Parks and Recreation
GEAUGA PARK DISTRICT
For more information on these programs, contact the park district at 440-286-9516 or visit online at www.geaugaparkdistrict.org.
Annual Nature Writing Contest
People of all ages are encouraged to enter Geauga Park District’s 21st annual Nature Writing Contest to celebrate every aspect of the great outdoors in poetry and prose.
Winners will be published online and in winner chapbooks; be named in the Voices of Nature newsletter, which hits all 42,000 households in the county; take home cash prizes; and be invited to hear their judges’ feedback and read their works at the 25th annual Nature Arts Festival on Aug. 7, returning this year to Big Creek Park in Chardon Township.
All entries must feature nature-oriented subjects or themes. See the contest’s full rules and application on the Bulletin Board on the park district’s website.
Categories remain the same for both prose and poetry in the following age groups: Adults 18 and older; adolescents 12 to 17; and children 11 and under.
Entries must be received no later than May 3, either emailed, dropped off or mailed to ATTN: Nature Writing Contest, Big Creek Park, 9160 Robinson Road, Chardon, OH 44024.
Contact Sandy Ward at 440-279-0803 with questions.
Arts In The Parks
Come Home to Nature this spring with any number of the park district’s arts workshops taking place in Russell Township. Registration required.
Kite Night with Barbara Mikin is April 6 from 6-9 p.m. in The West Woods Nature Center. For a fee of $24 covering all materials and instruction, artist Barbara Mikin will teach how to assemble and decorate a fun and functional art kite made of rice paper. Refreshments will be served. Ages 16 and up.
Sunshine & Wine Painting Workshop takes place April 29 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in The West Woods’ Affelder House. Artist Jeannie Carder Shimek from Artifacts Gift Studio will guide participants in painting a set of two coffee mugs with a colorful sun motif. Materials, instruction, wine and cheese will be included in the $30 fee. Ages 21 and up.
Nights Out in the Parks returns with the musical stylings of Bob Kravos & the Boys in the Band on June 11 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Big Creek Park’s outdoor amphitheater; and Movie Night: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is on June 25 from 8:30-11:30 p.m. at Observatory Park.
Several other spring arts events are also free and don’t require any registration:
Meet artists Carol Prior and Barbara Mikin and view their beautiful, nature-inspired artwork at The West Woods Nature Center on April 8 from 7-9 p.m.
Meet award-winning wildlife artist Linda Merchant and enjoy the beauty and diversity of nature captured in her oil paintings at The West Woods Nature Center on June 3 from 7-9 p.m. Also on display is a collection of student artwork created as part of Shannon Stanforth’s Girl Scout Gold Award project in the parks.
Come to Maple Town Tune Traders on April 28 from 7-10 p.m. at The West Woods Nature Center to play, sing or simply enjoy as singers and musicians provide informal performances followed by a jam session. All musical genres, instruments and musicianship levels are welcome, as are snacks to share.
Spring Birding
Bird watching now ranks among one of the most popular pastimes in America, and Geauga Park District is eager to help the community make the connection.
Continuing a Greater Cleveland tradition since 1933, the annual Spring Bird Walk Series returns for six walks throughout April and May, including: April 10 at Burton Wetlands Nature Preserve, April 17 at Frohring Meadows, April 24 at The Rookery, May 1 at Eldon Russell Park, May 8 at Big Creek Park and May 15 at Swine Creek Reservation. All are Sundays from 7:30-9:30 a.m. and among Nature’s Not to Be Missed opportunities.
Located where there is the best bet for birds at each particular stage in migration, these walks connect experienced bird watchers with novices of all ages for bird observation, identification and interpretation.
For outdoor programs, dress for the weather and bring a bird guide if available. Registration is not required.
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