Following is a list of Medina County Park District programs and activities for the remainder of the month. All events are free unless otherwise noted. Register at www.medinacountyparks.com. For more information, call (330) 722-9364.
Tuesday
• Creative Concoctions for Preschoolers, Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. Younger park friends are invited to create mysterious mixtures and make marvelous messes in this fun, hands-on discovery program. Come experiment with combinations of ordinary ingredients to create something fun. All supplies are provided; come dressed for mess! Ages 3 to 6. Register by today.
• Homeschoolers Outdoor Education: Tree Rings, Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. With the right knowledge, a tree’s rings can be read like a book. They provide insight as to the age of the tree as well as the health, occupants and weather of the tree’s life over time. Come learn some tree ring-reading basics. Ages 7 to 12. Registration open until filled. Free for Medina County residents. There is a $3 fee for non-county participants.
Thursday
• Environmental Speaker Series, Hiking the Appalachian Trail, Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 7 p.m. Bob Grau had no hiking experience or gear when he decided to attempt to hike the entire length of the Appalachian Trail, a distance of 2,181 miles. He began his hike in Georgia in March 2011 and completed it in Maine in September of the same year. On his 170-day-hike over much rugged terrain, he hiked the last 380 miles with a broken ankle. Grau will share some of his many adventures of his remarkable journey. Ages 9 to adult. No registration required.
Saturday
• Hiking for the Health of It, Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s Ira Road Trailhead/Towpath Trail, Peninsula, 9 a.m. This is a hiking club for those adults who can hike four to five miles at a brisk pace. Walking trails can be mildly strenuous with a limited amount being off-trail. Participants are asked to dress for the weather and to have appropriate footwear. Ages 10 to adult. No registration required.
• K-9 Kapers, River Styx Park, 10 a.m. K-9 Kapers provides dog owners with an opportunity to socialize their pets with other dogs. These alternative hikes will interest both the dog and its owner while offering exercise and fun. All dogs must have an accompanying adult and 8-foot, non-retractable leash. Participants must maintain control of their dogs at all times. We recommend bringing a towel for muddy feet and a water bowl. All ages welcome. No registration required.
Saturday and Sunday
• Winter Re-Tweet, Susan Hambley Nature Center, noon to 5 p.m. What kinds of birds visit feeders during the wintertime? What types of bird feeders and bird seed work the best? Answers to these questions and more will be provided, as well as an opportunity to watch and enjoy these beautiful creatures visiting the park’s feeding area. There also will be bird crafts, games, and displays. All ages welcome. No registration required.
Sunday
• Puppet Show: Where’s My Food!, Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 2 p.m. Food storage is a big deal to animals preparing for the winter. Winter is here and Scott Squirrel cannot find his buried food. Did the other animals find it, or was he so busy playing that he forgot to gather some? This hilarious puppet show chronicles Scott’s frantic search for his dinner. After the show, kids can enjoy making a craft. For ages 4 to 10. Registration is required. Children must come with an adult companion. Register by Jan. 19.
Jan. 22
• Nature Through the Seasons, Princess Ledges Nature Preserve, 10 a.m. The Nature through the Seasons series consists of easy walks that explore different parks while observing the unfolding of nature from the first spring wildflowers to the last days of winter. Ages 7 to adult. No registration required.
Jan. 23 & 24
• Tales for Tots, Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. Quiet and shy, sneaky and sly, a fox is quite fascinating. Want to know why? Youngsters can learn more about the little canine with the bushy tail through a story and fun activities. For ages 3 to 6 with an adult companion. Some or the entire program may be held outdoors. Participants are advised to dress accordingly. Register by Jan. 23.
Jan. 24
• Friday Night Concert in the Park: TAJ, The Lodge at Allardale, 7 p.m. TAJ is a trio of friends — Tom, Art, and Jo — who love to share positive energy and joy through rock/folk-inspired music that is performed on acoustic guitar, stand-up bass and keyboard. The group’s original and cover songs weave together a tapestry of melodies that inspire and uplift one’s spirit. TAJ also celebrates our relationship with the natural world through songs and stories. All ages welcome. No registration required.
Jan. 25
• A Skulk of Foxes, Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 2 p.m. A group of foxes is called a skulk, but it is truly a rare sight. Participants can explore the life and habits of this wild canine and take a hike through its natural habitat and make a fox craft. All ages welcome. No registration required.
Jan. 25 & 26
• Winter Re-Tweet, Susan Hambley Nature Center, noon to 5 p.m. What kinds of birds visit the park’s feeders during the wintertime? What types of bird feeders and bird seed work the best? Answer to these questions and more will be provided as participants watch and enjoy these beautiful creatures visiting the nature center’s feeding area. There will be bird crafts, games, and displays. All ages welcome. No registration required.
Jan. 26
• Photographers of the Parks Club Meeting, Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 3 p.m. This is an opportunity for nature-photo enthusiasts to share knowledge with like-minded folks, gain special access to programs and events related to photography, and support the park district. Both beginner and advanced photographers are invited to participate. The club will emphasize, but not be limited to, nature photography. No registration required. For more information, contact Shelley at (330) 239-4814 or stender@medinaco.org. Ages 16 to adult.
Jan. 30
• Environmental Speaker Series, How to Travel the World as an EcoTourist, Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 7 p.m. Ecotourism is more than a catchy buzzword within the travel industry. Ecotourism is a way of thinking about travel that educates travelers about natural and cultural wonders, provides funds for the conservation of such attractions, directly benefits local communities and strives to disturb the natural environment as little as possible.
• Kent State University Professor Andrew Lepp will explain more about ecotourism and share his stories as an ecotourism developer and tour leader in Uganda, East Africa. Lepp is a professor and researcher with Kent State University’s Recreation, Park and Tourism Management Program. He has worked in Uganda for the Ugandan Wildlife Authority where he helped write the tourism-management plan for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, which is home to more than half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas. He has published extensively on tourism development in East Africa and leads an annual trip to Uganda’s national parks for Kent State students. Ages 9 to adult. No registration required.