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

July 4, 2013

GEAUGA PARK DISTRICT

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

parkdistrict.org.

Grandparents Summer Picnic

Grandparents Summer Picnic is July 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Orchard Hills Park, Lodge, 11340 Caves Road in Chester Township.

Activities at this popular annual picnic include a fun craft for the kids and grandparents, a nature scavenger hunt (with help from naturalist Nora the Explorer) and picnic.

Registration is required. Also, please bring a dessert or side dish to share; hot dogs and watermelon will be provided by West Geauga Senior Center.

Summer At Observatory Park

For casual visitors, Observatory Park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. at 10610 Clay St. in Montville Township. For those wanting a more guided experience, however, the astronomy naturalists are glad to help, and will continue their special program throughout the summer at this International Dark Sky Park.

Each Friday and Saturday night, park buildings will be open from 6-11 p.m. and staffed with an “astro-nat” for self-guided night sky viewing, as weather permits, and the occasional use of the Oberle reflecting telescope.

Each Sunday from 1-4 p.m., enjoy building open houses of the Robert McCullough Science Center and the Oberle Observatory to view the meteorite display (featuring a real meteorite one can touch) and the Oberle telescope, with its 25.5-inch mirror. These hours also include The Sky Tonight Planetarium Show Sundays at 2 p.m., offering a naturalist-hosted preview of “what’s up.”

More structured programming is available for visitors of all ages and interest groups, as well.

The Perseid meteor shower has been observed worldwide for about 2,000 years, and the tradition will continue Aug. 11, as Observatory Park stays open all night for a Meteor Shower Event. Best viewing will be from 1-3 p.m., so get comfortable, bring a reclining lawn chair and blankets, and just lay back and enjoy the show. Watch, too, for Astro-nat Wayne Kriynovich, who will be strolling around to casually answer questions and point out other interesting objects in the summer sky.

Programs to study the full moons are scheduled for July 22 (the Buck Moon), from 8:30-9:30 p.m.; Aug. 20 (the Green Corn Moon), from 8-9:30 p.m.; and Sept. 19 (the Harvest Moon), from 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Park visitors can take nets to the fields to discover native and non-native species of ladybugs during the Lost Ladybug Search program on Sept. 22, from 1-2:30 p.m. Any species discovered that are new to Observatory Park will be shared with Cornell University’s citizen science program, The Lost Ladybug Project.

Biweekly Friday programs include Henges: A How-to Guide on July 12 and 26 from 7-9 p.m.; Big? Compared to What?: Relative Sizes in the Universe on Aug. 9 and 23 from 7-9 p.m.; and Women in Space on Sept. 13 and 27 from 7-8 p.m.

On July 27 from 1-3 p.m., join instructor Dave Boehm from the Cleveland Boomerang School to learn to make and fly high-quality boomerangs at the Boomerang Workshop. The fee is $10.

Sponsored by the Chip Henry Institute for Outdoor Adventure, Geauga Park District debuted its weeklong summer day camps this year, which include Space Camp for ages 10 to 12 the weeks of July 15 and July 29, and for ages 13 to 15 the weeks of July 8, July 22 and Aug. 5. Find details at http://bit.ly/gpdcamps.

Parents may also register their children ages 3 to 5 for Timbertots: Space Explorers on Aug. 11, from 3-4 p.m., or Aug. 16, from 10-11 a.m. or 1-2 p.m.

Finally, EZ Go Cart Tours will be held at Observatory Park for those with limited mobility on Sept. 15, from 1-4 p.m. Tours are Registration is required for the 30-minute tours.

Only the boomerang workshop, summer day camps, Timbertots and EZ Go Cart Tours require registration; all others are free to attend without registration.

Summer Tunes

Three rousing fun bands will wind up this summer’s outdoor amphitheater season at Big Creek Park’s Meyer Center: Unknown Reason on July 13, from 7-8:30 p.m.; The Pop Tarts on Aug. 10, from 7-8:30 p.m.; and The Terriers on Aug. 24, from 7-8:30 p.m.

Join Unknown Reason for folk, rock and pop favorites and original songs off their new CD. Head back to the 60s with The Pop Tarts for some groovy entertainment featuring top hit favorites from the best girl groups and female pop singers of the decade. Then join The Terriers, one of the Cleveland area’s most exciting Celtic folk bands, for their mix of Irish, Scottish and American traditional folk music under the stars.

Also this summer, see a summer theater production on the tranquil outdoor stage on July 27, from 7-8 p.m., directed by Madelon Horvath, presented by Geauga Council for Arts & Culture and Geauga Lyric Theater Guild and starring local talent. Auditions will be held at the end of June; look for details on the Geauga Art Council’s website and Facebook.

Refreshments will be served at each of these free shows at Big Creek Park, 9160 Robinson Road in Chardon Town-ship; all move indoors in inclement weather.

Out On The Water

Whether it’s before dawn, during the day or beneath a full moon, your time on the water will be the best part of the day. Join a Geauga Park District naturalist to float out on Lake Kelso, Bass Lake, the Cuyahoga River or LaDue or East Branch reservoirs during the following opportunities.

Sunrise Canoe Float is July 13 from 5:30-7 a.m. at Burton Wetlands Nature Preserve.

Witness the sunrise as a new day of wildlife activity dawns on this ancient glacial lake. Ages 7 and older with adult with canoeing experience, 10 and up to paddle and one 7- to 12-year-old in the middle. Register by phone July 6-12.

Full Moon Canoe is July 21 from 8-9:30 p.m. at Bass Lake Preserve.

Evening is a prime time to see or hear beaver, barred owl and other wildlife as the lake awakens at days end. Observe the full moon as it rises over beautiful Bass Lake. Ages 12 and up with an adult with canoeing experience, one 10- to 12-year-old in middle. Register by phone July 14-20.

Polliwog Paddle Family Canoe is at Eldon Russell Park on July 28 from 1-2:30 p.m. (register by phone July 22-27) and Aug. 11 from 1-2:30 p.m. (register by phone Aug. 5-10).

A nice and easy canoe outing for children to enjoy the wetland wildlife of the Upper Cuyahoga River. Ages 5 and up with an adult with canoeing experience, 10 and up to paddle, and up to two 7- to 10-year-olds in middle.

Sandpiper Kayak is Aug. 18 from 3-5 p.m. offsite at LaDue Reservoir, Route 44 Boat Launch.

Bring a kayak to capitalize on summer’s lower water levels, which bring migratory shorebirds, such as sandpipers and plovers, to the mudflats in the upper reaches of LaDue, with osprey and Caspian terns in the air.

Women’s Full Moon Float is Aug. 20 from 8-9:30 p.m. at Burton Wetlands Nature Preserve

Enjoy a girl’s night out on the water. As the sun sets over the glacial lake, enjoy the nightlife that awakens while watching the full sturgeon moon emerge over the horizon. Ages 10 and up with an adult, 12 and up to paddle, one 10- to 12-year-old in middle. Register by phone Aug. 13-19.

Crystal Lake Canoe is Sept. 7 from 1-2:30 p.m. at Headwaters Park, Boat Launch

Explore the beautiful East Branch Reservoir while searching for the historic Crystal Lake and learning about its rich history. Ages 7 and up with adult with canoeing experience, 12 and up to paddle, one 7- to 12-year-old in middle. Register by phone Aug. 31 to Sept. 7.

Cuyahoga Evening Kayak is Sept. 21 from 6:30-8 p.m. at Eldon Russell Park

The group will paddle along this peaceful stretch of the Upper Cuyahoga River watchful for birds, beavers and other beauties. Bring a kayak, or single-seat kayak rental will be available through Camp Hi for $15. Ages 12 and older. Register Sept. 14-21.

Fall Color Kelso Canoe is Sept. 29 from 1-2:45 p.m. at Burton Wetlands Nature Preserve

A leisurely canoe on glacial Lake Kelso surrounded by the splendid autumn colors of bog shrubs and trees. Basic canoe proficiency required. Ages 7 and up with adult with canoeing expe-rience, 12 and up to paddle, one 7- to 12-year-old in middle. Register Sept. 23-28.

All programs are designed for those already comfortable with being out on the water; no lessons will be given.