Today
Weekday walk — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is offering a weekday walk at 10 a.m. at Silver Creek Metro Park in Norton. Meet in the Pheasant Run Area. The park is off Hametown Road. It will be a two-mile walk on the Chippewa Trail. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Ohio bears — The Medina County Park District is holding a program on black bears in Ohio with bear researcher Mike Sustin at 7 p.m. at the Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 6100 Ridge Road (state Route 94), Sharon Township. Sustin, a science teacher at West Geauga High School, got a Toyota grant in 2009 and has had students in Geauga, Lake and Ashtabula counties deploy state-of-the-art remote trail cameras to photograph bears. 330-722-9364.
Stark parks — The Stark County Park District is presenting a program on What Is Stark Parks? at 6:30 p.m. at the Exploration Gateway, 5712 12th St. NW, Perry Township. 330-409-8096.
Friday
Campfire tales — The National Park Service will present an indoor campfire program on the Underground Railroad with costumed characters at 7 p.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Meet at the Happy Days Lodge off state Route 303 in Boston Heights.
Story time — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is conducting story hours for youngsters 1 to 3 years old and accompanying adults at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Advance registration is required. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Beer train — The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is offering a beer-tasting run from 7 to 9 p.m. from the Rockside Station in Independence. For 21 and older only. Tickets start at $45 a person. Advance reservations are required. 800-468-4070 or www.cvsr.com.
Saturday
Park concert — The musical group Nora Jane Struthers and the Bootleggers will perform in concert at 8 p.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley park. The show of bluegrass, folk and old-time music will be held at the Happy Days Lodge off state Route 303 in Boston Heights. Tickets are $17, $5 for children 3 to 12 years old. Advance tickets are available until 3 p.m. Friday at 330-657-2909, ext. 100.
Cardio hike — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is staging a cardio hike of 3.2 miles with two loops on the Old Mill Trail and one loop on the Rock Creek Trail at Furnace Run Metro Park. Meet at 9 a.m. in the Brushwood Area off Townsend Road in Richfield Township. Wear boots and bring water. No planned stops on the hike.
Chickadee fun — Learn about black-capped chickadees from author Ann McClain Roher at 10:30 a.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Sponsored by Metro Parks, Serving Summit County. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Night skies — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is holding an astronomy program on the night sky at 7 p.m. at Firestone Metro Park. Meet at the Coventry Oaks Pavilion off Axline Road in South Akron. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Cross-country workshop — The National Park Service is staging a cross-country ski program on handling hills from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley. Meet at the Kendall Lake Shelter off Truxell Road in Boston Township. Dress for the weather and bring your own gear. The fee is $10. If there’s not enough snow, the class may be rescheduled later. Advance reservations are required. 330-657-2752.
Winter hike — The National Park Service is holding a winter marshlands hike from 2 to 3:30 p.m. It will be an easy 1½-mile walk on the Towpath Trail. Meet at the Ira Trailhead off Riverview Road north of Ira Road in Cuyahoga Falls.
Snow biking clinic — Century Cycle in Peninsula is sponsoring a snow biking clinic at 1:30 p.m. Participants can ride the Surly Pugsley and Surly Moonlander snow bikes with extra fat tires. No registration required. Just show up and dress warm. 330-657-2209.
Reading music — The Medina County Park District is holding a class on reading music for guitar at 10 a.m. at the Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 6100 Ridge Road (state Route 94), Sharon Township. It will run for five Saturdays. Bring your own acoustic guitar. The fee is $75. For ages 16 to adult. Advance registration is required. 330-722-9364.
Valentine’s Day — The Medina County Park District is holding a walk-in program on Valentine’s Day including making cards from noon to 5 p.m. at the Susan Hambley Nature Center, 4173 Parschen Blvd., Brunswick. The program will continue from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. 330-722-9364.
Portage hike — The Portage Trail Walkers hiking club will meet at 9 a.m. at Towner’s Woods Park off Ravenna Road in Franklin Township for a hike of the park’s north side. 330-673-6896.
Akron hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 10 a.m. at Goodyear Heights Metro Park off Newton Street in East Akron for a five-mile hike. There is also a three-mile option. Meet at the park’s Goodyear pavilion. 330-923-6371.
Louisville hike — The Stark County Park District is holding a hike on the Nickle Plate Trail in Louisville at 9 a.m. Meet at Metzger Park in Louisville. 330-409-8096.
Feeding birds — The Beech Creek Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve is offering a chance to hand feed chickadees from noon to 3 p.m. The program will continue from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday at 11929 Beech St. NE, Washington Township. Free. 330-829-7050.
Sunday
Icicle hike — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, will hold a Crystal Palace hike in the ice-filled Gorge Metro Park. Meet at 1 p.m. in the Front Street parking lot in Cuyahoga Falls. The hike will be along the rugged Glens Trail. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Darkroom magic — The Medina County Park District is conducting a digital darkroom workshop from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 6100 Ridge Road (state Route 94), Sharon Township. The fee is $30. For ages 16 to adult. Advance sign up is required. 330-722-9364.
Rusty blackbirds — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, will conduct a nature program on rusty blackbirds for its Young Birders program at 1 p.m. at Firestone Metro Park. Meet at the Tuscarawas Meadows Area off Harrington Road in South Akron. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Canine hike — The Medina County Park District is holding a canine hike at 3 p.m. at Plum Creek Park North off Plum Creek Parkway in Brunswick Hills Township. All dogs must be accompanied by adults and be leashed. All dogs must be under control. Bring a towel for muddy feet and a water bowl. 330-722-9364.
Feeding time — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, will offer a look at feeding its animals at noon at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Learn about the tiger salamander and the brown snake. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Mountain lions — The Medina County Park District is holding a nature program on mountain lions at 3 p.m. at Hidden Hollow Camp off Richman Road near Lodi in Harrisville Township. There have been 178 confirmed mountain lion reports in the Midwest from 1999 to 2008, according to the Journal of Wildlife Management. For age 7 to adult. 330-722-9364.
Ski workshop — The National Park Service is staging a cross-country ski workshop for intermediate skiers from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley. Meet at the Kendall Lake Shelter off Truxell Road in Boston Township. The fee is $15. Bring your own gear. Advance registration is required. 330-657-2752. If there’s not enough snow, the class may be rescheduled.
Trail cleanup — Volunteers are needed from 9 a.m. to noon on the Furnace Run Trail in the Cuyahoga Valley park. Meet at the Everett Road Covered Bridge off Everett Road in Boston Township. Wear sturdy boots and bring a small pack with lunch, water and work gloves. 330-666-3822.
Akron hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 2:30 p.m. at the trailhead off Memorial Parkway in northwest Akron for a five-mile Towpath Trail hike. 330-923-6371.
Nature walk — The University of Mount Union’s John T. Huston-Dr. John D. Brumbaugh Nature Center is hosting a nature walk from 2 to 4 p.m. The center is on Dan Street in Washington Township. 330-823-7487.
Alpine flowers — Fritz Schmitthenner of the Botanizers botany club will present a program on Alpine wildflowers in Colorado’s high passes at 2 p.m. at the Wilderness Center, 9877 Alabama Ave. SW in Sugar Creek Township. 877-359-5235.
Natural burials — The Wilderness Center is presenting a program on natural burials and its Foxfield Preserve at 2 p.m. at 9877 Alabama Ave. SW in Sugar Creek Township. 877-359-5235.
Monday
Owls for kids — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is holding a Kinderealm program on owls for youngsters 3 to 6 years old and accompanying adults at 10:30 a.m. at Goodyear Heights Metro Park. Meet in the Goodyear pavilion off Newton Street in East Akron. Advance sign-up is requested. The program will be repeated at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Coventry Oaks Pavilion off Axline Avenue at Firestone Metro Park in South Akron. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Tuesday
Home-schooled bears — The Medina County Park District is presenting nature programs on black bears for home-schooled youngsters 7 to 12 years old at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 6100 Ridge Road (state Route 94), Sharon Township. Advance registration is required. Free for Medina County residents; $3 for others. 330-722-9364.
Feeder workshop — The Stark County Park District is holding a bird feeder workshop at 6 p.m. at the Exploration Gateway, 5712 12th St. NW, Perry Township. The fee is $5. 330-409-8096.
Tracking tales — The Wilderness Center is presenting a program on animal tracks for youngsters 3 to 6 years old and accompanying adults at 1 p.m. at 9877 Alabama Ave. SW in Sugar Creek Township. Advance registration is required. The fee is $5 per child. 877-359-5235.
Wednesday
Drawing for seniors — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is offering a nature-drawing class for senior citizens at 11 a.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Beginners are welcome. Bring paper and pencil. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Trail cleanup — Volunteers are needed from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Boston Run Trail in the Cuyahoga Valley park. Meet at the north parking lot at the Happy Days Lodge off state Route 303 in Boston Heights. Wear sturdy boots and bring a small pack with lunch, water and work gloves. 330-666-2270.
Nature walk — The Medina County Park District is holding a nature walk at 10 a.m. at the Princess Ledges Nature Preserve off Spruce Avenue in Brunswick Hills Township. For ages 7 to adult. 330-722-9364.
New Franklin hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. in New Franklin for a five-mile Towpath Trail hike. Meet at the trailhead off Vanderhoof Road. 330-923-6371.
Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning@the beaconjournal.com.
