Parks and Recreation

January 21, 2016 by Staff Report

GEAUGA PARK DISTRICT

For more information on these programs, contact the park district at 440-286-9516 or visit them online at www.geaugaparkdistrict.org.

Bigfoot in Ohio

Jan. 31, 2-3:30 p.m.

The West Woods Nature Center

The Southeastern Ohio Society for Bigfoot Investigation was started in 2008 with the main intent to give people the chance to freely and openly talk about Bigfoot without fear of ridicule. The meetings are an open forum where witnesses are encouraged to tell about their encounters.

The group’s founder, Doug Waller, has written two books: “Standing in the Shadows: Bigfoot Stories from Southeastern Ohio” and “Hidden Encounters: More Bigfoot Stories from Southeastern Ohio and Beyond.”

Registration is not required to attend this free forum.

Nature Break: Women’s Retreat

Jan. 30, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The West Woods Nature Center

Geauga Park District offers its winter retreat for women to reenergize, relax and connect with winter weather and wildlife.

The morning will begin with coffee and morning snacks followed by both indoor and outdoor retreat activities. Enjoy the winter backdrop by snowshoeing or walking through the beautiful scenery. An opportunity for low impact aerobics will be available indoors, as well, with higher intensity options offered.

Next, learn Geauga County’s resident winter birds from the warmth of the nature center walk over to the Bird in the Hand feeding station for a hand-feeding experience.

Finally, end the retreat with a soup and salad lunch where vegetarian and gluten-free options will also be made available.

Dress in layers with comfortable clothes for being both indoors and out, and consider bringing a change for aerobics.

Registration and a $6 fee are required.

Free Snowshoeing

Free snowshoeing equipment is available at The West Woods Nature Center. At least a few inches of snow on the ground is needed, and the deeper the snow, the better.

Registration is preferred. Any snowshoes not reserved are available at first-come, first-served basis.

Borrowers must be 18 and older to check out a pair; anyone younger must be accompanied by an adult, and no one under 40 pounds may use the snowshoes due to their weight.

Borrowing can take place any time from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and last up to two hours.

Registrants must sign a waiver form and leave a driver’s license as a security deposit.

Snowshoes may not leave The West Woods except for registered programs.

For more guided snowshoe experiences this winter, visit http://bit.ly/gpdsscall2016 to get one’s name on the call list for special snowshoe programs that will be “called into action” anytime now through March 1 whenever the snow conditions are right.

Armchair Adventures Return

The popular Armchair Adventures Travelogue Series return to The West Woods Nature Center, 9465 Kinsman Road in Russell Township.

Since the debut travelogue in 2006, an average crowd is 100 people, sometimes braving blizzard-like conditions to enjoy local photographers’ and travelers’ stories of adventure and discovery.

In addition to a variety of photos and storytelling techniques, many presenters also bring maps, souvenirs or the backpacks right off their backs so people can see what is involved in taking such a trip. These items are set up in the back of the room for pre- and post-meeting examination and questions.

The following travelogues can be enjoyed on the following Sundays from 2-3 p.m.:

Manitoba and the Great White Bears: Jan. 24

Join Sue and Bill Berger as they share their recent trip from Winnipeg, Manitoba, to Churchill, the polar bear capital of the world.

A Plant Hunter’s Tour Through China: Feb. 14

Join Tom Sampliner, past president of the Native Plant Society, as he shares his travels to China. Presented in conjunction with the Native Plant Society of Northeastern Ohio.

Guyana: Feb. 21

Susan and Bruce Bennett present their 2015 trip to Guyana in northern South America, featuring their 110-mile journey up the Rewa River and the incredible wildlife living there.

Winter 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, astronomy naturalist Chris Mentrek is glad to guide visitors at this International Dark Sky Park.

Park buildings are open the second and fourth weekends of each month: Friday and Saturday for self-guided night sky viewing with park district telescopes from 6-11 p.m., as well as Sunday from 1-4 p.m., including The Sky Tonight Planetarium Show at 2 p.m.

Planetarium shows fall on Jan. 24, Feb. 14 and 28, and March 13.

More structured programming is also available for visitors of all ages and interest groups.

Biweekly Friday programs from 7-8 p.m. include Living on Mars on Jan. 22; A Tour of the Orion Nebula on Feb. 12 and 26; and Searching for Killer Asteroids on March 11 and 25.

Special programs to study the season’s full moons are scheduled for Feb. 21 (almost full), from 6-7 p.m.; and March 23 (the Worm Moon), from 8-9 p.m.

Bring In Your Telescope takes place Feb. 13 from 5-7 p.m. Park staff will help visitors get the most enjoyable astronomy experience out of their equipment and offer a few maintenance tips.

And finally, take in the wonders of the universe using Observatory Park telescopes during special Night Sky Viewing hours: Saturdays from 7-11 p.m. on Jan. 23, Feb. 13 and 27, and March 12 and 26.

All Observatory Park programs this season are free to attend without registration.