Today
West Akron hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 2 p.m. at Sand Run Metro Park for a five-mile hike. Meet in the Wadsworth Area off Sand Run Parkway in northwest Akron. 330-687-8139.
Contra dance — You can join the musical group Hu$hmoney with its jigs and reels and caller Carol Kopp in a contra dance from 8 to 10:30 p.m. Meet at the Boston Township School House at Riverview Road and state Route 303 in Peninsula. Instruction will be offered at 7 p.m. The fee is $6.
Friday
Burned rivers — John Hartig, manager of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, shares true stories on rivers that have burned and been revived. That includes the Cuyahoga, Rouge, Buffalo and Chicago rivers. His talk, Reviving Burned Rivers, will be held at 7 p.m. at the Happy Days Lodge off state Route 303 in Boston Heights. The talk is part of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s Lyceum lecture series. Tickets are $6, $3 for children 3 to 12. Call 330-657-2909 for reservations and more information.
Starry hike — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, and the city of Twinsburg are co-sponsoring a night hike to listen for great horned owls at 6 p.m.at Liberty Park. Meet at the Pond Brook Conservation Area at 3973 E. Aurora Road (state Route 82), Twinsburg Township. 330-865-8065.
Owl walk — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is staging an owl walk for families at 7 p.m. at Furnace Run Metro Park. Meet in the Brushwood Area off Townsend Road in Richfield Township. Hot chocolate and soup will be served after the hike. Bring a mug. 330-865-8065.
Crows for kids — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is holding a Kinderealm program on crows for youngsters 3 to 6 years old and accompanying adults at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. The programs will be held at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. The program will be repeated at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the nature center. It will also be offered at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Goodyear Heights Metro Park in East Akron. Reservations required. 330-865-8065.
Healthy hike — The Stark County Park District is holding a healthy hike at 9 a.m. at Walborn Reservoir at 11324 Price St. NE, Marlboro Township. 330-409-8096.
Saturday
Extended hike — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is conducting a three-mile hike on the Sand Run Jogging Trail. Meet volunteer Pat Patterson at 9 a.m. at the Revere Road parking lot. 330-865-8065.
Bats in decline — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is hosting a nature program on the white-nose syndrome that affects bats, including those at Liberty Park in northern Summit County. The program will be at 3 p.m. at the Coventry Oaks Pavilion at Firestone Metro Park, 40 Axline Road, South Akron.
Campfire tales — The National Park Service is staging a family campfire at 7 p.m. at the Happy Days Lodge off state Route 303 in Boston Heights. Stories of America will be presented.
Junior Rangers — The Cuyahoga Valley park is presenting a Junior Rangers program on sledding by moonlight for youngsters 7 to 12 years old. It will run 6-8 p.m. Free. Adults must attend with participating children. Call 800-642-3297, ext. 100, for reservations, location and more information.
Junior Rangers II — The Cuyahoga Valley park is presenting a Junior Rangers program on bird watching for youngsters 7 and older. It will run from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Red Lock Trailhead off West Highland Road in Sagamore Hills Township. Free. Adults must attend with participating children. Call 800-642-3297, ext. 100, for reservations and more information.
Ski workshop — Ranger Paul Motts will direct a cross-country ski workshop for intermediate skiers from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley park. Meet at the Kendall Lake Shelter off Truxell Road in Boston Township. The fee is $10. You must provide your own gear. Reservations are required. 800-257-9477.
Sweetheart hike — The Medina County Park District is holding a sweetheart hike at 7:30 p.m. at the Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 6100 Ridge Road (state Route 94), Sharon Township. The hike is self-guided and can be done between 7:30 and 10 p.m. Refreshments will be provided after the hike. For ages 16 and up. 330-722-9364.
Introductory guitar — The Medina County Park District is sponsoring a class for beginners on the guitar at 10 a.m. at the Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 6100 Ridge Road (state Route 94), Sharon Township. The instructor is Bud Preston. The class will last for five weeks. For ages 16 and older. The fee is $75 a person. Advance registration is required. 330-722-9364.
Fly-tying class — The Stark County Park District is staging a fly-tying class for beginners at 1 p.m. at the Exploration Gateway, 5712 12th St. NW, Perry Township. The class continues Feb. 18. The fee is $65. 330-409-8096.
Backyard birds — The Stark County Park District is presenting a nature program on backyard birds at 2 p.m. at the North Canton Public Library, 185 N. Main St. 330-409-8096.
Soup hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. for hikes of three or five miles at Goodyear Heights Metro Park off Newton Street in East Akron. Soup will be served at 11:30 a.m. 330-687-8139.
Berlin Lake hike — The Portage Trail Walkers hiking club will meet at 9 a.m. for a 4›-mile hike on the new Berlin Lake Trail. The trailhead is off U.S. Route 224 east of the Deerfield Circle in Deerfield Township. 330-673-6896.
Feeding birds — The Beech Creek Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve is offering a chance to hand feed chickadees from noon to 3 p.m. The program will continue from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday at 11929 Beech St. NE, Washington Township. Free. 330-829-7050.
Natural burials — The Wilderness Center at 9877 Alabama Ave. SW in Sugar Creek Township is hosting a program on natural burials at its Foxfield Preserve at 2 p.m. 877-359-5235.
Sunday
Park concert — The musical group Aron Duo (Stephen and JoNell Aron) will perform in concert at 3 p.m. in the Happy Days Lodge in the Cuyahoga Valley park. The lodge is off state Route 303 in Boston Heights. Tickets are $20. Advance tickets are available until 3 p.m. Friday at the Park Place in Peninsula store or by calling 330-657-2909.
Crystal Palace hike — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is conducting a hike to the Crystal Palace, the nickname given to the ice-filled Gorge Metro Park between Akron and Cuyahoga Falls. Meet at 1 p.m. in the Front Street parking lot in Cuyahoga Falls for the rugged 1.8-mile hike. 330-865-8065.
Winter hike — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, and the city of Twinsburg are co-sponsoring a winter hike at 1 p.m. at Liberty Park. Meet at the Pond Brook Conservation Area at 3973 E. Aurora Road (state Route 82), Twinsburg Township. Warm, waterproof boots are required. 330-865-8065.
Puppet show — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is staging a puppet show at 2 p.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 330-865-8065.
Winter hike — The National Park Service is conducting a seven-mile hike on the difficult Perkins and Riding Run trails in the Cuyahoga Valley park. Meet at 9 a.m. at the Everett Road Covered Bridge off Everett Road in Boston Township.
Ski workshop — The National Park Service is holding a cross-country ski workshop for advanced skiers from 9:30 a.m. to noon in the Cuyahoga Valley park. Meet at the Kendall Lake Shelter off Truxell Road in Boston Township. The fee is $10. You must provide your own gear. Reservations are required. 800-257-9477.
Squirrel fun —The Medina County Park District is hosting a program on squirrels at 3 p.m. at the Susan Hambley Nature Center, 4173 Parschen Blvd., Brunswick. For ages 7 and up. 330-722-9364.
Kent concert — The Mountain Rose Concert Series is presenting a concert by Michigan-based William Bynum and Company at 6:30 p.m. at the Roy Smith Shelter at Kent’s Fred Fuller Park, 497 Middlebury Road. Also appearing will be singer-songwriter Charlie K. and poet Merle Mollenkopf. Admission is $7. For more information, call 330-733-8845 or check out www.twistintomradio.com.
Valley hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 2:30 p.m. for a five-mile hike in the Cuyahoga Valley. The hike to Brandywine Falls will begin at the park’s Boston Store Visitor Center off Boston Mills Road in Boston Township. It’s a Valentine’s Day hike. Hikers will stop for dinner after the hike. 330-687-8139.
Nature walk — The University of Mount Union’s John T. Huston-Dr. John D. Brumbaugh Nature Center is hosting a nature walk at 2 p.m. The center is on Dan Street off state Route 183 in Washington Township. 330-823-7487.
Wednesday
Dinner in valley — Chef Larkin Rogers will present chocolate-themed Dinner in the Valley at 6 p.m. at the Hines Hill Conference Center, 1403 W. Hines Hill Road, Boston Township. Call 330-657-2909, ext. 129, or visit www.cvnpa.org for reservations, pricing and information.
Nature drawing — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is holding a nature drawing class for senior citizens at 10:30 a.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Bring a sketch book and pencil. Beginners are welcome. 330-865-8065.
Medina hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. for a four-mile hike at Buckeye Woods Park south of Medina in Lafayette Township. The park is off state Route 162 east of U.S. 42. 330-687-8139.
Nature walk — The Medina County Park District is holding a nature walk at 10 a.m. at Hidden Hollow Camp off Richman Road near Lodi in Harrisville Township. For ages 7 to adult. 330-722-9364.
Stories for kids — The Wilderness Center at 9877 Alabama Ave. SW in Sugar Creek Township is hosting a story hour on Groundhog Hill at 11 a.m. 877-359-5235.
Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning@thebeaconjournal.com.
