To join a virtual program, visit www.zoom.com and enter the Zoom meeting ID.
AprilMayJune
Join a naturalist on a leisurely stroll with stops along the way to discover nature and history. F/Tuscarawas Meadows
Do you have a creative spirit? Teens ages 13 to 17 join our interpretive artist for lessons in nature-inspired art. This is a drop-off program. Please dress for a mess. ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED AND BEGINS 11/17: 330-865-8065. FASN/Visitors Center
Join naturalist Joe Malmisur as we walk around the meadows of Liberty Park identifying the remains of summer and fall wildflowers. No leaves, no flowers, no problem. You will quickly be able to ID many of your favorites by just the brown stems. LP/Nature Center
Make a beaded necklace to take home or give as a gift. ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED AND BEGINS 11/16: 330-865-8065. SR/Shady Hollow
Ages 6 to 12 join our interpretive artist for this lesson in nature drawing. Paper and pencils will be provided. ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED AND BEGINS 11/24: 330-865-8065. FASN/Visitors Center
Lettuce, worms, tomatoes, roaches...yum! Stop in to the animal room and get up-close to our exhibit animals as they eat lunch. Naturalist Becca Zak and feeder/handler volunteers will be available for questions. FASN/Visitors Center
Is attaching the hiking spree shield more challenging than actually hiking the eight trails? Summit Metro Parks volunteers will gladly attach it for you at no charge. GYH/Lodge
This monthly series explores the night sky and examines the zodiac constellation of the month. The program is a mix of science, folklore and personal reflection through journaling. Program will take place rain or shine. LP/Nature Center
Join naturalist Elizabeth Kresse to create a beautiful nature-inspired holiday wreath for your home. We will use a grapevine form and fill it with all-natural materials. Cost: $10/person. ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED AND BEGINS ONLINE 11/21: Register here. FASN/Visitors Center
Join our interpretive artist for this entertaining lesson in nature drawing. Bring a sketchbook, pencil and a sense of humor. Beginners are welcome. ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED AND BEGINS 11/20: 330-865-8065. FASN/Visitors Center
Make and take your own 4-oz. beeswax candle and decorative gift tag, and learn about beneficial bees. Cost: $15/person. ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED AND BEGINS ONLINE 11/21: Register here. FASN/Visitors Center
Young children and their adult companions will enjoy this interactive, nature-inspired story time intended for ages 18 months to 3 years. ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED AND BEGINS 11/27: 330-865-8065. LP/Nature Center
Enjoy a leisurely stroll along Old Mill Trail, with frequent stops to discover history and nature along the way. FR/Brushwood
Children ages 3 to 6 and their adult companions are invited to learn about the different animal groups. Program includes a hike and craft. Please make other arrangements for younger children unable to remain in infant seats or strollers. ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED AND BEGINS 11/30: 330-865-8065. FASN/Visitors Center
Enjoy some outdoor therapy on a sensory hike! Savor a short, silent hike during which we focus our senses to hear bird songs, smell fragrances of trees and look for animal tracks. MF/Lake Area
You CAN celebrate the holidays without creating garbage! Join naturalist Becca Zak to learn how! SR/Shady Hollow
Learn about the first 100 years of Akron's industry, transportation and culture, including the formation of the Akron Metropolitan Park District in 1921. FASN/Visitors Center
Enjoy the beauty of nature while spying for winter wonders along Rock Creek Trail. FR/Brushwood
Show off your ugly seasonal sweater while checking out the "sweaters" that animals don for the winter season, then enjoy warming up around a fire with some hot cocoa. LP/Nature Center
Join naturalist Joe Malmisur as we look at how the last Ice Age shaped many of the features in the Metro Parks. Learn about the kettle lakes, why the Cuyahoga River turns north, and how Sand Run got its name. We will also point out glacial features in many of our parks. FASN/Visitors Center
Enjoy a vinyasa yoga practice with a certified instructor. Wear comfortable clothing, and bring a yoga mat or towel and drinking water. ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED AND BEGINS 12/1: 330-865-8065. FASN/Visitors Center
Children ages 3 to 6 and their adult companions are invited to learn about the different animal groups. Program includes a hike and craft. Please make other arrangements for younger children unable to remain in infant seats or strollers. ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED AND BEGINS 11/30: 330-865-8065. LP/Nature Center
Colorful, found on every continent, and oh so iconic, birds are worth saving. As the 100th year of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act comes to a close, join naturalist Becca Zak to learn about why birds matter and how you can help our avian neighbors. SR/Mingo
Children ages 3 to 6 and their adult companions are invited to learn about the different animal groups. Program includes a hike and craft. Please make other arrangements for younger children unable to remain in infant seats or strollers. ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED AND BEGINS 11/30: 330-865-8065. F/Coventry Oaks
'Tis the season: Join naturalist Becca Zak and hike Piney Woods Trail to learn about how pine trees benefit people and wildlife. GYH/Pioneer
Join naturalist Elizabeth Kresse for a relaxing evening to create a beautiful ornament using natural materials. Cost: $5/person. ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED AND BEGINS ONLINE 11/9: Register here. SR/Shady Hollow
Ever wonder what the Audubon Christmas Bird Count is all about? Join a naturalist and the Greater Akron Audubon Society to learn why it got started, how you can participate and about the birds we are likely to see during this year's count on December 16. SR/Mingo
Children ages 3 to 6 and their adult companions are invited to learn about the different animal groups. Program includes a hike and craft. Please make other arrangements for younger children unable to remain in infant seats or strollers. ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED AND BEGINS 11/30: 330-865-8065. GYH/Main Entrance
Celebrate National Hot Cocoa Day by filling your mug with hot chocolate and sitting fireside for a peaceful afternoon discussion at the wildlife viewing area. We will find out why this area is a favorite of our winter residents. Cocoa, coffee and tea is provided, but please bring a mug. LP/Nature Center
Join naturalist Sarah Graham for nature jokes and riddles as we move along Indian Spring Trail at a steady pace. MF/Lake Area
Join a naturalist for a hike along Cherry Lane Trail to discover nature. Afterward, warm up by a fire. Marshmallows will be provided (while supplies last). FASN/Campfire Area
Join a naturalist for a nighttime hike along Ledges Trail and learn about nocturnal animals and our night sky. Bring a flashlight and dress for the weather. Please keep in mind that the trail can be hard to navigate at night. LP/Nature Center
Join naturalist Joe Malmisur as we hike Indian Spring Trail, identifying several trees and shrubs along the way. By the end of the program you will be able to easily tell the differences between beech, maples and oaks. MF/Lake Area
Kids come out and learn how animals cope with Ohio's temperatures and changing weather. FASN
Join us as we help the Greater Akron Audubon Society with the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. We will be walking Cherry Lane Trail and Fernwood Loop to count the different birds we see and hear. For beginners and avid birders. Binoculars are recommended. FASN/Visitors Center
Enjoy a morning walk in the park as we discover nature along the way. FASN
Join us for a peaceful discussion about the Christmas Bird Count at the wildlife viewing area, and find out why it's a favorite of our winged winter residents. Coffee is provided, but please bring a mug. FASN/Visitors Center
Learn the myths and legends behind some constellations of the winter sky. Even if it’s a cloudy night, there will be stories and marshmallows! LP/Twinsburg Ledges
Rebranding the City: A Humanizing Tour of Akron is a series of theatrical vignettes shaped as a tour trying to convince people to come to (and stay in) Akron. The play is based off of interviews with people from Akron's 24 Akron neighborhoods and serves as a humorous (and sometimes serious), self-reflective look at where Akron came from, where it is now and where it plans to go all while giving a platform for the voices of its residents. "Rebranding the City" is funded by the Art x Love @PLAY project. All ages are welcome, but the play may be most suitable for ages 12 and up. FASN/Visitors Center
Join a naturalist on a fun, relaxing hike to destress, reenergize and reconnect with nature—a powerful prescription to overcome the winter blues! Afterwards, enjoy the glow of a campfire. FASN/Seneca Deck
Explore for owls with a naturalist on Ledges Trail. Patience and silence are essential when prowling for owls. Program for ages 6 and older. No dogs, please. LP/Twinsburg Ledges
Hike the winter meadow with naturalist Becca Zak in search of creatures that use snow for cover, then, cozy up next to a fire in the shelter. Bring a blanket! Marshmallows will be provided (while supplies last). LP/Twinsburg Ledges
Join naturalist Elizabeth Kresse to learn about some of your backyard birds, then create an edible present for them to take home! Materials will be available while supplies last. FASN/Visitors Center
Join a naturalist on a hike along Indian Spring Trail to learn about how wildlife get by in winter. MF/Lake Area
Kids, invite the special people in your life to play some indoor family-friendly nature games! GYH/Lodge
Take a short nighttime stroll through the woods, guided by the glow of luminaries. Afterward, enjoy the light of a campfire and warm up with marshmallows and hot chocolate. LP/Nature Center
Join naturalist Dave Brumfield to search for birds that reside in Ohio year-round, along with winter's winged visitors. Bring binoculars and dress for the weather. SFB
Join naturalist Joe Malmisur as we discuss how beaver, otter and many other fur-bearing animals shaped the America we know today. Think Exxon is a big company? Think again, and learn about how the Hudson's Bay Company monopolized the fur trade. FASN
Participants of all ages join a naturalist for nature-themed bingo. No letters and numbers here! Use the sights and sounds of nature to mark your card, and maybe even win a prize. FASN/Visitors Center
Kids ages 7 to 10 can enjoy this winter adventure with fun, hands-on experiences. We will explore the park looking for signs of winter animals. Pack a lunch and dress to be outside for long periods of time. Cost: $10/person. ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED AND BEGINS ONLINE 11/29: Register here. FR/Brushwood
Join a naturalist to discover which wildlife are out and about during the winter. You will even get a chance to hand-feed one of our year-round residents, the chickadee! F/Tuscarawas Meadows
Children ages 5 to 7 and their adult companions are invited to drop in for a craft and cocoa. FASN/Visitors Center
Kids ages 11 to 13 can experience nature through art with fun, hands-on experiences. Pack a lunch and dress to be outside for long periods of time. Meet at the lodge. Cost: $10/person. ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED AND BEGINS ONLINE 11/29: Register here. F/Coventry Oaks
Celebrate the start of another winter season! Bring your own hot dogs and buns to cook over an open fire, and we'll provide drinks and condiments. Then hike with a naturalist to investigate how animals survive the winter. FASN/Campfire Area
Enjoy a leisurely hike along Bluebird Trail to discover nature. Afterwards, warm up with hot cocoa and a toasty campfire. LP/Nature Center
Come enjoy winter inside and out! Kids will enjoy activities outside with a naturalist then warm up with a bird-friendly craft. FASN/Visitors Center
Stroll with a naturalist in search of feathered friends and learn how to help them through the winter. Afterwards, try your hand at feeding the chickadees and warm up with hot cocoa in the visitors center (while supplies last). FASN/Onondaga Deck
Explore for owls with a naturalist on Quarry Trail. Patience and silence are essential when prowling for owls. Program for ages 6 and older. No dogs, please. DLQ
Enjoy a morning filled with fun for the entire family! Crafts, activities and a toast at noon will help us ring in the New Year! Take a hike while you are here, and then warm up by the campfire. FASN/Visitors Center