GEAUGA PARK DISTRICT For more information, contact the park district…

May 2, 2013

GEAUGA PARK DISTRICT

For more information, contact the park district at 440-286-9516 or visit www.geaugaparkdistrict.org.

Park Paving Planned

Visitors to Beartown Lakes Reservation in Auburn and Bainbridge townships can expect to encounter a re-paving project at the park from May 27 through June 4. However, because asphalt is very much weather dependent, the schedule is subject to change.

Geauga Park District Director of Operations John Oros said the paving will look similar to a paving project on a township or county road, and although there will be some closures to entrances or areas of the park as needed, the contractor will work to maintain traffic flow in and out of the park.

Due to minimal noise and the smell of asphalt, neighbors are also being notified by postcard.

Birding By Boat And Foot

Always the second Saturday in May in the United States, International Migratory Bird Day gives Geauga Park District a great hook to provide unique birding opportunities along the Cuyahoga River of Eldon Russell Park in Troy Township.

In two weeks, senior naturalist Dan Best’s goal tends to be 50 species, including sandpipers, vireos, flycatchers, cuckoos, thrushes, orioles, tanagers, grosbeaks, buntings and colorful warblers such as “the Jewel of the Cuyahoga,” the famed prothonotary warbler.

On International Migratory Bird Day, May 11, celebrate the return of migratory songbirds from the Latin American Tropics by joining the Boating Birder’s Songbird Search from 9-11 a.m.

Registration is required between May 4 and 10.

Bring a canoe or kayak; a limited number of park canoes will be available for use by those ages 7 and up, permitting one 10-year-old or older to paddle and only one 7 to 12-year-old in the middle.

Then, on May 18, birders novice and advanced can also help count during a Riverside Bird Walk from 9-11 a.m.

Circumstances permitting, walkers will also help Dan net prothonotary warblers for banding purposes.

Registration Open For Camps

Registration is now open for Geauga Park District’s new weeklong day camps: Adventure Camp and Space Camp.

Age groups of 10 to 12 and 13 to 15 will trade themes each week from early June through early August, excluding the week of July 4. A registration fee of $150 will cover the cost of all activities, travel and equipment.

The park district chose the two age groups because they are “too old” for babysitters but too young for jobs.

Adventure Camp will feature days in the parks dedicated to fishing, canoeing, bicycling, hiking and pond and insect studying, among other activities. The outdoor treasure-hunting game called geocaching will also be included, guiding campers in the use of a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver to seek out containers hidden in the parks.

Naturalist Dottie Mathiott took cues from Geauga County Job and Family Services (JFS) in planning the variety of day to day activities, all of which will begin at Walter C. Best Wildlife Preserve in Munson Township.

Meanwhile, over at Observatory Park in Montville Township, Space Camp will be dedicated to telescopes, astronomy, rockets and other astro-fun activities. Participants will get a handle on desert island navigation, experiment with model rocketry, hunt for meteorites and learn to set up their own planetariums.

Camp calendars and waiver forms are available online. For more information, or to register, call Denise Wolfe at 440-279-0894.

E.T., Are You Out There?

Explore the solar system’s most promising spots for potential extra-terrestrial life, then find out about the ongoing search for life beyond Earth and how one can participate in the hunt.

The Search for E.T. will take place May 10 and 24 from 7-9 p.m. in the Robert McCullough Science Center at Observatory Park, 10610 Clay St. in Montville Township.

Both presentations by one of the parks astronomy naturalists, or astro-nats, will be followed by either outdoor telescope viewing, weather permitting, or an indoor planetarium program.

Registration not required.

LAKE?METROPARKS

Railroads in the Parks

Lake Metroparks presents Railroads in the Parks May 4 and 5 at Farmpark and May 5 at Penitentiary Glen in Kirtland.

At Farmpark, visitors will see miniature trains hard at work on detailed modular layouts constructed by local railroad enthusiast. For younger railroaders, there will be Lego trains in operation and wooden train interactive play area lets the youngest railroad enthusiasts play engineer. In addition, children will be able to construct a wooden steam engine for an additional $2 for materials.

Regular Farmpark admission applies. Farmpark is located at 8800 Euclid Chardon Road in Kirtland.

At Penitentiary Glen Reservation located at 8668 Kirtland-Chardon Road in Kirtland, the entire family will enjoy a free afternoon of indoor and outdoor activities from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Miniature steam engine train rides run 1-3 p.m., weather permitting.

For more information, visit lakemetroparks.com.