Parkscope_Spring_2015

Transcription

Spring 2015
Your Metro Parks
Summer Nature Adventure Camps
ION BEGINS at 8am
ONLINE REGISTRAT
t
ww.metroparks.ne
on MARCH 12 — w
• Camps for preschool through grade 9
• Age appropriate activities
• High staff to camper ratio
• Weeklong camps, June 15 - July 31
Adventure Camps at:
Battelle Darby Creek / Blacklick Woods
Blendon Woods / Highbanks
Nic Smith
Sharon Woods / Slate Run
Andrew Bo
ose
Laura Canegali
Pick up a cop
y of our Adv
enture Camp
brochure at
s
any park, ca
ll
6
1
4
.8
91.0700 or
download a
copy from m
etroparks.ne
t
Spring 2015
Parkscope
Metro Parks Headquarters
1069 W Main Street
Westerville OH 43081
Amphibians
Frogs, toads and salamanders are everywhere, and
vital cogs in maintaining a healthy environment.
Cover photo: American toad, by Jim McCormac
Let warblers win your heart
Stunning colors and beautiful songs make
warbler migration a highlight of spring.
Gil Sears
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Cover Story
14
Audubon study shows many birds at risk
Climate change could have a dramatic impact
on North American birds.
16
Your Metro Parks wins national award
Metro Parks has been recognized nationally for its
resource management and conservation efforts.
18
Metro Parks Guide
Your complete guide to the Metro Parks system
with map, directions to parks and park hours.
21
Metro Parks Spring Programs
A comprehensive, park-by-park listing of Metro
Parks programs for all ages in March, April and May.
Back
cover
Metro Parks Album
A quarterly gallery of images from some of
the area’s best photographers.
Your Metro Parks
Kerry Dunn
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Your Metro Parks
Established in 1945, Metro Parks operates
17 parks in seven Central Ohio counties.
Metro Parks protects more than 27,000
acres of land and water and offers yearround recreational and educational oppor
tunities for youth and adults. Facilities
and programs are available to the public
free-of-charge—made possible by voter
support of the 2009 Metro Parks levy.
Metro Parks is a separate political subdivision of the state of Ohio organized under
Ohio Revised Code, Section 1545. Metro
Parks’ Board of Park Commissioners,
composed of three citizens who serve
three-year terms without compensation,
governs the Park District. Board members
are appointed by the Judge of the Probate
Court of Franklin County.
Metro Parks’ Board of Park Commission
ers meets monthly. Meetings are open to
the public. Visit www.metroparks.net
for meeting time, dates and location.
Board of Park Commissioners
Greg S. Lashutka
Jim McGregor
J. Jeffrey McNealey
Executive Director
Tim Moloney
www.metroparks.net 3
Looking ahead
I
t is an honor and privilege to have been selected to lead such a vibrant
organization as Metro Parks and continue the important work that’s being
done to connect people with nature and the outdoors. As a lifelong resident
of Columbus, I have a deep connection to Central Ohio’s natural and cultural
heritage.
My passion for the outdoors was fueled by camping trips with my family as I
was growing up and a mother who didn’t believe in children playing indoors.
My first experience at Metro Parks was a class trip to Sharon Woods and the
opportunity to fish on my own. The challenge of catching the largest fish at
Schrock Lake led me to a lifetime of fishing adventures and experiences in
nature.
I was also very fortunate to have had many family reunions out at Battelle
Darby Creek, where all of my cousins and I would spend hours in the woods
until our parents would track us down, filthy from head to toe, to sit down
for the family meal. These early experiences outdoors have now led into a life
where my two boys are getting out and experiencing the natural world themselves. What a great community we live in where everyone in Franklin County
is just a short distance from a variety of parks where getting outside is not only
available, but it is encouraged.
Metro Parks is one of the most highly respected park systems in the country.
The vision and leadership of the park founders some 70 years ago created a
spectacular regional parks system that contributes greatly to our quality of life
today and every day. Their foresight has been our great inheritance.
I am committed to furthering the work of those leaders in protecting more
of the places that make Central Ohio special and to investing in innovative
strategies that balance the needs of our communities with the health of the
environment.
Successful passage of park levies by the voters of Franklin County over the
years shows that the citizens truly value parks and recreation and I look forward to working with all members of the community to enhance our programs
and facilities.
Heading into my first year with Metro Parks, I am committed to continuing to provide you, your friends and your family with outstanding educational
programming while maintaining the clean, safe and exceptional parks that you
have come to expect in Central Ohio.
Later this year we will open the 1,000-acre Rock Fork Metro Park in Plain
Township and complete the design for Scioto Grove Metro Park near Grove
City. We will also complete sections of the Camp Chase Trail portion of the
Ohio to Erie Trail in western Franklin County and work toward extending the
Olentangy Greenway Trail to Highbanks Metro Park.
I also plan to create a community-based effort to develop and implement a
strategic vision for the park system that will guide us over the next 10 years. I
will continue the great work with our community partners to get more people
engaged with the parks.
I look forward to serving you and hope to see you in our parks. If you
ever have a thought or an idea, feel free to drop me a line at moloney@
metroparks.net. Be sure and check out our new mobile friendly web site
(metroparks.net) and be sure to friend us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
Get outside n
Tim Moloney, Executive Director
4 Parkscope
Photos by park staff & volunteer photographers
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1. Andrea Moore
2. Susan Boggs
3. Randy Weisenstein
4. Scott Felker
5. Kerry Dunn
6. Allison Shaw
7. Mindi McConnell
8. Jen Snyder
9. Bill McCracken
10. James Jones
11.Colleen Sharkey
12.Bryan Huber
Bruce Miller
Let warblers
Prothonotary warbler
6 Parkscope
I
n spring migrating warblers dazzle our
senses with their striking color contrasts
and intricate songs. They travel thousands
of miles in search of better food and space to
raise their young.
When nesting season is upon us, the birds
look and sound their best. The males arrive
in their breeding plumage, singing full songs
in order to establish territory and impress
the females. Most of us humans who catch a
glimpse are impressed too…
“At first I saw nothing. I swept through the
branches with the lenses and then, suddenly,
there was a little bit of feathered jewel flitting
about while making a high-pitched, buzzy
sound: bright orange throat, black above,
black and white striped below.”
“Feathered jewel”… that’s just what they
are, as Gene Logsdon describes a blackburnian warbler in “A Sanctuary of Trees.”
Discovering one of these beautiful birds can
inspire awe for our natural world or be the
spark that ignites a lifetime hobby.
If you have caught warbler fever, you might
already know blackburnians are one of about
37 neotropical wood-warblers that grace Ohio
annually on their trip back north after spending the winter in warmer climates, from the
Caribbean islands to South America.
Audubon defines neotropical birds as those
species that spend about eight months of the
year wintering in Central and South America
and the remaining months on their breeding grounds in North America’s temperate
latitudes.
You can find almost every color of the rainbow in the markings of the warblers. Cerulean
warblers are a beautiful sapphire blue, and
the black-throated green warbler is, of course,
black and olive green.
Yellow tones, ranging from buttercup to
golden to lemon to sunset, can be found in
several species of these insect-eating birds.
They are quite spectacular as they flash
through trees like holiday lights.
A glance at the bright lemon-yellow
Warblers have so much more to offer
us than a fun, entertaining hobby. They
offer clues to the health of our ecosystem,
which ultimately reflects our well-being as
humans. They are dependent on specific
habitats and according to the 2014 State
of the Birds Report, several species are on
Cornell
prothonotary warbler melts away your worries as you experience its striking beauty.
The aptly named yellow warbler is an
all-over golden yellow bird with an orangestriped chest.
Sometimes it’s not the bright color, but
the impressive pattern that stops you in
your bird tracks. The black-and-white
warbler is covered in zebra stripes, and the
beautifully varied chestnut-sided warbler’s
markings are a must-see attraction.
Many of these birds spend most of their
time high in the treetops foraging for caterpillars and other insects. It can be quite a
challenge to see them this high up as they
are only about 5 inches in length.
Luckily for bird watchers, many warblers
arrive back in Ohio before the trees have
leafed out. Besides treetops, some warblers
are found in fields, along streams or at the
forest edge. Learning a warbler’s preferred
habitat is a great way to find them.
Another key to finding warblers is to
listen to their songs first. Test your ears this
spring by learning the songs of a few common Ohio warblers, such as the common
yellowthroat or yellow warbler.
Golden-winged warbler
Chestnut-sided warbler
Bruce Miller
win your heart
watch lists for population declines.
Last spring I traveled to the Tennessee
River Gorge for great food, scenery and a
peek into the life of the cerulean warbler.
They nest in mature forests of the midwest, and are one of the fastest declining
wood-warbler species.
Cerulean warbler
During my trip to Chattanooga, I met
researchers who are working to learn as
much as possible about these beautiful blue
birds, in order to reverse their decline.
They impressed upon me the need to
share the story of cerulean warblers as
they carefully balance on a wire between
survival and extinction. It is included on
the watch list along with the prothonotary
warbler, Canada warbler and goldenwinged warbler.
Now, more than ever, is the time to pay
attention to these feathered jewels. We can
improve these beautiful birds’ chances
of survival by getting involved in simple
conservation efforts.
8 Parkscope
Bruce Miller
Blackburnian warbler
Your support of Metro Parks and other
natural areas helps provide needed habitat
for Ohio’s nesting warblers and many other
species of wildlife.
With your help, we provide diverse habitats including wetlands, grasslands, fields
and several types of forest such as swamps
and stream-corridor woodlands.
This mix of habitat types increases diversity and improves overall ecosystem health.
Last year marked the 100-year anniversary of the extinction of the passenger
pigeon. We can’t get that bird back, but we
can use that lesson to fuel conservation
efforts.
Bald eagles and peregrine falcons were
once in rapid decline, headed for extinction. But now, as a direct result of conservation efforts, both species have stable,
growing populations.
Our eastern forest-dependent songbirds, including warblers, have declined
32 percent since 1968. We can reverse this
number too, as we have with bald eagles, by
protecting their habitat.
Check out the 2014 State of the Birds
Report to see proof of how effective collaborative conservation efforts have been
across our nation. Their message is simple:
conservation works. So there is hope for
these birds and many others.
Conservation efforts can begin just
outside your door. Improve habitat in your
own backyard by planting trees native to
your area. They provide a food source for
native insects, which in turn provide food
for warblers, other songbirds and other
species of wildlife.
Oak trees are immensely valuable to
wildlife, as well as wild black cherry and
black walnut. Smaller native trees such as
redbud and dogwood are useful as well.
Ornamental non-native species of trees do
not attract as many insects, so they don’t
provide as much food for birds.
If you don’t have enough space for trees,
consider adding butterfly weed, purple
coneflower, goldenrod and other native
flowers to your yard or patio. A yard full
Mac Albin
Bruce Miller
Hooded warbler
Kim Graham
Bernard Master
Black and white warbler
of native species can look just as beautiful
as an English garden, and you’ll have the
added benefit of providing much-needed
food for wildlife. Beyond the beauty, you’ll
enjoy the peace of mind in knowing you’ve
helped a few more species survive and
thrive.
Coffee drinkers have a unique opportunity to “vote” for cerulean warblers each
time we buy coffee beans. Cerulean warblers spend the winter in areas of Columbia
where their native forests are being converted to coffee plantations. Luckily, these
warblers can find suitable winter shelter in
shade-grown coffee plantations.
So every dollar you spend on shadegrown coffee beans will help ensure there is
a protected place for cerulean warblers to
spend the winter. Who knew conservation
could be as easy as buying shade-grown
coffee beans? Take it a step further by asking your local coffee shop to carry shadegrown coffee and sharing the idea with
fellow coffee-loving friends.
You can also help conserve habitat for
warblers and other wildlife when you are
picking out that perfect vacation destination. In 2011, people spent $3.6 billion in
Ohio on wildlife-related activities. Surveys
show that number continues to grow as
more people seek refuge and recreation
Magnolia warbler
in natural areas. It makes sense economically as well as ecologically to protect and
preserve natural areas. Seeking out natural
areas will ensure that much-needed funds
are there to protect them.
So this spring, go find the gorgeous
warblers that have traveled thousands of
miles to reach Ohio. Magee Marsh, a national wildlife refuge on Lake Erie’s shore,
was voted “Best Birdwatching site” by USA
Today’s “10 Best Readers’ Choice” contest
last year.
Migration patterns and the geography of
Ohio’s lake shore create an ideal birding hotspot that many birders refer to as
“Disney World for birders.” A good day at
Magee Marsh in May could mean you see
30 different species of warblers.
Find out which warblers and other
migrating birds visit your Metro Parks at
one of our spring birding programs (browse
program pages 21–31). Whether it’s your
first time, or you are an advanced bird
watcher, you will find great joy experiencing
the dazzling color and intricate songs offered by these feathered jewels. Cornell Lab
of Ornithology has a free app called Merlin
which will help you to identify bird songs.
Ohioans are lucky to be able to experience this natural spectacle. If we all engage
in simple acts of conservation, we can
ensure these birds return to us for years
to come.
Learn more about bird conservation
from the State of the Birds Report 2014
and the Bird Conservation Alliance website.
Cerulean warbler conservation efforts are
detailed by The Nature Conservancy’s
“Cerulean Warbler: Saving Declining Bird
Species.” n
Colleen Sharkey
Blacklick Woods Naturalist
Al Staffan
AMPHIBIANS
Jefferson’s salamander
A
t nearly 5,400 acres, Clear Creek
Metro Park is the second largest park
in the system. The valley is cloaked
with mature stands of timber; a forest on a
grand scale.
As one might expect, the biodiversity
of Clear Creek is staggering, and includes
hundreds of species of plants, dozens of
breeding birds, and a host of mammals.
And amphibians galore. The latter crowd
is largely out of sight and out of mind, and
thus overlooked by casual visitors.
Thirty-eight species of frogs, toads and
salamanders occupy Ohio, and our Metro
Parks support at least 27 species.
Sites such as Clear Creek, which encompasses lots of climax forest habitat, support
the greatest numbers and diversity of amphibians. But all the parks, and many other
sites in Central Ohio, play host to numerous
amphibians.
As I write this (in January), the air
temperature is hovering around 15 degrees
and the outside world resembles a giant
ice cube. Water-loving amphibians are far
from one’s mind, especially as ever-thick10 Parkscope
ening crusts of ice glaze water features.
Nonetheless, a few days ago daytime temperatures were in the 50s, and the spring
amphibian rush was on.
There were several reports of Jefferson
salamanders that had made their way to
breeding pools. This species is the earliest
of our amphibians to breed, and any sort of
mid-winter thaw stimulates at least some of
them to peregrinate to small ponds. Once
there, the salamanders engage in courtship
and lay eggs.
Jefferson salamanders are part of a
group known as the mole salamanders, in
the family Ambystomatidae. Other species
that make up this group in our region are
the marbled, smallmouth, spotted and tiger
salamanders.
But it’s the Jefferson that leads the parade to the breeding ponds. With the advent
of more consistent warmth, early spring
showers and longer days the rest of this
group will emerge from their subterranean
haunts.
The mole salamanders are like
amphibious zombies. They spend much of
the year in the soil and undetectable. When
triggered by appropriate conditions in early
spring, these salamanders haul themselves
from the earth en masse and march overland to favored breeding pools.
The spectacle of a woodland vernal pool
writhing with myriad salamanders is not
soon forgotten. The amphibians are in a
rush to come together, fertilize eggs and
deposit their thick gelatinous egg masses.
Vernal pools serve as the annual gathering spot; a sort of aquatic singles bar.
Almost as quickly as the amphibious frenzy
begins, it is over. If you were not present in
the few days in which the mole salamanders convened, you’d have missed the orgy
of activity. Once the eggs are in place, the
salamanders slip back into the forest and
drill back underground until next spring.
Far more conspicuous than mole salamanders are the frogs and toads. These
clammy-skinned hoppers are every bit
the harbingers-of-spring that the robin or
spring-beauty flower is.
Unlike silent salamanders, frogs and
toads announce their amorous intent with
Jim McCormac
David Celebrezze
Spring peeper
Allison Shaw
Tiger salamander
Wood frog
loud songs. The frogs begin to tune up with
the initial thaws of late winter.
First out of the gate is the wood frog. A
distinctive amphibian, the wood frog sports
a black bandito mask. Its calls, which are
typically given by many frogs in unison,
are distinctive. To some people, a distant
pack of chorusing wood frogs sounds like a
group of ducks; to others, a pack of crows.
Wood frogs are a classic indicator species of
vernal pools. These wetlands are typically
small depressions in forests.
Vernal pools often dry out completely by
summer; they are places of seasonal bounty.
For the duration of their wetness, vernal
pools are biological hotspots. While the
harsh quacking of wood frogs might lead
you to the wetland, once there you are sure
to find many other interesting animals.
Mole salamanders are often present in
the pools when the wood frogs are issuing
their grumbling calls, as are oddities such
as fairy shrimp, predaceous diving beetles
and giant water bugs.
Two other amphibious motormouths
help lead the charge out of winter, the
spring peeper and western chorus frog.
The former delivers a shrill birdlike
peeping that can be heard from great
distances, especially if good numbers of
peepers are chorusing together.
Chorus frogs often sing from the same
wetlands; their song suggests a fingernail
being run down the teeth of a comb. These
tiny frogs are by far the most obvious when
singing in spring. For the rest of the year,
they melt into forest and brush and become
quite inconspicuous.
The symphonic blast of a pool full of
peepers and chorus frogs can’t be missed.
Other frogs of lesser voice might also be
detected as one nears the breeding pool.
The sharp banjo-like twangs of green frogs
can be drowned out by the peepers and
chorus frogs until the observer is in close
proximity.
Northern leopard frogs sometimes occupy the same wetlands, but these gorgeous
amphibians often sing under the water.
Their snoring rasps can elude observers
in the midst of the vocal melee of a spring
wetland. Once the breeding season has
concluded, leopard frogs retreat to grassy
meadows. When flushed, they can easily be
recognized by their rapid, incredibly long
leaps.
As March rolls into April, the American
toads begin to sing. Toads will breed in
nearly any wetland type, from pristine
marshes to water-filled tire ruts. A mass of
singing toads creates one of nature’s coolest
melodies. Their rich low trills are ethereal,
and those that are unacquainted with the
sound would probably not guess that the
trills are produced by an amphibian, let
alone a toad.
As is nearly always the case with amphibians, the breeding frenzy is ephemeral,
and the toads soon depart the breeding
wetlands. They leave behind distinctive
Jim McCormac
David Celebrezze
Andrew Boose
Blanchard’s cricket frog
Gray tree frog
strands of helically coiled eggs which soon
hatch tadpoles.
Occasionally the scarcer Fowler’s toad is
encountered, typically in areas with sandy
soil. This species is similar to the American
toad, but its call is totally different. Fowler’s
toad emits a shrill nasal scream quite unlike any of our other amphibians.
A true forest frog is the gray treefrog.
While treefrogs emerge in early spring, they
usually don’t commence calling until April.
Their song is amongst the most melodious
of our amphibians. It is a short chuckling
sound with much vibrato; a vocalization
that would sound at home in a tropical
jungle. People sometimes mistake treefrog
calls for those of songbirds.
Once treefrogs begin calling, they’ll keep
it up all summer, and reach a crescendo on
warm wet evenings. Gray treefrogs are also
chameleon-like in that they can change
color. A frog resting on tree bark is apt to
be a pearl-gray shade, while one that has
been foraging in green plants can become
almost lime-colored.
The last of the frogs to emerge is the elfin
Blanchard’s cricket frog. These diminutive
amphibians somewhat resemble a toad, as
12 Parkscope
Ref eft
their skin is warty and unlike the smooth
lustrous coats of our other frogs.
Cricket frogs begin calling in May and
continue vocalizing into mid-summer. The
calls sound like two pebbles being tapped
rapidly; a mechanical clicking sound that
is decidedly unfrog-like. Listen for cricket
frogs along the banks of ponds, marshes
and sluggish creeks.
One of our most interesting amphibians
is the red-spotted newt. After metamorphosing from the larval stage, newts leave
their breeding ponds and march ashore. In
this juvenile stage they are known as red
efts, and will live a terrestrial life on the
forest floor for the next several years.
Especially during wet weather, efts will
boldly explore the leaf litter, even during
the day. The eft’s brilliant coloration is a
warning to would-be predators that this is
not a salamander to be trifled with. Their
colorful skin is loaded with poisonous
tetrodotoxin, and any predator that bites an
eft will probably regret it.
After a lengthy period as a landlubber—up to seven years—the eft returns to
a quiet water body and undergoes another
metamorphosis.
David Celebrezze
The eft morphs into a red-spotted newt,
which is a highly aquatic salamander. A
newt is fishlike and completely at home in
deep water, and spends its remaining days
in the depths of ponds, lakes and sluggish
streams.
Amphibians are everywhere, and an important part of our environment. Marshes
and lakes are enhanced in summer by the
deep jug-o-rum calls of American bullfrogs
and the nasal twangs of green frogs. The
chorus of other frog species adds ambience to swamps, rivers, vernal pools, damp
meadows and woodlands.
Huge numbers of salamanders populate
our forests—in some situations they constitute the greatest biomass of any animal
group. Stumbling upon a red-backed
salamander under a log, or a two-lined
salamander hiding beneath a flat rock, is
always a thrill. Rest assured, they are just
the tip of the amphibious iceberg—there
are countless others that you aren’t seeing.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources lists
nearly one-third of the world’s 6,200-plus
amphibian species as imperiled, or extinct.
In Ohio, the trend is not much better: Eight
species, or 21 percent of our amphibians,
are listed as rare by the Ohio Division of
Wildlife. The primary reasons for declines
in Ohio are habitat loss, vehicle strikes and
chemical pollution.
A common question posed to those of us
involved in conservation is: “What good is
it?” when mulling over the rationalization
for protecting some obscure organism. The
final answer, in my view, is that we should
protect animals and plants for their intrinsic value—because they are part of our
world and thus a part of our lives, whether
we know the details of their existence or not.
Legitimate reasons to conserve amphibians abound. Their collective role in the web
of ecology is immense. All of those frogs,
salamanders and toads capture incalculable numbers of insects and other tiny
invertebrates each day. Without this predatory tour de force, things would quickly get
out of whack.
In turn, many amphibians become food
for others. Even large animals such as
owls, red-shouldered hawks and mink take
scores of amphibians. Some, such as the
Leopard frog
hog-nosed snake, even specialize in hunting amphibians (toads in the snake’s case).
We have probably only scratched the
surface in discovering potential amphibian-derived pharmaceuticals. Numerous
compounds, some very powerful, have been
distilled from frogs, and some have shown
promise in treating cancer.
Cryogenics—the behavior of material at extremely low temperatures—is
very advanced in some amphibians. The
wood frog, for instance, can freeze nearly
solid, thaw, and resume life as if nothing
happened. There are probably cryogenic
applications useful to humans that can be
learned by studying amphibians.
Finally, amphibians enrich our lives with
their music. It would be hard to envision
a spring without the sleighbell ringing of
distant spring peepers, or the throaty trills
of courting toads. An evening in a marsh
devoid of the twangs of green frogs and the
vociferous belches of bullfrogs would be
much emptier.
Protecting amphibians is akin to protecting some of nature’s finest art. Conservation of Ohio’s frogs, toads and salamanders
is just one of the many benefits derived
from the protection of Metro Parks’ 27,000
acres of land. n
Jim McCormac
Ohio Division of Wildlife
Dan Ferrin
Audubon study says that more than
half of North America’s birds are at risk
T
he National Audubon Society recently
released the results of an eight-year
study on the impact of climate change
on birds. Audubon’s groundbreaking
research shows that more than half of
North America’s birds (314 species) are
climate sensitive and will become climate
threatened or endangered by 2080.
Each bird species has adapted to the
places it currently lives. But global warming is altering the availability of food and
suitable nesting and wintering grounds,
and if those shifts are too extreme, birds
will be forced to seek out habitat and/or
food supplies elsewhere.
To determine how bird ranges will be
affected, Audubon scientists used sophisticated climate models that combine
decades of observations from the Audubon
Christmas Bird Count and the North
American Breeding Bird Survey, factoring
in 17 climate variables, including temperature, precipitation and seasonal changes.
The models forecast the ranges (or climate envelopes) where future conditions
14 Parkscope
are expected to support each species’
historical climate needs.
You can learn more about the study by
logging on to http://climate.audubon.org.
Metro Parks’ restoration and
management of wetlands and
wet prairies has contributed to
an increase in the population of
sandhill cranes in Central Ohio.
One of the oldest living species
of birds, they have nested at
Pickerington Ponds and Slate
Run and often fly over the wetlands at Battelle Darby Creek.
Of the 314 birds at risk, 213 can be
found in Ohio. This means that Central
Ohio could lose the bald eagle, osprey,
wild turkey and the iconic call of the
barred owl, to name just a few. If we do
nothing, many of these birds could disappear in our children’s lifetimes.
That would be a less joyful future by
itself, but we know that losing our birds
is not the only consequence of climate
change. We also know that what’s good
for birds is good for humans as well.
The findings may appear shocking,
and we know that a certain amount of
change is already inevitable, but the study
provides a roadmap for action by revealing areas that are likely to remain stable
for birds even as climate changes.
Audubon’s strategies to address the
looming threat to birds are threefold:
1.Protect the areas on the ground we
know birds need now.
2.Identify and stabilize places where birds
can thrive in a warmer world.
3.Support and generate solutions to
address the root causes.
By identifying which birds are most at
risk and the places they might inhabit in
the future, we can make the best use of
limited resources and prioritize protec-
1.Create a bird-friendly yard with native
plants, tree canopy, fewer pesticides,
less lawn and rain gardens. Visit
Grange Insurance Audubon Center to
see demonstration gardens and make
plans for your own “bird-scaping.” Sign
up to pilot Audubon At Home in your
own yard. More information at www.
grangeinsuranceauduboncenter.org.
2.Help with habitat restoration and cleanups at Scioto Audubon Metro Park,
including removal of invasive plants
and replacement with natives, as well
as citizen science work to document
changes following the restoration.
David Jolley
Backyard regulars like the American
robin will fly in even more places.
3.Follow eco-friendly guidelines from
other organizations such as Green
Spot Columbus, Franklin County
Soil and Water Conservation District,
Franklin Park Conservatory, the
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and
many others.
4.Support policies that lower emissions.
Urge leaders at the local, state and national levels to enact policies that lower
greenhouse gas emissions and support
clean energy.
We are fortunate to have an agency
such as Columbus and Franklin County
Metro Parks here in Central Ohio. For
more than 70 years they have worked
to conserve habitats such as forests,
grasslands and wetlands for bird species
and other wildlife whose abundance and
oftentimes migratory patterns depend on
these places to rest, breed, nest and raise
their young.
Wild turkeys may lose 87 percent of
their current winter range by 2080.
Karl Hassel
tions for critical habitat. At the same
time, we need to continue suppporting
efforts to curb global warming by cutting
greenhouse gases.
These dire outcomes are inevitable
only if we do not use this warning as an
opportunity to take action.
The National Audubon team together
with the Grange Insuarance Audubon
Center and Columbus Audubon Chapter
are resources for action that anyone can
take both individually and as part of their
local communities—on the ground as
well as in the policy arena. Here are things
you can do to help:
Don Wise
Michael Williams
Audubon ornothologists analyzed 30 years of climate data, historical bird observations from the Christmas Bird Count and other survey data to assess and understand the links between where birds live in North America and climate conditions.
The Audubon report is not yet peer
reviewed, but is the broadest and most
detailed study of its kind to date. n
Christie Vargo, Grange Insurance
Audubon Center Director
By 2080, the bald eagle could see its
habitat decrease as much as 75 percent.
Tina Copeland
Your Metro Parks
wins national award
M
etro Parks received the 2014 National
Association of County Park and Recreation Officials (NACPRO) Award in the
Environmental/Conservation category. This
award recognizes Metro Parks’ exceptional
efforts to acquire, restore, preserve, operate
and develop significant conservation and
natural areas.
NACPRO is a national advocate for
parks, recreational facilities and environmental conservation efforts that enhance
the quality of life for communities across
the country.
We are pleased to be the recipient of this
award and wanted to share with you some
of the conservation efforts throughout the
park system that led to this honor.
Background
In the beginning, Metro Parks’ land acquisition was built around quality forested
16 Parkscope
tracts of land ranging from 50 to 5,000
acres. Today, land acquisitions are mainly
farm fields with scattered wood lots.
The emphasis of our resource management initiatives is the reintroduction of
species of plants and animals through the
restoration of former agricultural fields
into varying habitats including forests, wetlands, riparian corridors and prairies.
While these efforts are a significant accomplishment it is important to note
that they are also ongoing and will have
to continue from generation to generation
in order to be sustained.
Highlights
At Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park the
Darby wet prairie/savanna complex is
currently our largest resource management
restoration effort. It includes the Kuhlwein
wet prairie along with the upland prairie,
Mac Albin
A Metro Parks employee sets a controlled fire at a prairie. These prescribed burns replensish soil and aid the growth of native plants.
Northern riffleshell mussels were successfully reintroduced to Big Darby Creek.
savanna and swamp forest adjacent to the
Kuhlwein area.
The entire 1,016 acres were once agricultural fields and pasture land. The prairie
restoration effort is done by machine and
hand picking prairie seeds and sowing
them to bring back a long-lost ecosystem.
Additionally, Metro Parks has planted 250
burr oak trees and installed deer protection
around them in the savanna area.
Andrew Boose
Bruce Miller
Purple gallinule are one of the many species of birds first recorded in Metro Parks at the restored Kuhlwein Road wet prairie.
Intermixed amongst this large restoration are existing restored prairies that
Metro Parks employee Jack McDowell
started decades ago. They now provide
the seed source for the current restoration
work. Also included in this project is the
reintroduction of bison, which can be seen
near the park’s nature center. Big Darby Creek, which runs through
Prairie Oaks and Battelle Darby Creek
Metro Parks, has also benefited from
resource management efforts. The northern
riffleshell, a species of freshwater mussel
extirpated from the creek decades ago, was
recently reintroduced.
This was a collaborative effort with Ohio
State University, US Fish & Wildlife, ODNR
and the Columbus Zoo. These mussels are
desirable because they are indicators of a
high-quality aquatic system.
Also brought back to its native range
after a long absence are the bobwhites, also
known as quail, reintroduced to Slate Run
Metro Park.
Bobwhites disappeared from most of
Ohio in the 1970s due to habitat loss and
severe winters. Slate Run Technician Eric
Blair has been instrumental in the success-
ful reintroduction of bobwhite, which are
now reproducing in the park.
Another species nearly gone from Ohio,
decades before Metro Parks were established, is the American chestnut tree.
After years of research by The American
Chestnut Foundation, a resistant strain of
chestnut trees (99 percent American and
one percent Chinese) has been developed.
The one percent that is Chinese gives the
American chestnut a disease tolerant trait.
Nuts and seedlings from these trees were
planted at Chestnut Ridge and Clear Creek
Metro Parks in hopes of bringing them
back to the parks.
These are just a few of the key species of
plants and animals that we are returning
to their native ranges. The purpose of these
endeavors is to bring back missing and
important components of these ecosystems
and enable park visitors to enjoy the full
experience of sights and sounds that these
areas have to offer.
Preservation
Small fragments of old growth forests,
remnant prairies and vernal pools are
some of our most cherished yet fragile
ecosystems. While restoration generally
starts from scratch, many of the parks have
already established ecosystems that predate
Ohio’s entry into the union.
Management of these areas range from
biotic surveys, which determine the health
of the ecosystem, to more active management practices such as invasive plant
removal and prescribed burning.
Future Plans
As we develop our two new parks, Rocky
Fork and Scioto Grove (now under construction), we will continue restoring native
ecosystems while managing the existing
flora and fauna to create a high quality
experience for our visitors.
The prominent features in these two
parks are their forest ecosystems. The wet
soils at Rocky Fork will be a boon to the
swamp forest and vernal pool habitats,
yielding a variety of species of animals.
The riparian forest at Scioto Grove
encompasses a large area of the park and is
an important byway for migrating birds. n
Andrew Boose, Forest Ecologist
Annette Boose, Otterbein University
Metro Parks Map &
Hoover Reservoir
O’Shaughnessy
Reservoir
Sunbur
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Brevelhymer Rd
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Cre
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Duvall Rd
Winch
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Big
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Walnut
104
Cre
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Slate Run
Farm and Park
Seven miles
116
south of
Lancaster on
US 33
62
Metro Parks maintained Greenway Trails
po
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High St
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Walnut
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Pickerington Rd
Wa
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Bix
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Three
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256
Pickerington
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Wright Rd
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Waterloo Rd
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Williams Rd
Lon
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Gender Rd
Parsons
Norton Rd
Bowen Rd
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Spangler Rd
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Darby Creek
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Hamilton Rd
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Darby
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Little Darby
62
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Alum Cr
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Big
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Am
Livingston Ave
Scioto
Audubon
270
Main St
40
70
40
Broad St
& Golf Courses
317
Slou
gh Rd
Amanda
Northern Rd
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Wilco Rd
Rock y
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Schleppi Rd
Hamilton Rd
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Rd
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W
Georgesville Rd
Amity Rd
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Cleveland Ave
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Heritage
Trail Park
71
Cro
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Dublin
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Tuttle
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Rd
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Blendon 161
Woods Dublin-Granville Rd
161
23
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Inniswood
E. Schrock Rd
Dempsey Rd
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Rocky Fork
W a lnu
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Main St
161
62
F
Hempstead Rd
270
Tuttle
Rd
Rd
e n Ru
yd
Ha
Sharon
Woods
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Park Rd
y
Cosgra
Amity Pike
ar
Highbanks
Post Rd
161
Pol
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Hyland
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tar
me e
Ce Pik
Powell Rd
750
257
Harlem
ve
si de Dri
Glacier
Ridge Brock Rd
605
23
R iver
33
71
Alum Creek
Reservoir
674
Perrill Rd
Winchester Rd
Chestnut
Ridge
Neiswander Rd
Marcy Rd
Clear Creek
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33
& Directions
BATTELLE DARBY CREEK
GLACIER RIDGE
PRAIRIE OAKS
SHARON WOODS
1775 Darby Creek Dr
Galloway OH 43119
39.90346 -83.20914
From I-270 take W Broad St (US 40) exit
west. Go about 5 miles on Broad St to
Darby Creek Dr. Turn left onto Darby
Creek Dr and go 3 miles to main park
entrance on right.
Nature Center
1415 Darby Creek Dr
39.91618 -83.21127
Entrance is on right 1 mile before main
park entrance. (Indian Ridge Picnic Area
is 1 mile south of the main entrance on
the right).
9801 Hyland Croy Rd
Plain City OH 43064
40.15628-83.18510
Take I-270 toward Dublin. Take
33/161 west (exit 17B) toward
Marysville. Follow 33/161 west to
the 161/Plain City/Post Rd exit. Turn
right at the light and then immediately left on Hyland Croy Rd. The
Honda Wetland Education Area is 1
mile north on the left (7825 Hyland
Croy Rd). The park’s main entrance
is 2 miles further north.
3225 Plain City-Georgesville Rd
West Jefferson OH 43162
39.98824-83.26421
Main Entrance: From I-270,
take I-70 west to the Plain CityGeorgesville Rd/SR 142 exit and
go north on SR 142 about 0.8
miles. Entrance on right
6911 Cleveland Ave, Westerville OH 43081
40.11399-82.94904
From I-270, take the Cleveland Ave North
exit. Entrance is about 1⁄2 mile on the left
Spring Hollow Lodge
1069 W Main St, Westerville OH 43081
40.12539-82.96728
Cannot be accessed from Sharon Woods
entrance). Continue north on Cleveland Ave,
past the main park entrance to Main St and
turn left. Go about 1.5 miles and turn left
into park.
BLACKLICK WOODS
& GOLF COURSES
6975 & 7309 E Livingston Ave
Reynoldsburg OH 43068
39.94595 -82.80999 (park)
39.94577 -82.80152 (golf course)
From I-270, take the E Main St/Reynoldsburg exit. Go east on Main St to
Brice Rd and turn right. Take Brice Rd to
Livingston Ave and turn left. Entrance
is about 1.5 miles on the right. Golf
course is 1⁄4 mile beyond the park
entrance.
BLENDON WOODS
4265 E. Dublin-Granville Rd
40.07987-82.88470
From I-270, take State Route 161 exit
(30B) toward New Albany onto
E Dublin-Granville Road. Go 1.6 miles
then take the Little Turtle Way exit and
turn right. Go to Old SR 161 and turn
right. Entrance is 1/2 mile on left.
CHESTNUT RIDGE
8445 Winchester Rd NW
Carroll OH 43112
39.81027-82.75365
From I-270, take US 33 east toward Lancaster. Go about 11 miles and turn right
on Winchester Rd. Entrance is about 3
miles on the left.
CLEAR CREEK
185 Clear Creek Rd
Rockbridge, OH 43149
39.59776-82.54892
From I-270, take US 33 about 32 miles.
Turn right on Clear Creek Rd (SR 116).
Picnic areas, facilities and trails are
located along Clear Creek Rd for the
next seven miles.
HERITAGE PARK and TRAIL
7262 Hayden Run Rd
Hilliard OH 43026
40.05951-83.19585
From I-270 take Tuttle Rd and turn
left onto Wilcox Rd. Turn right onto
Hayden Run Rd. Entrance is about 2
3⁄4 miles on the right
HIGHBANKS
9466 US 23 N
Lewis Center OH 43035
40.15283-83.01837
From I-270, take US 23 North about
3 miles. Entrance is on the left, just
before Powell Rd.
INNISWOOD
940 S Hempstead Rd
40.10086-82.90357
From I-270, take SR 3/Westerville Rd
exit south to Dempsey Rd and turn
left. Go about 1 mile to Hempstead
Rd and turn left. Turn again on
Hempstead Rd as it jogs right just
past the Blendon Township Complex. Entrance is about 100 yards on
the right.
PICKERINGTON PONDS
7680 Wright Rd
Canal Winchester OH 43110
39.88451-82.79878
From I-270 take US 33 east toward
Lancaster about 3 miles. Take the
Canal Winchester/SR 674/Gender
Rd exit. Turn left onto Gender Rd,
go about 1 mile and turn right
onto Wright Rd. Go about 1 mile
to Bowen Rd and turn left. Glacier
Knoll picnic and parking area is
about 1⁄4 mile on left.
Sycamore Plains Trail
2009 Amity Rd
Hilliard OH 43026
39.98887-83.23883
From Route 142 (Plain CityGeorgesville Rd) go about 1⁄4
mile south of I-70 exit. Turn left
on High Free Pk. Go about 1 mile
to Roberts Rd and turn left. Go
about 1 mile on Roberts Rd to
Amity Rd and turn left. Entrance
is on left
Darby Bend Lakes
2755 Amity Rd
Hilliard OH 43026
40.00294-83.24881
From I-270, take I-70 west to
the West Jefferson/Plain City
exit, turn right onto Plain
City-Georgesville Rd/SR 142.
Go about 2.25 miles to Lucas
Rd (passing the main park
entrance) and turn right. Go
across Big Darby Creek and turn
right at the stop sign onto Amity
Rd. Entrance is about 0.5 miles
on right.
Beaver Lake
8921 Lucas Rd
Plain City OH 43064
40.00949-83.25552
From I-270 take I-70 west to
West Jefferson/Plain City exit,
turn right onto Plain CityGeorgesville Rd/SR 142. Go
about 2.25 miles to Lucas Rd
and turn right. Entrance is about
0.25 miles on right
SCIOTO AUDUBON
400 W Whittier St
Columbus OH 43215
39.94426-83.00335
From I-71, take the Greenlawn
Ave exit east 1/3 mile and turn
left on S Front St. Go 1/4 mile
and turn left on W Whittier St.
Entrance is 1/3 mile on left.
SLATE RUN FARM and PARK
1375 SR 674 North
Canal Winchester OH 43110
39.75719-82.82787
From I-270, take US 33 east toward Lancaster
to the Canal Winchester/SR 674 exit. Turn
right onto Gender Rd/SR 674 and go about
2 miles until it dead-ends into Lithopolis
Rd. Turn left and go about 1⁄2 mile to SR
674. Turn right and go about 4 miles to the
entrance on the right.
Slate Run Wetlands:
39.76573-82.86716
Continue past main park entrance 1⁄2 mile to
Marcy Rd and turn right. Go 3 miles to Winchester Rd and turn right. Wetlands entrance
is about 2 miles on the right.
THREE CREEKS
3860 Bixby Rd, Groveport OH 43125
39.87307-82.89911
From I-270, take US 33 east towards Lancaster about 1 mile. Turn right on Hamilton
Rd and go about 1.25 miles to Bixby Rd and
turn right. Entrance is about 0.75 miles on
the right.
WALNUT WOODS
From I-270, take US 33 east toward Lancaster.
Go about 1.3 miles then turn right on Hamilton Rd/SR 317. Go 2.7 miles and turn left
onto Main St/Groveport Rd.
for Buckeye Area
6716 Lithopolis Rd, Groveport OH 43125
39.84087-82.85560
Go 2 miles to Lithopolis Rd and turn right.
Entrance is 0.75 miles on left. Park office is
across the road at 6723 Lithopolos Road.
for Tall Pines Area
6833 Richardson Rd, Groveport OH 43125
39.83909-82.86892
Go 1.4 miles to Richardson Road and turn
right. Entrance is about 1.1 miles on right.
Metro Parks Headquarters
1069 W. Main Street
Westerville OH 43081-1181
www.metroparks.net
www.facebook.com/
Columbus.Metro.Parks
Park and nature center hours for Spring 2015
Park
Battelle Darby Creek
Blacklick Woods
Blendon Woods
Highbanks
Scioto Audubon
Sharon Woods
Three Creeks
Hours
March
6:30am to 8pm
April and May
6:30am to 10pm
Chestnut Ridge
Clear Creek
Glacier Ridge
Heritage Trail
Pickerington Ponds
Prairie Oaks
Slate Run
Walnut Woods
March to May
6:30am to dark*
Inniswood Metro Gardens
7am to dark
Innis House is open Tuesday through Friday,
8am to 4:30pm and Saturday and Sunday
11am to 4pm
Slate Run Living Historical Farm
March: Wed-Sat, 9am to 4pm
Sun, 11am to 4pm
April and May: Tue-Sat 9am to 4pm
Sun 11am to 4pm
(open Memorial Day, noon to 6pm)
Nature Centers
Blacklick Woods
Blendon Woods
Highbanks
For nature center hours, go to website
www.metroparks.net
Walden Waterfowl Refuge
at Blendon Woods
Daily 6:30am to 8pm
twitter.com/CbusMetroParks
pinterest.com/
CbusMetroParks
instagram.com/
cbusmetroparks#
www.youtube.com/
CbusMetroParks
E-mail: info@metroparks.net
Information: 614.891.0700
Reservations: 614.508.8111
Fax: 614.895.6208
InfoLine: 614.508.8000
For help visiting facilities or with
activities, please call 614.891.0700.
Inniswood Metro Gardens
Call 614.895.6216
Call 614.833.1880
For information about Metro Parks
print or electronic publications
contact Virginia Gordon (vgordon@
metroparks.net) or Peg Hanley
(hanley@metroparks.net)
Programs with a phone symbol & require advance registration.
Go to the Program drop-down menu at www.metroparks.net
or call 614.508.8111.
Registration for winter programs begins at 8am on Wed Feb 25
METRO FIVE-0 for age 50 and older, color-coded by degree of difficulty:
LEVEL 1 (easy, fully accessible) LEVEL 2 (slow pace, less than 1-mile hike)
LEVEL 3 (up to 2-mile hike, moderate pace)
LEVEL 4 (hike over two miles at strenuous pace)
20 Parkscope
(* 1/2 hour after local sunset)
Metro Parks reserves the right to photograph
and videotape all activities, events, programs
and facilities for publicity purposes.
Metro Parks does not discriminate on the basis of
race, color, religion, gender, age, nationality or disability in employment, services, programs or activities.
MARCH
NATURE CENTER
AFTER DARK
07 Sat 6pm
Watch the living stream
come to life after dark. X
PRESCHOOLERS:
WHOSE SCAT IS THAT?
12 Thu 9:30 or 11am
Learn about the signs animals leave behind. X
PHOTO GROUP: FLASH
& LOW PHOTOGRAPHY
14 Sat 10am
Learn how to use flash
effectively and how to
take photos in low light
conditions. X
YOGA
14 Sat 11:30am
Learn basic yoga movements
to rejuvenate your mind and
body. Bring a mat or blanket.
METRO FIVE‑0: Level 2
BISON
15 Sun 1pm
Take a 1‑mile hike to see
North America’s largest land
mammal. Age 50 and older
WELCOME SPRING HIKE
21 Sat 2pm
Look for signs of spring on a
1‑mile hike. Ranger Station
WACKY WOODCOCKS
22 Sun 7:30pm
Search for the American
woodcock as he performs his
aerial courtship dance.
PRESCHOOLERS:
WHOSE SCAT IS THAT?
26 Thu 11am or 1pm
See March 12
DARBY DARTERS
28 Sat 1pm
Wade in Big Darby Creek
and search for these brightly
colored fish.
FLYING SQUIRRELS
29 Sun 7:30pm
Learn about this elusive
squirrel and look for them on
a short walk. Ranger Station
APRIL
BLACK BEARS IN OHIO
04 Sat 2pm
Learn about the increasing
number of black bears in
Ohio and about their diet,
reproduction, hibernation
and language. X
Meet at nature center unless otherwise noted (1415 Darby Creek Dr)
CENTRAL OHIO FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL
May 2–3 Sat-Sun 10am–5pm
Free concerts both days, plus children’s activities from 1pm.
Showcase of Young Musicians. Nominal fee for teaching
workshops on guitar, banjo, drum, voice, fiddle and more.
Sponsored by The Columbus Folk Music Society and Metro
Parks. For more information contact Art or Sharon Mittenbergs at rbaron49@aol.com or check out the website
www.columbusfolkmusicsociety.org
Saturday evening concert at 7pm featuring Dawson Cooper
and Grassahol. Tickets $10 in advance, $15 at door.
Indian Ridge Bulletin Board
Mike Fetherolf
SALAMANDER SUNDAY
05 Sun 1–3pm
See a display of Ohio’s
secretive salamanders. X
BISON
05 Sun 4pm
Take a 1‑mile hike to see
North America’s largest
land mammal.
PHOTO GROUP:
WILDFLOWERS
11 Sat 10am
Discover techniques to take
great photos of wildflowers.
X
YOGA
11 Sat 11:30am
Cedar Ridge Lodge
PRESCHOOLERS:
WEATHER OR NOT
14 Tue 9:30 or 11am
Enjoy a story, song and craft
and learn about changes in
the weather. X
PHOTOGRAPHY:
WILDFLOWERS
18 Sat 8am
Take a short off‑trail hike to
photograph wildflowers.
CRUDDY CREEK
19 Sun 1pm
Discover why rivers and
creeks get polluted and
have fun at the living stream
as you learn how you can
help the environment. X
PRESCHOOLERS:
WEATHER OR NOT
24 Fri 11am or 1pm
and learn about changes in
the weather. X
BIRDING AT ITS BEST
25 Sat 8am
Enjoy a morning chorus of
warblers, finches, orioles
and other birds.
WILDFLOWERS OF SPRING
26 Sun 2pm
Discover trillium, trout lilies,
Dutchman’s breeches and
other wildflowers on a 2‑mile
hike. Age 50 and older
Ranger Station
MAY
BIRDING AT ITS BEST
02 Sat 8am
warblers, finches, orioles
and other birds.
CENTRAL OHIO
FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL
02-03 Sat-Sun 10am–5pm
See box
PHOTO GROUP:
ZOO PHOTOGRAPHY
09 Sat 10am
Learn how to get great
results when photographing
animals at the zoo.
YOGA
09 Sat 11:30am
Ranger Station
WILD TEAS WORKSHOP
09 Sat 1pm
Take a short hike to identify
wild plants that make great
teas and enjoy some brewed
tea samples.
10 Sun 1pm
Discover spectacular shows
of trillium, trout lilies, Dutchman’s breeches and other
wildflowers on a 2‑mile hike.
Ranger Station
BISON
10 Sun 4pm
See April 5
PRESCHOOLERS:
THE BUZZ ABOUT BEES
12 Tue 9:30 or 11am
and discover how bees help
plants as they look for nectar.
X
STREAM QUALITY
MONITORING WORKSHOP
13 Wed 6:30–8:30pm
Learn how to become a
Stream Quality Monitoring
volunteer for the Ohio Division of Watercraft’s Scenic
Rivers Program.
CATCH THE CURRENT
17 Sun & 32305
Enjoy a 4‑hour canoe trip on
Big Darby Creek. Canoes,
equipment and return transportation provided. Paddlers
must be 14 or older and riders 8 or older.
BIRDS DISPLAY
23 Sat 1–4pm
See a display of mounts,
eggs and skulls of songbirds,
raptors and waterfowl. X
Blacklick Woods
MARCH
NIGHT WALK
03 Tue 6:30pm
Enjoy a 2‑mile walk through
woods and fields.
Age 50 and older X
SCOUT DAY:
CADETTES NIGHT OWL
07 Sat & 32170
Cadettes (grades 6‑8) will
participate in four activities
that are requirements for the
Night Owl badge. X
PRESCHOOLERS:
BEECH TREE PUPPETS
REMEMBER SPRING
11 Wed 10am
The puppets discover what
woodland animals are doing.
Take a short walk after the
puppet show and search for
signs of spring.
Beech Maple Lodge X
22 Parkscope
EXPLORING SNOW AND ICE
11 Wed 6:30pm
Join scientists from the
Byrd Polar Research Center
for kid-friendly snow
activities.
Beech Maple Lodge X
LENS AND LEAVES
CAMERA CLUB
12 Thu 7pm
See member photos and
learn photographic techniques. Non-members
welcome.
Beech Maple Lodge X
STROLL ON THE LINKS
14 Sat 6:30pm
Take a leisurely stroll on the
links to look for wildlife.
Golf Course Activity Building,
7309 E. Livingston Ave X
MAMMALS DISPLAY
24 Sun 1–4pm
See skin, scat, skulls and
skeletons of Ohio’s past and
present mammals. X
COLD-BLOODED
CREATURE FEATURE
25 Mon 1–4pm
View a display of amphibians
and reptiles. X
PRESCHOOLERS:
THE BUZZ ABOUT BEES
29 Fri 11am or 1pm
See May 12
METRO FIVE‑0 : Level 3
CATCH THE CURRENT
30 Sat & 32306
Enjoy a 4‑hour canoe trip on
Big Darby Creek. Canoes,
equipment and return transportation provided.
Age 50 and older
HOW TO CATCH A CATFISH
30 Sat 7:30pm–midnight
Fish till midnight after a talk
about methods for catching the wily catfish, and a
display of equipment and
baits. Pleasant Valley Bulletin
Board, 9137 State Route 62
LATE NIGHT
AT PLEASANT VALLEY
30 Sat 8pm–midnight
The Pleasant Valley Area will
be open till midnight for fishing, hiking, stargazing and
pet hikes.
Pleasant Valley Bulletin
Board, 9137 State Route 62
CATCH THE CURRENT
31 Sun & 32307
See May 17
Meet at nature center unless otherwise noted
SCIENCE SUNDAY: COYOTES
15 Sun 2pm
Learn about the world
of coyotes and discover
what you should do if you
encounter one, with Marne
Titchenell, Wildlife
Program Specialist for
OSU Extension.
Beech Maple Lodge X
WALK INTO SPRING
20 Fri 6:30pm
Enjoy a 1.5‑mile walk to look
for signs of spring.
Ash Grove Picnic Area X
IN SEARCH OF BOGSUCKERS
21 Sat 7:30pm
Search for the male woodcock performing his aerial
courtship display. X
AVIAN EXCAVATORS
22 Sun 2pm
Take a 2-mile hike and discover how woodpeckers find
food and create homes for
other woodland creatures. X
HOWL AT THE MOON
28 Sat 7:30pm
Take a 3‑mile walk with
your dog.
Nature Center parking lot X
APRIL
ALMOST FULL MOON WALK
03 Fri 8pm
Enjoy a 2‑mile woodland
stroll by moonlight.
MORNING COFFEE
AND WILDLIFE WATCH
04 Sat 8–10am
View wildlife through the
nature center windows and
enjoy a cup of coffee. X
PRESCHOOLERS:
IT’S NESTING SEASON
08 Wed 10am or 1pm
Learn about animal families
through stories, crafts and
activities.
Beech Maple Lodge X
LENS AND LEAVES
CAMERA CLUB
09 Thu 7pm
learn photographic techniques. Non-members
welcome.
Beech Maple Lodge X
10K NATURE BIKE RIDE
11 Sat 2pm
Join the park ranger for a
relaxed ride on the Blacklick
Creek Greenway Trail.
Nature Center parking lot
SPRING FLOWER ID PRIMER
12 Sun 1pm
Learn about flower identification using a simple key or
field guide. X
10TH ANNUAL
EARTH DAY AWARENESS
18 Sat 1pm
Celebrate Earth Day by
removing alien plants and
cleaning up Blacklick Creek.
Bring work gloves and
wading shoes. Enjoy a
taste of edible invasive plants
afterward.
SUNDAY IN THE SWAMP
19 Sun 1pm
Scoop up slimy swimmers
from the buttonbush swamp.
X
PARK TOURS
21 Tue & 32060
Enjoy a 5‑hour tour of
Blacklick Woods and
Chestnut Ridge Metro Parks.
All transportation provided.
Participants have the option
of departing from Sharon
Woods Metro Park.
Age 50 and older
Ralf Niehaus
NATURE KIDS:
BACKWOODS BIOLOGY
07 Tue 1pm
Explore off‑trail areas for
signs of life in the woods.
Age 6–12
Beech Maple Lodge
ON THE TRAIL
WITH WOOD WARBLERS
25 Sat 8am
Take a 2-mile hike to search
for warblers and listen to
their songs.
WILDFLOWER WALK
25 Sat 2pm
Look for wildflowers on
a 1.5‑mile walk. X
HOWL AT THE MOON
30 Thu 8:30pm
Take a 3‑mile walk with
your dog.
Nature Center parking lot X
MAY
MORNING COFFEE
AND WILDLIFE WATCH
02 Sat 8–10am
View wildlife through the
nature center windows and
enjoy a cup of coffee. X
TRAM TOUR
02 Sat 2:30pm
Take a tram ride through
the park. X
SUNDAY IN THE SWAMP
03 Sun 1–3pm
X
PRESCHOOLERS:
RIDING AND WADING
06 Wed 2:30pm
Take the tram to Blacklick
Creek and wade in the
stream.
Sunday in the Swamp
BIRDS IN A CHANGING
CLIMATE DISPLAY
09 Sat 10am–8pm
Learn about the potential
impact of climate change on
birds, nesting areas, migration, winter ranges, food
and habitat. X
NATURE BY TRAM
09 Sat 2:30pm
10 Sun 2:30pm
Take a tram ride through
the park. X
PRESCHOOLERS:
SWAMP THINGS
13 Wed 10am or 1pm
X
LENS AND LEAVES
CAMERA CLUB
14 Thu 7pm
learn photographic techniques. Non-members welcome. Beech Maple Lodge X
FUNGI HIKE
17 Sun 2pm
Search for mushrooms on a
1.5-mile hike and learn fun
facts about fungi. X
GPS ADVENTURE
23 Sat 1–3pm
Discover clues and solve a
fun puzzle, using GPS units.
X
10K NATURE BIKE RIDE
30 Sat 2pm
Join the park ranger for a
relaxed ride on the Blacklick
Creek Greenway Trail.
A WALK INTO THE PAST
31 Sun 2pm
Visit Seceder Cemetery to
discover the early settlers of
the area.
Seceder Cemetery,
St Route 256 at Franklin/Fairfield County Line
Blendon Woods
MARCH
PHOTO PROWL
07 Sat 10am
Visit Thoreau Lake to
photograph waterfowl.
BIRD HIKE
08 Sun 9am
See migrating waterfowl and
other birds at Thoreau Lake.
MAPLE SYRUPING
14 Sat 2pm
Learn about maple syruping
as we tap a sugar maple tree
for sap.
BACKYARD BIRDS,
BUTTERFLIES & BLOOMS
15 Sun 2–4pm
See how to attract birds and
butterflies to your backyard
with flowers and birdfeeders.
X
PRESCHOOLERS: FURRY FUN
19 Thu 10am or 1pm
Learn about mammals and
touch furs and bones.
HOMESCHOOLERS:
FURRY FUN
19 Thu 10am or 1pm
Learn about mammals and
touch furs and bones.
Age 6–12
NATURAL PLAY AREA ADVENTURE: ANIMAL HOMES
21 Sat 2pm
Search for nests, holes,
mounds, tree cavities, rock
piles and other homes for
animals.
Natural Play Area
at Cherry Ridge
CALLING ALL CANINES
22 Sun 3pm
Enjoy a 2‑mile walk with
your dog.
24 Parkscope
CUB SCOUT DAY:
WEBELOS GEOLOGIST
28 Sat & 32229 / 32230
Webelos (10 & 11 year olds)
will participate in activities
that meet requirements for
the Geologist badge.
NATIONAL TAKE A
WALK IN A PARK DAY
30 Mon 2pm
Enjoy a 2‑mile walk and learn
about animals and plants
along the way.
Age 50 and older
APRIL
HOMESCHOOLERS:
APRIL SHOWERS
02 Thu 10am
Try science experiments
about wet weather and
storms. Age 6–12 X
HOWL AT THE MOON
03 Fri 8pm
Enjoy a 2‑mile walk with
your dog.
EGG‑STRAVAGANZA
04 Sat 2–4pm
See a variety of nests and
eggs, and learn about bird
boxes in the park. X
PHOTO PROWL
11 Sat 9am
Search the woods for photo
ops and discover techniques
to enhance your pictures.
WOODCOCK WATCH
11 Sat 7:45pm
See the aerial mating dance
of the American woodcock.
Cherry Ridge Program Area
BIRD HIKE
12 Sun 9am
Search for migrating songbirds on a 2-mile hike.
JUST FOR KIDS:
SPRING CLEANING
12 Sun 2pm
Use a model town to see the
difference between a clean
and polluted environment,
and the effect on our waterways. Make a craft with
recycled materials. X
PRESCHOOLERS:
APRIL SHOWERS
16 Thu 9:30 or 11am
Learn all about wet weather
through stories, a craft
and play.
EARTH DAY CLEANUP
25 Sat &
Remove alien plants and pick
up litter around Thoreau
Lake. For more information
and to register, visit
www.greencbus.org
BOUNTIFUL BLOOMS
26 Sun 2pm
Take a 2‑mile walk to
see wildflowers.
MAY
PHOTO PROWL
02 Sat 9am
Walk the trails to see and
photograph warblers.
BROWNIES WOW JOURNEY
02 Sat & 32258 / 32260
Brownies (2nd and 3rd
grade) will visit a wetland
and participate in five
activities that are part of
the WOW Journey.
BIRD HIKE
03 Sun 8am
Explore woods and meadows
to see warblers and other
songbirds.
ARCHERY
03 Sun & 32267
Learn how to shoot a compound bow. Age 8 and older
ARCHERY
03 Sun & 32274
Learn how to shoot a
compound bow.
Age 50 and older
HOMESCHOOLERS:
CREEK CRITTERS
07 Thu 10am
Wade into a small creek to
search for crayfish, bugs and
fish. Age 6–12
FISHING DAY
09 Sat 9am–noon
Kids can catch and release
bluegill and other fish in
Thoreau Lake. Includes a
short walk to the lake.
Maintenance Area
OFF‑TRAIL DISCOVERY HIKE
17 Sun 2pm
Explore the area behind
Thoreau Lake on a 2.5‑mile
on- and off-trail hike.
PRESCHOOLERS:
CREEK CRITTERS
21 Thu 9:30 or 11am
Wade into a small creek to
search for crayfish, bugs
and fish.
PUMP UP THE
VOLUME CAMPFIRE
23 Sat 8pm
Roast a marshmallow around
the campfire while listening
to the roar of the fire and
sounds of birds and insects
as the sun goes down.
MYTHS OF TREES
30 Sat 2pm
Take a 2‑mile hike and learn
about trees and the myths
associated with them.
Clear Creek
MARCH
MAY
GIANT OAK HIKE
11 Wed & 32139
Take a rugged 3‑mile hike to
see a centuries old oak tree.
Age 50 and older
BIRDING BY EAR
08 Fri 10am
Listen for bird songs and
learn to identify them on a
1.5‑mile hike. Bring a picnic
lunch to enjoy at the shelter
after birding.
Age 50 and older
Barnebey‑Hambleton
Picnic Area
APRIL
NATURE AT NIGHT
04 Sat 7:30pm
Take a 1.5‑mile hike into
the night forest.
Park Office
HOMESCHOOLERS:
EARTH DAY HIKE
22 Wed 1:30pm
Celebrate Earth Day with
a 1‑mile forest hike. Visit
the Mathias Cabin and learn
how you can help take care
of our planet.
Thomas‑Mathias parking lot
Glacier Ridge
APRIL
WALK AND WOOF
09 Mon 6pm
Enjoy a 2.5-mile hike with
your dog.
FROGGY NIGHT HIKE
11 Sat & 32118
Take a 1-mile off-trail hike
to the ponds to catch and
release frogs and toads.
SALAMANDERS FOR KIDS
19 Thu & 32114
Take a 1-mile hike to see
salamanders and other
amphibians at a vernal pool.
Age 6–12
WOODCOCK WATCH
20 Fri 7:30pm
Take a 1‑mile hike and search
for the woodcock’s aerial
dance. X
MEMORY ROCK
BACKCOUNTRY HIKE
25 Mon 1pm
Take a 5.5‑mile backcountry
hike. Park Office
Meet at main entrance picnic area bulletin board unless otherwise noted
MARCH
SALAMANDERS AND
VERNAL POOLS
14 Sat & 32113
Discover the fascinating
world of salamanders and
their breeding pools on a
1‑mile hike.
COFFEE AND CUCKOOS
10 Sun 5:45am
Come out early to enjoy
the daybreak bird chorus.
We will provide coffee. Bring
a mug.
Thomas‑Mathias parking lot
HOMESCHOOLERS:
BIRD SCIENCE
20 Wed 1:30pm
Learn about birds through
observation, discussion,
classification and writing.
Barnebey‑Hambleton
Picnic Area
Kim Graham
GIANT OAK HIKE
14 Sat & 32165 / 32166
See March 11 (all ages)
SALAMANDER SHUFFLE
18 Sat & 32133
Take a rugged 2‑mile off‑trail
hike to a forested stream
to learn about secretive
salamanders.
WILDFLOWERS
16 Sat 1pm
Take a 2‑mile hike on a
moderately difficult trail to
see beautiful wildflowers.
Creekside Meadows
parking lot
Woodcock
WALK AND WOOF
13 Mon 6:30pm
Enjoy a 2.5-mile hike with
your dog.
WOODCOCK WATCH
18 Sat 8pm
Take a 1‑mile hike and search
for the woodcock’s aerial
mating dance. X
MAY
FAMILY WILDFLOWER WALK
06 Wed 7pm
Discover the folklore and
beauty of forest flowers on
a 1.5-mile hike.
WALK AND WOOF
11 Mon 7pm
See March 9
FOR KIDS:
WETLAND WONDERS
16 Sat 2pm
Celebrate National Wetland
Month and explore animals
in the wetlands. Age 12 and
younger Honda Wetland
Education Area X
FOR FAMILIES:
EVENING FOREST HIKE
30 Sat 7pm
Take a leisurely 1.5‑mile
hike and look for wildlife.
X
Highbanks
MARCH
OFF‑TRAIL RAVINE HIKE
01 Sun 1pm
Explore the ravines on a
3‑mile off‑trail hike.
HOWL AT THE MOON
05 Thu 6:30pm
Enjoy a 3.5‑mile hike with
your dog.
WATERFOWL WALK
07 Sat 10am
Take a 3‑mile hike to look for
migrating waterfowl.
NATURE CENTER
OPEN HOUSE
08 Sun 1–3pm
See animals from Ohio Wildlife Center and learn about
the park’s ravines and trees
at our new exhibits. Refreshments provided. X
PRESCHOOLERS:
PHYSICS OF PLAY
11Wed& 32469 / 32470
12 Thu & 32472 / 32473
Play games, read a story and
experiment with pushing and
pulling. X
SALAMANDER
LANTERN HIKE
14 Sat 6pm
Enjoy the sights and sounds
of vernal pools on a 3‑mile
lantern-lit hike.
SPRING FLING
20 Fri & 32111
Enjoy gentle stretching in a
Tai Chi session, take a nature
walk and visit with animals
from the Ohio Wildlife Center. Age 50 and older X
WHERE TO HIKE IN OHIO
22 Sun 3pm
Get advice from Outdoor
Source staff on finding new
trails and hidden hiking
spots. X
26 Parkscope
COYOTE CAMPFIRE
27 Fri 7:30pm
Learn about coyotes and
listen for their calls as you
enjoy a campfire.
Dragonfly Day Camp X
BALD EAGLES
28 Sat 11am
Take a 3‑mile hike to the
Overlook Trail observation
deck to see the eagle nest
and perhaps see the eagles
in flight.
MILL MARCH
29 Sun 2pm
See what remains of the old
Mulzer Mill and learn about
its history.
SCOUT DAY:
BROWNIE BUGS BADGE
19 Sun & 32427
Brownies (2nd and 3rd
grade) will participate in
activities that meet all
requirements for the Bugs
badge. X
HOMESCHOOLERS:
DISCOVER BUGS
20 Mon 10am
Learn about insects and
spiders, see an insect
collection and meet some
live creatures.
APRIL
WARBLERS 101
25 Sat 10am
Join Wild Birds Unlimited’s
Tom Sheely and learn warbler
identification tips. X
HOWL AT THE MOON
04 Sat 8pm
Enjoy a 3.5‑mile hike with
your dog.
WONDERFUL WILDFLOWERS
25 Sat 3pm
Learn about the life and lore
of spectacular wildflowers on
a 1‑mile hike.
PRESCHOOLERS:
THE BUSY TREE
08Wed& 32474 / 32475
09 Thu & 32476 / 32477
Learn about the busy lives of
trees and take a short hike
to meet the animals living in
them. X
SALAMANDER SEARCH
16 Thu 7:30pm
Take a 3‑mile hike to the
breeding pools to look for
salamanders and other amphibians. Age 50 and older
EARTH DAY 2015
18 Sat &
Plant trees and help rid the
park of litter and invasive
plants. For more information
and to register, visit
www.greencbus.org
MAY
OFF‑TRAIL MEANDER
01 Fri 9am
Trek off‑trail with park
managers as they inspect the
park before the busy summer
season.
BREAKFAST
WITH THE EAGLES
02 Sat & 32423
Hike three miles to the Overlook Deck for breakfast treats
and drinks and sight of the
eagles and their nest.
HOWL AT THE MOON
03 Sun 8:30pm
See March 5
WARBLER WALK
10 Sun 10am
Take a 1‑mile hike in search
of colorful migrant birds.
PRESCHOOLERS:
BALD EAGLES
13Wed& 32478 / 32479
14 Thu & 32480 / 32481
Learn about the bald eagles
nesting at the park. X
GEOTRAIL 2015
KICK-OFF EVENT
16 Sat 10am
Join us for a fun‑filled event
to kick off the 2015 GeoTrail
treasure hunt.
TREETOP DISCOVERY TOUR
17 Sun & 32435
Zip through the treetops
with a park naturalist at
Camp Mary Orton’s ZipZone
Canopy Tours. For more information or to make a reservation, visit zipzonetours.
com or call 614.847.9477.
Fees apply
GONE FISHING
24 Sun & 32436
Join the park rangers for
fishing at the pond. X
VOLUNTEER MONITORING
ORIENTATION
27 Wed 6:30–8:30pm
Become a Stream Quality
Monitoring volunteer for
the Ohio Division of Natural
Areas and Preserves and
learn to monitor a state
scenic river. See www.watercraft.odnr.gov/sqm
Big Meadows Picnic Area
CAMPFIRE SINGALONG
29 Fri 7:30pm
Toast marshmallows and
enjoy a singalong and stories
around the campfire. Bring
seating and a drink. Roasting
sticks provided.
HIGHBANKS / NATURE ADVENTURE BOXES & GROWING UP WILD WORKSHOP
May 30 Sat & 32123
Learn how to access and use our Nature Adventure Boxes, containing all the equipment needed to get kids outdoors exploring
fields and rivers. The boxes contain aquatic nets, identification guides, magnifying boxes, butterfly nets, field guides, scavenger
hunt copies and more.
Plus receive a FREE nationally recognized Growing up Wild Curriculum geared to teach ages 3–7. Workshop is a 3‑hour
certified Step Up to Quality program for child care providers, homeschool parents, preschool teachers, scout leaders, parents
and anyone wanting to explore nature with children.
Inniswood
Jim Cox
Meet at Innis House unless otherwise noted
SUNNY SUNDAYS
Every Sunday, starting
May 3 1:30–3:30pm
Members of the Herb Society
of America, Central Ohio
Unit, will be in the Herb
Garden to answer visitors’
questions. X
MARCH
ARTISTS OF THE MONTH
03–27
View the artwork of
Inniswood volunteers. X
PRESCHOOL IN THE
GARDEN: BIRD NESTS
04 Wed
& 32245 / 32246 / 32247
Learn about bird nests and
how they are made. X
GROWING DAHLIAS
08 Sun 2pm
Learn how to start dahlia tubers for early bloom and how
to take cuttings. Sponsored
by the Greater Columbus
Dahlia Society. X
OWLS OF OHIO
15 Sun 2pm
Learn about Ohio’s owls and
search for them on a walk
through the gardens.
Age 50 and older
UKRAINIAN
EGG WORKSHOP
22 Sun & 32251
Artist Ginny Baughman will
show you how to create a
beautiful Ukrainian egg using
a series of wax coatings and
dye baths. Fee $20. Eggmaking kits available for sale.
Age 16 and older (or accompanied by an adult) X
GARDEN SCHOOL:
THREE SISTERS GARDEN
31 Tue & 32252
Learn about the Native
American-inspired three
sisters and how you can
grow the companion crops,
corn, soybeans and squash.
Age 6–10
APRIL
PRESCHOOL IN THE
GARDEN: COTTONTAILS
01 Wed
& 32254 / 32255 / 32256
Hop along with us and learn
about cottontail rabbits. X
JUNIOR GARDEN
VOLUNTEERS
04 Sat & 32257
Help prepare the gardens
for spring. Age 11–17
HERB SOCIETY:
NATIVE HERBS
07 Tue 7pm
Explore some common native
herbs that are often overlooked but easy to grow,
with Dawn Combs of Mockingbird Meadows. X
CONTAINER GARDENING
14 Tue 11am
Learn how to set up and use
containers in your garden.
Age 50 and older X
GARDEN SCHOOL:
THREE SISTERS GARDEN
18 Sat & 32253
See March 31
MEET THE ARTIST:
SENIOR VIEW II
19 Sun 2–4pm
Meet artists from the Gillie
Community Senior Center
and view their artwork. X
GIRL SCOUT DAY:
JUNIORS FLOWERS
25 Sat & 32264
Girls will participate in activities that contribute to the
Juniors Flowers badge.
MAY
SPRING PLANT SALE
02 Sat 9am–4pm
03 Sun 11am–3pm
Purchase a broad selection of
perennials, annuals and herbs
for your garden. Sponsored
by The Inniswood Volunteers,
Inc. and the Herb Society of
America, Central Ohio Unit.
Gardens Entrance X
Ralf Niehaus
PRESCHOOL
IN THE GARDEN:
LADY BEETLES
06 Wed
& 32277 / 32278 / 32280
Get to know the helpful
beetles we call ladybugs.
X
JUNIOR GARDEN
VOLUNTEERS
09 Sat & 32259
Help prepare the gardens
for spring. Age 11–17
NATIONAL PUBLIC
GARDENS DAY
09 Sat 11am–4pm
10 Sun 1–4pm
Celebrate public gardens
and receive a free gift.
Gardens Entrance X
WILDFLOWER WALK
09 Sat 2pm
Enjoy a walk through the
gardens and look for wildflowers. Age 50 and older
Gardens Entrance
Ladybug
MEET THE ARTIST
17 Sun 2–4pm
Meet Ruth Michalski and
view her watercolors. X
Prairie Oaks
INNISWOOD BOOK CLUB
30 Sat 2pm
Join us for a discussion of
this quarter’s book: “The Last
Camellia” by Sarah Jio. X
Meet at Darby Bend Lakes unless otherwise noted
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
SAP FULL MOON HIKE
05 Thu 6:30pm
Take a brisk 5‑mile hike
through forest and prairie.
EGG FULL MOON HIKE
04 Sat 8pm
MILK FULL MOON HIKE
03 Sun 8:30pm
THE SKUNK
CABBAGE PATCH
08 Sun 2pm
Take a 1‑mile off-trail hike
to see if skunk cabbage is
still blooming.
Prairie View Picnic Area
25 Sat noon
Look for bluebells, trout
lillies, trillium and other
wildflowers on a rugged
1‑mile hike along the creek.
Sycamore Plains Trail
JUST FOR KIDS:
WOODCOCKS
21 Sat 7:30pm
Enjoy an off-trail walk
through the prairie to look
and listen for woodcocks.
Age 6 and older
BIRDING AT ITS BEST
26 Sun 8am
birds on a 2‑mile hike along
the creek.
FAMILY OVERNIGHT
AT THE OAKS
16 Sat & 32126
Wade in the creek, hike
under the stars and cook hot
dogs over an open fire.
In the morning, try your hand
at canoeing and fishing.
Tents and sleeping pads provided. Fee $12 per person.
Families with children age 8
and older
28 Parkscope
CHILDREN’S GARDEN DAY:
WILD INDIGO PLANTS
31 Sun 2–4pm
Learn how to grow indigo
plants and enjoy water
coloring, planting and flower
pounding. Sisters’ Garden
CANOE THE LAKES
25 Mon 1–4pm
Stop by anytime and take a
canoe out for a ride on the
lakes. Canoes and equipment
provided. Kids must fit into a
life jacket to ride. X
LATE NIGHT FISHING
30 Sat 8pm–midnight
Fish Darby Bend Lakes and
Beaver Lake at night. X
PRESCHOOLERS:
NATURE AT NIGHT
30 Sat 8:45pm
Learn about bats, coyotes
and owls and take a halfmile walk to search for them.
Whispering Oaks Picnic Area
X
Scioto Audubon
Meet at Grange Insurance Audubon Center, 505 W Whittier Street, unless otherwise noted
LATE NIGHTS AT THE CLIMBING WALL
Every second and last Friday of the month,
starting April 10
Marshall Reese
The climbing wall will stay open till midnight on April 10
and 24, May 8 and 29. Climbers must bring their own
equipment. Late night fishing also available on these dates
from the dock on the Scioto River.
PRE‑K STORYTIME
Every Thurs & Sat 10am
Bring your little ones for a
nature-inspired story or two.
X
MARCH
LEARN THE ROPES
18 Wed & 32638
Instructors will guide beginners climbers through the
basics of knot‑tying, climbing and belaying. Scale the
32‑foot climbing wall.
Equipment provided.
APRIL
LEARN THE ROPES
15 Wed & 32639
See March 18
MAY
INTERNATIONAL
MIGRATORY BIRD DAY
09 Sat 9am–3pm
Celebrate the big day
with bird hikes, educational
activities and shopping
opportunities. X
LEARN THE ROPES
20 Wed & 32640
See March 18
Sharon Woods
MARCH
FAST‑PACED
ADULT FULL MOON HIKE
04 Wed 6:15pm
Take a fast‑paced, 2.8‑mile
hike along gravel, paved and
natural surface trails.
Apple Ridge Bulletin Board
SCOUT DAY: JUNIORS
ANIMAL HABITATS
08 Sun & 32355 / 32356
Junior Girl Scouts (age 9–11)
will participate in activities
to fulfill requirements for
the Animal Habitats badge.
Apple Ridge Picnic Shelter
AMPHIBIAN CHORUS
21 Sat 7pm
Learn about amphibians and
look and listen for them on a
half‑mile off‑trail hike.
Spring Hollow Lodge,
1069 W. Main St
GO WILD! KIDS CLUB
24 Tue & 32380
Discover the mysterious
world of vernal pool wildlife
and assist in collecting data
on this endangered habitat
during a 1-mile on‑ and
off‑trail hike. Age 5–12
HOMESCHOOLERS:
AMAZING ADAPTATIONS
10 Tue & 32357 / 32358
Learn how adaptations help
animals and plants to survive.
Age 6 and older X
PRESCHOOLERS: SALAMANDER PUPPET SHOW
25 Wed
& 32368 / 32369 / 32370
Join Salamander as he
searches for springtime
friends. Spring Hollow Lodge,
1069 W. Main St X
SPRINGTIME NOTES
21 Sat 3pm
Enjoy music by the Michelle Tuesday Music School
Advanced Flute Ensemble.
Spring Hollow Lodge
AMPHIBIAN MEANDER
28 Sat 2pm
Search for frogs, toads and
salamanders on a 1-mile
off‑trail hike.
Schrock Lake Restrooms
WOODCOCK ADVENTURE
28 Sat 7:30pm
Search for woodcocks
performing their aerial
mating dance.
APRIL
FAST‑PACED
03 Fri 7:45pm
See March 4
GPS EGG HUNT
04 Sat 10am–2pm
Use a GPS unit to search for
plastic eggs hidden in the
park, with a chance to win a
prize. GPS units available, or
bring your own.
Ranger Station
FAIRY & ELF HOUSES
11 Sat 2pm
Venture off‑trail to help us
pull invasive plants and build
a house for fairies, elves or
even bugs. Natural Play Area
(last parking lot in Apple
Ridge area)
SCOUT DAY:
WEBELOS NATURALIST
12 Sun & 32388 / 32389
Webelos (grades 4–5) will
participate in activities to
fulfill requirements for the
Naturalist pin.
Schrock Lake Picnic Shelter
HOMESCHOOLERS:
MAMMALOGY
15 Wed & 32360 / 32361
Learn what makes mammals
such incredible animals.
Age 6 and older
EARTH DAY CLEAN‑UP
18 Sat 1pm
Help pull invasive plants and
pick up litter on‑ and off‑trail
and around waterways. For
more info and to register,
visit www.greencbus.org
Schrock Lake Picnic Shelter
URBAN BEEKEEPING
WORKSHOP
19 Sun & 32395
Discover the science of beekeeping, study the inside of
a hive and learn how to start
your own hive. X
GO WILD! KIDS CLUB
23 Thu & 32381
Wander off‑trail collecting
invasive plants and help build
homes for fairies and elves.
Age 5–12
FAMILY TRAM RIDES
25–26 Sat-Sun 2–5pm
Enjoy a ride through the park
and learn about its wildlife.
Tram stops located in parking
lots. X
MAY
FAST‑PACED
02 Sat 8:15pm
Take a fast‑paced, 2.8‑mile
hike along gravel, paved and
natural surface trails.
DAY CAMP FOR THE
YOUNG AT HEART
07–08 Thu & Fri & 32061
Enjoy a 2‑day camp for
active adults, with natural
and cultural history lectures,
campfire cookout, nature
hikes and more. Register
individually or with a friend.
Age 50 and older
Killdeer
WARBLER STROLL
09 Sat 9am
Search for colorful migrant
birds on a 1‑mile hike.
Binoculars provided.
WILDFLOWER WANDER
10 Sun 2pm
Join volunteer Anna Creswell
on a 1‑mile on‑ and off‑trail
search for wildflowers and
edibles and learn about their
historical uses. Spring Hollow
Lodge, 1069 W. Main St
HOMESCHOOLERS:
GEOCACHING
12 Tue & 32363 / 32364
Learn about geocaching and
use a GPS unit to create your
own mini‑geotrail.
Age 6 and older
MARCH
APRIL
MAPLE WEEKEND
01 Sun 1–3pm
07-08 Sat-Sun 1–3pm
Sample this sweet treat and
learn about making maple
syrup the 1880s way. A short
hike to the sugarbush leaves
the farm at 1 and 2pm.
Sap collecting and boiling is
weather dependant. All other
activities take place whether
sap is flowing or not.
30 Parkscope
John Cagnina
PRESCHOOLERS:
RECYCLING ROUNDUP
21 Tue
& 32371 / 32372 / 32373
22 Wed
& 32374 / 32375 / 32376
Learn about recycling on a
tram ride through the park.
X
SUMMER CAMPING
GEAR DEMO
16 Sat 3pm
See a typical summer camping setup and learn about
gear from experts at The
Outdoor Source.
Apple Ridge Picnic Area
(follow signs) X
OLDER HOMESCHOOLERS:
WINGED WONDERS
19 Tue & 32397
Learn about birds and investigate their powers of flight
through an exploration of
feathers, wings and live birds.
Age 10 and older X
GO WILD! KIDS CLUB
19 Tue & 32382
Enjoy nature games and
crafts and make a campfire
snack. Bring a white T‑shirt to
decorate. Age 5–12
DISCOVERY TRAIL
23 Sat 1–4pm
Take a half-mile hike and
look for items hidden in the
forest to win a prize.
PRESCHOOLERS:
CRAZY KILLDEER
27 Wed
& 32377 / 32378 / 32379
Learn about the killdeer
through a story, game and
other activities. X
Call 614.833.1880 for information
DRAFT HORSE WORKSHOP
04 Sat & 32442
Learn to groom, harness and
ground drive these fine work
animals. Age 16 and older
WE DO WINDOWS
11 Sat 1–3pm
Roll up your sleeves and help
the farmwomen do their
spring‑cleaning chores without the help of electricity or
other modern aids.
WASHDAY BLUES
18 Sat 1–3pm
Help the farmwife with the
laundry as you try the scrub
board, wringer and sad iron.
Watch as we make soap
from lard and lye. X
MORNING CHORES
11 Sat & 32455
See the farmer feed animals
and help with other chores.
Age 5 and older
MORNING CHORES
18 Sat & 32456
Age 5 and older
SHEEP ON THE FARM
26 Sun 1–3pm
Watch sheep shearing, meet
the lambs and learn about
the uses of wool.
MAY
MORNING CHORES
02 Sat & 32457
See April 11
EGGS, FEATHERS AND FOWL
02 Sat 1–3pm
We’ll butcher chickens, show
how eggs were preserved before refrigeration and answer
questions about keeping
small home chicken flocks.
We may have newly hatched
chicks to see. X
TEA AND
VICTORIAN TASTES
09 Sat 1–3pm
Join in some Victorian tea
and taste traditions from
Victorian times and see the
decor of an 1880s house. X
MORNING CHORES
16 Sat & 32458
Age 5 and older
Three Creeks
MARCH
TIMBERDOODLE TIME
14 Sat 7pm
Take a 2‑mile walk to
listen for and watch the
aerial courtship display of the
American woodcock.
COMPOSTING
WITH CRITTERS
15 Sun 2pm
Get all the dirt on worm
composting and make your
own portable compost container to take home.
Heritage Nature Center,
551 Wirt Road, Groveport X
EAGLE WATCH WEEKEND
21 Sat 9:30am or 2pm
22 Sun 2pm
Wander through field and
forest on a 1‑mile off‑trail
walk to see the bald eagles
through a spotting scope.
Madison Christian Church
parking lot,
3565 Bixby Rd, Groveport
PRESCHOOLERS:
HOP INTO SPRING
24 Tue 10am
Discover frogs, toads and
salamanders through stories,
activities and a short walk to
the pond.
551 Wirt Road, Groveport
HEIRLOOM GARDENING
16–17 Sat-Sun 1–3pm
Learn about the preservation
of antique plant varieties and
help plant in our garden.
TOY BOAT BUILDING
24–25 Sun-Mon 1–3pm
Build a simple wood boat to
sail at the pond.
WASHDAY BLUES
30 Sat 1–3pm
Help the farmwife with the
laundry as you try the scrub
board, wringer and sad iron.
Watch as we make soap
from lard and lye. X
Meet at Confluence Trails Bulletin Board unless otherwise noted
NEAT KNOTS
28 Sat 10am
Learn how to tie different knots for your outdoor
adventures.
551 Wirt Road, Groveport
APRIL
PRESCHOOLERS:
AWESOME AMPHIBIANS
09 Thu 10am
salamanders through stories
and fun activities.
FRIDAY FROG FRENZY
17 Fri 8pm
Bring a flashlight and your
wading shoes to search for
frogs and listen to their
mating songs.
HOWL AT THE MOON
18 Sat 8pm
Enjoy a 3‑mile walk with your
dog on the Greenway Trail.
PRESCHOOLERS:
AWESOME AMPHIBIANS
20 Mon 10am
salamanders through stories
and fun activities.
HOMESCHOOLERS:
ALL ABOUT AMPHIBIANS
20 Mon 1:30pm
Take a short walk to explore
a small wetland while learning about frogs, toads and
salamanders.
Age 6 and older
FISHING AT HERON POND
25 Sat 10am
Learn the basics of fishing
then cast a line to see what
you can catch. Poles and
bait available. Age 15 and
younger Heron Pond
BLUEBELLS AND BIRDS
26 Sun 2pm
Wander through the woods
in search of bluebells and
birds on a 2‑mile hike. Be
prepared for wet and muddy
conditions. Age 50 and older
MAY
BIRDING AND BREAKFAST
02 Sat & 32105
Enjoy a hearty breakfast at
the picnic shelter then walk
the trails in search of migrating birds.
PRESCHOOLERS:
SWAMP THINGS
05 Tue 10am
Learn about the small creatures that make their homes
in ponds and wetlands.
WELCOME SUMMER
TRAM RIDES
25 Mon 1–4pm
Say hello to summer with
a tram ride through the
park. Rides offered regularly
throughout the afternoon. X
TRAM TREK
26 Tue 9:30am–noon
Take a tram ride to discover
wildflowers and wildlife.
Rides offered regularly
throughout the morning.
Age 50 and older X
CAMPFIRE BUILDING 101
30 Sat 10am
Learn all the tricks to building great campfires for your
outdoor adventures.
FLOAT THE POND
31 Sun 1–3pm
Take a canoe out for a ride
on Heron Pond. Children
must be at least 40 inches
tall to ride. Heron Pond
Parkscope
Metro Parks Album
Clockwise from left:
Magnolia blossoms at Pickerington Ponds,
by Randy Niner; Red-shouldered hawk and
babies at Blacklick Woods, by Terrence
Peck; April sunset at Arrowhead Marsh in
Pickerington Ponds, by David Jolley.

Parkscope_Spring_2015

Transcription

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