Today
Sweetheart hike — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is holding a sweethearts’ hike at 5:30 p.m. on the 1.2-mile Oxbow Trail in Cascade Valley Metro Park. That’s off Cuyahoga Street in North Akron. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Owls for kids — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, will present a Kinderealm program on owls for youngsters 3 to 6 years old and accompanying adults at 10:30 a.m. Meet at the Brushwood Pavilion at Furnace Run Metro park. That’s off Townsend Road in Richfield Township. Advance sign-up is required. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Warbler warm-up — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is holding a warbler-identification class for birders of all levels at 7 p.m. Meet at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Advance sign-up is required. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Contra dance — You can join the musical group Hu$hmoney with its jigs and reels and caller Carol Kopp in a contra dance from 8 to 10:30 p.m. Meet at the Boston Township School House at Riverview Road and state Route 303 in Peninsula. Instruction will be offered at 7 p.m. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. The fee is $6.
Trail cleanup — Volunteers are needed from 1 to 5 p.m. on the Tree Farm Trail in the Cuyahoga Valley park. Meet at the Horseshoe Pond parking lot at 2075 Major Road, Boston Township. Wear sturdy boots and bring a small pack with lunch, water and work gloves. 216-407-6936.
Sweetheart stroll — The Stark County Park District is holding a sweetheart stroll at 5:30 p.m. at the Exploration Gateway, 5712 12th St. NW, Perry Township. 330-409-8096.
Boston Heights hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 2 p.m. at the state Route 303 trailhead west of state Route 8 in Boston Heights for a five-mile hike on the Bike & Hike Trail. 330-923-6371.
Birds, bees — The Wilderness Center at 9877 Alabama Ave. SW in Sugar Creek Township is presenting a Valentine’s Day program on the birds and bees at 7 p.m. The program has a PG rating. 877-359-5235.
Friday
Family campfire — The National Park Service is holding a family campfire with night stories and listening for owls from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Meet at the Kendall Lake Shelter off Truxell Road in Boston Township.
Wine-tasting train — The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is offering a wine-tasting run from 7 to 9 p.m. from the Rockside Station off Rockside Road in Independence. Advance reservations are required. For ages 21 and older. Tickets start at $55 a person. 800-468-4070 or www.cvsr.com.
Home-schooled program — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is offering a naturalist-led program on the web of life for home-schooled youngsters 7 to 10 years old. It will begin at 1 p.m. at the Brushwood Pavilion at Furnace Run Metro Park. That’s off Townsend Road in Richfield Township. Adults must accompany children. Advance sign-up is required. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Amphibian fun — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is holding a program on amphibians including salamander and toad migrations at 7 p.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Fitness hike — The Stark County Park District is holding a Fit Friday hike on the Hoover Trail. Meet at 9 a.m. at the Hoover Recreation Complex in North Canton. 330-409-8096.
Backyard birds — The University of Mount Union’s John T. Huston-Dr. John D. Brumbaugh Nature Center is hosting a bird count from 9 to 11 a.m. It is part of the national Great Backyard Bird Count. The center is on Dan Street in Washington Township. 330-823-7487.
Dances of peace — Crown Point Ecology Center in Bath Township will host Dances of Universal Peace at 7 p.m. at 3220 Ira Road. Participatory event. No experience necessary. 330-668-8992.
Saturday
Breakfast hike — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is holding a breakfast hike at 8 a.m. at Goodyear Heights Metro Park off Newton Street in East Akron. Meet at the pavilion. Register in advance and learn what food items you must bring. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Coffee with birds — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is welcoming people to enjoy coffee and winter birds at the feeders from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Coffee is provided; bring your own mug. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Squirrel feeder — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is holding a squirrel feeder workshop at 11 a.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. The fee is $15 per kit and there is a limit of one kit per family. Advance sign-up is required. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetro parks.org.
Bird walk — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is holding a winter bird walk at 1 p.m. at Springfield Bog Metro Park, 1400 Portage Line Road, Springfield Township. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Birds for kids — The National Park Service is staging a winter bird walk for youngsters 7 and older from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley. Meet at the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Center off Oak Hill Road in Boston Township.
Snowshoe hike — The National Park Service is sponsoring a 2½-mile snowshoe hike in the Cuyahoga Valley. It will run from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The location will be disclosed when you register. The fee is $5 per person for equipment rental. Advance sign-up is required. 330-657-2752. The event will become a free hike if there’s less than 4 inches of snow.
Junior Rangers — The Cuyahoga Valley park is presenting a Junior Rangers program on the moon for youngsters 4 to 6 years old. It will be from 6 to 8 p.m. The location will be disclosed when you register. Free. Adults must attend with participating children. Advance sign-up is required. Dress for the weather. 330-657-2796, ext. 100.
Puppet show — The Medina County Park District is staging a puppet show at 2 p.m. at the Wolf Creek Environmental center, 6100 Ridge Road (state Route 94), Sharon Township. For ages 4 to 10. Free. Advance sign-up is required. 330-722-9364.
Photo exhibit — The winning submissions in the Medina County Park District’s 2013 Nature Photo Exhibit will be on display at the Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 6100 Ridge Road (state Route 94), Sharon Township. The show runs through March 10. 330-722-9364.
Bike repair class — Century Cycle in Peninsula is offering a basic bike maintenance class at 1:30 p.m. Free. In addition, there will be a free roadside repair clinic at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday 330-657-2209 or www.centurycycles.com/goto/clinics.
Munroe Falls hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 9 a.m. at Brust Park off North Main Street (state Route 91) in Munroe Falls for a five-mile hike on the Bike & Hike Trail. 330-923-6371.
Stow hike — The Portage Trail Walkers hiking club will meet at 9 a.m. at Stow’s Towne Center mall off Norton Road for a hike of four or six miles on the Bike & Hike Trail. Meet at the east end of the parking lot. 330-673-6896.
Backyard birds — The Wilderness Center at 9877 Alabama Ave. SW in Sugar Creek Township is sponsoring a walk-in Backyard Bird Count from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 877-359-5235.
Geocaching class — The Wilderness Center near Wilmot is staging a geocaching class from 9:30 a.m. to noon Bring your own GPS unit or borrow one. The instructor is Del Labo. Free. 877-359-5235.
Backyard birds II — The University of Mount Union’s John T. Huston-Dr. John D. Brumbaugh Nature Center is hosting a bird count from 10 to 11 a.m. plus a bird breakfast from 9 to 10 a.m. (reservations needed for breakfast). It is part of the national Great Backyard Bird Count. The program continues from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday and 9 to 11 a.m. Monday. The center is on Dan Street in Washington Township. 330-823-7487.
Chickadee feeding — Beech Creek Botanical Garden and Nature Center near Alliance will host programs on feeding chickadees from noon to 3 p.m. It will continue from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday at 11929 Beech St. NE, Washington Township. 330-829-7050.
Sunday
Park concert — Fiddler-violinist Ed Caner will appear in concert at 7 p.m.; in the Cuyahoga Valley. The concert will be held at the Hines Hill Conference Center, 1403 W. Hines Hill Road, Boston Township. Tickets are $8. Advance tickets are available at 330-657-2909. The facility is not wheelchair accessible.
Winter hike — The National Park Service is staging a seven 7-mile hike on the difficult Buckeye and Valley trails in the Cuyahoga Valley park. It will run from 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at park headquarters at Vaughn and Riverview roads in Brecksville. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy boots.
Snowshoe hike — The National Park Service is sponsoring a 2½-mile snowshoe hike in the Cuyahoga Valley. It will run from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The location will be disclosed when you register. The fee is $5 per person for equipment rental. Advance sign-up is required. 330-657-2752. The event will become a free hike if there’s less than 4 inches of snow.
Puppet show — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is staging a puppet show at 1 p.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetro parks.org.
Backyard bird count — The Medina County Park District is holding a bird count from noon to 5 p.m. at the Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 6100 Ridge Road (state Route 94). It is part of the national Great Backyard Bird Count. Stop by, watch or help. 330-722-9364.
Sand Run hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 2:30 p.m. in Sand Run Metro Park for a five-mile hike. Meet at the Wadsworth Area off Sand Run Parkway in northwest Akron. 330-923-6371.
Monday
Schools-out cookout — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is holding a schools-out cookout at noon at Goodyear Heights Metro Park. Meet in the Pioneer Area off Frazier Avenue in East Akron. Bring your own hot dogs and burgers to cook over a campfire. Condiments will be provided. Advance sign-up is required. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Nature drawing — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is holding a nature-drawing class for youngsters 6 to 12 years old at 11 a.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Bring a sketchbook and pencils. Advance sign-up is required. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetro parks.org.
Junior Rangers — The Cuyahoga Valley park is presenting a Junior Rangers program on snowshoeing for youngsters 7 to 12 years old. It will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. The location will be disclosed when you register. Free. Adults must attend with participating children. Advance sign-up is required. Dress for the weather. 330-657-2796, ext. 100.
Tuesday
Women’s hike — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is holding a women’s-only hike at 10 a.m. in Cascade Valley Metro Park. Meet in the Oxbow Area off Cuyahoga Street in North Akron. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetro parks.org.
Ohio presidents — The Stark County Park District is presenting a historical program on Ohio’s presidents at 6:30 p.m. at the Exploration Gateway, 5712 12th St. NW, Perry Township. 330-409-8096.
Wednesday
Fairlawn hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. for a five-mile sidewalks-and-trails hike in Fairlawn. Meet at the southeast corner of the Summit Mall parking off West Market Street. 330-923-6371.
Story time — The Wilderness Center at 9877 Alabama Ave. SW in Sugar Creek Township is holding a story hour on the changing seasons for 3- and 4-year-olds and accompanying adults at 11 a.m. Donations requested from nonmembers. 1-877-359-5235.
Planetarium show — The Wilderness Center at 9877 Alabama Ave. SW in Sugar Creek Township is presenting a planetarium show at 2 p.m. 877-359-5235.
Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning at the beaconjournal.com.
