Parks and Recreation

January 7, 2021 by Staff Report

Geauga Park District

For more information, contact the park district at 440-286-9516 or visit www.geaugaparkdistrict.org. No registration required unless otherwise noted.

Free Snowshoe Borrowing

Geauga Park District’s free snowshoe borrowing program returns to The West Woods in Russell Township. Snowshoes for ages 3 to 6 and under 50 pounds are also now available.

Borrowing can take place any time from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and last up to two hours, with all snowshoes returned by 4 p.m. One must be at least 18 years old to check out a pair; anyone younger must be accompanied by an adult.

Though a call to 440-279-0880 may be made to check availability, no reservations are taken. Snowshoes will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

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

Lunchtime Yoga In The Park

Jan. 14 and 21, 12-1 p.m.

Registration is open for some post-holiday lunchtime yoga with Darlene Kelbach from Fairmount Center for the Arts at The West Woods Nature Center in Russell

Township.

Registration is required, with a weekly fee of $7 for Geauga County residents and $10 for out-of-county residents. Dress comfortably and bring a yoga mat and water bottle. Participants should be age 10 or older.

Social distancing will be practiced and face masks are required.

Geauga Gems Trekking Series

Complete 30 qualifying hikes – or hike 60 miles – to earn the 2021 reward. Participants are encouraged to complete 30 hikes in any of the 27 open parks by the end of the year. Three qualifying naturalist-led hikes are identifiable among program listings by the trekking series logo or filtering feature on the district website.

Or, special for Geauga Park District’s 60th anniversary, participants can choose to hike 60 miles of qualifying trails to complete their 2021 goal instead.

Registration is already open for Geauga County residents free of charge on the website or in person at The West Woods Nature Center or Big Creek Park’s Meyer Center. After signing up, participants will receive a special Geauga Gems Trekking Card to track their progress. Keep the card with you to mark the self-guided treks you take, and bring the card to naturalist-led hikes to be marked.

In January 2022, those who complete the series for the first time will receive a collapsible trekking pole, and everyone who completes the series will receive a Geauga Gems 2021 hiking medallion sticker for their pole.

Winter Birding

When it comes to guided birding this winter in Geauga Park District, there is truly something for everyone.

The warmest birding option is available sitting or standing in front of the large windows of The West Woods Nature Center overlooking a vast wildlife feeding station. In addition to casual visitation, which is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., visitors may also sign up for a time slot to identify and count birds at the feeders during the Great Backyard Bird Count coordinated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society on Feb. 12 or 14

At the West Woods Nature Center, visitors may try hand-feeding wild birds by signing up for a Bird in the Hand Hike on Jan. 16 or joining naturalist Linda Gilbert during Coffee with the Birds on Jan. 23.

Park District Live

Geauga Park District reminds residents  of its diverse lineup of live virtual programming, which can be easily enjoyed home via a computer, tablet or phone by following a link that is sent upon registration.

Virtual visitors this winter will be treated to a variety of topics using the free software Webex, including: A Photographic Retrospective of Nature During a Pandemic on Jan. 17, All About Maple Syrup on Jan. 23, The Physiology of Birdsong on Feb. 28, different maple sugaring programs for adults and children on March 8, monthly jam sessions on Thursday nights and monthly astronomy topics on Friday nights.

Visit the park district website to view a complete list of this season’s virtual offerings, as well as any late additions.