MILL CREEK METROPARKS September calendar

Activities slated for September at Mill Creek MetroParks:

Sept. 1: 7-9 p.m. “Kricket” Kayak. Kayakers will be serenaded by the summer insects. Bring a flashlight. Not for first-time kayakers. Participants must be at least 18 years old. Meet at East Newport Boat Launch. Kayakers of all skill levels can join these escorted trips. Single and tandem kayaks are available. Reservations must be made 36 hours before the program. Minors 11-15 years old must share a tandem kayak with an adult; 16- and 17-year-olds must be accompanied by an adult. Call (330) 740-7107 for details. Fee: $12/person R, $15/person NR; second person in tandem kayak half-price.

Sept. 2: 2 p.m. Join us as we slowly explore Sawmill Creek, a tributary of Meander Reservoir, looking for crayfish. Children should be kindergarten age or older. Wear old shoes and clothing and bring drinking water. Call (330) 740-7107 to register. Meet at MetroParks Bikeway Trailhead at Kirk Road and caravan to the location. Moderate difficulty, 2 miles.

Sept. 4: 6 p.m. Health & Wellness Walk. Meet at Yellow Creek Park office. Moderate difficulty with hills and steps, 1, 2 or 3 miles.

Sept. 4, 11, 18 & 25: 8:30-10 a.m. (beginner level) & 5:30-7 p.m. Yoga at Fellows Riverside Gardens. Learn a blend of yoga styles amidst the restorative power of nature. At the beginning of class, students will take an energizing walk in the Gardens with instructor Heidi Suraci. Students at all levels are welcome. Bring a mat, small blanket and water. Call (330) 740-7116 for information. Fee: $10 per class.

Sept. 5: 7 p.m. Enjoy the sounds of Easy Street Productions at the Judge Morley Pavilion. Lawn seating.

Sept. 6, 13, 20 & 27 (morning only): 8:30-10 a.m. & 5:30-7 p.m. (beginner level). Learn a blend of yoga styles amidst the restorative power of nature. At the beginning of class, students will take an energizing walk in the Gardens with instructor Heidi Suraci. Students at all levels are welcome. Bring a mat, small blanket and water. Call (330) 740-7116 for information. Fee: $10 per class.

Sept. 8: 8 a.m.-noon. Chrysanthemums, asters, and ornamental cabbage and kale can be purchased for your fall garden at this Men's Garden Club plant sale at Fellows Riverside Gardens. Presale orders must be picked up on this day.

Sept. 9: 1-4 p.m. Take a wagon tour to see the apple orchard, visit the barnyard animals, and make a craft to take home. Wagon tours leave every half-hour from the MetroParks Farm in Canfield.

Sept. 9: 2 p.m. Search for one of our native orchids and learn about other swamp-dwelling plants that make this wet area their home. Meet at Deerpath Trail off Hitchcock Road. Easy rating with muddy conditions, 2 miles.

Sept. 11: 5:30-8 p.m. Lynn Cardwell will help you construct a clay bowl embossed with leaf patterns. The work will be glazed in autumn colors, fired, and ready to take home Oct. 9. Call (330) 740-7116 to register. Fee: $32 ($25 FFRG members).

Sept. 11: 7 p.m. Yellow Creek Park Concert. Music provided by John Gabriele. Lawn seating.

Sept. 12: 9 a.m. Health & Wellness Walk. Meet at Golf Course overflow parking lot off West Golf Drive. Easy rating, 1 or 3 miles.

Sept. 13: 1-3 p.m. International Chocolate Day Kayak. A 150-pound person can burn about 500 calories on a 90-minute kayak trip. Burn some calories with us first, and then enjoy a chocolate taste test for International Chocolate Day. Meet at Lake Glacier Boathouse. See Sept. 1 for more details.

Sept. 14: 10 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. Preschoolers ages 3 -5 and their parents are invited to an outdoor story time and exploration along Lake Newport. Program held rain or shine; dress for the weather. Meet at Newport Boathouse. Preregister at Ford Nature Center.

Sept. 14: 11 a.m.-noon or 1-2 p.m. Preschoolers ages 3-5 with their favorite adults will learn about flowering annuals. Each child will choose blooms in the Family Garden to arrange in a container to take home. A story and snack will be enjoyed. Call (330) 740-7116 to register. Fee: $5 R, $7 NR.

Sept. 15: 10 a.m. Preschoolers ages 3-5 and their parents are invited to an outdoor story time and exploration along Lake Newport. Program held rain or shine; dress for the weather. Meet at Newport Boathouse. Preregister at Ford Nature Center.

Sept. 15: 11 a.m.-noon. Preschoolers ages 3-5 with their favorite adults will learn about flowering annuals. Each child will choose blooms in the Family Garden to arrange in a container to take home. A story and snack will be enjoyed. Call (330) 740-7116 to register. Fee: $5 R, $7 NR.

Sept. 15: 9 a.m. Fall Best Ball Tournament. Two-person best ball; 18 holes, food, refreshments, and prizes. Registration begins Sept. 1. Call the (330) 740-7114 to register. Fee: $24 per team.

Sept. 15: Noon-5 p.m. Garden Forum Flower Show. Admire beautiful blooms from area gardens on display. Public entries must be received by 10:30 a.m. on the Saturday of the show. Call (330) 740-7116 for more information.

Sept. 15: 1:30-3 p.m. Fern Container Garden. Each child age 6 and up with an adult companion will learn about these prehistoric plants while making a fern container garden. Carry out the prehistoric theme by adding a dinosaur and fossils to your windowsill garden. Call (330) 740-7116 to register. Fee: $12 R, $16 NR.

Sept. 15: 5-8 p.m. Don’t miss this family fall celebration at the MetroParks Farm. Horse-drawn wagon rides will be given throughout the evening. You can taste homemade apple butter and cider, experience closeup visits with farm animals, roast marshmallows at the campfire, search for candy and toys in a haystack, and find your way through a corn maze. An egg toss and sack races will provide fun competition. Be sure to see the room-size train display presented by the Western Reserve Modular Railroad Club. Bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on and enjoy the evening entertainment.

Sept. 16: 9-11 a.m. Restoration Yoga promotes heightened awareness and self-healing through specialized breathing techniques and postures. This state of deep relaxation will create an atmosphere perfect for meditation and journaling. Bring your yoga mat and a favorite quote. Call (330) 740-7116 to register by Sept. 14. Fee: $20.

Sept. 16: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Garden Forum Flower Show. See Sept. 15 for details.

Sept 16: Noon-2 p.m. Join Julie Thomas in the Tara Dance. Through simple, graceful movements, learn to focus on inner strengths while appreciating the beauty of the surrounding gardens. Meet in the Kidston Pavilion. Call (330) 740-7116 to register. Fee: $10.

Sept. 16: 1-4 p.m. An Apple a Day at MetroParks Farm. The staff will share an apple story every half-hour for children to enjoy. Taste homemade apple butter and find your way through a corn maze.

Sept. 16: 2 p.m. Autumn’s Approach. Hike around Lake Newport and observe the seasonal changes as summer days dwindle and autumn approaches. Meet at Newport Wetlands parking lot. Moderate difficulty with hills and steps, 4.5 miles.

Sept. 16: 2-3:30 p.m. Enjoy a leisurely walk through Fellows Riverside Gardens with a guide who will point out highlights while sharing anecdotes and history. Sign in at the information desk on the afternoon of the tour.

Sept. 18: 6 p.m. Health & Wellness Walk. Meet at Ford Nature Center. Moderate difficulty, 4 miles.

Sept. 18: 6:30-8:30 p.m. As fall approaches, it is time to give attention to your houseplants. Gordon Vujevic will demonstrate techniques for cleaning, pruning and plant propagation. Take home rooted cuttings of several plants. Call (330) 740-7116 to register. Fee: $10 R, $13 NR.

Sept. 22: 9 a.m. Join Ohio certified volunteer Naturalist Nancy Brundage for a bird walk. Bring binoculars. Meet at Newport Wetlands parking lot. Easy rating, less than 1 mile.

Sept. 22: 9:30 a.m. Join us to watch the award-winning documentary “An Inconvenient Truth: A Global Warning.” Afterward we’ll discuss the impact of this documentary on the world. In addition, participants may enjoy reading the companion book by Al Gore also entitled “An Inconvenient Truth.” Meet at Ford Nature Center.

Sept. 22: Noon-5 p.m. Buckeye District Rose Show. This regional show of the American Rose Society displays prize-winning roses grown in gardens throughout Ohio and neighboring states. Public entries must be received by 10:30 a.m. on the Saturday of the show. Call (330) 740-7116 for more information.

Sept. 22: 6:30 p.m. Winemakers and vintners will share their knowledge as you taste fine wines and Napa Valley-style hors d’oeuvres. Highlights of the evening include jazz musicians, Fred Astaire dancers, and the opening of Marsha Antonucci’s oil painting exhibit, “The Season of Roses and Wine.” Proceeds benefit the Antonucci Library at Fellows Riverside Gardens. Call the (330) 740-7116 for reservations. Fee: $50.

Sept. 23: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Buckeye District Rose Show. See Sept. 22 for details.

Sept. 23: 1-4 p.m. Take a wagon tour to see the apple orchard, visit the barnyard animals, and make a craft to take home. Wagon tours leave every half-hour from the MetroParks Farm in Canfield.

Sept. 23: 2-4 p.m. Enjoy the first day of fall as we explore the Newport Wetlands and see the early changing leaves on this kayak event. Meet at East Newport Boat Launch. See Sept. 1 for more details.

Sept. 24-Nov. 26 (Mondays) 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Ohio State University Extension Office, in cooperation with Mill Creek MetroParks, will offer training for the Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist program. Classes will be at the MetroParks Farm in Canfield. Topics covered include Ohio plants, ecology of Ohio, geology, wildlife, stewardship and much more. Volunteer naturalists must complete 40 hours of educational training and 40 hours of community service at area parks, schools or agencies. To register or for more information, call (330) 533-5538. A fee of $125 will be charged after the application for the course is completed and accepted by OSU Extension by Sept. 10.

Sept. 25: 7 p.m. How is global warming affecting our migratory birds? Find out from Casey Tucker, Audubon Ohio education specialist, when he presents “A Changing World Climate for Birds and 10 Simple Things We Can Do to Help.” Social time begins at 6:30 p.m.; program begins at 7 p.m. For more information, call 1(888) 846-8851. Meet at the MetroParks Farm.

Sept. 26: 9 a.m. Health & Wellness Walk. Meet at MetroParks Bikeway Trailhead at MetroParks Farm. Moderate difficulty, 2 or 4 miles.

Sept. 26: 6-9 p.m. Autumn Sneak Peak.The Shop in the Gardens will be introducing new items that will be for sale this fall. Don’t miss the demonstrations, snacks, and a chance to have fun with the Friends of Fellows Riverside Gardens. Call (330) 740-7116 to register. Attendance is limited. Fee: $15, FFRG members: $10.

Sept. 27: 10, 10:45 or 11:30 a.m. Do skunks always smell bad? Two-year-olds and their adult companions will learn the answer to this question and more through a story, craft, and outdoor games. Call (330) 740-7107 to register.

Sept. 27: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of the gardens while watching the preparation of a delicious supper using produce from the fall harvest. Savor the tastes from the gardens prepared by Victor and Heidi Suraci. Learn tips on presentation and take home the recipes. Call (330) 740-7116 to register. Fee: $35 ($28 FFRG members).

Sept. 28: 8:30-10 a.m. Start your morning with a brisk garden walk. Return to the Garden Cafe to enjoy a light breakfast and learn about bulbs for fall planting. Call (330) 740-7116 to register. Fee: $6 R, $8 NR.

Sept. 29: 9 a.m. Bird walk conducted by Nancy Brundage. Bring binoculars. Meet at Newport Wetlands parking lot. Easy rating, less than 1 mile.

Sept. 29: 10 a.m. Health & Wellness Walk. Meet at MetroParks Bikeway Trailhead at Kirk Road. Moderate difficulty, 2 or 4 miles.

Sept. 30: 1-4 p.m. Join us as we celebrate the harvest season by making a cornhusk doll at the MetroParks Farm. We'll have a special activity for young visitors.

Sept. 30: 2-3 p.m. Join Kim Lewis, environmental educator with the Mahoning County Rural Recycling Education & Awareness Program (The Green Team), for an environmental shopping adventure that will challenge your current buying habits. This activity teaches consumers how to evaluate products and make wise purchasing decisions by employing the 3 R’s: Reduce, Reuse & Recycle. Call (330) 740-7107 to register. Meet at Ford Nature Center.

EXHIBITS

Fellows Riverside Gardens

Davis Education & Visitor Center

Hours: Tuesday - Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Weller Gallery: Bees & Blooms, through Sept. 16. Laurie Anderson’s watercolors transform the gallery into a summer garden. Seasons of Roses & Wine, Sept. 21-Nov. 11. Artist Marsha Antonucci portrays the elegance and beauty of the flower that captures people's hearts, the rose, in her oil paintings.

Melnick Museum: Crossing the Creeks: Mill Creek Park's Bridges, Sept.- Dec. The bridges of Mill Creek Park are often scenic highlights for visitors and photographers. Favorites include the Parapet Bridge, Suspension Bridge, and Covered Bridge.