Groundhog fun
The groundhog’s one day of fame is approaching Feb. 2.
Summit Metro Parks and Akron animal rehabilitator Fran Kitchen are presenting a program on groundhogs and folklore from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
Meet at the pavilion at Goodyear Heights Metro Park, 2077 Newton St., Akron.
The program includes a craft, a chance to meet a groundhog and a short hike.
Bring a donation of laundry products or small wicker baskets to help Kitchen with orphaned and injured animals.
For more information, call 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Stark County’s resident groundhog, General Stark II, will meet and greet visitors at an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Exploration Gateway, 5712 12th St. NW, Perry Township.
There will be groundhog stories, navigating through a groundhog tunnel, groundhog crafts/coloring pages and a self-guided scavenger hunt. For more information, call 330-409-8096 or go to www.starkparks.com.
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History will hold a Groundhog Fun Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the museum at 1 Wade Oval in the University Circle area.
Thistle and Lake Erie Eddie are the museum’s two resident groundhogs. They will appear in programs at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Free with museum admission of $14 for adults and $10 for ages 3 to 18, college students and senior citizens 60 or older. For more information, call 216-231-4600 or www.cmnh.org.
Bows and arrows
Summit Metro Parks is presenting four programs of archery games Saturday and Sunday.
All four will be held indoors at the Coventry Oaks Pavilion at Firestone Metro Park. That’s at 40 Axline Ave., Akron.
Participants must have taken one of the park district’s introduction-to-archery classes.
First up will be adults 18 or older from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Teens 13 to 17 are scheduled from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
Children 9 to 12 years old are invited from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, and senior citizens 55 or older are slotted from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
All equipment and instruction will be provided.
Advance sign-ups are required. Call 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Today
Brush family — Summit Metro Parks will offer a look at the Brush family that contributed to Furnace Run Metro Park. Meet at 7 p.m. at the Brushwood Area off Townsend Road in Richfield Township. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Wild doings — The Wilderness Center at 9877 Alabama Ave. SW, Sugar Creek Township, is holding a bow-making class from 6:30 to 9 p.m. It will continue on Thursdays through March 3. The fee is $180. Advance sign-ups are required. 1-877-359-5235 or www.wildernesscenter.org. It is also hosting a Wilderness Sprouts program on beavers for preschool children and accompanying adults at 10 a.m.
Friday
Lyceum bats — Tim Krynak of Cleveland Metroparks will speak on Where Have All the Bats Gone in a Cuyahoga Valley Lyceum lecture on the white-nosed syndrome. His talk will be at 7 p.m. at the Happy Days Lodge off state Route 303 west of state Route 8 in Boston Heights. Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for children 3 to 12. Doors open at 6 p.m. Advance tickets are available by calling 330-657-2909, option 4, or visiting www.conservancyforcvnp.org. Click on Events.
Owl walk — Summit Metro Parks is conducting an owl walk from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Liberty Park. Meet at the Twinsburg Ledges Area, 9999 Liberty Road, Twinsburg. Taped owl recordings will be played in an effort to get owls to respond. For ages 6 or older. No dogs. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Saturday
Family campfire — The National Park Service is presenting a family campfire looking at the automobile at 7 p.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley. Meet at the Happy Days Lodge off state Route 303 in Boston Heights. 330-657-2752.
Animal tales — Summit Metro Parks is presenting stories about chickadees for youngsters and accompanying adults at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. After the stories, participants will go outdoors and hand-feed the birds. Dress for the weather. Advance sign-ups are required. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Suet feeder — Summit Metro Parks is holding a workshop to build a suet bird feeder from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Limit of one kit per family. The fee is $15 per kit. Advance sign-ups are required. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Hike Aboard! — Travel through the Cuyahoga Valley on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad and participants will then hike 5 miles back on the hilly Buckeye Trail. Board at 9:10 a.m. at the Boston Store Visitor Center off Boston Mills Road in Boston Township. The train fee is $3. 330-657-2752.
Nordic skiing — The National Park Service is holding a class on learning the basics of cross-country skiing from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley. Meet at the Kendall Lake Shelter off Truxell Road in Boston Township. The program will be canceled if there isn’t 4 inches of snow. Free. Equipment rental is available. To register, call 330-657-2752.
Junior Ranger — The National Park Service is presenting a Junior Ranger program on the night sky for children 4 to 6 years old and accompanying adults from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley. The location will be disclosed when you register. Advance sign-ups are required. 330-657-2796, ext. 100.
Snowshoe hike — The National Park Service is staging a snowshoe hike from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley. Meet at the Kendall Lake Shelter off Truxell Road in Boston Township. Free. Equipment rentals are available. 330-657-2752. The event will become a hike if there’s not enough snow. 330-657-2752.
Snowshoe hares — The Medina County Park District is hosting a walk-in program on snowshoe hares from noon to 5 p.m. at the Susan Hambley Nature Center, 4173 Parschen Blvd., Brunswick. The program will continue from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Free. For all ages. 330-722-9364 or www.medinacountyparks.com.
Geocaching event — The Wilderness Center near Wilmot is hosting a geocaching event from 5 to 9 p.m. Free for members; donations from others. It is also presenting a lecture on plate tectonics from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and a program on the Foxfield Preserve and natural burials from 2 to 3:30 p.m. 1-877-359-5235 or www.wildernesscenter.org.
Sunday
Valley hike — The National Park Service is holding a 7-mile hike on the hilly Buckeye and Valley trails in the Cuyahoga Valley. It will run from 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at park headquarters at Riverview and Vaughn roads in Brecksville. 330-657-2752.
Beaver Marsh — The National Park Service is conducting a Towpath Trail hike to search for winter wildlife at the Beaver Marsh in the Cuyahoga Valley. It will run from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Meet at the Ira Trailhead off Riverview Road north of Ira Road in Cuyahoga Falls. Wheelchair and stroller accessible. 330-657-2752.
Tuesday
Bicycle repairs — Ernie’s Bicycle Shop, 135 Lake Ave. NW, Massillon, is holding a bicycle maintenance class from 6 to 8 p.m. It will continue Feb. 9. In addition, there will also be a class from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the North Canton shop, 1325 Portage St. NW. It will continue Feb. 10. The fee is $30 a person.
For a complete list, go to Ohio.com.
Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning at the beaconjournal.com.