Today
Boston Heights hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 2 p.m. at the Boston Heights Trailhead off state Route 303 west of state Route 8 in Boston Heights for a five-mile hike on the Bike & Hike Trail in northern Summit County. 330-923-6371.
Friday
Lantern hike — The National Park Service is holding a lantern hike from 7 to 9 p.m. in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Meet ranger Mike Kosmos at the Ledges Shelter off Truxell Road in Boston Township. After the hike, enjoy hot chocolate around the campfire.
Home-schooled hike — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is holding a home-schooled snowshoe hike for children 7 or older. It will be offered at 1 p.m. at Sand Run Metro Park in northwest Akron. Meet in the Wadsworth Area off Sand Run Parkway. The rental is $5 a person. Advance registration is required. Adults must accompany children. If there isn’t enough snow, the event will become a hike. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Owls for kids — Owls will be in the spotlight when Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, presents a nature program for its Young Birders. The program will be at 7 p.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Dress for the weather. It is an indoor-outdoor program. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Fit Friday hike — The Stark County Park District is conducting a Fit Friday hike at 9 a.m. Meet at St. Helena Heritage Park in Canal Fulton. 330-409-8096.
Drum circle — The Terra Amma Drum Circle with Rebekah Benner will perform from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron, 3300 Morewood Road, Fairlawn. Bring drums and percussion toys. No experience is needed. 330-780-7476.
Night watch — The Wilderness Center at 9877 Alabama Ave. SW in Sugar Creek Township is holding a planetarium show and star watch at 8 p.m. For all ages. Free. 877-359-5235.
Saturday
Winter family picnic — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is holding a winter family picnic at 3 p.m. at Goodyear Heights Metro Park. Meet at the Pioneer Area off Frazier Street in East Akron. Families need to bring their own picnic food. A fire and S’mores will be provided. Bring sleds, if there’s snow. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Pond Brook hike — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, and Twinsburg are conducting a hike to look at the continuing Pond Brook restoration project at Liberty Park. Meet at the Pond Brook Area at 3973 E. Aurora Road (state Route 82), Twinsburg Township. The hike will run from 2 to 5 p.m. Dress for the weather and bring snacks and water. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Sweater recycling — Artist Paula Singleton will direct a program on recycling old sweaters by felting the material for a craft. Meet at 1 p.m. at Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Sponsored by Metro Parks, Serving Summit County. Bring an old wool sweater that has been washed and dried in the dryer. Advance registration is required. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Snowshoe hike — The National Park Service is holding a 2½-mile snowshoe hike through an evergreen forest from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley. Advance registration is required. The location will be disclosed when you register. The fee is $5 a person. To register, call 330-657-2752. If there is less than 4 inches of snow, the outing will become a hike.
Marshlands hike — The National Park Service is staging a winter marshlands hike from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley. It will be an easy, 1½-mile hike on the Towpath Trail through the Beaver Marsh. Meet at the Ira Trailhead off Riverview Road north of Ira Road in Cuyahoga Falls.
Trail cleanup — Volunteers are needed from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Pine Grove and Ledges trails in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Meet at the Octagon Shelter off Truxell Road in Boston Township. Wear sturdy boots and bring a small pack with lunch, water and work gloves. 330-622-0437.
Healthful hike — The Medina County Park District is holding a healthful hike at 9 a.m. at Plum Creek Park North off Plum Creek Parkway in Brunswick Hills Township. Dress for the weather and have appropriate footwear. For ages 10 to adult. 330-722-9364.
FeLeap party — The Stark County Park District is hosting a birthday party for FeLeap, the park district’s costumed frog mascot, at 1 p.m. The event will be held at the Exploration Gateway, 5712 12th St. NW, Perry Township. 330-409-8096.
Stow hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 9 a.m. at the southeast corner of Stow Plaza at Darrow Road (state Route 91) and Norton Road for a five-mile hike on the Bike & Hike Trail. Park behind the Wendy’s restaurant. 330-923-6371.
Portage hike — The Portage Trail Walkers hiking club will meet in Mantua for hikes on the Headwaters Trail in northern Portage County. It is 6.7 miles to Asbury Road and back, but you can walk any distance. Meet at 9 a.m. in the parking lot near the Mantua Service Center on High Street. 330-673-6896.
Bird banding — The Wilderness Center at 9877 Alabama Ave. SW in Sugar Creek Township is holding a bird-banding demonstration from 1 to 2 p.m. 877-359-5235.
Book club — The Wilderness Center at 9877 Alabama Ave. SW in Sugar Creek Township is hosting a discussion of The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean at 1 p.m. 877-359-5235.
Sunday
Winter hike — The National Park Service is sponsoring a winter hike of 5½ miles on the moderately tough Stanford and Brandywine Gorge trails in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Meet at 9 a.m. at the Boston Store Visitor Center off Boston Mills Road in Boston Township. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes.
Ski workshop — The National Park Service is holding a beginning cross-country ski workshop from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley. Meet at the Kendall Lake Shelter off Truxell Road in Boston Township. The fee is $10 with your own equipment and $15 with equipment rental. Dress for the weather. Advance sign up is required. 330-657-2752.
Puppet show — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is staging a puppet show on recycling at 1 p.m. at Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Wildlife signs — You can join a naturalist-led nature walk to look for wildlife signs at 1 p.m. at Munroe Falls Metro Park. Meet at the Tallmadge Meadow Area at 1088 North Ave. (state Route 91), Tallmadge. Sponsored by Metro Parks, Serving Summit County. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Valley hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 2:30 p.m. at the Botzum Trailhead off Riverview Road in North Akron. It will be a five-mile Towpath Trail hike. 330-923-6371.
Folk jam — The University of Mount Union’s John T. Huston-Dr. John D. Brumbaugh Nature Center is hosting a folk jam at 2 p.m. The center is on Dan Street in Washington Township. 330-823-7487.
Tuesday
Nature Realm hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 3 p.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. It will be a three-mile hike. 330-923-6371.
Wednesday
Nature drawing — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is holding a nature drawing class for senior citizens at 11 a.m. at Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Beginners are welcome. Bring paper and a pencil. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Towpath hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. at the Vanderhoof Trailhead in New Franklin for a five-mile Towpath Trail hike. The trailhead is off Vanderhoof Road west of Manchester Road. 330-923-6371.
Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning at the beaconjournal.com.
