Invasion of the Cicadas

Coming late May
by John Pogacnik, Biologist

Periodical cirada

Lake County is due for an invasion this summer and the invaders are a large black and orange insect known as the periodical cicada. the last time they occurred en masse in Lake County was 1999 and 1982 before that. Periodical cicadas spend the first 16 years of their life underground and emerge the 17th year. They will emerge in huge numbers toward the end of May when the soil is 64 degrees.

Cicada nymph

Cicadas belong to the insect family known as true bugs, which are plant-sucking insects. There are two groups of cicadas, annual cicadas and periodical cicadas. There are 13 specials of annual cicadas (most of which are green and black in color) in Ohio, but most are only found in the southern part of the state. Periodical cicadas are orange and black with red eyes and groups are called broods. In Ohio, there are four broods of 17-year cicadas. Brood V covers the eastern half of Ohio, southwest Pennsylvania and West Virginia. This is the only one affecting Lake County. Other broods affecting Ohio are brood Vii in extreme eastern Ohio, brood X in western Ohio, and brood XIV in southern Ohio.

Dog Day/Annual Cicada

The periodical cicadas will emerge in late May. If you get out at night, you may see the nymphs crawling up the trunks of trees. They climb up into the tree where they’ll shed their outer skin and emerge as adults. When adults emerge they are white, but then will darken into their black and orange coloration within a few hours. When their wings harden enough they will fly higher into the tree and by morning only the empty shell will remain. In a week or so the males will begin to call. They are often in such high numbers that their sound will drown out even the sounds of singing birds. They will mate, and the female will cut a slit into the branches of trees to lay her eggs. The egg laying will occasionally kill the ends of branches—called flagging—which is recognizable by the dead branch tips and occasional broken branches hanging. Later in the summer, the eggs will hatch and the young will climb down the tree where they will spend the next 16 years of their lives in the ground. The adults will typically be gone by the first week of July. 

Cicadas do not bite and are harmless to humans and pets. In Lake County, periodical cicadas will be most common in the southern half of the county. Their numbers have declined due to habitat destruction, so they may not appear in all areas. If you miss them this year, you’ll have to wait another 17 years.

To learn more, visit cicadamania.com.

Carpets of color or solitary works of art...

Spring wildflowers are one of nature’s most anticipated events as winter fades away. These plants have a burst of growth and bloom after the snow melts, before the trees leaf out and block the nourishing sunlight. These colorful signs of spring last a short time, so explore Lake Metroparks and enjoy the show!

Blooms begin in early April and last into June, but typically the best times to view large numbers or a good variety of wildflowers are the last week of April and the first week of May. To see the greatest variety of flowers, visit the parks more than once during their short blooming season.

Spring wildflowers can be seen in almost every park, but the following have the best displays or easiest access:

Hogback Ridge Park (HR) – Follow the boardwalk on Hemlock Ridge Loop Trail or venture down 140 steps to the floodplain and the Bluebell Valley Path

Indian Point Park (IP) – Drive along Seeley Road by the bridge

Big Creek at Liberty Hollow (LH) – The short trail along the Big Creek floodplain hosts a wide variety of spring wildflowers

Penitentiary Glen Reservation (PG) – A short paved trail leads to the Wildflower Garden near the gorge overlook deck; others bloom along the Kirtland-Connector Trail

Wildflower descriptions are listed according to their blooming times, starting with the earliest:

Bloodroot blooms in early April and gets its name from its red sap. 

IP, LH, PG • April 1–20 

Spring beauty is one of the more hardy spring wildflowers and may be
found growing in untreated lawns as well as their traditional woodland home.
HR, IP, LH, PG • April 1–May 10 

Trout lily leaves are mottled, with a pattern similar to a trout. Another common 

name is Adder’s tongue, referring to the fruit that resembles a snake’s head. 

HR, IP, LH, PG • April 15-May 1

Squirrel corn, with lacy fernlike leaves, has nodules on the roots that 

look like corn kernels. This flower is a wild cousin of the 

garden variety bleeding heart. HR, IP, LH • April 15–May 5

Large-flowered trillium, Ohio’s state Wildflower, is a favorite food for deer
and is rarely found in areas with large deer populations.
HR, IP, LH, PG • April 15–May 15

Virginia bluebells are often seen as a blue sea of flowers, carpeting floodplains 

near streams. The flower buds are pink and become blue as they open. 

HR, IP, LH, PG • April 20–May 15

Wild geraniums prefer floodplain areas and are also known as
spotted cranesbill, because the stamen resembles the bill of a crane. 

The word “geranium” means crane in Greek.  

HR, IP, LH, PG • April 25–May 15

Wild blue phlox is a distant ancestor of the garden phlox. It was 

taken back to Europe by early settlers, cultivated there, 

and brought back as a garden plant. 

HR, IP, LH, PG • May 1–20 

Jack-in-the-pulpit can live in drier woods where other flowers 

don’t thrive. They are not a favorite food for deer, so they are 

often found in parks that have few other wildflowers. 

HR, IP, LH, PG • May 1-June 1

The distinct umbrella-like leaves of the Mayapple are often seen 

in April, but the blooms do not normally arrive until mid-May. 

Its fruit is a preferred wildlife food. 

HR, IP, LH, PG • May 5–June 1

Guide to Spring Wildflowers in Lake Metroparks (PDF)

Alternative winter activities to embrace the snowy season

Chapin Forest Pine Lodge Ski Center - photo by greennite

Winter activities

When winter is here, we can either choose to hibernate through it or—better yet—we can choose to embrace it!

The easiest way to do so is by cross-country skiing at Chapin Forest Pine Lodge Ski Center, snowshoeing at Penitentiary Glen Reservation or sledding at Hidden Valley or Chagrin River Parks. But the truth of the matter is there are many more ways to embrace what is probably the purest season of them all: winter.

Cross-country Skiing 

For trail conditions, call the Winter Sports Hotline: 440-256-2118 x4178 or follow us on Twitter @LakeMetroparks. We update our sports hotline daily (even hourly as snow conditions change).

If your adventure includes cross-country skiing, there are opportunities across the county starting with Chapin Forest where we rent skis and snowshoes, groom the trails and turn on lights for you at night. If you have “been there and done that” and want to experience the peace and solitude that exists throughout winter, you might check out three other areas groomed for skiing.

In eastern Lake County, at Erie Shores Golf Course, we groom about five kilometers of trail on the relatively flat course. In western Lake County, we groom five kilometers at Pine Ridge Country Club that includes some nice hills. In south/central Lake County we groom about nine kilometers at the south entrance of Girdled Road Reservation—some of it flat, but also some  challenging terrain. Each park offers a different experience and, with the spotty nature of snowfall, it may be possible to ski in one park while grass is still showing at another.

Groomed trails
Chapin Forest Reservation
Girdled Road Reservation
Erie Shores Golf Course
Pine Ridge Country Club

Rentals
Chapin Forest Pine Lodge cross-country ski center
Skis and snowshoes are available for rental from noon to 9 pm weekdays and 9 am to 9 pm on weekends and holidays.

Call the ski center for more information during operational hours at 440-256-2118 x4178

Snowshoeing

If you are looking for an adventure that can be dialed back a notch, then perhaps snowshoeing is for you. All it takes is three or four inches of snow and a good pair of boots and you can experience winter at its best. At Penitentiary Glen and Chapin Forest, we rent snowshoes and have designated marked trails for you to follow. Once you have done that, it is time to get out and explore the thousands of acres waiting for you!

To do this, rent a pair of snowshoes from Chapin Forest Pine Lodge (or purchase a pair and keep them in your trunk). When it snows, go for a ride and check out one of our many parks with trails. Some favorites include Indian Point Park (upper lot), the Environmental Learning Center, Pete’s Pond Preserve, Hell Hollow Wilderness Area, Hogback Ridge Park, Big Creek at Liberty Hollow and Skok Meadow at Girdled Road Reservation. Each of these parks has something different to offer from scenic overlooks to shale cliffs coated with ice. Anywhere you hike in the summer is a great place to snowshoe in the winter. Many of the parks in central Lake County benefit from great lake effect snowfalls.

Rentals
Chapin Forest Pine Lodge cross-country ski center
Snowshoes are available for rental at the Pine Lodge Ski Center from noon to 9 pm weekdays and 9 am to 9 pm on weekends and holidays.

Penitentiary Glen Nature Center
Snowshoe rentals are available 9 am to 4 pm daily beginning early November through early March on an hourly and 
daily basis (weather dependent).

2015-2016 cross-country skiing and snowshoeing programs

Sledding

Sledding at Hidden Valley Park - photo by greenniteLake Metroparks offers a variety of winter activities for all ages, but by far, sledding is one of the most popular. Our parks offer four different places to bring your family for a day of thrills in whatever apparatus you chose to bring. In the eastern end of Lake County there are two very popular spots to sled: Hidden Valley Park and Riverview Park, both located in Madison Township. In the western end, popular hills to sled on are found at Chagrin River Park in Eastlake and Chapin Forest Reservation in Kirtland.

Beach Walks

Sounds crazy, but if all goes well and it gets really cold, then you must venture down to one of our lakeshore properties. This may be the coolest thing (pun intended!) you see all winter! Bring along snowshoes (or even simple YakTrax for your boots) and head to the north coast where you will see the 13th largest body of fresh water in the world turn from a liquid to solid state. This usually happens in late January and can last long into March. What makes it even more spectacular is the combination of the lake’s wave action with freeze-and-thaw cycles, which transform the flat beach into giant mounds of ice as solid as rocks. These mounds can stretch for miles and take on amazing shapes and textures. You will think you are on the edge of the Arctic Circle! Although the lake is visible from all six of our lakefront properties, the best places to explore the beach in winter are in Perry at both Lakeshore Reservation and Lake Erie Bluffs (Lane Road entrance). Always use caution when walking on or near the beach in the winter. Some days the mounds are solid; not so on other days. Always stay close to the bank and never attempt to walk on the ice if water is present.

Winter Camping

Winter campsite at Girdled Road Reservation- south entranceWhat if it were possible to pitch a tent and spend the night in a nearly 1,000-acre park in the middle of winter? Well it is — at Girdled Road Reservation in Concord Township. We’ll even provide the firewood! The campsite is located along Big Creek and can be reserved online at lakemetroparks.com or by calling 440-358-7275. It is a hike-in/ski-in site about 0.75-mile into the Big Creek Valley. It is a great place for a one night stay or to train for a longer excursion elsewhere in the world. You will be amazed how quiet the forest gets after a fresh snowfall.

Ice Fishing

Lake Metroparks offers two great locations for an ice fishing experience: Hidden Lake in Leroy Township and Veterans Park in Mentor. If you have the equipment and skills, you are welcome to venture out on the ice, drill a hole and give it a try. If you have never tried ice fishing before, consider taking one of our classes (View online or in the winter issue of Parks Plus!). Ice fishing can be dangerous and we do not monitor the ice, so this is a “try at your own risk” activity.

Steelhead Fishing

Lake Metroparks provides some of the best public access to Ohio's treasured steelhead streams!

1. The Division of Wildlife annually stocks five Lake Erie tributary streams with 6-8" yearling Little Manistee River (Michigan) strain of steelhead. These fish (called "smolts") migrate out into Lake Erie and spend the summer in the cooler part of the lake before returning to streams during the fall through the spring. Steelhead trout caught by anglers in the streams typically average 25" long and weigh 5-6 pounds. These fish have usually spent 2-3 summers out in the lake. However, there are a good number of fish that are over 30 inches and weigh more than 10 pounds and have spent up to six summers in the lake.

Lake County's steelhead streams are the Chagrin and Grand rivers; each receiving 90,000 yearling steelhead annually. Good quantities of cold, spring water and adequate juvenile trout habitat are also rare in NE Ohio's Lake Erie tributaries. The fantastic fishing has been maintained by annual stocking and by the practice of most anglers to catch and release. A State of Ohio fishing license is required for fishing in all rivers and tributaries in Ohio.

Click here for a list of parks with public access to the Chagrin and Grand rivers, fishing guide permits and more information about fishing in Lake Metroparks.

Ice Formations

Winter in Northeast Ohio transforms moisture into spectacular cascading walls of ice. The most impressive formations can be seen at the gorge at Penitentiary Glen in Kirtland. These formations can be viewed on a naturalist-led hike offered periodically throughout the winter. There are also many other places to view ice on you own with just a little effort. Some of these includes the Grand River at Hidden Valley Park, Mill Creek at Hogback Ridge Park, Paine Falls in Leroy Township, Chair Factory Falls and Big Creek at Liberty Hollow in Concord Township and Pleasant Valley Park in Willoughby Hills.

Hiking

Winter Hike - Photo by Maribeth Joeright for The News-HeraldLake Metroparks has nearly 50 miles of trails spanning Lake County. The trails provide countless opportunities to fight off cabin fever this winter. 
Click here for the top 5 winter hikes.

The Shoreline Stopover

Photo by Jeff Traipale

A Place to Relax & Recharge 

by Ann Bugeda, Chief of Interpretive Services

Fall skies, shorter days, cooling temperatures and winds from the north trigger the ongoing cycle of migration. It’s true—bird populations are in movement year round—changing seasons alert us to the passage of many species on their southbound journey. Eagles, ducks, hawks, swans, falcons, shorebirds, songbirds— all moving from summer places to wintering grounds.

One of the best places to witness fall migration is along our lakeshore. If I had to pick my favorite for migration watching on a fall day, I would pick Lake Erie Bluffs. Improvements to this park include a new trail and shelter that provide great opportunities to relax, walk, enjoy the view and share space with the tiny travelers of fall migration. The variety of habitat and natural beach are relaxing to us and important for the local wildlife. Other scenic shoreline Lake Metroparks sites east to west are Arcola Creek Park in Madison Township, Lake Shore Reservation in North Perry Village, Painesville Township Park in Painesville Township, Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park in Fairport Harbor and Lakefront Lodge in Willowick.

Photos by John Pogacnik, Biologist

During the late summer and fall, many birds that nested and raised their young in Ohio and farther north (like New England and Canada) begin to feel the urge to move. These birds will soon journey to warmer climates, enjoying abundant food supplies and milder temperatures.

Many kinds of songbirds, waterfowl, shorebirds, hawks and falcons navigate along Lake Erie’s coast—some even fly non-stop from Canada, out and over Lake Erie’s open water. Some rely on the updrafts of warm air currents created by elevation changes along our coastlines and ridges where rising warm air provides a boost for soaring. Some travel only at night, when the weather is calm and there is less danger of predation.

Photos by John Pogacnik, Biologist

When we travel from home for work or vacation, it’s likely we will need to stop for food or fuel. The same thing is true with animals in migration. Green spaces like Lake Erie Bluffs, provide valuable “stopover” habitat. Food (including insects, fall fruits or nectar sources) and shelter (trees, shrubs and grassy spaces) are essential. It’s not exactly a cheeseburger and fries, but without a place to rest and refuel, many will have a difficult time on their journey.

If you visit the lakeshore in September, smaller birds like hummingbirds and warblers will be passing through. By October, sparrows are on the move, and turkey vultures can be seen drifting southbound. By mid October, ducks will start to gather on inland lakes and ponds like Granger Pond at Veterans Park in Mentor.

November brings chilly north winds, when tundra swans pass; listen for their wild and beautiful calls with the first real cold front. Loons and other diving birds can be spotted on the open waters of Lake Erie. From November  through April, thousands of red-breasted mergansers gather in Lake Erie. Up to 150,000 or more birds may be present during the winter months, a large percent of their entire population. They fly back and forth, diving and fishing and following the open water as the lake begins to freeze. The near total ice coverage of the lake these past two winters made for difficult conditions for them (as well as us!). Remembering last winter reminds us that now is the time to enjoy a fall walk, some lake watching and nature in all its glory.

Photo by Greennite

Top five ways to explore and enjoy your Lake Metroparks this fall

1) Fall Colors Tour: Take a hike along one of the 50+ miles of trails to discover the beauty of fall foliage in Lake County. If hiking isn’t for you, scenic trail cart tours are now accessible to non-hikers! Get out and marvel at the fall color all around you! 

2) Enjoy the Harvest: Enjoy fall harvest fun at Lake Metroparks Farmpark every weekend through October 18! Make and sample apple cider, apple butter and hand-cranked ice cream, learn how to drive a horse, discover how to grind corn and thresh grain, take a wagon ride around the fields and more!

3) Gather Round: Get the family together around a blazing campfire for stories, songs, roasting marshmallows and old-fashioned outdoor fun! Choose your own adventure.

4) Eye to the Sky: Did you know that fall is an excellent time for birdwatching? Catch a glimpse of a variety of birds during fall migration. You never know what you might see!

5) Conquer the Maze: Test yours skills as you “walk the stalk” through a multitude of twists and turns through a three-acre corn maze at Lake Metroparks Farmpark. The maze is open through mid-October weather permitting.

the Amazing Monarch

Monarch butterfly on Milkweed at Lake Erie Bluffs - photo by greennite

By Tom Koritansky, Natural Resource Manager

Monarchs are part of a group of butterflies known as milkweed butterflies that lay their eggs exclusively on various species of milkweed upon which young caterpillars feed, grow and develop. Monarchs serve a vital function in our planet’s ecology by pollinating many plants in their search for nectar.

Milkweeds are perennial plants. During the summer and into fall, these plants produce showy flowers in various shades of pink and are an excellent source of nectar for many pollinating insects. Milkweed can be found growing in dry upland meadows and old fields, open floodplains and along the edges of ponds, lakes and streams. Besides being the only food source for caterpillars, milkweed also gives developing monarchs protection from predators.

Milkweed contains chemicals known as cardenolides that when ingested give caterpillars a bitter taste. The protective chemistry provided by feeding on milkweed and their bright coloration serves as a warning to predators to stay away. Monarchs migrate south from Northeast Ohio to Mexico in late August. Each year, the voyage becomes more difficult as natural areas that once served as breeding grounds and stopover sites rich in milkweed are removed from the landscape because of land use changes. This loss has contributed to a noticeable decline in monarch populations. Without its milkweed host plant, monarchs cannot successfully reproduce, and without a plentiful food supply rich in flowering plants, all migrants are not able to complete their journey.

Natural areas within Lake Metroparks that contain a variety of wildflowers are incredibly important for the monarch’s survival. Large open meadows with great varieties of flowering plants like those at Hidden Lake in Leroy Township, Skok Meadow at Girdled Road Reservation in Concord Township and Penitentiary Glen Reservation in Kirtland are ideal locations for monarchs to stop and feed along their journey. Earlier this year, Lake Metroparks’ natural resources staff planted milkweed in several plots at Lake Erie Bluffs, Lakeshore Reservation and Penitentiary Glen Reservation as a way to encourage breeding habitat for monarchs in those parks.

By planting milkweed and conserving butterfly-friendly habitat, we can all do our part to help save monarchs.

Click here to learn more about Wildlife Management by Lake Metroparks.

Experience the Grandness of the Grand

You might not know just how grand the Grand River is if you haven’t been to Lake Metroparks’ River Jamboree! The Grand River represents one of the finest examples of a natural stream found anywhere in Ohio. Mainly due to the rugged surroundings and minimal impact from urbanization and development, the Grand River became the second river to be designated Wild and Scenic by the Ohio Scenic Rivers Program.

The Grand River runs 103 miles passing through five counties in Northeast Ohio. The headwaters start in Geauga and Portage counties, then flow northeast through Trumbull and Ashtabula counties before taking a 90 degree turn into Lake County. Once in Lake County, the Grand runs 26 miles to its mouth in Fairport Harbor. The river borders 12 Lake Metroparks, which protects 30 percent of the river shoreline.

The Grand River has the most aquatic diversity of any Ohio Lake Erie tributary due to the slower moving waters and neighboring wetlands. These wetlands provide fantastic habitat for countless wildlife species including river otters, which have made a comeback after their reintroduction by the Division of Wildlife in 1986. Eagles and ospreys can be seen flying overhead and on warm days northern map turtles and spiny softshell turtles bask along the river bank. There are 87 fish species in the Grand, including longnose gar, smallmouth bass and rainbow darters. Additionally, the river is home to an impressive 22 species of freshwater mussels, the most endangered animals in North America.

River Jamboree

Hidden Valley Park

July 12 • 1 to 4 pm

FREE • Registration requested

This year’s River Jamboree allows you to “get wet with nets.” Take the time to try out several different types of nets to find insects, fish, snakes and more. Bring family and friends to jump in and experience the remarkable Grand River with us on Sunday, July 12 at Hidden Valley Park in Madison. Lake Metroparks naturalists and local conservation groups will be on hand with fun activities for the whole family.

The River Jamboree is a free event. Registration is requested and can be made online or by calling 440-358-7275.

Article by Trevor Wearstler, Interpretive Naturalist

Sheep come in all different shares and sizes, colors and personalities

Rachel Gordon Sheep Paintings featured at Shearing Weekend at Farmpark

Sheep have been a companion to humans for thousands of years. They provide us with everything we need – food, clothing, milk, warmth, companionship, shelter, musical instruments – and yet what do we think of when we think of sheep? Most of us think boring, white, fluffy, gentle animals who do not think for themselves. Nothing could be further from the truth! Like people, sheep come in all different shapes and sizes, colors, and personalities.

Like people, sheep like being connected to each other and living in community – and they are each unique as individuals. I am fascinated by the interplay of outer appearance and inner self - our exterior as a reflection of our interior and vice versa - how much we judge and make assumptions based on appearance and the dream of reaching unity in the diversity. Inside Outside Sheep celebrates the uniqueness of each one of us. We are better as a whole when each one of us is able to radiate out what makes us special inside. What’s your inner sheep?

Children will paint their own mini sheep as a craft during the weekend.

Shearing Weekend
Lake Metroparks Farmpark
May 30 & 31, 2015 • 9 am to 5 pm

Watch us shear our sheep of their winter coats and process it into a variety of fiber products. Learn how to spin, weave and make felt and meet fiber-producing animals including sheep, llamas and alpacas.

Meet Rachel Gordon at Farmpark May 30 & 31

Rachel Gordon creates fun and unique art in many different media. She has been passionate about sheep for many years –as paintings, prints, drawings, and small sculptures – and loves how they make her laugh as their personalities emerge. When she isn’t working or hanging out with the sheep, she illustrates children’s books and publishes coloring pages for kids every week on her blog www.sophieandsadie.com. Rachel also works in photography, fiber art, conceptual art and installation, illustration, and printing. A common thread in her art is encouraging people to stop and see the beauty, wonder, and fun in everyday life and objects.



Rachel lives in Cleveland. Her work has been exhibited in the USA, Russia, and Israel. She has been recognized by the State of Israel as an artist of high distinction and was a recipient of the 2014 Cleveland Jewish Arts and Culture Lab Fellowship.

Follow her work on Facebook (Rachel Gordon Art) and her websites www.rachelgordonart.com and www.insideoutsidesheep.com.

Grab the fishing gear and go fishing this weekend...for FREE!

Grab the fishing gear and go fishing this weekend...for FREE!Ohio residents may fish in all of Ohio's public waters...

A largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, hunting among water plants.
Photo (George Grall Getty Images/National Geographic Creative) 

Fishing in #Paine #Creek at #IndianPointPark

What animal walked through here?

Tracking Winter Wildlife
By Andy Avram, Interpretive Manager

A fresh coating of snow lies over the land, disturbed only by a single line of footprints. These tracks offer us a glimpse into this animal’s life—a few pages of its story on this winter day. What animal walked through here? What was it doing and where did it go?

By examining the size, shape and pattern we can tell it was a small mammal, likely a meadow vole. Following the tracks we see it burrowed into the snow as the tracks end in a small tunnel, about the diameter of a quarter, but resurface a couple feet away to carry on the journey. The tracks stop by some nibbled vegetation where the vole had a bite to eat, but suddenly the footprints become widely spaced as if the vole was startled into running away. It ran a short distance before the prints simply vanish. Looking next to the area where the footprints disappeared, we see what looks like brush strokes in the snow and realize our little friend was captured and carried off by a hawk or owl. Our footprint story ends here, but the bird of prey’s story continues on.

It is stories like these that make hiking in the winter so much fun, but we know that it sometimes takes a little extra motivation to leave a nice cozy home to brave the outdoors. Animal tracks, birds, trees and even interesting insects that crawl on top of the snow can be found all winter long and Lake Metroparks offers a number of opportunities to get out with a naturalist to discover these. 

For general nature try a Winter Nature Walk. If you would like a more in-depth program to learn about and look for animal tracks, join us for Wildlife Tracking.

Wildlife Tracking
January 24 at Veterans Park
February 28 at Pete’s Pond Preserve

Winter Nature Walk
February 21 at Penitentiary Glen Reservation

These programs are free. To register (required), click on the link provided. Registration may also be made by phone at 440-639-7275 or in person at the Registration  Department at Concord Woods between 8 and 4:30 pm.

Come outside and have fun: Winter programs at Lake Metroparks Saturday, January 17

It's winter time and we have a variety of programs happening this Saturday in our parks for people of all ages and abilities. Pre-registration required.

Saturday, January 17

Bird Walk 
Penitentiary Glen Reservation
8:30 to 10 am • FREE

Lake Metroparks has a long tradition of guided bird walks. The park’s variety of habitats offers the chance to see and hear many species of birds. Bring binoculars and field guide if you have them. We also have some that you can borrow during the walk - just contact the instructor prior to the walk. Beginners welcome.
bit.ly/click-to-register-34189

Skate Ski Lessons 101 (beginner level)
Chapin Forest Reservation
9 to 10:30 am
$20 with ski rental
$10 without ski rental

Learn the basics of skate skiing with plenty of on-the-snow practice. Learn about equipment, body positions, poling, and V1 and V2 techniques. A limited amount of equipment is available.
bit.ly/click-to-register-34009

Classic Cross-country Ski Lessons 101 
Chapin Forest Reservation
9 to 10:30 am
$15 with ski rental
$10 without ski rental

Learn to fall down and get up, glide, stride, stop, turn, and use your poles. Please state gender, shoe size and height when registering with rental. Participants should arrive 15 minutes prior to class start time.
bit.ly/click-to-register-33968

Frozen Falls Bus Tour
Meet at Penitentiary Glen Reservation
9 am to noon • $40 per person
Ages 18 and older

Explore Lake County by bus visiting different frozen waterfalls and enjoying the beautiful winter scenery. Participants should dress for the weather and be prepared to hike to falls.
bit.ly/click-to-register-33941

Crazy Kidz Ski Academy: Skinny Skis - First Tracks
Ages 4, 5 and 6
Chapin Forest Reservation
9:30 to 10:30 am
$10 with ski rental
$5 without ski rental
$5 each additional sibbling

Our motto is "No Child Left in the Lodge." This introductory class teaches young children the basic skills of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. You're never too young to learn how much fun snow sports can be!
bit.ly/click-to-register-34043

Snowshoe the Parks
Indian Point Park
10 to 11:30 am
Ages 16 and older
$10 with ski rental
$5 without ski rental

Try snowshoeing on varied terrain through out our different parks! We will begin each class discussing the basics of snowshoeing and then going out and trying it on a different trail in a different park. Rental equipment will be brought to the different parks so pre-registration is necessary. If you're renting, please state height and weight when registering. Park location may change based on snow conditions.
bit.ly/click-to-register-34103

Ride a Draft Horse
Farmpark
11 am to 12:30 pm • $20
Ages 10 and older

You have seen them pull wagons and plows, now here is your chance to groom, saddle and ride a mighty draft horse.
bit.ly/click-to-register-34208

Creative Kids: Fabulous Fur
Children's Schoolhouse Nature Park
Noon to 1 pm
$5 for one child and one adult
$4 for each additional sibling
Ages 3 to 8

It's winter time, and many animals have their fur "coats" on. Come, learn, and create all about fur!
bit.ly/click-to-register-33805

Winter Carnival
Painesville Township Park
1 to 3 pm • $5 per child
Ages 3 to 10

Want to have some indoor winter fun? Come join us for our indoor winter carnival for games, prizes and crafts! Concessions will be open for food purchases.
bit.ly/click-to-register-34202

Adapted Winter Carnival
Painesville Township Park
3:30 to 4:30 pm • $8
Ages 9 and older

Come join us for our fun indoor winter carnival! Play old fashioned carnival games and win prizes, listen to music and enjoy refreshments. Program designed for participants with special needs only.
bit.ly/click-to-register-34153

Recycle your Christmas tree and help the parks

Recycling Christmas trees helps the parks as they are chipped and the chips are then composted or used as mulch within Lake Metroparks. 

Lake Metroparks offers 15 convenient Christmas tree recycling drop off locations throughout Lake County. Please remove all decorations before placing trees in designated bins.

Tree bins are available at the parks listed below beginning mid-December and will be removed about January 15. 

Chagrin River Park (Reeves Road entrance)

Chapin Forest Reservation (east entrance/Rt. 306)

Concord Woods Nature Park

Erie Shores Golf Course

Girdled Road Reservation (south entrance/Radcliffe Rd.)

Grand River Landing

Gully Brook Park

Helen Hazen Wyman Park

Hidden Valley Park

Lake Erie Bluffs (Lane Road entrance)

Lakeshore Reservation

Parsons Gardens

Penitentiary Glen Reservation

Pete's Pond Preserve

Veterans Park

Click here for park information, including address and driving directions. 

You think this is for the birds? You're right!

115th annual Christmas Bird Count

Celebrated across North America (and Lake Metroparks)  

Gully Brook Park (December 20 at 8:30 am)
Penitentiary Glen Reservation (December 27 at 8 am)


Do you love birds? Join Lake Metroparks and participate in the annual Christmas Bird Count, the longest running Citizen Science project in the world.

The Christmas Bird Count, presented by the National Audubon Society, is an early-winter bird census, where thousands of volunteers across the US, Canada and many countries in the Western Hemisphere count all the bird species and number of birds within a designated 15 mile radius in one 24 hour period.

Lake Metroparks is looking for as many eyes and ears to help us get as accurate a count as possible. All the data is turned in to National Audubon for a full tally from across Lake County, Northeast Ohio, Ohio and all of North America. Teams of birders venture out on foot, while “feeder” watchers keep track in back yards. A number our parks are included in the count territories.

Click here for a map of the circles that take in Lake County.
(Enter Lake County, Ohio into the search bar on the map)

Come join the fun on Saturday December 20 at 8:30 am at Gully Brook Park on River Road in Willoughby, where members of the Burroughs Nature Club will lead a hike and then move on to Pete’s Pond Preserve in Wickliffe for more birding, finishing up around lunchtime. Registration not required. Free

Go on a hike with members from the Blackbrook Audubon Society at Penitentiary Glen Reservation on Saturday December 27 at 8 am until 10 am to discover what the nature center trails and feeders have to offer. You do not have to be an expert “birder” to enjoy this outing, just a lover of birds. Register online for this hike. FREE

For more information the Christmas Bird Count, call 440 256-1404 and ask for Pat or Ann or visit http://birds.audubon.org/faq/cbc.

Learn more about birding in Lake County.