Today

Get up and go — A live birds of prey program from the Lake Erie Nature Center is on tap in the Get Up, Get Out & Go! program. The event will be staged from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Oak Hill Trailhead off Oak Hill Road in Boston Township. For Akron youngsters 11 to 14 years old and their families. Sponsored by the National Park Service and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association. To register, call 330-657-2753, ext. 224, or go to http://www.cvnpa.org.

Junior Rangers — The National Park Service is presenting a Junior Rangers program on bats for youngsters 7 to 12 years old in the Cuyahoga Valley park. It will run from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The fee is $8 per child. Call 800-642-3297, ext. 100, for reservations, the location and additional information.

River hike — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County is staging a Year of the River hike along the Cuyahoga River. Meet at 7 p.m. at the Oxbow Area of Cascade Valley Metro Park. That's off Cuyahoga Street in North Akron. Wear shoes that can get wet. Call 330-865-8065 for more information.

Wind fun — The Medina County Park District will stage a program on the wind with bubbles, balloons and parachutes for youngsters 2 to 6 and accompanying adults. The program will be offered at 10 or 11:30 a.m. at Hubbard Valley Park off Hubbard Valley Road in Guilford Township. Call 330-722-9364 for reservations and additional information.

Bird behavior — Mount Union College's John T. Huston-Dr. John B. Brumbaugh Nature Center will host a program on bird behavior at 8 p.m. The center is on Daniel Street off state Route 183, six miles south of Alliance, in Washington Township. Call 330-823-7487 for more information.

Friday

Park concert — The musical group Champagne will perform music from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s in a free outdoor concert from 7 to 9 p.m. at Goodyear Heights Metro Park. That's off Newton Street in East Akron. Sponsored by the city of Akron Recreation Bureau. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. Call 330-375-2835 for more information.

Beer train — The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is sponsoring an ale-tasting train ride from 7 to 9 p.m. The train will depart from Akron's Northside Station. For those 21 and older only. Tickets are $45, $65 and $80. For reservations and additional information, call 800-468-4070.

Pedal to Massillon — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County is sponsoring a 34-mile round-trip bike ride from Akron to Massillon on the Towpath Trail. It will start at 9 a.m. at the Big Bend Trailhead off Merriman Road in northwest Akron. Helmets are required. Call 330-865-8065 for more information.

Firestone Friday — Fireflies will be the topic of a Firestone Friday program by naturalist Pat Rydquist of Metro Parks, Serving Summit County at 7 p.m. Meet at the Tuscarawas Meadows Area off Harrington Road in South Akron. A campfire will follow the nature program. Call 330-865-8065 for more information.

Moonlight ride — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County is conducting a 15-mile full-moon bike ride on the Towpath Trail. The ride starts at 8 p.m. at the Big Bend Trailhead off Merriman Road in Akron. A campfire will follow. Riders must provide their own helmets, lights, chairs and campfire food. Call 330-865-8065 for more information.

Fairlawn drumming — The Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron will host the Terra Amma Drum Circle from 7 to 9 p.m. at 3300 Morewood Road, Fairlawn. The public is welcome. Call 330-780-7476 for more information.

Tower tour — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources are presenting a tour of the Michael J. Kirwan Dam control tower and visitor center at 7 p.m. It is off Wayland Road, east of Ravenna, in Paris Township. No cameras or bags in the tower. Those over 18 must present identification. Call 330-358-2622 for more information.

Star watch — The Wilderness Center off U.S. 250 near Wilmot will hold a planetarium show and star watch at 8 p.m. For all ages. Free. Call 330-359-5235 for more information.

Saturday

Evening hike — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County is holding an evening hike at 7 p.m. along the 1.2-mile Pheasant Run Trail at Silver Creek Metro park. Meet in the park's Pheasant Run Area off Hametown Road in Norton. Call 330-865-8065 for more information.

Valley hike — The National Park Service is staging a leisurely hike of 2.2 miles on the Ledges Trail in the Cuyahoga Valley. It will run from 2 to 4 p.m. Meet at the Ledges Shelter off Truxell Road in Boston Township.

Identifying juveniles — Ranger Paul Motts of the National Park Service will lead a walk to identify juvenile birds along the Oak Hill trail system in the Cuyahoga Valley. It will run from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Meet at the Oak Hill Trailhead off Oak Hill Road in Boston Township.

Trail music — Hey Mavis! will present old-time and modern folk music from 1 to 3 p.m. along the Towpath Trail. Stop by at Park Place in Peninsula off state Route 303. The music will be canceled if it rains.

Park pop-in — Park Place in Peninsula will host a walk-in open house from noon to 4 p.m. with crafts, stories, games and conversation.

Good times — The Cuyahoga Valley park's M.D. Garage will host an exhibit of Celebrating the Good Times by the Crooked River Gang, a group of local painters, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The show will continue from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The garage is off Boston Mills Road east of the Cuyahoga River in the hamlet of Boston.

Towner's Woods hike — The Portage Park District is conducting a scavenger hunt hike with naturalist Dave Brumfield at 8:30 a.m. at Towner's Woods Park off Ravenna Road in Franklin Township. Call 330-297-7728 for more information.

Valley hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. for a hike of eight hilly miles in the Cuyahoga Valley. Meet at the Boston Store Visitor Center off Boston Mills Road east of the Cuyahoga River in Boston Township. There will be a shorter five-mile Towpath Trail option. Call 330-655-5911 for more information.

Towpath hike — The Portage Trail Walkers hiking club will meet at 7 p.m. for a moonlight walk on the Towpath Trail in the Cuyahoga Valley. There will be a potluck dinner at 7 p.m. and the walk from 8 to 10 p.m. Meet at the Ira Trailhead off Riverview Road north of Ira Road in Cuyahoga Falls. Call 330-678-6896 for more information.

Open fishing — The Ohio Division of Wildlife is opening its fishing ponds to youth anglers from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The ponds will also be open Sunday at 912 Portage Lakes Drive, Coventry Township. Equipment, bait and assistance will be provided. It will be open weekends through Labor Day. Youths must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Adults cannot fish but can assist. Call 330-644-2293 for more information.

Ohio snakes — The Wilderness Center will present a nature program on Ohio snakes at 10 a.m. It is off U.S. 250, west of Wilmot, in Sugar Creek Township. Call 330-359-5235 for more information.

Sunday

Wetlands walk — The National Park Service is staging an off-the-beaten-path hike to wetlands from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Meet at the Ira Trailhead off Riverview Road north of Ira Road in Cuyahoga Falls. Wear sturdy waterproof boots. Advance registration is required. Call 800-445-9667 for reservations and additional information.

Big Ditch hike — The National Park Service is presenting a hike along the Big Ditch, the old Ohio & Erie Canal, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Meet at the Canal Visitor Center off Canal Road in Valley View.

Trail music — Musician Chris Hazen will present traditional string music from 1 to 3 p.m. along the Towpath Trail. Stop by the Trail Mix store off Boston Mills Road east of the Cuyahoga River in Boston Township. The music will be canceled if it rains.

Kite fly — The Stow Parks and Recreation Department and the Ohio Society for the Elevation of Kites are staging a red, white and blue kite fly from 1 to 5 p.m. at Adell Durbin Park off Darrow Road (state Route 91). There will be a kite-making workshop for youngsters at 1 p.m. The workshop fee is $3 per child. Call 330-689-2756 for more information.

Folk jam — Mount Union College's John T. Huston-Dr. John B. Brumbaugh Nature Center will host a folk jam at 2 p.m. The center is on Daniel Street, off state Route 183 six miles south of Alliance, in Washington Township. Call 330-823-7487 for more information.

Nature walk — Mount Union College's John T. Huston-Dr. John B. Brumbaugh Nature Center will host a nature walk at 2 p.m. The center is on Daniel Street, off state Route 183 six miles south of Alliance, in Washington Township. Call 330-823-7487 for more information.

Hinckley float — Cleveland Metroparks is staging a pontoon float from 8 to 9:30 a.m. on Hinckley Lake. Meet at the Hinckley Lake Boathouse off West Drive between Bellus and State roads in Medina County's Hinckley Township. For ages 10 and older with adults. Advance registration is required. Call 440-526-1012 for more information.

Monday

Junior Rangers — The Stark County Park District is presenting a Junior Rangers program on clay flower pots for youngsters at 10 a.m. at the Exploration Gateway, 5712 12th St. NW, Perry Township. Call 330-477-3552 for reservations and additional information.

Tuesday

Music by water — The Metro Parks Ensemble will present a free evening concert by the water at 6:30 p.m. at Munroe Falls Metro Park. You can enjoy free lake swimming from 5 p.m. Friends of Metro Parks will serve free dessert while supplies last. The park is off South River Road in Munroe Falls. The concert will be cancelled if it rains. Call 330-865-8060 after 4 p.m. for a weather update.

Full-moon hike — The National Park Service is staging a full-moon hike of 11/2 miles on the Oak Hill Trail in the Cuyahoga Valley. It will run from 9 to 11 p.m. Meet at the Oak Hill Trailhead off Oak Hill Road in Boston Township.

Get up and go — Fishing is planned for the Get Up, Get Out & Go! program. The event will be staged from 7 to 9 p.m. at Indigo Lake in the Cuyahoga Valley. For Akron youngsters 11 to 14 years old and their families. Sponsored by the National Park Service and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association. To register, call 330-657-2753, ext. 224, or go to http://www.cvnpa.org.

Adopt a trail — The Cuyahoga Valley National Park is seeking volunteers to help clean up and maintain trails. Volunteers are needed from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Salt Run Trail. Meet at the Pine Hollow parking lot off Quick Road in Boston Township. Wear sturdy shoes or boots and dress for the weather. Bring a small pack with work, gloves, water and lunch. Call 330-725-6097 for more information.

Fishing passports — The Medina County Park District and the Ohio Division of Wildlife are presenting a Passport to Fishing program to teach youngsters 7 to 12 years old how to fish. It will run from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at River Styx Park off River Styx Road in Guilford Township. The class will continue Wednesday and next Thursday. Fishing poles and bait will be provided. Free. Advance registration is required. Call 330-722-9364 for more information.

Wednesday

Dragonflies for kids — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County will present Kinderealm programs on dragonflies for youngsters 3, 4 and 5 years old and accompanying adults at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Both programs will be held at the Coventry Oaks Pavilion at Firestone Metro Park. That's off Axline Road in South Akron. Free. Advance reservations are required. The programs will be repeated July 9-11. Call 330-865-8065 for more information.

Evening hike — The National Park Service is sponsoring an evening hike from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley. It will be a six-mile hike on the Buckeye Trail. Meet at the Station Road Bridge Trailhead off Riverview Road south of state Route 82 in Brecksville.

Junior Rangers — The National Park Service is presenting a Junior Rangers program on seeds for youngsters 4 to 6 years old in the Cuyahoga Valley park. It will run from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The fee is $8 per child. Call 800-642-3297, ext. 100, for reservations, the location and additional information.

Adopt a trail — The Cuyahoga Valley National Park is seeking volunteers to help clean up and maintain trails. Volunteers are needed from 9 a.m. to noon on the Boston Run Trail. Meet at the Happy Days Lodge parking lot off state Route 303 in Boston Heights. Wear sturdy shoes or boots and dress for the weather. Bring a small pack with work, gloves, water and lunch. Call 330-666-2270 for more information.

Adopt a trail II — The Cuyahoga Valley National Park is seeking volunteers to help clean up and maintain trails. Volunteers are needed from 1 to 5 p.m. on the Tree Farm Trail. Meet at the Horseshoe Pond parking lot off Major Road on the Peninsula-Boston Township border. Wear sturdy shoes or boots and dress for the weather. Bring a small pack with work, gloves, water and lunch. Call 216-545-3043 for more information.

Green hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. at Boetler Park off Massillon Road (state Route 241) south of Greensburg Road. The hike will be a four miles. Meet in the rear parking lot. Call 330-655-5911 for more information.

Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning@thebeaconjournal.com.