MILL CREEK METROPARKS | August calendar

Thursday: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friendship Wreath. Children 6 years old and up and their adult companions will create an herbal wreath while learning about the individual herbs that combine to make this token of friendship. Call (330) 740-7116 to register. Fee: $9.Thursday to Aug. 16: Chrysanthemum and Fall Aster Sale. Order forms are available at Fellows Riverside Gardens for the fall plant sale sponsored by Men's Garden Club of Youngstown. Ordering deadline is Aug. 16.Thursday, Aug. 8 and 15: 2 to 3 p.m. Boat Rides into Nature. A naturalist will accompany the passenger boat on three 20-minute tours of Lake Glacier. Register by calling (330) 740-7107 on the Monday before you wish to attend. Not for organized groups. Meet at Lake Glacier Boathouse.Thursday to Aug. 23: 1 to 4 p.m. High School Golf Camp. Junior high and high school golfers will meet at the golf course for six sessions of instruction and competitive golf. This camp is for intermediate and advanced golfers. Call (330) 740-7112 to register. Fee: $75.Thursday to Aug. 31: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays to Sundays. Melnick Museum. Weddings, A Park Celebration. Enjoy photos and artifacts from wedding celebrations held during the past 11 years.Friday, Aug. 9, 16, 23, 30: 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. Family Farm Tours. Visit us at the MetroParks Farm for a one-hour family tour. Your family will enjoy a tractor-wagon ride and a visit with the animals.Saturday: 2 p.m. "Letters from Yellowstone." Author Diane Smith tells the story of A.E. Alexandria Bartram, who is invited to spend the summer of 1898 as a field study team member in Yellowstone National Park. Mistakenly assumed to be a man, Bartram is greeted with less than open arms when she arrives. Once this shock is overcome, the team forges ahead on a summer of adventure, but still finds itself splintered by differing views on science, nature and economics. Don't miss this naturalist-led discussion at the Ford Nature Center.Saturday: 7 p.m. Summerfest Spectacular. Felix Cavaliere's Rascals bring their Keep on Groovin' Tour to the Morley stage for a show of classic smash hits. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend Cavaliere has rocked millions of fans with classics including "Good Lovin'," "A Beautiful Morning" and "People Got to Be Free." Lawn seating.Next Sunday: 2 p.m. Mill Creek's Refrigerator. Join this Sunday afternoon walk in the coolness of the Mill Creek Gorge. Meet at Lanterman's Mill. Approximately two miles, moderate difficulty with steps and hills.Aug. 7 and 8: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Curious Critter Camp. Children 5 to 6 years old are invited to hike the Yellow Creek Park trails and use their senses on this adventure. Critters commonly found in the area will be studied, and activities and crafts will fill the days. Register by Aug. 1. (330) 702-3000. Fee: $15 R, $20 NR.Aug. 7: 7 p.m. Enjoy an evening of polkas with the Del Sinchak and Del Rezek bands at the Morley Pavilion. Lawn seating.Aug. 8: 10, 10:45 or 11:30 a.m. Tales for Twos. You and your favorite 2-year-old are invited to listen to a story about spiders, followed by a walk in the field to look for these web-spinning friends. Call (330) 740-7107 to register.Aug. 11: 1 to 5 p.m. Bug Day. A festive event devoted to insects and their relatives. Play bug games, race mealworms, hunt for bugs and view bugs through microscopes. Participants can earn a "Master of Bugology" degree. Recommended for children and the young at heart. Call (330) 740-7107 for information. Held at MetroParks Farm.Aug. 14: 8:30 to 10 a.m. Rise and Bloom. Enjoy a morning walk around Fellows Riverside Gardens to enjoy flowers in bloom. Savor a continental breakfast afterward in the Garden Cafe and learn more about day lilies. Call (330) 740-7116 to register. Fee: $5 R, $7 NR.Aug. 14: 7 p.m. Get Out and Push performs the folksy sounds of bluegrass for a night of musical delights at the Morley Pavilion. Lawn seating.Aug. 14: 7 p.m. Yellow Creek Park Concert. Jim Frank at Yellow Creek Park with big-band favorites. Lawn seating.Aug. 16 or 17: 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. Preschool Nature Hour: What is tall and yellow and makes food for many animals? A sunflower, of course! Preschoolers ages 3 to 5 and their parents are invited to join in fun activities as we learn all about this flower. Call (330) 740-7107 to register. Fee: $2.Aug. 16 to Sept. 29: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday. Weller Gallery. Art in the Park Professional Art Competition. Get a preview of nature-related artwork featuring professional artists from across the Eastern and Midwestern states including special guest artist Julie Zickefoose. Also, these artists will display their work at Art in the Park, a festival of nature's art, Sept. 28 and 29.Aug. 17: 9 a.m. to noon. Finish by 3 p.m. Volksmarch. Walkers of all ages are invited to participate in this 11-kilometer Volksmarch sponsored by the Cuyahoga Valley Spaziergangers, a chapter of the American Volkssport Association. Volkswanderung began in Europe and was brought to the United States by servicemen who changed the name to Volksmarching. There are thousands of Volkssport clubs around the world, and members enjoy a noncompetitive atmosphere that supports participation in walking, swimming and biking events. Participation is free, but it costs $2 to earn credit toward awards. Awards are based upon number of events and number of kilometers walked. Visit www.ava.org for information about Volkssporting. Meet at Newport Wetlands. Walkers may start anytime between 9 a.m. and noon. Trail will be marked with flags.Aug. 17: 8 a.m. Hopewell Hike. Start off the day at Yellow Creek Park on a three-mile hike to our historical landmark, the Hopewell Furnace. Wear old shoes and bring a water bottle for this walk back in time. Meet at Captain John Struthers Pavilion.Aug. 18: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Watershed Festival. Features a live birds of prey show, kayak raffle, hands-on activities for kids, demonstrations of fly fishing and music. The event is co-sponsored by AWARE, Mill Creek MetroParks, YSU and Mahoning SWCD. For information, call Mahoning SWCD at (330) 533-2231. Held at Camp Stambaugh on Leffingwell Road in Canfield.Aug. 21: 10 a.m. Summer Fun Day. Enjoy a day of old-fashioned fun that includes relay races, hula hoop contests and more at Yellow Creek Park, Struthers. Call (330) 755-7275 to register by Aug. 16.Aug. 21: 7 p.m. Total Package Band takes the stage at the Morley Pavilion for an energetic show packed full of Top 40 hits. Lawn seating.Aug. 22 or 23: 10 to 11 a.m. Tell Me Why? Why do some plants bear delicious fruits? Preschoolers 3 to 5 years old and their adult companions will discover the answer. After a story the children will make a matching game to play with at home. Call (330) 740-7116 to register. Fee: $5.Aug. 25: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Secret Gardens of the Cuyahoga River. The summer flora will be in full bloom along the shores of the upper Cuyahoga River for this relaxing canoe trip, led by naturalist Bob Faber. This gentle stream is a serpentine rainbow of color as it flows through the Cuyahoga Wetlands. Cardinal flowers, pink milkweed, and buttonbush attract butterflies to the shore. Water plants including arrow arum and yellow water lilies provide a colorful route by canoe. Call (330) 740-7107 by Aug. 18 to register. Meet at Russell Park near Burton. Directions will be sent. Fee $40 per canoe.Aug. 28: 7 p.m. Alternative rock by The Rage at the Morley Pavilion. Lawn seating.Aug. 31: 10 a.m. Life on the Edge. Escape the heat with a walk along Lake Cohasset, the "Place of the Hemlocks." Learn about these trees that adapt to living on the edge of hillsides. We'll look at other plants and animals found along the shoreline and on the hillside. Meet at Ford Nature Center. Approximately 21/2 miles, easy rating with steps and hills.