Seven-year-old Megan Master bounced around inside The West Woods Nature Center Saturday as her mom, Karen Master, captured smart phone memories awaiting the arrival of…
Seven-year-old Megan Master bounced around inside The West Woods Nature Center Saturday as her mom, Karen Master, captured smart phone memories awaiting the arrival of their jolly hike leader.
“Merry Christmas everyone, I needed to give the reindeer some sugar cookies,” said Santa Claus, with a grand entrance. “I also had to ride down on some sunbeams. If I would have known it was this warm, I would have wore my Bermudas and flip flops.”
Families enjoyed record high temperatures to go on a Ho Ho Hike with Santa and Buddy the Elf during a free Geauga Park District event at The West Woods in Russell Township.
“We come to West Woods all of the time to hike and how fun to do it with Buddy the Elf and Santa, particularly when it’s 70 degrees in Cleveland, but I’m still hoping for a white Christmas,” said Karen, who hailed from Bainbridge Township.
Moms, dads, kids and other loved ones nibbled on cookies and sipped hot chocolate before heading out on one of the nearly 25-minute hikes in search of signs of winter on the paved 0.3-mile Discovery Trail.
“I am going to get real sugared up for the hike,” Buddy said to his audience as he lifted up a large jug of Geauga County maple syrup. “I drink maple syrup. It is one of the four main food groups.”
Soon, the first group of hikers journeyed one by one outside.
Some members of the second group picked up crayons and coloring pages and headed to take seats at tables as sounds of “A Holly Jolly Christmas” filled the room.
“Kids have many opportunities to sit on Santa’s lap during the holiday season, but how often can they go on a hike with Santa and a giant, goofy elf?” Buddy asked.
“I’m here to walk with Buddy,” Megan said. “Yes, actually it is one of my favorite movies. And I am happy. I didn’t know if Santa did the hiking thing.”
Buddy joked he was sweating as he gathered the group by the candy cane dotted entrance.
“It’s 67 degrees,” he said. “Now remember to keep your eyes and ears open.”
“Buddy can I take your photo?” Michelle Maloney quickly asked, with her four kids in tow from Auburn Township.
Ho Ho Hikers traversed passed one of the park’s contained basins of water expected to turn to ice in the cold of winter.
Kids giggled as Buddy jumped up and down.
“Santa,” Buddy said. “Santa, Santa. We see turtles Santa. I’ve never seen turtles this time of the year.”
Moms held children’s hands, continuing to listen to Buddy’s nature descriptions.
“I think we’re in Florida, not in Ohio,” sad Maloney, who enjoys riding horses on the park’s Pioneer Bridle Trail, which makes a large loop west of the nature center and connects to Music Street Link and Affelder Link trails.
“I love The West Woods,” she said.
Buddy pointed out some long, soft-haired stems of staghorn sumac, known to grow in most all areas of Ohio.
“It feels like reindeer antlers,” Buddy said, amid the chirping of birds.
Nature-goers walked passed a towering Sycamore tree native to all of Ohio.
“This grows to be the second largest tree in the state of Ohio,” Buddy said.
Buddy then zigzagged across the trail and darted toward another tree.
“I like to hug trees,” Buddy said, reminiscent of actor Will Ferrell’s scene in the holiday classic, “Elf.”
“Nature has ornaments, too,” Buddy said, directing listeners to the multiflora rose, a perennial shrub known for its small, bright red fruits.
Soon, Santa sauntered passed to the front of the line, taking the lead.
“Stay with Santa Claus. Sometimes I don’t see so good,” Santa said, adjusting his spectacles. “I think I may need a new prescription.”
Karen smiled as her daughter zipped around her Christmas-inspired hike leaders.
“We are avid hikers,” Karen said. “We were very excited, too when we found out Buddy was going to be here. I am a childhood friend of his. We are always here.”
“It’s just fun to be outside and learning about nature,” Megan added, pausing to share her Christmas list for Santa.
“I wrote a couple of lists already,” she said. “I’d like an American Doll diner, Star Wars stuff and an Easy Bake Oven.”
Megan said she knows not every child likes to be outside, but she was enjoying the hike immensely.
“It’s fun,”?she said. “It’s interesting that you’re learning about all the trees. You want to learn more.”
After the Ho Ho Hike, the holiday duo posed inside the nature center for photos and Santa went over wish lists.
“It’s unbelievable we’re out doing this,” Karen said. “They do such fabulous programs here. Who knew we’d be in just a sweatshirt two weeks before Christmas?”
