Parks & Recreation

November 20, 2014 by Staff Report

GEAUGA PARK DISTRICT

For more information, contact the park district at 440-286-9516 or visit www.geaugaparkdistrict.org.

Park Closures

The Rookery in Geauga Park District will be closed to the public for two days in November, and Big Creek Park, The West Woods and Observatory Park will each be closed two days in December, for the purpose of the park district’s controlled hunting program.

Rangers will block public entrance to The Rookery on Nov. 22 and 23 to ensure safety while the park is closed for youth shotgun hunting; The West Woods on Dec. 1 and 2; Big Creek Park on Dec. 3 and 4; and Observatory Park on Dec. 5 and 6 to ensure safety while the parks are closed for firearms hunting.

Please note that The West Woods closures will also block access to that park’s nature center.

Controlled hunting has been used since the 2007-08 season to maintain healthy, balanced populations of plants and animals on park district properties. Time has proven it a viable management tool and a proactive approach to the park district’s mission. Learn more about the program at http://bit.ly/gpdhunt.

All Geauga Park District buildings will also be closed Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day; unscheduled closures are always posted on WKYC and WEWS in Cleveland.

Holiday Cheer, Naturally

Geauga Park District has jam-packed the first weekend of December with festivities to help the family celebrate the holiday season: two opportunities to honor veterans with evergreens, the kick-off of a two-weekend Mistletoe Market for the littlest shoppers, the annual Holiday Greens Workshop and two Tim-bertots-style recurrences of this popular program.

On Dec. 6 and 7 at The West Woods Nature Center, 9465 Kinsman Road in Russell Township, the Mistletoe Market, for shoppers ages 3-8, will be open from noon to 4 p.m. will be able to find gifts at affordable prices for everyone on their lists with help from Geauga Park District staff and volunteers. Gifts, including many nature-themed items, range from 50 cents to $7. Purchases may even be wrapped and tagged onsite to children’s wishes.

While the kids shop, parents may enjoy a relaxing cup of coffee sur-rounded by the beauty of nature. The park district’s gift shop will also be open.

Also, on Dec. 6 and 7 at the West Woods Nature Center from noon to 3 p.m., Geauga Park District christens an awesome new partnership with Operation S.T.A.T. (Standing Tall for American Troops), organized in 2011 to ensure regional veterans are never forgotten.

All are invited to assemble at least 250 patriotic evergreen door swags and sign holiday cards, which Operation S.T.A.T. will then deliver to the doors of the veterans at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center on Dec. 9.

Supplies will be provided, and assembly will be easy.

West Geauga High School’s Class Act a cappella choir will also perform during the project Dec. 6 beginning at 1 p.m.

Registration is not required for the Operation S.T.A.T. activity or the Mistletoe Market.

In addition, Geauga Park District’s popular Holiday Greens Workshop will guide those ages 12 and up to arrange fresh evergreens into one of four holiday arrangements. The annual workshop is Dec. 7, from 9 a.m. to noon or 1-4 p.m., at Swine Creek Reservation’s lodge, 16004 Hayes Road in Middlefield.

Registration is required and already limited! at www.geaugaparkdistrict.org or 440-286-9516.

While registering, participants will be asked to select one of the following projects: wreath, basket, mantelpiece or brass holder on a tray. Drawings of all four options can be seen on the Bulletin Board on the park district website.

An $18 fee will be required upon registration, and $5 will be due to the instructor at the program. Various evergreens, pinecones and ribbons will be provided, but participants may also bring their own accents. Bring pruners and a plastic bag to protect the car seat from water on the way home.

For those younger artists ages 3 to 5, naturalists will also host educational Timbertots versions: Holiday Greens at Swine Creek Reservation on Dec. 7 from 2-3 p.m. and Dec. 8 from 10-11 a.m. or 1-2 p.m. in the lodge at Swine Creek Reservation, 16004 Hayes Road in Middlefield.

Accompanied by an adult, kids will discover what’s cool about pine trees and other evergreens, venture outside and then make their own fun centerpiece to take home. Bows and pinecones will be provided, but kids may also bring small decorations if they’d like. Registration is required.

Turkey Trottin’ Scavenger Hunt

Turkey Trottin’ Scavenger Hunt takes place Nov. 29 from 1-4:30 p.m. at The West Woods Nature Center, 9465 Kinsman Road in Russell Township.

Participants will embark on a family-friendly, fact-finding mission about turkeys with riddles, which will bring them to the locations of paper turkey feathers with answers to turkey-related questions.

Participants completing at least the indoor portion will get a prize and be entered in a drawing to win Geauga Park District’s own real maple syrup.

Registration is not required for the free activity. Drop in anytime during program to join in.

Call for Entries: ‘Art Takes A Bough’ Community Art Project

For the eighth consecutive year, Geauga Council for Arts & Culture is seeking regional artists of all ages to participate in its Art Takes a Bough community art project, a showcase for community handmade holiday ornaments.

Entries may be submitted Dec. 16 from 4-5:30 p.m. at The West Woods Nature Center in Russell Township. This year’s new format does not include an auction. Instead, Art Takes a Bough is a venue to display and sell one’s ornaments directly.

Ornaments must be priced at $10 or $30 each. Artists may submit a maximum of six ornaments at $10 each and a maximum of four ornaments at $30 each. Each ornament must fit inside a 6-inch square box, be lightweight, have an ornament hanger and be signed by the artist. Artists are also to provide a short, typed bio or business card to include with each ornament.

As in the past, 50 percent of sales will go directly to the artist; the remaining 50 percent will be split equally between the Geauga Council for Arts and Culture and Geauga Park District. All artists must be present at the reception and will be paid on location for ornaments sold.

Once all ornaments are submitted, these beautiful miniature pieces of artwork may be admired and pur-chased by the public at “buy it now” prices during an open house and reception at The West Woods Nature Center from 6-9 p.m.

Guests at the reception will have the opportunity to purchase the handmade ornaments, priced at $10 or $30 each, and enjoy holiday refresh-ments. Then, from 7-8 p.m., Bill Hixson, an accomplished floral designer who has helped decorate The White House for the holidays for more than 30 years, will share humorous stories centered on decorating various rooms within the White House and folklore surrounding ornament designs and holiday traditions. Some of his ornaments will also be available for sale and signing at the event.

Refreshments, a make-n-take Zen-tangle ornament project and a display of ornaments from Geauga Achieve and STARS will also be part of the festivities.

Proceeds and unsold ornaments will be ready for collection 8:30-9 p.m. after the event.

For more information, contact Teresa Runion at 440-279-0882 or trunion@ geaugaparkdistrict.org.

LAKE METRO PARKS

Wild Days of Winter

Play just like Candy Land, but with a natural twist. On a life-sized indoor game board, discover the many flavors that nature provides while playing along in Lake Metroparks’ all-new winter wonderland. Draw a card, move from space to space and explore nature through the seasons.

The Wild Days of Winter A Taste of Seasons is free for all ages. The game begins Nov. 22 at Penitentiary Glen Nature Center, 8668 Kirtland Chardon Road in Kirtland.

It continues daily from noon to 5 pm daily through Jan. 4, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve when the exhibit will be closed.

Different free activities will run from 1-3 p.m. every Saturday. Nov. 22 is Wildlife Day.

For more information, call 440-256-1404 or visit lakemetroparks.com.