Today
Wildlife and us — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is holding a program on wildlife and our interactions with it at 6 p.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Photo show — The Cuyahoga Valley Photographic Society is presenting its members show from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Happy Days Lodge off state Route 303 in Boston Heights. Limit of three digital images. Optional critiques from two professional photographers will be available. 330-657-2909.
Akron hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club is holding a three-mile hike at 2 p.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 330-923-6371.
Bike clinic — Century Cycle in Peninsula is holding a shifting adjustment repair workshop at 6:30 p.m. The shop is on state Route 303 next to the Cuyahoga River. Free. 330-657-2209 or www.centurycycles.com/goto/clinics.
Tales for tots — The Medina County Park District is holding story hours on groundhogs for youngsters 3 to 6 years old and accompanying adults at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 6100 Ridge Road (state Route 94), Sharon Township. There will be a story, a short hike and a craft. Dress for the weather. Advance sign-up is required. 330-722-9364. The program will be repeated at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Friday.
Tracks, scat — The Wilderness Center at 9877 Alabama Ave. SW in Sugar Creek Township is holding a program on tracks and scat for home-schooled youngsters. It will run from 10 a.m. to noon. Appropriate for all ages. Adults must accompany their children. The fee is $5 per child; adults are free. Advance sign-up is required. 877-359-5235.
Wild walk — The Wilderness Center at 9877 Alabama Ave. SW in Sugar Creek Township is staging a nature walk at 2 p.m. 877-359-5235.
Friday
Park concert — The John Jorgenson trio will appear in concert at 8 p.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley park. The show will be held at the Happy Days Lodge off state Route 303 in Boston Heights. Tickets are $17, $5 for children 5-12. Doors open at 7 p.m. Advance tickets are available until 3 p.m. Friday at 330-657-2909, ext. 100.
Owl prowl — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is presenting an owl prowl walk at 7 p.m. on the Quarry Trail at Deep Lock Quarry Metro Park. That’s off Riverview Road south of state Route 303 in Peninsula. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Owls for kids — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is sponsoring Kinderealm programs on owls for youngsters 3 to 6 years old and accompanying adults at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. A craft and short walk are part of the program. The program will be repeated at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Advance registration is required. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Asian noodles — Chef Larkin Rogers of the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park will present a meal of Asian noodles at Dinner in the Valley. It will be served at 6 p.m. at the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Center off Oak Hill Road in Boston Township. For pricing and reservations, call 330-657-2796, ext. 121, or www.conservancyforcvnp.org.
Saturday
Winter birds — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is staging a winter bird walk along Cherry Lane at 1 p.m. Meet at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Canal history — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, will present a look at life along the old Ohio & Erie Canal at 2 p.m. Meet at the Mustill Store off West North Street near downtown Akron. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Heron hike — The National Park Service is offering a hike to West Bath Road from 2 to 3:30 p.m. to watch and learn about the great blue herons. Meet at the Botzum Trailhead off Riverview Road in North Akron.
Winter woods — Crown Point Ecology Center in Bath Township is holding a program on Plants and Animals in the Winter Woods at 2 p.m. at 3220 Ira Road. It is part of the center’s Ecology Discovery Program. The fee is $8, $2 for grade-school-age children. Advance sign-up is required. Dress for the weather. 330-668-8992.
Full-moon hike —The Stark County Park District is staging a full-moon hike on the Towpath Trail at 6 p.m. Meet at the Crystal Springs Trailhead in Jackson Township. 330-409-8096.
Healthful hike — The Medina County Park District is holding a healthful hike at 9 a.m. Meet at the Chippewa Inlet Trail’s Chippewa Road trailhead in Lafayette Township. For ages 10 to adult. 3309-722-9364.
Ohio black bears — The Medina County Park District is holding a nature program on black bears, to be followed by a hike to look at the kind of habitat they like. Meet at 1 p.m. at the Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 6100 Ridge Road (state Route 94), Sharon Township. For all ages. Free. 330-722-9364.
Winter geocaching — The Medina County District is hosting the Frolic with Frosty Returns geocaching event at 6:30 p.m. at the Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 6100 Ridge Road (state Route 94), Sharon Township. For ages 4 to adult. Free. Details can be found www.medinacountyparks.com. 330-722-9364.
Yarn art — The Medina County Park District is holding a walk-in program on yarn art from noon to 5 p.m. at the Susan Hambley Nature Center, 4173 Parschen Blvd., Brunswick. The program will be repeated from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Supplies will be provided. Free. 330-722-9364.
Stow hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club is holding a five-mile hike on the Bike & Hike Trail. Meet at 2;30 p.m. at the plaza at Darrow Road and Norton Road in Stow. Meet in the plaza’s southeast corner behind the Wendy’s restaurant. 330-923-6371.
Portage hike — The Portage Trail Walkers hiking club will meet at 9 a.m. at Towner’s Woods Park near Brady Lake for a five-hike on the Portage Trail to Crain Avenue in Kent. 330-673-6896.
Feeding birds — The Beech Creek Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve is hosting a program on feeding chickadees from noon to 5 p.m. at 11929 Beech St. NE., Washington Township. The program will be repeated from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. 330-829-7050.
Wood-carving class — The Wilderness Center at 9877 Alabama Ave. SW in Sugar Creek Township is holding a wood-carving class from 1 to 4 p.m. It will continue for five more Saturdays. The fee is $20 and includes a carving knife. No experience necessary. For adults and children 10 and up accompanied by adults. Advance registration is required. Adults must accompany their children. The fee is $5 per child; adults are free. Advance sign-up is required. 877-359-5235.
Sunday
Winter bird walk — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, will direct a winter bird walk at 1 p.m. in Sand Run Metro Park. Meet at the Shady Hollow Pavilion off Sand Run Parkway in northwest Akron. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Winter warm-up — Children 5 to 10 years old and adult companions are invited to join a naturalist for a story, hot chocolate and a craft by a roaring fire. Meet at 1 p.m. at the Shady Hollow Pavilion in Sand Run Metro Park. That’s off Sand Run Parkway in northwest Akron. Advance sign-up is required. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Full-moon ski — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is staging a full-moon ski at 6 p.m. at Silver Creek Metro Park in Norton. Meet at the Pheasant Run Area. The park is off Hametown Road. Bring your own skis. If there’s not enough snow, the event will become a hike. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Winter family fun — Winter challenges will be staged for families from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley park. Meet at the Ledges Shelter off Truxell Road in Boston Township. That includes snowball making and throwing, fort building, sled pulling and more. Hot chocolate will be available. Dress for the weather. Other games will be held if there’s not enough snow.
Underground Railroad — The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is offering looks at love stories along the Underground Railroad in programs at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The trips begin and end at the Rockside Station in Independence. Advance reservations are required. 800-468-4070 or www.cvsr.com.
Peninsula hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club is holding a five-mile hike at 2:30 p.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley. Meet at the Lock 29 Trailhead off Mill Street in Peninsula. 330-923-6371.
Photographers meeting — The Medina County Park District will host a meeting of the Photographers of the Parks Club at 3 p.m. at the Krabill Shelter, 7597 Ballash Road, Lafayette Township. 330-722-9364.
Cooking root vegetables — The University of Mount Union’s John T. Huston-Dr. John D. Brumbaugh Nature Center is hosting a program in cooking root vegetables from 2 to 4 p.m. The center is on Dan Street in Washington Township. 330-823-7487.
Monday
Full-moon hike — The National Park Service is holding a full-moon hike of 2¾ miles on the Tree Farm Trail. It will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Meet at Horseshoe Pond off Major Road in Boston Township.
Escaped slaves — Hale Farm & Village in Bath Township is holding A Fugitive’s Path: Escape on the Underground Railroad. Reservations are required. 330-666-3711 or halereservations@wrhs.org. The 90-minute program will be repeated on Tuesday and Wednesday. There are day and evening programs available.
Tuesday
Bill coloring — Dr. Keith Tarvin, a biology professor at Oberlin College, will speak on Bill Color of American Goldfinches: A Window to the Soul when the Greater Akron Audubon Society meets at 7 p.m. The program will be held in the Mingo Shelter off Sand Run Parkway in Sand Run Metro Park in northwest Akron. 330-645-0953 or info@akronaudubon.org.
Bike clinic — Century Cycle in Peninsula is holding a workshop on basic bicycle commuting at 6:30 p.m. The shop is on state Route 303 next to the Cuyahoga River. Free, 330-657-2209 or www.centurycycles.com/goto/clinics.
Moon walk — The Medina County Park District is staging a full-moon walk at 7 p.m. at the Schleman Nature Preserve next to Buckeye Woods Park in Lafayette Township. Dress for the weather. The hike to admire the Moon of Ice will be held even if it is cloudy. 330-722-9364.
Full-moon walk — The Wilderness Center at 9877 Alabama Ave. SW, Sugar Creek Township, is holding a full-moon walk to mark the Storm Moon at 7 p.m. It will be canceled if it is raining or snowing. 877-359-5235.
Wednesday
Plants from seeds — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is presenting a Master Gardener program on starting plants from seeds at 7 p.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Akron hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club is holding a five-mile Towpath Trail hike at 9:30 a.m. at the Wilbeth Road Trailhead in South Akron. 330-923-6371.
Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning at the beaconjournal.com.
