its beautiful hemlock ravines, rain or shine. Participants need ability to hike two miles over hilly terrain.
- The Sky Tonight Planetarium Show – Sunday, September 23rd, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Observatory Park, Robert McCullough Science Center
See September 9th for description. Wheelchair/stroller accessible.
- The Full Harvest Moon – Sunday, September 23rd, 8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. at Observatory Park, Robert McCullough Science Center
Learn what makes a full moon, share some harvest myths, then observe the rising “Harvest Moon” using the park telescopes, weather permitting! Wheelchair/stroller accessible.
- Timbertots: Reptiles (Ages 3-5 w/Adult) – Tuesday, September 25th, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. at The West Woods, Nature Center
Discover turtles, snakes and lizards with fun activities, a craft and outdoor exploration with Nora the Explorer! Program designed for a specified age group; older or younger siblings will not be considered registered participants. Outdoors, so please dress accordingly. Partially wheelchair/stroller accessible. Registration required.
- Geauga Walkers (For active seniors) – Tuesday, September 25th, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. at Headwaters Park, Route 608 Entrance-Main Parking Lot
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.
- Maple Town Tune Traders – Thursday, September 27th, 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. at The West Woods, Nature Center
Format for singers and musicians combines short performance spots followed by a jam sessions. All musical genres, instruments and musicianship levels welcome. Come to play, sing or simply enjoy as audience. Snacks to share welcome. Wheelchair/stroller accessible.
- Sterling & Stone – Wire Ring Workshop – Friday, September 28th, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at The West Woods, Nature Center – Fee: $24
Join artist Connie Boyd to create a one-of-a-kind sterling silver wire ring with choice of stone bead. Ages 15+. No experience necessary. Fee: $24 includes materials, instruction and refreshments. Wheelchair/stroller accessible. Registration required.
- Howling with Coyotes – Friday, September 28th, 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. at Orchard Hills Park, Lodge
Learn amazing facts about coyotes and hike out to two survey locations to broadcast real coyote recordings into the night with hopes of hearing return calls! Partially wheelchair/stroller accessible. Registration required.
- Cross-County Van Trip – Saturday, September 29th, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Swine Creek Reservation, Lodge Parking Lot
Whether you have been a life-long resident of Geauga County or are new to the area, have you explored the county far beyond your back door? Geauga Park District has 22 open parks, each with special features to explore. Join a naturalist on this van trip to visit three unique parks going from southeast to north of the county in one day – Swine Creek Reservation, Headwaters Park and Claridon Woodlands. Participants may bring a packed lunch or purchase a sandwich at a local cheese shop along the way. Registration required.
- Nature Explorers: Spying on Spiders (Ages 6-7 & Ages 8-11) – Saturday, September 29th, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at Beartown Lakes Reservation, North Point Shelter
Nature Explorers, learn cool facts about these amazing critters through illustrations, games and other hands-on activities. We will go on a spider search and see how many different spiders we find. Outdoors, so please dress accordingly. DROP-OFF PROGRAM: Children should be dropped off by their parents by 10:00 a.m. and picked up by 12:00 p.m. Partially wheelchair/stroller accessible. Registration required.
- NOAH Reptile Day – Sunday, September 30th, 12:30 p.m. -4:00 p.m. at The West Woods, Nature Center
From snakes to lizards, reptiles are amazing! Stop by to meet a wide variety of these incredible creatures brought in by members of the Northern Ohio Association of Herpetologists (NOAH). Wheelchair/stroller accessible.
- Timbertots: Reptiles (Ages 3-5 w/Adult) – Sunday, September 30th, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. at The Rookery, Great Blue Heron Lodge
See September 18th for description. Partially wheelchair/stroller accessible. Registration required.
