Published June 28, 2023
MetroParks Monthly: Programs & Events for July
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
Active Outdoors
- Passport to Fishing Kit (pre-registered pick up): July 2 – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at multiple locations
- Flatwater Float: July 6 – 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Eastwood MetroPark
- Inflatable Kayak: Downtown Dayton: July 8 – 2 to 4:30 p.m. at RiverScape MetroPark
- Try Mountain Biking: July 11 – 4 to 7 p.m. at MoMBA
- Try Paddlesports: July 12 – 4 to 7 p.m. at Possum Creek MetroPark
- Kayak: Mad River: July 14 – 5 to 8 p.m. at RiverScape MetroPark
- Mountain Bike Experience: July 15 – 10 a.m. to noon; July 27 – 6 to 8 p.m. at MoMBA
- Fly Fishing 1: Wading and Reading Water: July 15 – 10 a.m. to noon at Eastwood MetroPark
- Youth Kayak Camp: Whitewater: July 19 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Eastwood MetroPark
- Try Fly Fishing: July 19 – 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Eastwood MetroPark
- Fly Fishing 2: River: July 22 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Eastwood MetroPark
- Youth Mountain Biking Skills Clinic: July 25 – 1 to 5 p.m. at MoMBA
- Flatwater Float: July 25 – 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Possum Creek MetroPark
Pony rides at the Carriage Hill Riding Center are offered on Saturdays from 1 to 3 p.m. Pony rides are for children ages 2 to 8 and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Weekend trail rides are full for the rest of the season.
Youth & Family
- Tike Hike: July 6 – 10 to 11 a.m. at Taylorsville MetroPark
- Radio Telemetry: July 8 – 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
- Tike Hike: July 12 – 10 to 11 a.m. at Englewood MetroPark
- iNaturalist: July 15 – 1 to 2:30 pm. at Englewood MetroPark
- Waterway Check-up: July 15 – 3:30 to 5 p.m. at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark
- Nature Sports: July 22 – 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
- Creek Fun: July 22 – 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Sugarcreek MetroPark
- Wetland Escape: July 28 – 6 to 7 p.m. at Carriage Hill MetroPark
- Water Chemistry: July 29 – 2 to 4 p.m. at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark
- Nature’s Defenses: July 29 – 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Sugarcreek MetroPark
- Nocturnal Excursion: July 29 – 8:30 to 10 p.m. at Germantown MetroPark
Nature Exploration for Adults
- Butterfly ID: July 8 – 1 to 3:30 p.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
- Wegerzyn Mid-summer Beauties: July 15 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark
- Tour Aullwood: July 26 – 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Aullwood Garden MetroPark
- Photographic Scavenger Hunt: July 29 – 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
Earth Friendly Living
- Morning Chores: July 1 – 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Carriage Hill MetroPark
- Compost Kitchen: July 6 – 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Possum Creek MetroPark
- John and Marie Aull: Caring for the Environment: July 8 – 10 a.m. to noon at Aullwood Garden MetroPark
- Pick Your Own: Flowers, Greens and Herbs: July 8, July 12, July 19, July 22, July 26 and July 29 – 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Possum Creek MetroPark
- Master Recycling Class: July 26 – 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Montgomery County Solid Waste District
- Vegetable Garden Visits: Historic Gardening: July 27 – 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Carriage Hill MetroPark
For Everyone
- Paint-A-Park: July 2 – 2 to 5 p.m. at Deeds Point MetroPark
- Nature Story Time: Clouds: July 6 – 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark
- Wonderful Fireflies: July 6 – 8:30 to 9:45 p.m. at Englewood MetroPark
- Music Bingo: July 15 – 5 to 7 p.m. at RiverScape MetroPark
- Children’s Garden Wonders: Edible Plants: July 19 – 10 to 10:45 a.m. at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark
- Five Senses Exploration: Into Skeeter’s Garden: July 21 – 10 to 10:45 a.m. at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark
- Children’s Garden Wonders: The Birds Nest – July 26 – 10 to 10:45 a.m. at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark
Outdoors and Nature-Based Certifications: For a list of trainings specifically for those in outdoor recreation and education, click here.
Special Events
NEW HAPPY HOUR AT RIVERSCAPE METROPARK
New at RiverScape MetroPark this July, visitors can enjoy Happy Hour from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursdays before the free Summer Music Series concerts. Beer and hard seltzers will be available for purchase for those ages 21 and older. RiverScape MetroPark is now also part of the downtown Dayton Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA). Read more about DORA.
Also new this month, RiverScape MetroPark will host Music Bingo on Saturday, July 15, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Free fitness offerings, including dance fitness, boot camp, Zumba, yoga and Tai Chi and Qigong, continue on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and select Saturday mornings. For the full fitness schedule, visit MetroParks’ blog.
For those who want to hit the river and experience what it’s like to paddle under the Five Rivers Fountain of Lights, Taiter’s Kayak Solutions offers kayak rentals on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and during select special events through September (weather dependent). Learn more.
SHOP FRESH & LOCAL AT THE MARKET
July is the perfect time to visit the 2nd Street Market for a wide variety of locally grown seasonal produce from outdoor and indoor vendors. Plus, you can do your part to help people connect to local food in southwestern Ohio by stopping by the Market on Saturday, July 15 to take the Ohio Farmer’s Network survey.
Additionally, the Market will host the Columbus Iris Society, MetroParks animal ambassadors, the Carriage Hill MetroPark steam engine and your favorite local musicians. Learn more about the 2nd Street Market’s hours of operation, programs and events.
Programs at the 2nd Street Market are sponsored by Dayton Children’s.
SERVICE SATURDAYS
Service Saturdays are perfect volunteer opportunities for those who are on a schedule and have a few hours of weekend availability.
Spend your Saturday morning giving back to the community and the planet while also meeting new people and building your outdoor skills. Services Saturdays are every third Saturday through October, from 9 a.m. to noon. Sign up by visiting MetroParks’ Get Connected site.
Monthly must-do in your MetroParks
Visit Huffman Prairie Flying Field: Squeeze in an afternoon of nature in bloom and history in one stop! Huffman Prairie Flying Field, located on Wright Patterson Air Force Base, is the location where Orville and Wilbur Wright tested their Wright Flyer and more. This location is also home to a beautiful planted prairie that your Five Rivers MetroParks helps to maintain.
During July and August, you can see gorgeous blooms, such as pink royal catchfly and purple coneflower, in addition to amazing pollinators and birds. Learn how to visit this site, which is accessible to the public.
Explore a creek: Head to Sugarcreek, Wesleyan or Possum Creek MetroPark to see what is living in shallow waters of the park’s creeks. You may find crawfish, tadpoles or even fossils!
Experience the golden hour atop the Tree Tower: After the summer solstice, the daylight hours begin to dwindle. Be sure to savor the summer sunset on top of the Tree Tower at Cox Arboretum MetroPark with someone special, like a loved one or friend.
Sustainability Tip:
Starting a waste-free journey may sound intimidating, but you can reduce your carbon footprint with the basics. Learn three ways you can start living more sustainably today and register for free sustainability programs offered this July.
July Challenge: Celebrate National Parks and Recreation Month!
We’re asking you to give a shout out to our parks and conservation staff who work so hard to maintain and protect MetroParks’ natural spaces this National Parks and Recreation Month. Your challenge for July is to visit your favorite MetroPark, snap a pic, post it to your favorite social platform and give a shout out to the MetroParks staff who maintain your favorite spaces. Be sure to tag us Facebook, Instagram or TikTok so your posts can be shared with MetroParks’ staff and on our social media platforms.
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.
