Summit Metro Parks

Beyond the Summit: The Facts of Fishing
2026-03-14 15:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | SLNC, 411 Ira Ave., Akron, OH, 44301, United States
Beyond the Summit is a speaker series featuring environmental professionals discussing topics related to water in Northeast Ohio. From watershed health to fishing best practices, each talk offers community members the chance to learn from experts shaping the future of our water resources. This month’s guest joins us from Fisherman’s Central to talk about some fishing facts and pro tips.

Back Yards Gone Wild: DIY Bluebird Boxes
2026-03-29 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-03-29 15:00 - 16:00 | LP/Nature Center, 9999 Liberty Rd., Twinsburg, OH, 44087, United States
Join a naturalist to learn about cavity-nesting birds such as chickadees, bluebirds and wrens. After a short presentation, participants can make a bluebird box to take home, free of charge, courtesy of Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Limit: one kit per household. Program will take place in the outdoor shelter, so dress for the weather! Registration is required and begins on 2/1.

Powering Tomorrow Sustainably
2026-04-04 13:00 - 14:30 | LP/Nature Center, 9999 Liberty Rd., Twinsburg, OH, 44087, United States
Join a naturalist in this new monthly series to explore how emerging energy technologies and evolving policies are shaping our daily lives — and paving the way toward a sustainable future. We’ll discover how communities, industries and individuals are coming together to cut carbon emissions, adopt renewable technologies and rethink the way we power our world.
Each month focuses on a key theme, such as:

Renewable energy in action. Learn how solar, wind, and other clean sources are transforming how we power our lives.
Building the future. Explore the infrastructure and technology behind modern energy systems.
Responding to climate change. Learn strategies for both reducing emissions and adapting to a changing climate.
Innovation and entrepreneurship. Meet the people and ideas driving green technology forward.
Policy and investment. Discover how governments and financial systems are shaping the path to sustainability.
Community impact. Hear inspiring stories of individuals, organizations and industries making a difference.

Look forward to future programs in this series that bring together science, innovation and community action to deepen your understanding of energy and inspire a more sustainable world for generations to come.

Book Club: Bicycling with Butterflies
2026-04-08 18:00 - 19:30 | FASN/Visitors Center, 1828 Smith Rd., Akron, OH, 44313, United States
Whether a first-time visitor or a longtime book club member, all adults are invited to share in a lively discussion about the inspiring book “Bicycling with Butterflies” by Sara Dykman. Don’t forget to bring your mug — we’ll supply the beverages.

Beyond the Summit: Urban Impacts on Streams
2026-04-08 18:00 - 20:00 | SLNC, 411 Ira Ave., Akron, OH, 44301, United States
Beyond the Summit is a speaker series featuring environmental professionals discussing topics related to water in Northeast Ohio. From watershed health to fishing best practices, each talk offers community members the chance to learn from experts shaping the future of our water resources. This month’s guest joins us from Summit Soil and Water Conservation District to talk about the urban impacts on local streams.

Good Garden Talks: Creating Soft Landings
2026-04-16 18:00 - 19:30 | GYH/Goodyear Heights Lodge, 2077 Newton St., Akron, OH, 44305, United States
Discover how native plantings under native trees provide critical shelter and habitat for one or more life cycle stages of moths, butterflies and beneficial insects whose numbers are in decline.

Self-Guided: Spring Wildflower Walk
2026-04-17 00:00 - 2026-05-03 23:59 | LP/Nature Center, 9999 Liberty Rd., Twinsburg, OH, 44087, United States
Welcome, spring! Hike the 1.1-mile Ledges Trail through May 3 to discover delicate spring blooms of all shapes, sizes and colors. Interpretive signs will be posted along the way to point out these beauties and guide your learning experience.

Earth Fest Open House
2026-04-18 10:30 - 14:00 | FASN/Visitors Center, 1828 Smith Rd., Akron, OH, 44313, United States
Get an early start on celebrating Earth Day 2026 and enjoy games, a craft and music. You’ll learn the history of Earth Day, plus easy ways you can live greener and adopt sustainable practices.

Wildlife History Hike
2026-04-23 18:30 - 20:00 | CV/Valley View Area, 1134 Cuyahoga St., Akron, OH, 44313, United States
Celebrate Earth Day on a 1-mile hike through Cascade Valley Metro Park. We will take a look at the rich past, present state and optimistic future of wildlife in our area, thanks to the conservation efforts right here in our parks.

Homegrown Habitat: Frogs & Snakes
2026-04-30 18:30 - 20:00 | FASN/Visitors Center, 1828 Smith Rd., Akron, OH, 44313, United States
Calling all people with yards or green spaces big and small: Join us and learn how to rewild your home landscape. This month, discover ways to garden alongside amphibians and reptiles. From toad abodes to rock gardens, there are lots of ways to embrace our scaly and slimy friends at home!

Good Garden Talks: Plant Swap
2026-05-07 18:00 - 19:30 | SLNC, 411 Ira Ave., Akron, OH, 44301, United States
Join us in collaboration with Let’s Grow Akron to swap some plants! These can be cuttings from plants in your yard or freshly grown from seed. Plants should be labeled by name and contained in pots. Vegetables, herbs and native plants are preferred, but all plants are welcome! All are encouraged to attend, even without plants to share. In the event of inclement weather, the program will be held indoors.

Back Yards Gone Wild: Gardening on a Budget
2026-05-10 14:00 - 15:30 | LP/Nature Center, 9999 Liberty Rd., Twinsburg, OH, 44087, United States
Native plant gardening doesn’t have to be expensive! Join fellow gardeners for a discussion of how to get the best bang for your buck — learn about local sales, how to start plants successfully from seed or cuttings and how to split mature plants through hands-on demonstrations. We’ll end with a plant swap, so bring any cuttings, starts or seeds from your yard, labeled in containers, to share.

Moon Gardening for Nocturnal Creatures
2026-05-16 10:30 - 11:30 | MF/Lake Area, 521 S. River Rd., Munroe Falls, OH, 44262, United States
From flickering fireflies to dancing bats and marvelous moths (butterflies of the night) — how can you use native plants to make your back yard more inviting to our nocturnal neighbors? We’ll talk night-blooming flowers, habitat features, firefly-friendly yards and more.
This program takes place during the Native Plant Festival.

Powering Tomorrow Sustainably
2026-05-17 13:00 - 14:30 | LP/Nature Center, 9999 Liberty Rd., Twinsburg, OH, 44087, United States
Join a naturalist for this monthly series exploring how emerging technologies and evolving policies are shaping our daily lives — and paving the way toward a more sustainable future. This month, we will focus on where electricity comes from when you flip a switch, tracing its journey from generation to transmission to distribution, and learning why this system has become a key bottleneck in achieving a more sustainable energy future.

C-Change Conversations
2026-05-18 17:30 - 19:30 | Akron-Summit County Public Library – Main Library, 60 S. High St., Akron, 44326, United States
The Akron Garden Club, in association with the Akron-Summit County Public Library and Summit Metro Parks, invites the community to a special evening program featuring Kathleen Biggins, founder of C-Change Conversations. C-Change Conversations is a nationally recognized, non-partisan educational initiative designed to help audiences better understand the science and real-world impacts of climate change. Through an engaging multimedia presentation, Biggins explores how climate change affects our health, economy and natural resources — and highlights practical, science-based solutions.

Good Garden Talks: Plant Swap
2026-05-21 18:00 - 19:30 | GYH/Goodyear Heights Lodge, 2077 Newton St., Akron, OH, 44305, United States
Join us in collaboration with Let’s Grow Akron to swap plants! These can be cuttings from plants in your yard or freshly grown from seed. Plants should be labeled by name and contained in pots. Vegetables, herbs and native plants are preferred, but all plants are welcome. All are encouraged to attend, even without plants to share. Meet in the Community Garden. In the event of inclement weather, the program will be held inside Goodyear Heights Lodge.

Beyond the Summit: Summit Lake Fish Biodiversity
2026-05-27 17:30 - 19:00 | SLNC, 411 Ira Ave., Akron, OH, 44301, United States
Beyond the Summit is a speaker series featuring environmental professionals discussing topics related to water in Northeast Ohio. From watershed health to fishing best practices, each talk offers community members the chance to learn from experts shaping the future of our water resources. This month’s guest joins us from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife to talk about Summit Lake fish biodiversity.

Good Garden Talks: Small Scale Composting
2026-06-04 18:00 - 19:30 | Stadelman Community Garden, 845 Stadelman Ave., Akron, OH, 44320, United States
Healthy plants rely on soil microbes for nutrients. Join us in collaboration with Let’s Grow Akron and OSU Extension to learn how to make and use compost from food and garden waste to build soil that supports productive gardens.

Powering Tomorrow Sustainably
2026-06-14 13:00 - 14:30 | LP/Nature Center, 9999 Liberty Rd., Twinsburg, OH, 44087, United States
Join a naturalist for this monthly series exploring how emerging energy technologies and evolving policies are shaping our daily lives — and paving the way toward a more sustainable future. This month’s program highlights innovation and entrepreneurship, focusing on the people and ideas driving green technology forward.

Back Yards Gone Wild: Just Add Water
2026-07-12 14:00 - 15:30 | LP/Nature Center, 9999 Liberty Rd., Twinsburg, OH, 44087, United States
Join a naturalist to learn how to help backyard wildlife beat the heat by adding water to your landscape! We’ll cover everything from bird baths and bubblers to misters and small ponds with tips and tricks about how to get started.

Powering Tomorrow Sustainably
2026-07-19 13:00 - 14:30 | LP/Nature Center, 9999 Liberty Rd., Twinsburg, OH, 44087, United States
Join a naturalist in this monthly series to explore how emerging energy technologies and evolving policies are shaping our daily lives and paving the way toward a more sustainable future. This month, we’ll take a look at the local, state, national and global policies driving green energy and funding sustainable development.

Good Garden Talks: Watering the Garden
2026-08-06 18:00 - 19:30 | Let’s Grow Akron Headquarters, 467 Harvey Ave., Akron, OH, 44314, United States
Join us in collaboration with Let’s Grow Akron and OSU Extension to discuss effective methods for watering in the vegetable garden.

Bats, Up Close & Personal
2026-08-06 20:30 - 22:00 | LP/Nature Center, 9999 Liberty Rd., Twinsburg, OH, 44087, United States
Bats are some of the most fascinating and beneficial creatures of the night! Join us to learn about these fantastic flying insect controllers up close as park biologists attempt to catch them with nets for observation and data collection. The program will take place in the outdoor shelter.

Powering Tomorrow Sustainably
2026-08-16 13:00 - 14:30 | LP/Nature Center, 9999 Liberty Rd., Twinsburg, OH, 44087, United States
Join a naturalist for this monthly series to explore how emerging energy technologies and evolving policies are shaping our daily lives and paving the way toward a more sustainable future. This month, we’ll highlight sustainability efforts led by individuals, industries and communities — locally, statewide and around the world.

Getting to Know Grasses
2026-08-29 18:00 - 19:30 | SFB/Prairie Trail, 1400 Portage Line Rd., Springfield Twp., OH, 44312, United States
Often overlooked and under loved, grasses play an essential role in our communities. Join for a hike along the 1.6-mile Prairie Trail to explore the fantastic features that make grasses so fascinating.

Good Garden Talks: Cozy Up with Chamomile & Bergamot Teas
2026-09-17 18:00 - 19:30 | GYH/Goodyear Heights Lodge, 2077 Newton St., Akron, OH, 44305, United States
Join us in collaboration with Let’s Grow Akron and OSU Extension to learn all about comforting chamomile and wild bergamot, native plants that support human health and pollinators. Enjoy samples of both teas.

Upcycled Wind Chimes for Adults
2026-09-20 13:00 - 15:00 | FASN/Visitors Center, 1828 Smith Rd., Akron, OH, 44313, United States
Join naturalists and fellow creatives for a hands-on crafty time making wind chimes out of repurposed materials. Keys, beads, jewelry chains and more will be transformed into audible art that will add a touch of calm to your outdoor space. Come prepared to use needle-nose pliers to manipulate small materials. Registration is required and begins 8/1.

Good Garden Talks: Bird Friendly Gardens
2026-11-19 18:00 - 19:30 | GYH/Goodyear Heights Lodge, 2077 Newton St., Akron, OH, 44305, United States
Join us in collaboration with Let’s Grow Akron and OSU Extension to learn how to design a garden that is fit for the birds. Learn what plants to grow to feed the birds year-round as well as how to enhance your garden features for best wintertime bird viewing. The program will be held in the West Room.

Back Yards Gone Wild: Berries for Birds
2026-11-22 14:00 - 15:30 | LP/Nature Center, 9999 Liberty Rd., Twinsburg, OH, 44087, United States
Join a naturalist to wrap up our year-long series of welcoming nature into our yards. This month, we will learn about native berry producing trees, shrubs and vines to attract birds to your yard and feed them through winter. If weather allows, all are invited on a short walk after the presentation to see some of these species growing wild.
