MILL CREEK METROPARKS | September activities

Tuesday: 10, 10:45 or 11:30 a.m. Two-year-olds and their adult companions will hear a story about black-masked raccoons and make a fun craft. Call (330) 740-7107 to register.
Wednesday: 7 p.m. 7UP Summerfest Spectacular. Easy Street Productions take the stage at the Judge Morley Pavilion. Lawn seating. Free.
Sept. 6: 9:30 a.m. Take a stroll around Lake Glacier to look for wildlife and learn about the industries that were once in the area. Meet at Ford Nature Center. About four miles, medium difficulty with hills and steps.
Sept. 7: 2 p.m. We'll ride to County Line Road, the northern end of the MetroParks Bikeway. For safety, wearing a helmet is required; participation will not be permitted without one. Call (330) 740-7107 to register. Meet at Kirk Road Trailhead. About seven miles.
Sept. 7, 14, 21, 28: 1-5 p.m. The MetroParks farm will be open this fall on Sundays. Barns will be open for visits with the animals. Wagon rides will be offered Sept. 7 and 21.
Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30: 5:30-7 p.m. Meet at Fellows Riverside Gardens and learn the basics of energizing yoga movements taught by Heidi Suraci. Tea will be served after class. Call (330) 740-7116 to register. Fee: $36 residents; $48 nonresidents.
Sept. 10: 8:30-10 a.m. Take a brisk walk in the gardens on this autumn morning and view the asters and other fall-blooming perennials before savoring a healthy breakfast of fruit and muffins in the Garden Cafe. Call (330) 740-7116 to register. Fee: $6 R; $8 NR.
Sept. 10: 10 a.m.-noon. Join us for this kayak trip through Newport Wetlands. Kayakers of all skill levels are invited to join these escorted trips through the waters of the MetroParks. Minors ages 11-17 are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. Single and tandem kayaks are available. Call (330) 740-7107 for registration information. Fee: $12 per person for residents, $15 per person nonresidents; second person in tandem kayak, half- price. Meet at East Newport Boat Launch.
Sept. 10: 7 p.m. Yellow Creek Park Concert in Struthers. Dance the night away with music by John Gabriele, a one-man variety band. Lawn seating. Free.
Sept. 11, 18, 25, Oct. 2: 8:30-10 a.m. or 5:30-7 p.m. Yoga sessions taught in Fellows Riverside Gardens by Heidi Suraci. Tea will be served after class. Call (330) 740-7116 to register. Fee: $36 residents, $48 nonresidents.
Sept. 12: 10-11 a.m. Join guest instructor Mary June Emerson as she delights preschoolers ages 3-5 and their adult companions with a story, an activity and puppetry. Children will learn about the water cycle and the importance of conserving water. Call (330) 740-7116 to register. Fee: $3.
Sept. 13: 5-8 p.m., Sunset at MetroParks Farm. The park will have horse-drawn wagon rides, campfire entertainment, and freshly made apple butter and cider. Kids can visit with farm animals, roast marshmallows, search for toys in a haystack, and find their way through a cornfield maze. Other activities include a sack race, egg toss, and a giant train display presented by the Western Reserve Modular Railroad Club. A special feature will be the First String trio's presentation of the Buckeye Bicentennial. This lively 50-minute program covering Ohio's history, from the Underground Railroad through its aerospace pioneers, contains sing-alongs, question-and-answer sessions and dancing. Bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit by the campfire.
Sept. 14: 2 p.m. The MetroParks bluebird trail was established in 1995. This year several nest boxes were installed along the MetroParks Bikeway and monitored during the breeding season. Learn about the bluebird and what you can do to help it survive. Meet at the MetroParks Farm parking lot, near the access trail to the bikeway. About 1.5 miles; easy rating on flat, paved surface.
Sept. 14: 2-3:30 p.m. Guided tour of Fellows Riverside Gardens. Meet on DeYor Concourse.
Sept. 19: 10 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. Preschoolers ages 3-5 and their adult companions will learn about snakes through a story, craft and hands-on visit. Call (330) 740-7107 for registration information. Fee: $2 R, $3 NR.
Sept. 20: Snake presentation for preschoolers ages 3-5 and their adult companions. Call (330) 740-7107 for registration information. Fee: $2 R, $3 NR.
Sept. 20: 10 a.m.-noon. Marie Borocz will lead a session on flower arranging and help you create a centerpiece of purple, yellow and white blossoms. Call (330) 740-7116 to register. Fee: $25 R, $32 NR.
Sept. 21: 2-4 p.m. Enjoy the last days of summer with a kayak trip on Lake Newport. Kayakers of all skill levels are invited to join these escorted trips through the waters of the MetroParks. Minors ages 11-17 are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. Single and tandem kayaks are available. Call (330) 740-7107 for registration information. Fee: $12 per person R, $15 per person NR; second person in tandem kayak, half-price. Meet at East Newport Boat Launch.
Sept. 23: 7 p.m. Laura Kammermeir, former director of Project Feeder Watch, will present Citizen Science Projects at this monthly meeting of Audubon Mahoning Valley. Kammermeir will discuss ways that you can be involved in these projects and how the information is used in bird studies. Jerry Tinianow, executive director of Audubon Ohio, will give a short presentation on projects under way throughout the state by Audubon Ohio. Meet at MetroParks Farm.
Sept. 24: 6-8 p.m. Dolly Vivalo will give step-by-step instructions in making an attractive dried arrangement. Layers of pomegranates, yarrow, peppers and wheat will be displayed in a handmade wooden box accented with a raffia bow. Call (330) 740-7116 to register. Fee: $28 R, $36 NR.
Sept. 26: 7-9 p.m. Special event honoring the many talented artists who will be selling and exhibiting their nature-related artwork at Art in the Park. Music provided by harpist Kirk Kupensky. Artwork will be available to purchase. Winners of The Professional Art Competition will be announced and hors d'oeuvres will be served. Call (330) 740-7116 to register by Sept. 19. Fee: $8 per person.
Sept. 27: 9 a.m. Volunteer naturalist Nancy Brundage leads a nature walk. Bring binoculars. Meet at Newport Wetlands.
Sept. 27: 10 a.m. Listen to storyteller Denise Kellerman describe the era of William Holmes McGuffey's boyhood on a walk through the McGuffey Wildlife Preserve. Meet at McGuffey parking lot. About 1.5 miles, easy rating.
Sept. 27 and 28: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Fellows Riverside Gardens. Artists from Eastern and Midwestern states will sell nature-related fine art, including paintings, sculpture, jewelry, pottery, woodcarvings and photography. Join artist John A. Ruthven as he shares his travels and adventures in "John A. Ruthven-Artist, Naturalist, and Conservationist" at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Discover the art of "Painting Birds" with watercolor artist Julie Zickefoose at 11 a.m. both days. Enjoy live musical entertainment throughout the weekend with the sounds of Drumsomedrums With Riverhawk, acoustic guitarist Roland Kausen, and folk musician Jon Mosey. Demonstrations of pottery-making, woodcarving and sculpture will be ongoing. View the Professional Art Competition in Weller Gallery, take a miniworkshop, have lunch in Garden Cafe and enter to win a framed print. Children's activities will be offered.
Sept. 27 or 28: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Local artist Celesta Moran will demonstrate beginning painting techniques as she assists you in creating your painting. Call (330) 740-7116 to register. Fee: $15 R, $20 NR.
Sept. 27 or 28: 1-1:30 or 1:30-2 p.m. Capture the intricate detail of a leaf in clay at this pottery workshop. Your creation will be glazed and fired by artist Lynn Cardwell at her studio and will be ready for pickup Oct. 18 and 19 at the Davis Center. Call (330) 740-7116 to register. Fee: $5 per leaf.
Sept. 28: 10-11 a.m. or 3:30-4:30 p.m. Create a back yard "for the birds" by making your own bird feeder. Join Patrice Harvey of Wild Birds Unlimited and learn how to attract feathered friends to your back yard. Construct and decorate a feeder to take home. Call (330) 740-7116 to register. Fee: $15 R, $20 NR (one feeder per family).