Sunday, December 28, 2003
Various activities this month scheduled at Mill Creek MetroParks' facilities.
Friday, Jan. 9 and 16: 6-9 p.m. Sledding nights at Sled Hill with music by disc jockey Jeff Dunn. Lighted sledding hill. There will be a fire in our Warming House.
Saturday: 8 a.m. One-mile hike on the trails in Yellow Creek Park, Struthers. Hot chocolate and cookies at the end of the hike. Meet at Yellow Creek Lodge. Easy rating with hills.
Saturday: 9 a.m. Black-capped chickadees are known for their curiosity. Sometimes they can be coaxed into landing on your hand -- especially if you tempt them with a tasty treat. Join volunteer naturalist Nancy Brundage for this annual program. We'll provide the birdseed. Meet at the golf course parking lot.
Jan. 6, 13, 20 & amp; 27: Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Yoga taught by Heidi Suraci. Herbal tea will be served after class. Call Fellows Riverside Gardens to register. Fee: $36.
Jan. 7: 7 p.m. Many American Indian tribes referred to this month's moon as the "Snow Moon." Meet at Ford Nature Center. About 2 miles, moderate difficulty with hills.
Jan. 8, 15, 22 & amp; 29: Thursdays at 8:30-10 a.m., or 5:30-7 p.m. Yoga taught by Heidi Suraci. Herbal tea will be served after class. Call Fellows Riverside Gardens to register. Fee: $36.
Jan. 8: 10, 10:45 or 11:30 a.m. Two-year olds and their adult companions will hear a special story about animals in the winter, observe animal tracks, and make a wintry craft. Call Ford Nature Center to register.
Jan. 9 to Feb. 22: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Weller Gallery. Step momentarily into summer with the photography of Jerry DiGiampaolo as he captures the beauty and colors of this past season in Fellows Riverside Gardens.
Jan. 10: Noon-3 p.m. How far can you go as you coast down our super sledding hill? We'll see how everyone measures up. Call Sled Hill or (330) 740-7126 for rules and details. No registration is needed for this event. Held at Sled Hill.
Jan. 11: 2 p.m. We'll look for wildlife and the signs they leave behind as they struggle to survive the coldest season of the year. Meet at the Golf Course parking lot. About 2 miles, moderate difficulty.
Jan. 14: 7 p.m. Yellow Creek Park Concert. Join Eddie Vallus as he kicks off the New Year with music from the 1950s-'90s. Held in Yellow Creek Lodge, Struthers.
Jan. 16: 8:30-10 a.m. Enjoy a brisk walk in the Gardens and see a variety of evergreens belonging to the pine family. Return to the Garden Cafe to learn more about these trees while enjoying a light breakfast. Call Fellows Riverside Gardens to register. Fee: $6R, $8NR.
Jan. 16 or 17: Friday 10 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. or Saturday 10 a.m. Investigate animal tracks and signs through a story, activities, and an outdoor exploration. Children 3-5 years old are invited to attend with their parents. Call Ford Nature Center to register. Fee: $2R, $3NR.
Jan. 17: 10 a.m.- noon. Leave winter behind as you enter a classroom filled with fragrant, colorful flowers ready to be used to make a lovely arrangement. Marie Borocz will help you create this piece that will brighten the gray days of winter. Call Fellows Riverside Gardens to register. Fee: $25R, $32NR.
Jan. 17: 1 p.m. Bundle up and hike with naturalist. All ages are welcome on this hike, which starts at the Warming House in the Wick Recreation Area. About 2 miles, moderate difficulty.
Jan. 18: 2 p.m. Nature hike around Lake Cohasset. Meet at Ford Nature Center. About 2.5 miles, moderate difficulty with hills and steps.
Jan. 23 or 24: Friday 10-11 a.m. or 1-2 p.m., Saturday 10-11 a.m. Preschoolers ages 3-5 with their adult companions will learn about a flower seed snack that many birds relish. Hear a story, sample a seed snack, and make an outdoor sunflower wreath to share with the birds. Call Fellows Riverside Gardens to register. Fee: $6.
Jan. 24: 1:30-3 p.m. The bright red cardinals in this sculptural winter arrangement will add a bit of cheer to any room. Children ages 6 and up with their favorite adults will have fun turning clay pots into unusual centerpieces using berries, birdseed, branches and decorative birds. Call Fellows Riverside Gardens to register: Fee: $8.
Jan. 24: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Environmental Educator's Resource Fair. Sponsored by the Environmental Education Council on Ohio and Mill Creek MetroParks, this interdisciplinary teachers' workshop will serve preschool through high school educators. Area agencies will provide group presentations as well as concurrent sessions to help meet the new Ohio standards for science, language arts, math, art and social studies. Held at MetroParks Farm in Canfield. Call Austintown Township Park at (330) 793-0718 to register. Fee: $20 includes lunch.
Jan. 24: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. We'll equip participants ages 12 and up with brightly colored Frisbees and turn the players loose on the Par 3 Golf Course. The event is a go, snow or no, but rain, mud or temperatures above 40 degrees will force us to cancel. Prizes will be awarded for each hole in our winter version of a closest-to-the-pin tournament. Winners will be announced at 4:30 p.m. in the Warming House; competitors need not be present to win. Call Sled Hill to register.
Jan. 25: 1:30 p.m. Warm up winter by immersing yourself in the summer beauty of Fellows Riverside Gardens with photography by Jerry DiGiampaolo. Call the Gardens to register. Held in the Weller Gallery.
Jan. 25: 1:30 p.m. Long ago, the Youngstown Ice Company harvested ice for commercial use from Mill Creek and the Mahoning River. After an indoor presentation we'll walk around Lake Glacier to see what remains from those days. Meet at Ford Nature Center. About 4 miles, moderate difficulty with hills and steps.
Jan. 27: 7 p.m. Presentation on owls by Audubon Mahoning Valley. Aimee Pico from Lake Milton Raptor Education Center will bring some special owl friends so we can see them up close. Social time is at 6:30 p.m., program begins at 7 p.m. Held at MetroParks Farm.
Jan. 27 or 28: Join David Armstrong from 6:30-8:30 p.m. either day as he demonstrates and shares recipes for soups and chili. Arrive with an appetite and enjoy a hearty supper. Call Fellows Riverside Gardens to register. Fee: $32 ($25 FFRG members).