Today

Junior Rangers — The National Park Service is presenting a Junior Rangers program on using global positioning system gear for youngsters 7 to 12 years old from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The fee is $8 per child. Call 800-642-3297, ext. 100, for reservations, the location and information.

Friday

Park concert — Greased Lightning will present dance and show tunes in a free outdoor concert from 7 to 9 p.m. at Goodyear Heights Metro Park off Newton Street in East Akron. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. Sponsored by the Akron Recreation Bureau. Call 330-375-2835 for information.

Bike tour — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is staging a 22-mile bike ride on the Towpath Trail in southern Summit County. The ride starts at 9 a.m. at the Manchester Trailhead, 2740 Manchester Road (state Route 93), Coventry Township. Helmets are required. The ride is to Clinton and back. Call 330-865-8065 for information.

Campfire concert — Donna McDonald on the dulcimer and Tim Yeager on the guitar will entertain at a family campfire at 7 p.m. at Firestone Metro Park. Meet in the Tuscarawas Meadows Area off Harrington Road. Bring chairs and marshmallow sticks. Call 330-865-8065 for information.

Discover Jupiter — The National Park Service is presenting a family astronomy program about Jupiter from 9 to 10:30 p.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley park. Meet at the Oak Hill Trailhead off Oak Hill Road in Boston Township. Telescopes will be set up, weather permitting. If it is cloudy, the program will last 30 minutes.

Junior Rangers — The National Park Service is presenting a Junior Rangers program about dragonflies for youngsters 7 to 12 years old from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley park. The fee is $8 per child. Call 800-642-3297, ext. 100, for reservations, the location and information.

Saturday

Akron Cycling Festival — You can take part in a cycling event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Akron's northside district. There will be three biking events with various fees: The Rubber City Meltdown race will consist of a one-mile loop downtown where bikers will be able to enter in four categories; an almost 25-mile Blue Line ride that will follow the Roadrunner Marathon course and Bike and Board — a family-friendly casual ride from Akron to Peninsula with a return on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Rail. Starting at 1:45 p.m. there will be arts and crafts for kids, a children's Safety Town and music starting at 5 p.m. featuring Mike Lenz, Ryan Humbert and Maid Myriad. Registration for the biking events opens at 8 a.m. and will close 15 minutes before the start of each event. Registration and more also available online at http://www.rubbercitymeltdown.com.

Stream slosh — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is conducting a stream hike in Furnace Run, a key Cuyahoga River tributary in northern Summit County. Meet naturalist Mike Greene at 2 p.m. at the Daffodil Trail, 3100 Brush Road, Richfield Township. The two-mile hike is off trail and not appropriate for the very young or those who have difficulty walking on slippery, uneven terrain. Wear old tennis shoes or boots. Open-toed sandals and bare feet are not permitted. Call 330-865-8065 for information.

Full-moon biking — You can join a family bike ride of 15 miles under the full Sturgeon Moon. Meet at 8 p.m. at the Big Bend Trailhead in Sand Run Metro Park off Merriman Road in northwest Akron. Sponsored by Metro Parks, Serving Summit County. Riders must provide own bikes, helmets and lights. A campfire will follow the ride. Bring chairs and campfire food. Call 330-865-8065 for information.

Monarch pedaling — Ranger Paul Motts of the National Park Service will lead a nine-mile bicycle ride to check out monarch butterfly sites in the Cuyahoga Valley. It will run from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Meet at Lock 29 Trailhead off Mill Street in Peninsula. Parking is also available in the nearby overflow parking lot.

Bird walk — Volunteer Dwight Chasar will lead a bird walk seeking warblers from 7 to 10 a.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley park. Meet at the Wetmore Trailhead off Wetmore Road in Boston Township. Trails are often muddy.

Adopt a trail — The Cuyahoga Valley National Park is seeking volunteers to help clean up and maintain trails. Volunteers are needed from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Pine Grove and Ledges trails. Meet at the Octagon Shelter parking lot off Truxell 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 330-678-9028 for information.

Chillin' out — The Cuyahoga Valley park's M.D. Garage will host an exhibit of Chillin' Out paintings 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.

Trail tunes — Kate Ritchie will play the mandolin from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Peninsula Depot in Peninsula. The show will be canceled if it rains.

Park Place pop-ins — The Park Place in Peninsula store is holding an open house with crafts, stories, games and conversation from noon to 4 p.m. It is on state Route 303 in downtown Peninsula.

Healthy hike — The Medina County Park District will present an adult-only healthy hike from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 6100 Ridge Road (state Route 94), Sharon Township. Call 330-722-9364 for information.

Steam train rides — The Medina County Park District and the Northeastern Ohio Live Steamers will present rides on the mini trains from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m at the Lester Rail Trail. That's off Lester Road north of state Route 18 west of Medina in York Township. Free. Call 330-722-9364 for more information.

Portage hike — The Portage Park District is holding a hike at 9 a.m. at its Breakneck Creek Preserve, 5795 Lakewood Road, Ravenna Township. The preserve is not normally open to the public. Call 330-297-7728 for information.

Art reception — The Stark County Park District is hosting a reception at 2 p.m. for artwork made of recycled materials. It will be held at the Exploration Gateway, 5712 12th St. NW, Perry Township. Call 330-477-3552 for reservations and information.

Stow hike — Stow's Harold Welch Nature Center will host an arboretum walk at 2 p.m. Meet at the nature center in Adell Durbin Park off Darrow Road (state Route 91). Call 330-689-5100 for information.

Full-moon hike— The Portage Trail Walkers hiking club will meet at 7 p.m. for a potluck dinner, followed by a full-moon hike from 8 to 10 p.m. Meet at Brust park off North Main Street (state Route 91) in Munroe Falls. Call 330-673-6896 for information.

Brecksville hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 9 a.m. for a hilly hike in Cleveland Metroparks' Brecksville Reservation. Meet at the Brecksville Nature Center off Chippewa Creek Drive. Call 330-655-5911 for 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 Dr., 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 information.

Sunday

Butterfly hike — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is staging a butterfly walk at the former Summit County Home site in Tallmadge. Meet naturalist Pat Rydquist at 1 p.m. at the parking lot at the entrance to the Summit County Fairgrounds off North Avenue (state Route 91). Call 330-865-8065 for information.

Ranger rambles — Ranger Rebecca Jones of the National Park Service will direct a five-mile off-trail ramble between the Buckeye Trail and Blue Hen Falls in northern Summit County. It will run from 8 to 11 a.m. For ages 12 and older only. Wear sturdy waterproof boots and bring water. The hike includes stream crossings and ravines. It begins at the Columbia Run Picnic Area off Riverview Road in Boston Township. Space is limited. Call 800-445-9667 for reservations and information.

Family hike — The National Park Service is sponsoring a family hike on the big ditch that changed America. The hike will be from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley park. Meet at the Canal Visitor Center off Canal Road in Valley View.

Wildlife walk — The Stark County Park District is holding a nature walk at 1 p.m. Meet at the Walborn Reservoir marina off Price Street Northeast in Marlboro Township. Call 330-477-3552 for 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 information.

Plant walk — The Botanizers plant club at the Wilderness Center will stage a plant walk on the Pond Trail. Meet at 2 p.m. The center is off U.S. 250 west of Wilmot in Sugar Creek Township. Call 330-359-5235 for information.

Monday

Junior Rangers — The Stark County Park District is presenting a Junior Rangers program about wildlife habitats. The program for youngsters 8 to 12 years old will start at 10 a.m. at the Exploration Gateway, 5712 12th St. NW, Perry Township. The fee is $5. Call 330-477-3552 for reservations and information.

Tuesday

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 of 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 information.

Junior Rangers — The National Park Service is presenting a Junior Rangers program about 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 information.

Summer colors — The Stark County Park District is presenting a summer colors painting program with artist Lynda Tuttle at 6 p.m. at the Exploration Gateway, 5712 12th St. NW, Perry Township. Call 330-477-3552 for reservations and information.

Wednesday

Park concert — The Sammy DeLeon Latin Jazz Orchestra will present a free outdoor concert in the Cuyahoga Valley, weather permitting. The show will be staged at 6:30 p.m. at Howe Meadow off Riverview Road north of Ira Road in Cuyahoga Falls. Pre-concert activities including family games will begin at 5:30 p.m. The show will be canceled if it rains. Sponsored by the Cuyahoga Valley park and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association.

Little Cuyahoga cleanup — Volunteers are needed from 9 a.m. to noon to clean up the Little Cuyahoga River near the Mustill Store off West North Street near downtown Akron. Sponsored by Metro Parks, Serving Summit County. Wear waterproof boots, work pants, long pants and sunscreen. Bring snacks and water. participants under 16 must be accompanied by adults. Advance registration is required. Call 330-865-8047 for reservations and 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 Lake and Cross Country trails. Meet at the Kendall Lake parking lot off Truxell 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 330-678-9028 for information.

Hudson hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. for a hike at Hudson Springs Park off Stow Road north of state Route 303 in Hudson. The hike is on trails and streets. Bring a sack lunch. Call 330-655-5911 for information.

Garden munchies — Mount Union College's John T. Huston-Dr. John B. Brumbaugh Nature Center will host a Kids in the Garden program on garden munchies for youngsters 8 to 11. It will run from 9 a.m. to noon. Registration is required. The center is on Daniel Street off state Route 183 six miles south of Alliance in Washington Township. Call 330-823-7487 for information.

Wild walk — The Wilderness Center off U.S. 250 near Wilmot is holding a nature walk at 10 a.m. Call 330-359-5235 for information.

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