Parks & Recreation

February 19, 2015 by Staff Report

GEAUGA PARK DISTRICT

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

Community Survey Announced

Geauga Park District encourages all county residents to complete its upcoming community survey to help guide its ongoing strategic planning by providing an updated picture of what they all want to see and do while visiting the parks.

The survey, posted at http://bit.ly/gpdsurvey2015, is open to the public through March 31.

The park district is not asking for additional support or anything more than the community’s valuable opinion. The new strategic plan that results, a compilation of the survey and other compiled data, will serve as a guide for how park district policy, operations, programming and capital improvements can meet the changing needs of Geauga County and its residents.

Strategic planning was also completed in 2006 and 2009.

Fun in the Lodge

Gather at the hearth with a cup of hot chocolate for a delightful interplay of winter-themed animal stories and nature songs.

Fireside Songs and Stories takes place Feb. 21 from 7-8:30 p.m. at The Rookery, Great Blue Heron Lodge, 10110 Cedar Road, Munson Township.

Naturalists Karie Wheaton and Dan Best will serenade with voice and guitar, keeping it all interactive with some audience members serving as actors. All ages are welcome. Registration is not required for the free program.

Best Big Bang for the Buck

Bring In Your Telescope is Feb. 28 from 5-6 p.m. at Observatory Park, 10610 Clay St. in Montville Township.

Park staff and volunteers from the Chagrin Valley Astronomical Society will help visitors get the most enjoyable astronomy experience out of their equipment and offer a few maintenance tips.

For those who don’t own a telescope, staff will help guests try out different scopes and answer questions.

The clinic will be followed by night sky observation, weather permitting. Registration is not required.

Maple 101 Workshop

Maple sugaring time is a very special time of the year in Northeast Ohio. Maple production can be as simple as a few buckets in the backyard or several hundred taps in the woodlot on one’s farm.

The 2015 Maple 101 class sponsored by the Geauga County Park District and presented by The Geauga County OSU Extension will be held Feb. 28 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Geauga Park District’s Maple Camp in Swine Creek Reservation, 16004 Hays Road South, Middlefield.

Learn how to identify and tap a maple tree, how to boil sap into the finished product and much more.

The program is free; however preregistration is required by Feb. 25 to get an accurate count on the number of people attending.

For more information and to preregister, call The Ohio State University, Geauga County at 440-834-4656.

LAKE METROPARKS

QUILTS 2015

The 24th annual quilt show is open Feb. 14 through March 25, Tuesdays through Sundays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Chardon Road in Kirtland.

Everything from the traditional bed quilts to contemporary wall art to dolls and apparel is on display. To heighten an appreciation for the art of quilting, quilting workshops and lectures are offered by featured artists and regional talent.

Quilt Vendor Days are Feb. 27-28 and March 1. Come for an event filled with quilts, demonstrations and shopping at local quilt vendor booths.

Admission is $6; $5 ages 60 and older; $4 for youth 2-11; and free for children under 2 and Farmpark members.

For more information, call 440-256-2122. Farmpark is located at 8800 Chardon Road in Kirtland.

Maple Sugaring Weekends

Lake Metroparks Farmpark hosts Maple Sugaring Weekends Feb. 28 through March 22 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Visitors take a wagon ride to the Woodland Center to witness the entire maple process as sap is collected, boiled, and turned into maple syrup and other products. Discover how trees are tapped and see the network of tubing that connects the 1,000 taps that provide sap for the Farmpark’s maple syrup production. Sample maple syrup and candy, make a maple craft, help gather sap and learn how to make maple syrup.

Farmpark’s own maple syrup and other maple items will be available for sale in the Woodland Center and Gift Shop. Pancakes will be served all day in the J & J Cafe. Cost is $7 for adults and $4 for children 2 to 11.

Farmpark admission applies. For more information, call 440-256-2122.