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:
- Adult Trot English Horseback Riding Lessons: March 7 – 6 to 7 p.m. at the Carriage Hill MetroPark Riding Center
- Hiking for Older Adults: March 8 – 1:30 to 3 p.m. at Sugarcreek MetroPark
- River Van Access Tour: Twin Creek: March 8 – 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at MetroParks’ Main Office
- Bicycle Touring the Miami Valley: March 14 – 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
- Bicycle Touring: Styles, Routes & Resources: March 21 – 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
- Filleting Fish: March 22 – 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
- Bicycle Touring: Bikes & Bags: March 28 – 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Possum Creek MetroPark
- Backpacking 1: Water Treatment: March 29 – 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Germantown MetroPark
- What’s This in my Tackle Box?: March 30 – 6 to 7 p.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
Youth & Family
- Tike Hike: March 9 – 10 to 11 a.m. at Germantown MetroPark
- Journey Back in Time: March 11 – 11 a.m. to noon at Germantown MetroPark
- Signs of Spring: March 11 – 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Sugarcreek MetroPark
- Greenhouse Transplanting: March 18 – 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
- Conservation Local History: March 18 – 1 to 3 p.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
- Welcome Spring Family Walk: March 21 – 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark
- Waterfowl Exploration: March 25 – 1 to 3 p.m. at Englewood MetroPark
- Woodland Adventure: March 25 – 4 to 5 p.m. at Englewood MetroPark
- Tike Hike: March 29 – 10 to 11 a.m. at Englewood MetroPark
Earth Friendly Living
- Fiber Arts Meetup: March 7 – 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Possum Creek MetroPark
- Sewing Machine Basics 1 (Adult): March 10 – 5 to 8 p.m. at Carriage Hill MetroPark
- Maple Sugaring: March 11 & March 18 – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Carriage Hill MetroPark
- Maple Sugaring Guided Tour: March 11 & March 18 – 11 a.m. to noon or 1 to 2 p.m. at Carriage Hill MetroPark.
- Sewing Machine Basics 1 (Youth): March 24 – 5 to 7 p.m. at Carriage Hill MetroPark
Adult Nature Exploration:
- Owls and Salamanders: March 18 – 8 to 10 p.m. at Sugarcreek MetroPark
- EcoTalk: March 21 – 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
- Nature Photography by the Numbers: March 25 – 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
- Woodcock Watch: March 25 – 8 to 9 p.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
- Forest Therapy Walk: March 27 – 1 to 3 p.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
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.
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.
- Thursday, March 9: Sixteen Day Expedition Rowing the Grand Canyon, by Amy Dingle and Cassie Lane
- Thursday, March 23: Biking Dayton to Niagara Falls, by Jeffrey McElfresh
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.
