Updated March 6th, 2023

MetroParks Monthly: March

Below you’ll find a list of programs and events for all ages, from children to life-long learners, in addition to MetroParks must-dos, sustainability tips and information on what’s growing in the parks this month.

Take a deeper dive into your areas of interest by signing up for MetroParks’ email newsletters and following Five Rivers MetroParks on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok.

Programs:

Outdoor recreation:

Youth & Family

Earth Friendly Living

Adult Nature Exploration:

For Everyone:

  • Wildflower Walk: March 18 – 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark

Teacher and Educator Programs: For a  list of programs and opportunities  for classroom educators, click here and sign up for MetroParks’ educator newsletter and Facebook group.

Outdoors and Nature-Based Certifications: For a list of trainings specifically for those in outdoor recreation and education, click here.

 

Special Events:

ADOPT-A-PARK REGISTRATION OPENS

Registration for MetroParks’ largest annual day of service, Adopt-A-Park, is now open. Join us on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, from 9 a.m. to noon to help MetroParks’ staff spruce up the parks just in time for spring. Learn more and register.

Want to volunteer, but can’t make it to Adopt-A-Park? Check out MetroParks’ volunteer portal, Get Connected, for a variety of volunteer opportunities for all interests.

Adopt-A-Park is sponsored by CareSource Foundation and Montgomery County Environmental Services / Keep Montgomery County Beautiful.

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THE ADVENTURE SPEAKER SERIES

Join us for the next two Adventure Speaker Series presentations this March for incredible tales of exploration from across the globe. Be inspired by local speakers sharing their adventures – and sometimes misadventures – as they bike, paddle and hike some of the world’s greatest trails.

Learn more by visiting www.theadventuresummit.com. The Adventure Speaker Series is a coproduction between Five Rivers MetroParks and Wright State University.

2ND STREET MARKET EVENTS

The 2nd Street Market has welcomed a few new vendors, in addition to organizing a host of seasonal activities that celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and spring. On select Saturdays and Sundays, enjoy live music at the Market. Get ready for spring with workshops that explore starting seeds and creating a DIY rain barrel. Additionally, the Market welcomes Miami Valley Meals to celebrate its third anniversary with a special pop-up offering chef-created spice blends. Learn more about March’s events at the 2nd Street Market and sign up for its monthly newsletter.

Monthly must-do in your MetroParks:

  • Visit a nature play area: Fun for kids (and grown-ups), nature play areas incorporate natural elements that allow children to jump, climb, balance, slide and play while connecting to nature. You can find nature play areas in Sugarcreek, Englewood, Possum Creek, Wesleyan, and Hills & Dales MetroParks.
  • Check out a garden park: The warmer it gets, the more blooms you’ll see popping up in MetroParks’ garden parks. See if you can find flowers in all the colors of the rainbow at Wegerzyn Gardens, Aullwood Garden and Cox Arboretum MetroPark
  • Bird is the word: Visit the bird blind at Germantown MetroPark’s Twin Valley Welcome Center to learn about the birds you can spot during the seasons. Next, take a hike to see how many feathered friends you can spot. Want to learn on the trails? Download the eBird app so you can bird on the go/.

 

Sustainability Tip:

Get a jump on the growing season by removing invasive species and replacing them with native plants.  Replacing invasives with native species helps to create habitat and mitigate climate change by extending natural areas. Learn more.

What’s Growing:

Watch for early spring blooms at your Metroparks, including Hellebores/Lenten rose, winter aconite, some crocus, skunk cabbage, witch hazel, iris reticulata and possibly snowdrops. Iris should also be blooming soon! Check out the Ohio Department of Natural Resource’s wildflower guide to learn more about what you can find.

 

March Challenge: Learn the seven Leave No Trace Principles!

Leave No Trace is a set of principles that help  those who visit the outdoors have minimal impact on  natural spaces . MetroParks asks visitors to follow Leave No Trace in its parks, from walking through the mud on trails to keeping a safe distance to wildlife. The seven principles will make you a better steward of the natural world. This month, your challenge is to learn more about Leave No Trace and apply these principles to your next visit to a MetroPark.

Please note: Programs and events with limited capacity may fill quickly; however, in some cases waitlists are available. Please contact 937-275-PARK to inquire about being placed on a waitlist. Additionally, programs may be cancelled due to a variety of reasons – including weather conditions – please check our online calendar to check the status of a program or event before attending.

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