MILL CREEK METROPARKS April calendar

April 1: 2 p.m. April Fools' Walk. Fun with facts about nature along the hiking trail. Meet at Ford Nature Center. About 2 miles.
April 7: 11:30 a.m. Easter Eggstravaganza. Children ages 4 to 10 scramble for candy and prizes in the area's largest Easter egg hunt. Judge Morley Pavilion lawn. The Easter Bunny will visit with 2- and 3-year-olds. Raw egg toss for adults follows.
April 7 or 12: Saturday, 10-11 a.m.; Thursday, 10-11 a.m. or 1 to 2 p.m. Children ages 3 to 5 accompanied by an adult will color eggs using natural dyes, then carry them home nestled in baskets of grass. Call Fellows Riverside Gardens to register. Fee: $6.
April 8: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Welcome baby animals to the Mahoning County Farm just in time for tour season. Visit with ducklings, chicks, piglets, calves, kids and lambs. Refreshments provided.2 p.m. Early spring walk through the beautiful sandstone formations and cascading waterfalls of the Gorge Trail. Meet at Lanterman's Mill. About 2 miles.
April 11: 8:30 a.m. Join Friends of Fellows Riverside Gardens for a walk around the gardens and the Davis Center for a light breakfast and a short talk on violets. Call FRG to register. Fee: $6.
April 12: 10 or 11 a.m. Two-year-olds and adult companions create crafts after they listen to a story about eggs at the Ford Nature Center. Call FNC to register.
April 14: 8 a.m. Bears Den is an excellent spot for a "wake-up" during a morning hike followed by breakfast in the cabin. Call Ford Nature Center by April 12 to register. Meet at Bears Den Cabin. About 2 miles.
April 17: 10 a.m. to noon. Children 6 to 10 are invited to Yellow Creek Park for a nature adventure to look for signs of spring and learn how to sign the different items that we find on the trails. A cooperative effort with Youngstown Hearing and Speech Center and the Community Center for the Deaf.
April 18: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Does a snake have a backbone? Can a turtle crawl out of its shell? Find out facts about these animals in this spring-break program designed for children ages 6 to 10. The program includes indoor and outdoor activities, so dress for the weather. Bring a lunch and drink; a snack will be provided. Call Ford Nature Center to register. Fee: $8.
April 18-20: 8 to 10 a.m. Whether you are just learning the names of your backyard birds or want to brush up on your bird-identification skills, come to Yellow Creek Park to look and listen for the birds of woodland and water. Dress for the weather. Ages 6 and up. Meet at Yellow Creek Lodge.
April 19: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Celebrate Earth Day by making a unique fresh floral arrangement. Call Fellows Riverside Gardens to register. Fee: $23 for Mahoning County residents; $30 for nonresidents.
April 20 or 21: Friday, 10 a.m. or 1 p.m.; Saturday, 1 p.m. Preschoolers ages 3 to 5 and adult companions are invited to this Earth Day program, which includes story time, activities and outdoor exploration. Call Ford Nature Center to register. Fee: $2.
April 21: 9 to 11 a.m. Children's Vegetable Garden Program. This summerlong program will give participants an opportunity to plan, plant, tend and harvest their own vegetable plot. Children who have completed first grade and are 12 or younger are eligible. Held at the Mahoning County Farm. Saturday sessions start April 21 and May 19. Wednesday morning sessions begin in June. A final session in September will be on a Saturday. Call Fellows Riverside Gardens to register. Fee: $30 for residents; $40 for nonresidents.
April 21-22: 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The Spring Flower Show highlights artistic and horticultural entries in the Davis Center at Fellows Riverside Gardens. The Garden Forum show is open for public entries Saturday from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Show schedules available at Fellows Riverside Gardens.
April 21-28: 8 a.m. Join volunteer naturalist Nancy Brundage to search for early spring migrants. Bring binoculars and meet at Newport Wetlands.
April 22: Noon to 4 p.m. Earth Day Festival. Celebrate the diversity of wildlife at Ford Nature Center. Rebecca Dale and Jim Petuch will present the "Reno and Becki Lee Show," highlighting ways to simplify lives with their unique style. Events include singer Dean Wilson, wildlife videos and displays, an outdoor scavenger hunt, and crafts for children. A tree will be given to each family or group.
April 25: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. From the Garden Cooking Series: Mint, the herb of the month, is highlighted in recipes prepared by David Armstrong. Share a meal after receiving step-by-step instructions and tips. Call Fellows Riverside Gardens to register. Fee: $28.
April 26: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Children age 6 and up will learn proper methods for planting a tree and will help to plant a tree in the Gardens. Each child will receive a tree to plant at home in honor of Arbor Day. Call Fellows Riverside Gardens to register. Fee: $6.
April 27: 8:30 p.m. Frog Walk. In the spring, male frogs serenade the females in hopes of mating. Explore one of the froggiest places in Mill Creek.. Flashlights are allowed and boots are recommended. Meet at Vickers Nature Preserve. About 2 miles.
April 28: Gardening Journals: 10 a.m. to noon. Adults will learn how to design and construct a garden journal. Different styles of bookbinding will be demonstrated. Call Fellows Riverside Gardens to register. Fee: $9 for residents, $12 for nonresidents.
April 29: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Horse-Drawn Plow Day. Visit the Mahoning County Farm as teams of draft horses plow the field in preparation for spring planting. Wagon rides available. 2 p.m. Bluebells Galore. Visit one of the premier places in our area for spring wildflowers -- Poland Municipal Forest. Established in the 1930s through the Butler family, this wet woodland features a blanket of bluebells, Mertensia virginica. About 2 miles.