Geauga Park District
Join Geauga Park District for its sixth annual Frozen Fest at The West Woods.
For more information on these programs, contact the park district at 440-286-9516 or visit them online at www.geaugaparkdistrict.org. No registration required unless otherwise noted.
Frozen Fest
Jan. 19, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Join Geauga Park District for its sixth annual Frozen Fest at The West Woods. Due to the popularity of the event, guests are asked to pre-register, with a limit of eight guests per registration.
Free family activities include live ice carving/sculptures, guest appearances by a winter snowman, ice princesses and a popular reindeer herder, live reindeer and sled dogs, snowshoeing, snow-themed activities, face painting, refreshments and more. Visit http://bit.ly/gpdspecial for a complete schedule.
Parking lots at The West Woods always fill quickly during Frozen Fest, so overflow parking is located at ASM International and Teague Plaza, with free shuttle rides to and from the event. The nature center is fully accessible, though strollers must be left outside.
X-treme Winter Fun Day
Jan. 20, 1-4 p.m.
Youth in grades 5-10 will enjoy their afternoon off having “x-treme” winter fun at Orchard Hills Park in Chester Township. Try out the park district’s snowshoes, bring a sled for downhill rides, learn about winter wildlife and warm up by a fire with hot cocoa and s’mores.
All activities will be outdoors, so dress for the weather. A signed waiver is required for the drop-off program. Registration is required.
Nature Trek Fitness Hike
Jan. 25, 10 a.m. to noon
Burn off those calories on a fitness hike with outdoor recreation specialist Trevor Wearstler along the beautiful and popular trails of Headwaters Park, learning some cool facts about Geauga County nature along the way. Participants should have the ability to hike at least three miles. Dress for the weather and bring water.
Winter Birding
When it comes to guided birding this winter in Geauga Park District, there is truly something for everyone – from active counting to the most casual of observation.
To see birds up close and personal, sign up on the Bird Banding Hotline call list to be notified any time between January and March when naturalists decide to throw up a mist net at The West Woods Nature Center and do some banding at the feeders between 9 and 11 a.m.
Join the Great Backyard Bird Count in February. Stop in anytime during listed hours to identify and count birds at the feeders, becoming an official citizen scientist during the worldwide bird count coordinated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. Counts are at Swine Creek Reservation on Feb. 14, 8-10 a.m.; and at The West Woods Nature Center on Feb. 14, 15 and 16, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Attend Coffee with the Birds on Jan. 25 from 8-11 a.m. at The West Woods Nature Center and stay for Backyard Bird Feeding Basics from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Cristin Smith from Nature’s Way Bird Products will present tips on feeding wild birds, including types of feeders, seed to use and the best combination to attract the widest variety of birds.
On March 14, register to Become a Better Bluebird Landlord with a presentation by naturalist Tami Gingrich at 10 a.m. at The West Woods Nature Center, and/or register to Make a Bluebird House at noon at The Rookery.
Birders who’d like to expand their view outside of the parks may also register for one of this season’s three van trips: the Winter Hawk Watch Van Trip on Feb. 2, 10 a.m. to noon or 1-3 p.m., meeting at Swine Creek Reservation; the Lake Erie Winter Van Trip on Feb. 8, from 12-4:30 p.m., meeting at Big Creek; and the Ice-Off Waterfowl Van Trip: Mosquito Lake on March 28, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., meeting at Swine Creek Reservation.
Registration is required for the call list, bluebird programs and van trips.
