Today
Wildflowers for kids — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County is presenting a program on wildflowers for children of all ages at 11 a.m. Meet at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Adults must accompany their children. Call 330-865-8065 for more information.
Butterfly walk — The Wilderness Center off U.S. 250 near Wilmot is holding a butterfly walk at 1 p.m. Call 877-359-5235 for more information.
Friday
Park concert — The musical group Shout! & the Legends of Soul will present a free outdoor concert from 7 to 9 p.m. at Goodyear Heights Metro Park. That’s off Newton Street in East Akron. Sponsored by the city of Akron Recreation Bureau. Call 330-375-2854 for more information.
Junior Rangers — The National Park Service is presenting a Junior Rangers program on the unhuggables, animals and plants that are in need of friends, for youngsters 4 to 6 years old and accompanying adults in the Cuyahoga Valley park. It will run from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The fee is $8 per child. Call 800-642-3297, ext. 100, for reservations, the location and additional information.
Junior Rangers II — The National Park Service is presenting a Junior Rangers program with challenging contests for youngsters 7 to 12 years old in the Cuyahoga Valley park. It will run from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The fee is $8 per child. Call 800-642-3297, ext. 100, for reservations, the location and additional information.
Brown-bag concert — Musician Steve Wartko will perform in a brown-bag concert from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Akron’s historic Mustill Store. That’s off West North Street near downtown Akron. Hot dogs and drinks will be available. Call 330-374-5625 for more information.
Saturday
Dragonfly hike— Naturalist Mike Greene of Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, will lead a dragonfly hike at 2 p.m. at Silver Creek Metro Park. Meet in the Pheasant Run Area off Hametown Road in Norton. Call 330-865-8065 for more information.
Evening paddle — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is sponsoring an evening paddle at Silver Creek Metro Park. Meet at 6 p.m. at the boat house off South Medina Line Road in Norton. Advance registration is required. Call 330-865-8065 for reservations and additional information.
Bird watching — The National Park Service is presenting a program on bird watching from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley. Meet ranger Paul Motts at the Oak Hill Trailhead off Oak Hill Road in Boston Township. The emphasis will be on identifying young birds.
Alien invasions — Learn about invasive species in the Cuyahoga Valley park. The program will run from 2 to 4 p.m. Meet at the Ledges Shelter off Truxell Road in Boston Township.
Family camp-in — The National Park Service is staging a camp-in for families. It begins at 6 p.m. at Howe Meadow off Riverview Road in Cuyahoga Falls. The overnight encampment continues to 11 a.m. Sunday. Activities include a campfire. Bring your camping gear. Call 330-657-2752 for reservations and additional information.
Hunt dragons — The National Park Service is presenting a Junior Rangers program on dragonflies for youngsters 7 to 12 years old in the Cuyahoga Valley park. It will run from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The fee is $8 per child. Call 800-642-3297, ext. 100, for reservations, the location and additional information.
Hanging at Hunt — Family activities will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Hunt Farm Visitor Information Center off Bolanz Road in Cuyahoga Falls. Try African drumming with Ulu Manna of HeartBeat Afrika. Activities will focus on water from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Park Place pop-ins — The Park Place in Peninsula store will host music, crafts and stories from noon to 4 p.m. The store is on Main Street (state Route 303) in Peninsula.
Trail tunes — The Towpath Trail will host folksy music from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Boston Store Visitors Center in the Cuyahoga Valley park. The music will be canceled if it rains.
American landscapes — The Cuyahoga Valley park’s M.D. Garage will host an exhibit, The Beautiful American Landscape, by the Crooked River Gang, a group of local painters, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The show will continue from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The garage is off Boston Mills Road east of the Cuyahoga River in the hamlet of Boston.
Learn to row — The Portage Lakes Rowing Association is holding a learn-to-row class from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. It continues from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday. In addition, there will be a second class from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. The fee is $50 a person. Each class is limited to 18 participants. Call 330-333-2769 or check out http://portagelakesrowing.com for reservations and additional information.
Canoeing class — The Stark County Park District is holding a learn-to-canoe class from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Walborn Reservoir, 11324 Price St. NE, Marlboro Township. The fee is $15. Call 330-477-3552 for reservations and additional information.
Astronomy fun — The Astronomy Club of Akron will present a program on objects that can be seen with the naked eye and with binoculars at 9 p.m. at the club’s observatory. That’s at Portage Lakes State Park, 5031 Manchester Road (state Route 93), New Franklin. Call 330-837-5848 for more information.
Wilmot hike — The Portage Trail Walkers hiking club will meet at 8 a.m. at the University Plaza parking lot in Kent and car pool to the Wilderness Center near Wilmot for a 9 a.m. hike. In addition, there will be an alternate hike of six miles on the Bike & Trail Trail in Munroe Falls. Meet at 9 a.m. at Brust Park in Munroe Falls. That’s off North Main Street (state Route 91) next to the Cuyahoga River. Call 330-678-6896 for more information.
Valley hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 9 a.m. at the Boston Store Visitors Center in the Cuyahoga Valley for an eight-mile trail hike. In addition, there will be a five-mile Towpath Trail option. Call 330-524-9415 for more information.
Butterfly walk — The Wilderness Center off U.S. 250 near Wilmot is holding a butterfly walk at 11 a.m. Call 877-359-5235 for more information.
Reptiles, amphibians — The Wilderness Center off U.S. 250 near Wilmot is holding a herpetology field day to look for reptiles and amphibians from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wear long pants and sturdy boots and bring plenty of water and a lunch. The fee is $10. Advance sign-up required. Call 877-359-5235 for more information.
Kids’ fishing — The Ohio Division of Wildlife is offering youth fishing from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and again from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday in the ponds at 912 Portage Lakes Drive, Coventry Township. The fishing continues through Labor Day. Youth must be accompanied by adults but adults cannot fish but may assist. Call 330-644-2293 for more information.
Sunday
Park concert — The Smokin Fez Monkeys will stage an outdoor concert at 5:30 p.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Bring blankets and chairs. Sponsored by Metro Parks, Serving Summit County. The show by the jug band will be moved indoors or to a sheltered deck if it rains. Call 330-865-8065 for more information.
Photo reception— Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, will stage a public reception for photographers Pam Daum and Robert Roach who specialize in using infrared and Polaroid manipulations. The reception will be from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Their photos will be on display until December. Call 330-865-8065 for more information.
Junior Rangers — The National Park Service is presenting a Junior Rangers program on invasive species for youngsters 7 to 12 years old in the Cuyahoga Valley park. It will run from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The fee is $8 per child. Call 800-642-3297, ext. 100, for reservations, the location and additional information.
Park concert — The musical group Tailor Made Classics will perform in a free concert in the park at 7 p.m. in Canal Fulton. The show will be staged at Muhlhauser Park at 853 Locust St. Sponsored by Canal Fulton Parks and Recreation. Call 330-854-6835 for more information.
Folk jam — Mount Union College’s John T. Huston-Dr. John B. Brumbaugh Nature Center will host a folk jam at 2 p.m. The center is on Daniel Street off state Route 183 six miles south of Alliance in Washington Township. Call 330-823-7487 for more information.
Monday
Kids’ hike — The National Park Service will hold a ranger-led kids’ hike from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Meet at the Station Road Bridge Trailhead off Riverview Road in Brecksville. The hike is for youngsters 7 to 12 years old.
Tuesday
Adopt a trail — The Cuyahoga Valley National Park is seeking volunteers to help clean up and maintain trails. Volunteers are needed from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Salt Run Trail. Meet at the Pine Hollow parking lot off Quick Road in Boston Township. Wear sturdy shoes or boots and dress for the weather. Bring a small pack with work gloves, water and lunch. Call 330-725-6097 for more information.
Junior Rangers — The National Park Service is presenting a Junior Rangers program on beavers for youngsters 7 to 12 years old in the Cuyahoga Valley park. It will run from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The fee is $8 per child. Call 800-642-3297, ext. 100, for reservations, the location and additional information.
Nature for kids — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, will present a nature program on reptiles and amphibians for youngsters of all ages at 11 a.m. Meet at the bath house at Silver Creek Metro Park off Hametown Road in Norton. Adults must accompany their children. Call 330-865-8065 for more information.
Kayak basics — The Medina County Park District is holding a basic kayaking class from 6 to 9 p.m. at Hubbard Valley Park off Hubbard Valley Road in Guilford Township. Come prepared to get wet. For ages 16 and older (with participating adult). The fee is $40 a person. Call Cleveland Metroparks’ Institute of the Great Outdoors for reservations and more information at 216-341-1704.
Sunship Earth — The Medina County Park District is holding a Sunship Earth program with activities, games, music, math and language arts for youngsters from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 6100 Ridge Road (state Route 94), Sharon Township. The program will continue Wednesday and Aug. 5. The fee is $20. Call 330-722-9364 for reservations and additional information.
Healthy hike — The Stark County Park District is holding a healthy hike at 9 a.m. Meet at the Canal Fulton Canalway Center, 125 Tuscarawas St., Canal Fulton. Call 330-477-3552 for more information.
Birds for kids— Quail Hollow State Park near Hartville will present a nature program on birds for youngsters 6 and under and accompanying adults at 10 a.m. Meet in the Carriage House Nature Center at 13480 Congress Lake Road NE, Lake Township. Youngsters will make a simple bird feeder. Call 330-877-6652 or check out http://www.quailhollowpark.org.
Wednesday
Nature for kids — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County will present a nature program on wildflowers for youngsters of all ages at 11 a.m. Meet at the the Pioneer Area of Goodyear Heights Metro park. That’s off Frazier Avenue in East Akron. Adults must accompany their children. Call 330-865-8065 for more information.
Adopt a trail — The Cuyahoga Valley National Park is seeking volunteers to help clean up and maintain trails. Volunteers are needed from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Lake and Cross Country trails. Meet at the Kendall Lake Shelter off Truxell Road in Boston Township. Wear sturdy shoes or boots and dress for the weather. Bring a small pack with work gloves, water and lunch. Call 330-688-1767 for more information.
Junior Rangers — The National Park Service is presenting a Junior Rangers program on bats for youngsters 7 to 12 years old in the Cuyahoga Valley park. It will run from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The fee is $8 per child. Call 800-642-3297, ext. 100, for reservations, the location and additional information.
Ellet hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. for a sidewalk-and-parks hike of five miles in Ellet. Meet at the Eastgate Plaza on Canton Road. Call 330-524-9415 for more information.
Wood-carving class— Master woodcarver Don Fetters will direct a wood-carving class using American basswood from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Exploration Gateway, 5712 12th St. NW, Perry Township. Children 10 and up can take the class with signed waivers. Advance registration is required. Call 330-409-8096 or check at http://www.starkparks.com for reservations and additional information.
Canal animals— The Stark County Park District is presenting a program on canal animals for pre-school youngsters in its Little Explorers program. Meet at 11 a.m. at the Exploration Gateway, 5712 12th St. NW, Perry Township. Call 330-477-3552 for reservations and additional information.
Wild walk — The Wilderness Center off U.S. 250 near Wilmot is holding a nature walk at 10 a.m. Call 877-359-5235 for more information.
Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning@thebeaconjournal.com.