Emerald Necklace - February 2013

Emerald Necklace

February ‘13 Vol. 62 # 2

Featuring Cleveland Metroparks program guide and events

Contents Features 3 Living the Sustainable Life

Columns 4 Notes from the Field 5 Naturalist’s Almanac

In Addition 2 Tobogganing 6 Inside the Emerald Necklace 10 Zoo News 12 The Gift of Nature 15 Learn with These “Golf Courses” 17 Events by Location 18 Events Calendar 32 Directory

Don’t Miss The Final Weeks of Winter Fun at Cleveland Metroparks Chalet Toboggan Chutes Didn’t get a chance yet to cross tobogganing from the winter to-do list?

Don’t worry; there’s still time to experience the icy thrill at Cleveland Metroparks Chalet Toboggan Chutes in Strongsville. Not only can you drop 70 feet down the twin ice chutes for approximately 700 feet, you can still enjoy many great promotions at the Chalet until the end of the season.

And best of all, the Chalet Toboggan Chutes operate with or without snow through March 10, weather permitting.

Public Tobogganing hours are: Thursdays

6 – 10 p.m.

Fridays

6 – 10:30 p.m.

Saturdays

Noon – 10:30 p.m.

Sundays

Noon – 5 p.m.

Special Holiday Hours: Monday, February 18 Noon – 5 p.m.

All photos by Casey Batule or Cleveland Metroparks photo archive unless otherwise noted.

Emerald Necklace Published monthly by:

Cleveland Metroparks 216-635-3200 clevelandmetroparks.com Afi-Odelia Scruggs Editor

Erie Reproduction Graphic Design

RR Donnelley Printing

Emerald Necklace is also available online at clevelandmetroparks.com.

Board of Park Commissioners Debra K. Berry Bruce G. Rinker President Vice-President

Dan T. Moore Vice-President

Brian M. Zimmerman

Executive Director-Secretary

Cleveland Metroparks does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age or disability in employment, services or access to programs or activities. Special assistance for Cleveland Metroparks programs or facilities is available by calling 216-635-3264 in advance.

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Emerald Necklace, February 2013

Tobogganing costs $10 for adults and $8 for children, ages 11 and under.

One-time ride tickets are available for $4.

All riders must wear gloves or mittens.

Children must stand at least 42 inches to ride, and be accompanied by an adult.

Group rates, for 20 or more people, are available for tobogganing during public hours. Groups must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance (not valid for season pass holders). Season passes are available at $40 for adults and $30 for children, 11 and under. A family pass (for up to four) may be purchased for $110.

Private Use: The Chalet, including the ice toboggan chutes, can be rented for exclusive use during non-public hours. Rental fees are $550 for three hours for up to 100 people (fee for additional riders). Semi-private rentals are offered on February 20 for a maximum of five groups or 150 riders.

Thursday night, small group rates are available. Book now – dates fill up fast!

For more information, and to make group, private and semi-private rentals, call 440-572-9990 (press “0” to bypass the prompts).

The Chalet Toboggan Chutes are located at 16200 Valley Parkway in Mill Stream Run Reservation, between Routes 42 and 82 in Strongsville, and are open through midMarch, weather permitting.

Living the Sustainable Life More and more, sustainability is being incorporated into planning, designing, and budgeting of all kinds. Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson even created a chief of sustainability in his administration. Cleveland Metroparks strives to be a regional leader in sustainability. The newest Cleveland Metroparks facility, the Watershed Stewardship Center, which will open soon, is an excellent example. So what does sustainability mean for an individual?

According to Webster’s dictionary, “sustainable” refers to “… methods of harvesting or using resources so they are not depleted or permanently damaged.” Most people agree that we shouldn’t harm our natural resources; we need them to live. Most people might also think sustainability means living without, but it really means living better. Sustainable living benefits people, our planet and our economic prosperity. That seems like a tall order, but for an individual, it’s just making thoughtful choices.

For example, imagine celebrating a birthday. We might decide to drive to the big supermarket to buy a festively decorated cake, shiny balloons, and colorful confetti. Does this make for a happy birthday? Not really. Our loved one just wants to be remembered and spend time celebrating with us. Occasions aren’t made happier by a cake topped with plastic decorations that are likely made hundreds of miles away, shipped here and then tossed into the trash and forgotten. It’s not happier when we drag the same decorations and wrapping paper to the curb later that week.

A sustainable choice may mean taking the time to bake that favorite cake and decorate it with icing. Or purchase one from the local bakery that employs our neighbors, who spend their earnings in our town. It may mean buying latex balloons, made from a natural substance harvested from live trees, instead of plastics or polyesters derived from fossil fuel. Kids can engage in the celebration by making confetti from scrap paper. The Sunday comics make fun, recyclable – and inexpensive – gift wrap. Or maybe just skip the stuff and celebrate together by going tobogganing, hiking or biking in Cleveland Metroparks, or visiting a nature center or Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Give an “I’ll do the dishes tonight,” or a free babysitting gift certificate. To me, the sustainable choices are more meaningful and memorable. They are enriching, not depriving.

We make choices whether at home, work, school or play. Just a little thought about the other people that share our planet, the planet itself, and the economic implications of those choices, can make our own lives more sustainable and more enjoyable.

In 2013, the City of Cleveland is focusing on renewable resources and advanced energy in the drive to become a more sustainable place to live and work. We can all focus on just one area of our lives to start living more sustainably, simply, and richly.

Debra K Shankland, Special Projects Administrator West Creek Stewardship Center 3

Notes from the Field

Five Fun Things to do in February in Your Cleveland Metroparks February! Blah humbug! Cold, slush, wet, gray, and did I mention cold? Are you a February hater too? Even though the days are growing noticeably longer now, and some days a little bare ground reappears from under the white sloppy blanket of what was once snow, many of us still have the winter blahs. It’s been gray too long.

But wait: there’s hope! Your Cleveland Metroparks offers adventures of all kinds through every month of the year, and February is no exception. Here’s a short list of five things you and your friend or family can do together to make February one of your favorite months:

1. Learn Three Bird Calls and Amaze Your Friends With Them As the days grow longer, several of our most interesting and common backyard birds begin to sing their spring songs. One of the easiest, from the black-capped chickadee, simply sounds like “CHEESE Burger!” with the emphasis on CHEESE. The male northern cardinal has a simple threepart call that’s easy to recognize. “Come here, come here, come here, hurry-hurry-hurry” it says, usually from the top of a high tree nearby.

At the same time, the male tufted titmouse calls “Peter-Peter-Peter!” and flits from tree to tree as he tells other titmice that this is HIS territory.

The cardinal and the titmouse will be calling every day from dawn well into mid-morning and beyond. Now that you know what they sound like, you’ll recognize them immediately.

2. Discover the Mathematics of Canada Geese In the fall, you saw Canada geese flying in groups of six or multiples of six, sometimes plus or minus one. That was a family group, with mom and dad and usually four remaining young of the year. By February, adult Canadas begin to pair up in one of the first signs of the promise of spring.

Groups of four are evident too, and the previous year’s young, non-breeders, often stay together – much to the disdain of golfers and trail walkers everywhere.

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Emerald Necklace, February 2013

3. Go Great Horned Owl Hunting This one involves a bit of hiking. Binoculars may help too. Look for large washtub-sized nests of sticks in the fork of large trees in forested areas.

Be patient, but scan the nest and look for the adult owl’s head with its two prominent feather tufts resembling ears or horns. Great horned owls begin nesting in earnest this month and at night are quite vocal. Look for pellets of fur and bones of mice and other prey at the base of the tree holding the nest.

4. Take a Winter Photo Safari This is a great activity with younger children, but it’s fun for everyone. Conduct a winter photo safari with a cell phone or pocket digital camera.

The only rules are you have to walk more slowly, and look for and photograph things you never noticed. Remember to get close enough to make the image large. Take at least 100 steps between each photo, lest the camera memory card gets filled in the first 10 minutes. Take the photos home and download them, then make a photo collage of your day in the parks. Free downloadable photo editors, like Google’s Picasa, are simple to use and allow lots of fun photo editing.

Naturalist’s Almanac

5. Find a Hunter and See Over a 1,000 Years Back in Time This great after-dark activity only takes a few minutes on a cold February night. Get bundled up and step outside on a clear night.

Look southward and you’ll see the constellation Orion the Hunter, resembling a person wearing a belt, and holding his hands up. Bright stars mark his hands and feet; for once, a constellation actually seems to look like what the old legends say it is. The striking orange star that appears to be his right hand is Betelgeuse, one of the largest stars known. The even brighter silver-blue star that seems to be his left foot is Rigel. The greatest surprise lies on what appears to be the sword hanging from his belt of three stars. Look carefully at the dangling string of stars and you’ll notice that the middle star seems fuzzy. It is – because it’s not one star, it’s thousands. This is the Orion Nebula, a star factory, and stars are still being born there. The light you see left those stars over 1,200 years ago. Any Cleveland Metroparks reservation offering an open view of the southern sky works well for this, or you may be able to see it from your own backyard if there’s not too much neighborhood light.

The cold and snow of February fades quickly when you embrace it.

By month’s end, each day becomes three to four minutes longer, and the warmth of spring is only a few weeks away. Remember the joys and simplicity of nature and rediscover them every month in your Cleveland Metroparks!

February

February is the midpoint of winter, when daylight lingers and we see hints that spring isn’t far away. The year’s animal activity starts slowly; each week more and more players are on nature’s stage. Red-wing blackbirds return and groundhogs and chipmunks may make an appearance on warmer days. Maple sap starts to rise and the first skunk cabbage flowers bloom throughout Cleveland Metroparks wetlands.

Birds Daylight lengthens and the deep silence of winter is broken by the mournful call of mourning doves – the first of the spring bird songs. Later in the month, chickadees, tufted titmouse and cardinals join in the chorus. Great horned owls have been courting and establishing nest sites. Large tree cavities provide excellent shelter during cold months, but large stick nests of herons, hawks and crows will suffice. Incubation lasts about a month and young will hatch when temperatures are warmer. Toward the end of the month, you will hear “Okaleee,” when male red-winged blackbirds return to cattail stands to establish territories. Depending on the weather, females may not arrive for some time.

When they do, they will eventually begin to weave nests from last year’s dried cattail fronds.

Mammals Traditionally, February marks hibernation for mammals. The groundhog is expected to emerge from its winter burrow and proclaim the end of winter – or not. Males are first to arise; they wander in search of a welcoming female. This is

also a month of romance for mammals that remained active throughout winter, such as skunks, raccoons, fox, and coyotes. A fresh snow reveals their tracks as they travel widely in search of a mate.

Trees Maple sugaring season begins. During the day, temperatures warming above freezing allow the sap to rise. It retreats into the roots when temperatures cool at night. This alternation keeps the sweet sap flowing until buds on the trees begin to open, bringing an end to another sugaring season.

Wildflowers Skunk cabbage can be found in many wetlands throughout Cleveland Metroparks. The plant gets its name from the distinctive odor that arises when it’s bruised or broken. Skunk cabbage can create heat from rapid respiration in its starchy root, which often melts a thin layer of snow or ice around the plant. Early active bees, flies and beetles may seek out the spathe; the odor and color of carrion attracts them to the flower that may provide a meal.

Skunk cabbage

Robert D. Hinkle, PhD Chief Naturalist Emeritus rdh@clevelandmetroparks.com

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Inside the Emerald Necklace 6

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Friday Nights with Nature

Saturday Night Specials 2013

Programs from 7:30 – 9 p.m.

Doors open at 6:45 p.m.

Ages: students, adults Seating is limited Rocky River Nature Center Rocky River Reservation

Programs from 7:30 – 9 p.m.

North Chagrin Nature Center North Chagrin Reservation

This February, spend your Friday nights with nature! For more information, call 440-734-6660.

February 1 Owls of Ohio Can you build a better mousetrap? Naturalist Ken Gober answers the question in this introduction to Ohio’s owls. Kick off the Birds of Prey Weekend at Rocky River Nature Center and demystify these secretive nighttime birds.

February 8 The Pony Express: Heroes on Horseback Karen Beck presents this historic look at the Pony Express. Ride the pony trail across the Great Plains and through deserts, and hear tales of endurance and tremendous bravery set against the backdrop of our wildest West.

February 15 Kenya and Tanzania You never know what you’ll find on safari!

Join Naturalist Min Keung, who will share stories of majestic lions and migrating wildebeest from her recent adventure to Kenya and Tanzania.

February 22 Life in the Freezer Expedition leader Paul Booyens offers this glimpse into living and working on the coldest, wildest, least populated and most beautiful continent on the planet, Antarctica.

Join this adventure to the place he has dubbed “the land of white.”

In February, we’ll spend Saturday evenings travelling the world and exploring the marvels of nature. For more information, call 440-473-3370.

February 2 Africa Join Naturalist Min Keung as she travels to Africa in search of the big five: lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalo. Min will recount lessons learned along the way while sharing adventures from her recent safari.

February 9 Nature Through a Close-up Lens Beginning with the first wildflowers and concluding with the winter’s snow and ice, Bruce Mack takes the viewers on a journey through the seasons, examining the smaller, often overlooked aspects of the natural world.

February 16 Exploring Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago are a dream destination for nature lovers. Join Dr. Ami Horowitz on his visit to these Caribbean islands, visit birding sites like Asa Wright Nature Center, swamps and pristine beaches, exploring the flora and fauna of the islands.

February 23 The Arabian Bee Most of the world’s honey comes from apis mellifera, however some of Arabia’s honey is produced from apis floera. This is a smaller bee, and is more colorful than its larger cousin. Apiculture with these bees is different than that of regular honey bees. Behavioral patterns and survival strategies differ enough that apiculture techniques are very different. Muhammed Hassanali’s presentation focuses on the behavioral differences and how these differences have led to different apiculture techniques.

Rocky River Nature Center

North Chagrin Nature Center

is located in Rocky River Reservation at 24000 Valley Parkway, a quarter-mile north of Cedar Point Road in North Olmsted.

is located off Buttermilk Falls Parkway, off the Sunset Lane entrance of North Chagrin Reservation, off SOM Center Road/Route 91 in Mayfield Village – south of the I-90/Route 91 exit.

Emerald Necklace, February 2013

Birds of Prey Weekend Discover hawks, eagles and owls during this special weekend at Rocky River Nature Center. Events include exhibits and crafts, art show and demonstration, live animal presentations, hikes, puppets and more. For more information, call 440-734-6600

Sunday, February 3 • Noon – 4 p.m.

Scheduled activities include:

Join a naturalist for a hike in raptor country. Bald eagles, peregrine falcons, red-tailed hawks and other daytime raptors have been nesting in the Rocky River Valley.

Bring your binoculars and try to spot one of these elegant hunters.

Saturday, February 2 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Ice Carving Demonstration 11 a.m. – 1 p.m RRNC See master ice carver Dave Zajac turn blocks of ice into frozen birds of prey.

The Ancient Art of Falconry 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. RRNC Using raptors to hunt is called falconry. Join licensed falconers Jeff Riebe, Don Jessie and Al Harris to meet their birds and learn about this ancient sport.

Hunters of the Air Puppet Show 1:30 – 2 p.m.

RRNC

Birds of Prey Hike Noon – 1 p.m. RRR Cottonwood Picnic Area

Hunters of the Air Puppet Show 1:30 – 2 p.m. RRNC The Trailside Puppeteers present a fun and educational puppet show on the winged hunters of the air.

Birds of Prey 101 2 – 3 p.m. RRNC What are the differences between hawks, owls, falcons and eagles? The Medina Raptor Center has lots of live examples of these fascinating predators. Bring the family see them and learn what makes a raptor, a raptor.

Raptor Rehab 3 – 4 p.m. RRNC Laura Jordan, from the Medina Raptor Center, will use live birds to demonstrate what it takes to get an injured raptor back on its wings.

The Trailside Puppeteers present a fun and educational puppet show on the winged hunters of the air.

Hawks: Sun-Loving Killers 2 – 3 p.m. RRNC Join Dave Wolf from Lake Erie Nature and Science Center for a closer look at the lives of hawks in Northeast Ohio.

There is nothing like seeing a hawk to make you want to join the hawk fan club.

Owls: Hunters of the Night 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. RRNC Get a closer look at owls in Northeast Ohio: see them live with Dave Wolf from the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center. There is nothing like seeing an owl to make you want to join the owl fan club.

Rocky River Nature Center is located in Rocky River Reservation at 24000 Valley Parkway, a quarter-mile north of Cedar Point Road in North Olmsted.

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Bird Photography Opportunity February 9 • 10 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Nature Education Building North Chagrin Reservation Photographers, here is an opportunity to photograph some winter birds at North Chagrin Reservation.

One to two photographers can reserve an hour to use the photo blind near the feeding station at the Nature Education Building. Natural perches will be placed in strategic areas for that perfect photograph!

Call 440-473-3370 or go to clevelandmetroparks.com for more information and to make a reservation.

Hi-Bear-Nation Day February 16 Noon – 4 p.m.

North Chagrin Nature Center North Chagrin Reservation Are you tired of hibernating indoors this winter?

Come to North Chagrin Nature Center and celebrate black bears. Bear crafts, puppet shows and polar bear hikes are part of this day. Kids, bring your favorite Teddy Bear and receive a prize. Snacks will be available for purchase and enjoy them in our Teddy Bear Picnic Area.

Noon – 4 p.m.

Bear Crafts

1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Polar Bear Prowls

12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. Bear Puppet Shows 2 p.m.

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Movie: Brother Bear

Emerald Necklace, February 2013

Fight the Frost Festival February 17 Noon – 4 p.m.

CanalWay Center Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation Winter doesn’t scare me; I live in Ohio! No matter what the groundhog says, we will fight the frost. Join the CanalWay staff in the fourth annual Fight the Frost Festival on February 17. We will have a puppet show, crafts, and activities with a frosty theme. We will offer hikes and snowshoeing for those who want to brave the cold. This year we will be introducing carpet skating! We will also have snacks to enjoy while you play.

• Winter Hikes • Weather Demonstrations • Carpet Skating • Snowshoeing (if there is enough snow) • Sno Cones • Hot Chocolate • Bird Hikes • Puppet Shows • Cornhole • Frosty Crafts • Cookies • Marshmallows over a Fire For more information, call 216-206-1000

A Look Ahead Annual Return of the Buzzards Friday, March 15 7 a.m. – until ?????

Buzzard Roost, corner of State Road and West Drive Hinckley Reservation The old March proverb should be updated from “in like a lion, out like a lamb” to “soar like a buzzard, back to Hinckley guaranteed!”

The annual return of the buzzards on March 15 is an internationally known phenomenon. Buzzard spotters, young and old, will search the sky for turkey vultures (buzzards) with Official Buzzard Spotter Sharon Hosko. The search begins at 7 a.m. Be sure to bring binoculars, cameras and a sense of humor.

But remember: no one spots a buzzard ‘til the Official Buzzard Spotter spots one! For more information, call 440-526-1012.

Buzzard Sunday!

Sunday, March 17 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Buzzard Roost, corner of State Road and West Drive Hinckley Reservation Like clockwork, the buzzards always return. Celebrate with Cleveland Metroparks on Buzzard Sunday!

The free event features a buzzard scoreboard, naturalist-led hikes, live bird programs, musical entertainment, a buzzard puppet show, displays and exhibits, crafts, EarthWords Nature Shops, and more. For more information, call 440-526-1012.

Toad-ally Awesome Amphibians Saturday, March 23 North Chagrin Nature Center North Chagrin Reservation Hop on over to discover awesome amphibians! Enjoy presentations with speakers, a puppet show and a movie.

Plus enjoy a variety of live amphibians from Ohio and around the world as well as crafts, activities for kids, hikes, refreshments for sale and more! For more information, call 440-473-3370.

Cleveland Metroparks Kids Club Kids Club is back in 2013, bigger and better! With almost 1,500 members last year, Cleveland Metroparks Kids Club members will enjoy educational activities, exploration and fun experiences from March until the end of the year in and about Cleveland Metroparks and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo! 2013 Kids Club will feature a paid membership – $15 for the first child and $12 for each additional sibling – and a free membership. Paid members will receive a T-shirt, a coloring book, a birthday postcard and other perks.

All members will receive a passport.

Throughout the year, Cleveland Metroparks and the Zoo will offer special events, programming and other activities for kids to earn stamps in their passports. If a member receives 12 stamps, they can attend the end-of-the-year party at the Zoo! Kids Club will bring kids closer to nature by sharing with them the importance of conservation, outdoor education and recreation.

Kids can apply what they learn to help preserve Cleveland Metroparks and the environment.

Kids will be able to enjoy nature hikes throughout Cleveland Metroparks 22,000 acres, participate in hands-on activities at the nature centers, participate in exclusive Kids Club only activities and events, special events, behind the scenes tours, and much more. Plus, during the school year, a club member can win a chance to have an Outdoor Education naturalist put on a program at their school.

For more information, call 216-635-3200 or visit clevelandmetroparks.com.

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Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Will Be Hoppin’ During Fairytales & Frogs Did you know there are about 4,800 different species of frogs in the world, and they can be found on every continent except Antarctica?

You can learn these and other fun frog facts during the fourth annual Fairytales & Frogs event in The RainForest at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Monday, February 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

All kids 11 and younger receive FREE admission to the Zoo and The RainForest with a paid adult admission and everyone is encouraged to come dressed as a princess, prince or frog.

Zoo News

Guests can take a break from the February weather and warm up in The RainForest with special Fairytales & Frogs activities, including chances to meet the Zoo’s costumed frog and princess characters, going nose-to-nose with a real frog during a Get Close encounter, separating amphibian fact from fiction with the keepers, making a frog craft, dancing with Disney, playing a frog game and learning about the environmental importance of frogs.

These toad-ally awesome amphibians have a unique role in the earth’s ecosystem and have played an important part in the fairytales and stories of various cultures throughout history, but many are still threatened by habitat loss, increases in water pollution and the spread of a deadly chytrid fungus.

Guests can learn more about the various threats facing the world’s amphibians when they explore the rest of The RainForest’s exhibits including many other frog and toad species.

Adult residents of Cuyahoga County and Hinckley Township (with proper ID) will receive reduced admission to The RainForest and free admission to the Zoo following regular Monday admission rates. Out-of-county residents can also enjoy reduced winter admission the Zoo and The RainForest.

For additional information, visit clemetzoo.com or call 216-661-6500.

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Emerald Necklace, February 2013

all photos courtesy of Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

The Zoo Is Looking For a Few Good Volunteers Cleveland Metroparks Zoo volunteers are on the front lines when it comes to providing Zoo guests with a memorable experience during their visit.

Volunteers may be called upon to help during special events, answer questions out in the park, staff the Information Booth or act as interpreters outside an exhibit.

EdZooCation Calendar Education Programs at the Zoo Overnights at the Zoo – All programs run 7 p.m. to 10 a.m. the following morning.

Would you like to sleep over at the Zoo, hike the park at night, get close to the animals and take a behind the scenes tour? Then round up your pack, troop, horde, pride, colony or herd and plan an event they’ll never forget!

Night Tracks – Sleep over in the Wolf Wilderness cabin and become a scientist for a night while exploring Northern Trek on Friday and Saturday nights. Special nights are scheduled for Girl Scouts on February 9 and March 15, Boy Scouts on February 16, Cub Scouts on February 22 and March 23, and families on February 23 and March 16.

Keeper for a Day – Runs daily from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (except for February 27 through March 6) Join the keepers who care for the animals in the Conservation Education division and become part of the team for the day. This is a five-hour, hands-on experience you won’t forget.

Family Discoveries – All programs run 9 to 10:30 a.m.

Bring the entire family for a special Zoo experience featuring hands-on activities and guided tours (topics vary by date).

Every March, the Zoo holds two Volunteer Safari recruiting events to bring in new people who are interested in joining this dedicated team of volunteers.

This year, the Volunteer Safari events are set for Saturday, March 16 and Saturday, March 30. Each session is an approximately three-hourlong orientation that highlights the different volunteer opportunities at the Zoo. After the orientation, potential volunteers can fill out applications and have a short interview with a Zoo staff member.

Membership benefits include free admission to the Zoo and The RainForest, discounts at the gift shop and select concession stands, invitations to volunteer appreciation events and a subscription to the volunteer newsletter.

To make a reservation for Volunteer Safari, call 216-661-6500, Ext. 4494.

Rain Forest Life – February 9 – This tropical adventure explores the rain forest using your five senses.

Cold Weather Animals – February 24 – Explore the Zoo’s Northern Trek and discover animals that endure some of the most extreme winter weather, including reindeer, a polar bear and wolves.

Homeschool Programs – February is physics month and the Zoo has two new programs geared for homeschool students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Students in kindergarten through fourth grade meet from 10 to 10:45 a.m. and fifth- through eighth-graders meet from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Animal Basics: Gravity and Locomotion February 12 The Physics of Flight February 26

Preschool Safari – All programs run 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Designed for families with children younger than 5, these fun-filled programs engage preschoolers with special hands-on activities and a Get Close animal encounter geared just for them. (Topics vary by date.)

Cold Weather Animals – February 5 – Explore Northern Trek and discover the special things that make these animals perfect for living in cold climates.

Orangutans and Me – February 19 – What is a day in the life of an orangutan like? Come learn all about orangutans – what they eat, where they live, how they play and what they do all day.

To register, call 216-635-3391 or visit clemetzoo.com/learn.asp.

For the most up-to-date Zoo information: clemetzoo.com / 216-661-6500 11

The Gift of Nature

Cleveland Metroparks was established 96 years ago by people committed to preserving the natural landscape of Greater Cleveland. The Emerald Necklace Endowment Fund was established within The Cleveland Foundation for people who are passionate about ensuring the future of the Park District for generations to come. Gifts to the Legacy Fund and other special programs help to create a welcome and healthy environment for wildlife and further the mission of Cleveland Metroparks.

Cleveland Metroparks gratefully acknowledges the following members of the Emerald Necklace Fellowship who have included Cleveland Metroparks in their estate plans: Anonymous (16 donors) Jay Beswick* Nancy and Joseph Bozicevich* Sheila Brown Kara Browning Warwick A. Buer* – in memory of my beloved wife, Marguerite A. Buer Helen E. and Robert L. Burns* Michael and Susan Clark Mina Davis* Michael and Marcia Dolyk Jeanette Eustache Carol Glotzbecker Dorothea Jean Hassler* Bernice C. Haytas* Barbara A. Hershkowitz Dr. Robert D. Hinkle Constance M. Howell* William D. Howerton Paula T. Hurwitz* Alyce M. Jarr* Marion E. Johnson* Fred R. Jones* Constance M. Junge* Mort* and Emilie Kadish

Karen J. Kannenberg and Dennis* A. Seifert Julia Kunes* Christopher Malek and Friends Terence J. and Nancy S. McCann Jean C. Murphy* Celia and Edward Nedved* George and Cynthia Oprita Ian Roy Phillips Elizabeth H. Ragg* Margaret Rawsthorne Carmen R. Reeths Kathleen Schlemmer Dorothy D. Schmidt* Lynn A. Schreiber* Mary Sedlack* Kathryn S. Spilar* Coletta L. Stopp* Angela M. Thiery – in celebration of the lives of Daniel and Victoria Thiery Mildred Turza Constance S. White, MD Dorotha L. Whitney* Brian M. Zimmerman

Cleveland Metroparks gratefully acknowledges the following gifts contributed between September 1 and November 30, 2012: Anonymous Marilyn M. Bruneau – in honor of Ro and Bob Kuntz Richard Catteau Cleveland Clinic Western Region Hospitals Community West Foundation Cuyahoga County Library Union – in honor of Terrance Cariglio Mr. and Mrs. Herbert E. Harpster Harte Family Nathan and Elaine Miller John and Karen Lanigan Brenda Schuster Ronald Skiba – in honor of Michael Skiba Phil Stella Margaret A. Thomas – in honor of Ro and Bob Kuntz

*Deceased

Cleveland Metroparks gratefully acknowledges the following memorial gifts received between September 1 and November 30, 2012: In memory of Martin F. Berei, Sr. Gayle Fisher and Russell Thompson In memory of John F. Caputo Dan and Marty Stewart Family In memory of Robert L. Cody Linda Feigel In memory of Charles Ellison Christie Lucco and Michael Devlin In memory of Linda Fehling Bruce and Cheryl Baldwin Mike and Susan Cleverdon Holly and Kevin Greenawalt Gene and Art Heidrich Shan and Robert Koehler Jacob Krecic Faye Marcum Kathy and Barney Mead Marcia Meckstroth

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In memory of Linda Fehling (cont’d) Rarity Bay Ladies Golf Association John and Sue Seitz Claudette St. Onge and Don Meyer Brian and Mimi Sturgell In memory of Dorothy Wilson Hatcher Linda Donley Art Penner Rob Penner In memory of John D. Kason Lou Erdei John and Susanne Gerres Elizabeth C. Lipiec John and Jean Piety Anne and Bruce Sako Bill and Jean Schwartz In memory of Virgil and Henrietta Martin Jane Martin

Emerald Necklace, February 2013

In memory of Eugene Lazarowicz Matty, Henrikson & Greve Rademaker, In memory of Robert Patrick Patricia Deno In memory of Dominick Previte Dalia N. Armonas In memory of Josephine and Dominick Previte Mary and Robert Sberna In memory of Evelyn (Toni) Saari Peter Stadler Ruth A. Stadler In memory of Jacqueline Penner Safier Linda Donley Art Penner Rob Penner In memory of John W. Scott Chris and Ava Kennedy In memory of Richard E. Tischler, Sr. William and Lynda Wallets

Cleveland Metroparks gratefully acknowledges the following gifts received between September l and November 30, 2012 in support of the programs and facilities listed below: Brecksville Nature Center Mark L. Gehringer - in memory of Geraldine Rawlins Mark L. Gehringer - in memory of Carol Hovorka-Villanueva Brecksville Reservation Kiwanis Club of Brecksville, Inc.

Outdoor Education Blanche and Kenneth Cooley Fund of The Cleveland Foundation

Rocky River Nature Center Special Improvements Fund Judy Boone

Ranger Department Target & Blue Law Enforcement Grant Program Walmart

Trail Monitor Fund Nordson Corporation Foundation Victoria Plata

Institute of Great Outdoors The North Face

Ranger Department K9 Unit Fund Anonymous Anonymous – in memory of Bosley Church of the Ascension KeyBank Foundation Marilyn, Rosaleen and Kyle – in memory of Sharon Sullivan Rod and Linda MacDonald – in memory of Emilio “2 Sticks” Cesar Annette Piechowski – in honor of Radar’s Retirement

Look About Lodge Cleveland Natural Science Club Ohio Horseman’s Council

Ranger Department Mounted Unit Fund Eleanore L. Gates

Nature Play Area John Elsey Turner Construction

Rocky River Nature Center Steve and Sue Furjanic - in celebration of the Clary Family Barb Ridel and family - in honor of Richard and Janice Wittig Doug Wittig and family - in honor of Richard and Janice Wittig Gary Wittig and family - in honor of Richard and Janice Wittig

Fishing Fund Mark Kriwinsky, DDS, Inc. Steve Nyetrae Quarry Golf Course University School Historic Interpretation Southwest Area Retired Educators

North Chagrin Nature Center Chapter II East Emilie P. Kadish Joseph and Katherine Zack Fund of The Cleveland Foundation

Trails Fund The Brachna Family of Sagamore Hills Pellegrino Ciccarello Cleveland West Road Runner Club Jan Clark – in memory of Marge Shepard Richard Cole Carol Edwards Julie Jenson Linda Kinde – in memory of Marge Shepard David Krause - in memory of Frank B. Krause III Jan Maziasz – in memory of Marge Shepard Peggy Metzner - in memory of Marge Shepard Chris Paternite Deepak Pisipati Susan Plaskon - in memory of Bailey Susan Russo Kristen M. Schmidt Vertical Runner Youth Outdoor Fund Frostville Arts and Culture – in memory of Janet Barnard

Your Gift to Nature Giving to Cleveland Metroparks is easy! Please visit clevelandmetroparks.com and click on ‘donate’ at the bottom of the page to make your gift online. You may also contact Karen Kannenberg, CFRE, manager of gift and donor development, at 216-635-3217 or kjk@clevelandmetroparks.com to discuss ways that you can help preserve and protect Cleveland Metroparks now and in the future.

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Mudras and Yoga and Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Nature Center, Sunday, February 10 6 P.M. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served. Adults only. Fee: $10 per person.

Register by February 8 by calling 440-734-7576 Join Emily Fuller Williams, Kim Scott Sowinski and Larry and Rosemary Knopf as they connect ancient hand gestures, yoga and music with the nature all around us. These local talents will help us experience the same peaceful, calming effect that spending time in the park gives us.

Emily will demonstrate how mudras – simple ancient hand gestures – can shifts our moods from anxious to calm, and scattered to focused. Easy to learn, easy to use anywhere, anytime, mudras are an effective no-cost addition to the ways you already take care of yourself.

Mudras, Ancient Gestures to Ease Modern Stress $14.95 Mudras Pocket Cards, Stress Relief at Your Fingertips $12.95

Kim Scott Sowinski filmed NatureAsana Yoga entirely in Cleveland Metroparks. She finds the natural tranquility provides the perfect atmosphere for yoga practice. Kim will teach breathing techniques to help lower blood pressure and clear the mind. These techniques can be done anywhere, any time of the day. Through conscience breathing, we will learn more about ourselves and cultivate wholeness in mind, body and spirit.

NatureAsana Yoga, Flow and Care DVD $19.95

LOCATIONS/HOURS Hinckley Lake Boathouse & Store 1 West Drive • Hinckley Township 330-278-2160 Open daily: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

North Chagrin Nature Center Mayfield Village • 440-449-0511

Wednesday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Sunday: Noon – 4:45 p.m.

Rocky River Nature Center North Olmsted • 440-734-7576

Wednesday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Sunday: Noon – 4:45 p.m.

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Visit EarthWords at: Rocky River Nature Center: Birds of Prey Weekend, February 2 – 3 Rocky River Nature Center: Friday Night with Nature, 7 p.m., February Friday Nights North Chagrin Nature Center: Saturday Night Specials, 7 p.m., February Saturday Nights Hinckley Lake Boathouse & Store: Open daily Call for winter specials and events

LEARN WITH THESE “GOLF COURSES” Are you one of the estimated 27 million people who consider themselves “highly interested” in learning to golf? Or, are you a golfer who would like to improve your short game, or learn how to drive for distance? Then check out these upcoming classes available from Cleveland Metroparks Academy of Golf.

Indoor Spring Training Get an early jump on the season ahead. These two-hour sessions are designed to help you take advantage of practice time before the weather breaks in the spring. You’ll have a game plan that covers areas of your swing that need work for a better golf experience. A maximum of 10 participants. $25 Date Saturday February 23 Saturday March 23

Time 10 a.m.

10 a.m.

Location Instructor Sleepy Hollow Manakiki

Fiander Kochensprager

Beginners – An Introduction to Golf A hands-on series covering the basics of the full swing, chipping and putting. Basic golf terms, rules and etiquette are covered. Loaner equipment available. All participants completing the course will be given a pass to a Cleveland Metroparks short course. A maximum of seven students per class. Students in this class should be beginners to 25 handicap.

Date Thursday April 4 Saturday April 6 Tuesday April 9 Monday April 15 Monday April 22 Tuesday April 23 Wednesday April 24 Wednesday April 24 Thursday April 25 Saturday April 27

Time Sessions Location Fee Instructor 6 – 7:30 p.m.

2 – 3:30 p.m.

6:30 – 8 p.m.

6:30 – 8 p.m.

10 – 11:30 a.m.

6 – 7:30 p.m.

6 – 7:30 p.m.

6 – 7:30 p.m.

6 – 7:30 p.m.

9 – 10:30 a.m.

4 4 4 5 4 6 6 6 6 6

Washington Washington Washington Washington Washington Sleepy Hollow Sleepy Hollow Manakiki Shawnee Manakiki

$125 $125 $125 $145 $125 $170 $170 $170 $170 $170

Short Short Staker Staker Staker Fiander Fiander Kochensparger TBD Kochensparger

Junior Programs Homeschoolers Golf Phys Ed This six-week program is designed for homeschooled juniors 10 to 15 years of age. The skill level best suited for this class would be in the beginner to intermediate range. The first two to three weeks will be practice and skill building on all parts of the game. The last three to four weeks will be playing golf in a supervised setting. The fee includes instruction, range balls, green fees, use of pull carts, and loaner equipment as needed. $100 Date Tuesday April 23

Time 1 – 3 p.m.

Location Instructor Washington

Staker

Future High School Player Parent Seminar Do you have a son or daughter who is showing interest in playing more golf? Is playing high school golf someday a possibility? Are you unsure about instruction or how to develop their talents? What skills and scores will they need to play high school golf? All these questions and many more will be answered by a panel of golf experts in this onehour seminar. The panel will include PGA Golf professionals, the director of a local junior tour, high school coaches and a college coach. Free.

Date Monday May 6

Time 6:30 p.m.

Location Instructor Sleepy Hollow

Fiander

Classes fill up early. Visit clevelandmetroparks.com for class schedules and to register.

For more information, call 440-232-7247.

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Lake Erie Nature & Science Center Plan your preschooler’s spring with us! Register now: the new 10-week season starts soon. Get more details at www.lensc.org or by calling 440-871-2900.

Nature Nuts

Choose from Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. or 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Fee (10 weeks): $300 per child; members $250 per child.

Children must be potty trained.

Registration required Children ages 3 – 5 years can join us for a fun-filled introduction to nature and science! Encounter live animals, hike outdoors, learn to focus with our latest dance moves, get used to the dark in the planetarium and have plenty of time to play! Enjoy games, stories, crafts and a new nature topic each week! Enroll as an exciting alternative or supplement to traditional preschool.

Log Cabin Explorers Club Choose from Wednesdays, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. or Fridays, 9 – 11 a.m. or 1 – 3 p.m.

Fee (10 weeks): $275 per child; members $225 per child Registration required Children ages 5 – 6 years will become nature detectives as they explore the hiking trails and gardens, encounter our resident animals, sing, dance or listen to a story. They will grab their

backpack full of gear and investigate Huntington Reservation, get a close look at bugs, and identify native Ohio birds and mammals. Star shows, crafts, science experiments and journaling also help to build important school skills, whether they’re preparing for or already in Kindergarten.

Scouting Corner We know that girls want to have fun learning about themselves and their world. That’s why we design our Girl Scout programs to complement the Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting and National Leadership Journeys. We offer over 40 different programs for all levels of scouts, including:

Our Natural World for Daisy Girl Scouts

Browse www.lensc.org to see programs and activities for school-age children, adults and families. February events include:

Saturday, February 16 10 – 11:30 a.m. or 1 – 2:30 p.m.

Fee: $10 per girl; adults free Registration required

Valentine’s Day Party Thursday, February 14 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Fee: $5 per child Registration required

Bring your favorite stuffed animal to celebrate your love of creatures big and small. Meet a live animal, try out a creative activity, read a story and, of course, have fun learning through play on this very loving holiday. For children ages 1 – 5 years with one adult.

The Nature of Experiments Thursday, February 21 6 – 8 p.m.

Fee: $7 per person; $35 per family of five or more Register by February 19

Amazing things happen naturally every day! Join us for fun-filled experiments that light up, change color and explode.

After the show, you and your family will get to explore the Center and try experiments.

Get inspired and fulfill the requirements for two petals representing the Girl Scout law. Discuss small changes that can make a big difference to earn Use Resources Wisely. Take part in a community-based service project and earn Make the World a Better Place. Light snack and program patch (not petals) included.

Your Living World for Wolf Cub Scouts

Tuesday, February 12 7 – 8:15 p.m.

Fee: $8 per boy; $4 per adult or additional child Registration required Identify the ways land, water and air get dirty. Find out how to save energy in addition to recycling and put that knowledge into action. Listen to three stories of people who protected our world’s natural resources.

Complete Achievement 7 - Your Living World with this program.

Find our full schedule of programs for Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts at www.lensc.org.

Walter R. Schuele Planetarium Family Programs * Monthly SkyQuest: Where, Oh Where Has Pluto Gone?

Saturdays, February 2 • 9 • 16 • 23 1 p.m.

Saturdays, February 2 • 16 7:30 p.m.

Fee: $3 per person

Why was poor Pluto kicked out of the big planet club? Is Pluto different now? Find out the real story of dwarf planets. Hear details about NASA’s New Horizons Mission that will fly by Pluto in 2015 on its journey to the limits of our solar system. Recommended for ages 7 years & over.

Free telescope viewing follows the evening star shows, weather permitting.

Second Nature: A Series for Lifelong Learners Blasted into Space Thursday, February 14 7 – 8:30 p.m.

Free presentation, courtesy of NASA Register by calling 440-871-2900

John Oldham of NASA Glenn Research Center will take us on a voyage through time and space as he shares stories and facts behind space mission successes, failures and the importance of what was discovered.

Visit us at www.lensc.org for details of our full range of star shows including our full schedule of weekend shows as well as popular weekday offerings for preschoolers: Twinkle Tots and Stellar Stars. * Doors close promptly at start time. Tickets for all star shows are available at the Welcome Desk 30 minutes before the program begins on a first-come, first-served basis.

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center Located at 28728 Wolf Road in Bay Village • 440-871-2900 • www.lensc.org Lake Erie Nature & Science Center is an independent nonprofit affiliate of Cleveland Metroparks and receives public support with local tax dollars from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, to preserve and enrich our region’s cultural heritage.

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February Events by Location Monthly Morning with the Birds

Off-site programs

28 • Urban Explorations: The Alcazar

(HuR)Huntington Reservation

23 • Winter Tree Identification: Advanced

(LENSC) Lake Erie Nature & Science Center Open daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Located at 28728 Wolf Road in Bay Village 440-871-2900 www.lensc.org 2 • Groundhog Day 5 • 19 • The Winter Underground 17 • Birding with Western Reserve Cuyahoga Audubon Society 20 • All Access Pass

(BWR) Bradley Woods Reservation

(MSRR) Mill Stream Run Reservation

(BeR) Bedford Reservation

3 • Bedford Hike 9 • Frozen Waterfalls 16 • Woodlands of Bedford: Winter Wonderland Trek 22 • Venture Through Viaduct

(BCR) Big Creek Reservation

8 • 23 • For Women Only 10 • Bradley Woods in Winter

(BrR) Brecksville Reservation 15 • Extreme Hiking

(BNC) Brecksville Nature Center

Open daily 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Rt. 82 entrance, Brecksville 440-526-1012 2 • 3 • 9 • 10 • 16 • 17 • 23 • 24 • Hand Feed a Chickadee 2 • Drop In Discovery: Snowflakes 3 • Drop In Discovery: Owls 10 • Sunday in the Park Concert 12 • Hiking for the Young at Heart 13 • 21 • Animal Crackers 15 • Extreme Hiking 18 • A Day of Fun, Naturally 23 • Soup-er Hike 24 • Dog Walk

(CWC) CanalWay Center

Open daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Off E. 49th St., Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation, Cuyahoga Hts. 216-206-1000 1 – 28 • Hunt of the Month 1 – 28 • Quiet Time: Paintings by Kim Zarney 4 • Stroller School: Groundhog Day 8 • Winter Walk 9 • Pop-Up Program 9 • Second Saturday Storytelling 9 • American Girl Afternoon: Julie 12 • Preschoolers: Vintage Valentines 15 • Great Backyard Bird Count 16 • Bird Banding and Counting 16 • Acoustic Players Circle 17 • Fight the Frost Festival 18 • Day for the Birds 21 • Great Lakes Exposition 1936 – 1937 21 • Hidden Valley Homeschool: Local Wildlife Cleveland Astronomical Society 7 • Curiosity on Mars and Early Results

10 • Cabin Fever Hike 24 • Pileated Woodpecker Hike

(NCR) North Chagrin Reservation

1 • Family Friday Night: Frosty Fire 8 • Family Friday Night: Squire’s Castle 9 • 10 • Bird Photography Opportunity 17 • Animal Detectives 20 • Trail Trackers: Mammals 22 • Outdoor Education for Homeschoolers: Winter Tree ID 23 • Birds and Coffee

(NCNC) North Chagrin Nature Center

Open daily 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Mayfield Village 440-473-3370 2 • The Winter Underground 9 • Dog Hike 10 • Chickadees at the Overlook 13 • Mid-Winter Morning Hike 15 • Friday Movie Night 16 • Hi-Bear-Nation Day 17 • Sunday Bird Walk 18 • The Pause That Refreshes 23 • Five Mile Hike 24 • Full Moon Hike: Snow Moon 26 • Stroller Science Cleveland Metroparks Photography Club East 4 • It’s a Bad, Bad, Background 18 • Cruising the Marquesas: French Polynesia

by Freighter

(RRR) Rocky River Reservation 2 • American Red Cross Pet First Aid 9 • Monthly Morning with the Birds 23 • Hike to the Falls 24 • Hike Little Met

(GPNC) Garfield Park Nature Center Open daily 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Broadway Ave. or Turney Rd. entrance, Garfield Heights 216-341-3152 1 – 28 • History Scavenger Hunt 1 • Groundhogs Galore 2 • Bird Banding 9 • Urban Bird Count 10 • Tracking Wildlife 14 • We Love Animals!

15 • Owl Pellets 24 • Watch Your Step 27 • Winter Hike

Group Programming For information on group programs, call any Cleveland Metroparks nature or visitor center.

Outdoor Adventures With IGO The Institute of the Great Outdoors (IGO) offers year-round courses in canoeing, backpacking and more, plus Escapes to Nature throughout the U.S. and Canada. For details, visit clevelandmetroparks.com.

(RRNC) Rocky River Nature Center

Open daily 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

24000 Valley Parkway, North Olmsted 44070 440-734-6660 1 • Friday Nights with Nature: Owls of Ohio 2 • 3 • Birds of Prey Weekend 3 • Bird Banding at Rocky River Nature Center 7 • Homeschool Happenings: Birds of Prey 8 • Friday Nights with Nature: Pony Express 10 • Amazing Avian Anatomy 10 • River Poets 15 • Friday Nights with Nature: Kenya and Tanzania 16 • Coffee with the Birds 16 • Skunk Cabbage Hike 16 • Winter Tree Identification: Intermediate 17 • Chickadee Hike 17 • School of the Wilds: Bird Banding 17 • Winter Book Review 18 • 19 • Little Explorers: Winter Birds 22 • Friday Nights with Nature: Life in the Freezer 23 • Natural Crafts: Part 3 23 • Cinema Saturday Night: Braving Alaska Southwest Camera Club 4 • How To Improve Your Photography 18 • Print and Slide Competition Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society 5 • The Accidental Photographer Greater Cleveland Beekeepers Association 6 • 13 • 20 • 27 • Beginning Beekeeping Classes Cuyahoga Astronomical Association 11 • Astrophotography Northern Ohio Association of Herpetologists 13 • Captive Turtle Health Issues

(SCR) South Chagrin Reservation 3 • Winter Bird Hike 3 • Naturalist at the Sledding Hill 23 • Winter Photo Hike 25 • Full Moon Hike

(SCR) Look About Lodge

Open Sundays 12 – 4 p.m., otherwise open for scheduled programs, 37374 Miles Rd. Bentleyville 44022 South Chagrin Reservation 1 • Fireside Concert Series: Unknown Reason 2 • Kiss Your Ash Goodbye: Impacts of the Emerald Ash Borer 2 • Winter Ravine Hike 3 • Birdseed Snow Angels 3 • Super Bowls: Odds and Ends Baskets 8 • Fireside Concert Series: Becky Boyd Trio 9 • Cocoa, Cookies, and a Canvas 9 • Hike for your Supper 9 • Nature Journaling 10 • Logs and Blocks at the Lodge 15 • Fireside Concert Series: Honeybuckle 17 • Drawing Birds at the Lodge 23 • Women of the Wilds 24 • Basket Weaving for Kids Cleveland Natural Science Club 16 • Orchids

(WCR) West Creek Reservation

4 • Take That: A Photographer’s Guide to West Creek 18 • Life Under the Ice 23 • Bark Brigade

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February Events Calendar

1 • Friday Hunt of the Month

Trees have no leaves in the winter, but we have found a way to still enjoy them.

Stop by CanalWay to find 20 hidden trees without leaves.

Then go for a hike to see the leafless trees outside. Through February 28.

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. CWC Quiet Time: Paintings by Kim Zarney

Cleveland artist Kim Zarney enjoys being outdoors when the winter landscape reveals graphic shapes and patterns hidden from view all summer.

Kim calls it “the quiet time.”

Come see his contemporary landscapes and impressions of the natural world. Through February 28.

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. CWC

Cleveland Metroparks Maps Visit clevelandmetroparks.com for maps of Cleveland Metroparks 17 reservations.

Or, call 216-635-3200 and request a Pathfinder Map and Guide.

Family Friday Night: Frosty Fire

Melt away those winter blues with a crackling campfire in the park. We’ll search for nocturnal animals as we walk around the marsh, then warm up around the fire while roasting marshmallows.

7 – 8:30 p.m. NCR Nature Education Building Ages: families, adults Terrain: level, 0.5 mile Friday Nights with Nature: Owls of Ohio (see page 6 for details)

History Scavenger Hunt

Look up, down and all around as you hunt for significant figures in American history!

This fun search is a great way to get out of the cold.

Through February 28.

9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. GPNC Groundhogs Galore

Drop by during this program to learn all about these crazy animals called groundhogs!

While you are here, learn why Groundhog’s Day is so neat and make a craft to take with you.

10 a.m. – noon GPNC 216-341-3152 Fireside Concert Series: Unknown Reason

Let a fire in the fireplace and the rock music of Unknown Reason warm your soul this wintry evening.

7 – 8 p.m. SCR Look About Lodge Fee: $5 Registration required 440-247-7075 or clevelandmetroparks.com

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2 • Saturday Bird Banding

Ever see birds so close you can count their feathers? Drop in between the hours listed below and do just this. You’ll be amazed seeing these feathered friends as we capture, band, and release them. Kids can also make a bird craft.

Cancelled if raining.

9:30 a.m. – noon GPNC Winter Ravine Hike

Ravine hiking isn’t just for summer anymore. Enjoy the winter woods from a different point of view. We’ll walk

Sulphur Springs creek bed and take in the beauty of the season. Wear waterproof boots.

10 – 11:30 a.m. SCR Look About Lodge Terrain: off trail, icy, 1.75 miles Hand Feed a Chickadee

Generations of visitors have experienced the thrill of feeding a free-flying bird that lands in your hand. Now it’s your turn! We’ll provide a handful of sunflower seeds and instructions.

10 a.m. – noon BNC

Drop In Discovery: Snowflakes

Drop in and observe snowflakes with Naturalist John Miller. Snowy or snowless, we’ll learn how to capture flakes, make fossil impressions and observe snowflakes with microscopes and hand lenses.

10 a.m. – noon and 1 – 3 p.m. BNC Groundhog Day

Molly Ryan and her groundhog friends will teach you about these den-dwelling hibernators. Learn why they have their own holiday and get closer to a live groundhog then you ever have before!

Pre-registration required.

1 – 2:30 p.m. LENSC Fee: $5 per person Registration required 440-871-2900 The Winter Underground

Snow is a great insulator.

Small rodents stay active in winter constructing travel ways beneath this insulating and concealing cover. We’ll look in the meadows to see if we can locate doors to this hidden world.

1 – 2:30 p.m. NCNC American Red Cross Pet First Aid

Pet First Aid teaches participants emergency care procedures for cats and dogs and provides tips for keeping your pet happy and healthy too.

Training will be conducted on canine and feline mannequins to give participants a more realistic experience in providing care.

1 p.m. – 4 p.m. RRR Park Operations Administration Fee: $45 (includes dog or cat first aid book/DVD) $60 (includes dog and cat first aid books/DVDs) Register by January 31 440-331-8111

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Kiss Your Ash Goodbye: Impacts of the Emerald Ash Borer

Cleveland Metroparks Plant and Restoration Ecologist Connie Hausman will share historical background on the invasion of Emerald Ash Borer and discuss ecological impacts and management options. Presented in conjunction with the Native Plant Society of Northeastern Ohio.

2 – 3 p.m. SCR Look About Lodge Hunters of the Air Puppet Show (see page 7 for details) Hawks: Sun-Loving Killers (see page 7 for details) Owls: Hunters of the Night (see page 7 for details)

3 • Sunday Winter Bird Hike

Join us in a walk around Jackson field to look for our hearty winter resident birds.

Binoculars and field guides are available for loan.

9 – 10:30 a.m. SCR Jackson Field Terrain: flat, tree roots, 1.25 miles Bird Banding at Rocky River Nature Center

What’s better than binoculars? Seeing intricate details of birds as we capture and band them from the feeder. Drop in to discover bird banding, an essential tool for learning about our feathered friends.

Program will be cancelled during rain.

9:30 a.m. – noon RRNC Drop in Discovery: Owls

Stop by Brecksville Nature Center to learn about our local owls. Children can make an owl craft to take home.

10 a.m. – noon BNC Birdseed Snow Angels

Put on your winter coat and snow pants for some snow angel making fun. We’ll decorate our angels with birdseed.

You’ll love it and so will the

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birds! This is a drop-in program.

Noon – 4 p.m. SCR Look About Lodge Naturalist at the Sledding Hill

Take a break from sledding and see what the naturalist has to share about winter animals. There will be two short hikes leaving from the top of the sledding hill.

1 – 1:30 p.m. or 1:45 – 2:15 p.m. SCR Chagrin River Road sledding hill Terrain: hills, 0.5 mile Bedford Hike

We’ll keep a steady pace on this brisk winter walk. Come hike with us as we travel from Egbert picnic area to the Little Overlook.

2 – 3 p.m. BeR Egbert Picnic Area Terrain: moderate, some hills, 1.5 miles.

216-341-3152 Super Bowls: Odds and Ends Baskets

We will be weaving a set of three stacking bowls. Great for beginners. Bring your favorite Super Bowl Sunday snack to share.

4:30 – 8:30 p.m. SCR Look About Lodge Ages: 12 years – adult Fee: $10 for materials Register by February 1 440-247-7075 or clevelandmetroparks.com Birds of Prey Hike (see page 7 for details) Hunters of the Air Puppet Show (see page 7 for details) Birds of Prey 101 (see page 7 for details) Raptor Rehab (see page 7 for details) Hand Feed a Chickadee (see 2/2 for details)

4 • Monday Stroller School: Groundhog Day

We are a little late for the big day, but by now we will know what he predicted for the rest of the winter. We will enjoy a story, puppets, and songs while learning all about these furry creatures and others that sleep in the winter.

10 – 11 a.m. CWC Ages: 2 years & under with adult Register beginning February 1 216-206-1000 Take That: A Photographer’s Guide to West Creek

Calling all photographers. Let this naturalist be your guide to having your photos identified. We’ll seek out, identify, and snap away at resident

wildlife. Pick up special tips on finding your subjects and learn their natural history while you capture them.

10 a.m. – noon WCR Watershed Stewardship Center parking lot Ages: 16 years – adults Terrain: moderate, off-trail, 1 mile Southwest Camera Club How To Improve Your Photography

Club members give a series of brief presentations demonstrating photographic techniques.

7:30 – 9 p.m. RRNC Cleveland Metroparks Photography Club East It’s a Bad, Bad, Bad Background

Do you need help with what’s behind the subject? Here’s your chance to get it. Bring in

three shots and get suggestions for improvement.

8 p.m. NCNC

5 • Tuesday A Walk in the Park

Join us for a stroll through Huntington Reservation.

We’ll observe the flora and fauna of the forest as the season progresses and touch on local history as well. Terrain will be easy to moderate.

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. LENSC Fee: $5 per person 440-871-2900 Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society The Accidental Photographer

Chuck Slusarczyk Jr. says that technical photography training is not required to get good bird photos. A good eye, patience, and simple tricks are

enough. Enjoy Chuck’s photos and stories in tonight’s program. Also, a brief discussion of photos as diagnostic and documentary tools.

7:30 – 9 p.m. RRNC

6 • Wednesday Greater Cleveland Beekeepers Association Beginning Beekeeping Classes

Learn all you need to know about becoming a beekeeper in this series of four classes.

Experienced local beekeepers guide you through the basics.

For more information and to register, please visit www. greaterclevelandbeekeepers. com 7 – 9 p.m. RRNC Fee: $45 Registration required

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Homeschool Happenings: Birds of Prey

Enjoy learning about fascinating and fierce birds by examining specimens and dissecting owl pellets. We’ll follow up our indoor discovery with a hike in search of eagles, owls, and hawks. Dress for the weather.

1 – 3 p.m. RRNC Ages: 7 – 10 years with adult Terrain: mix of flat and stairs, 1.5 miles Register beginning February 1 440-734-6660 Cleveland Astronomical Society Curiosity on Mars and Early Results

With the landing of the Curiosity rover on Mars, NASA’s exploration of the red planet continues. Dr. Geoffrey A. Landis of NASA

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Glenn Research Center will give updates on the agency’s Mars exploration program and summarize how new information has changed our view of Mars.

8 – 9 p.m. CWC

8 • Friday For Women Only

Come join other women for exercise and camaraderie as we recharge after a busy week.

We’ll explore the diversity of Bradley Woods Reservation on this brisk winter hike.

10 a.m. – noon BWR Codrington Shelterhouse Picnic Area Ages: adult women Terrain: moderate, hills, 3 miles 440-526-1012

Emerald Necklace, February 2013

Winter Walk

The winter wind is blowing.

Join us for a quick winter walk around the Lower 40 Loop trail. We will look for some of the animals that are out enjoying the Cleveland winter.

2 – 3 p.m. CWC Family Friday Night: Squire’s Castle

Join us this evening for a guided tour of Squire’s Castle.

This tour highlights the rich history of the castle and its former owner Fergus B. Squire. We’ll hike on nearby trails to conclude the evening.

6:30 – 8:30 p.m. NCR Squire’s Castle Picnic Area parking lot Ages: families Terrain: hills, moderate, 2 miles

Fireside Concert Series: Becky Boyd Trio

Settle in by the fire and ease into the jazz and blues performed by the Becky Boyd Trio.

7 – 8 p.m. SCR Look About Lodge Fee: $5 Registration required 440-247-7075 or clevelandmetroparks.com Friday Nights with Nature: The Pony Express: Heroes on Horseback (see page 6 for details)

9 • Saturday Monthly Morning with the Birds

Meet Naturalist Ken Gober for our monthly hike to survey bird activity near Rocky River Nature Center, then warm up with a cup of hot cocoa. Bring binoculars and a bird guide.

Dress for the weather.

9 a.m. – noon RRR Rocky River Nature Center parking lot Terrain: some stairs, 1.75 miles 440-734-6660 Cocoa, Cookies, and a Canvas

Learn how to paint a winter landscape or a still life in the cozy setting of Look About Lodge. Sip some hot cocoa, and nibble some cookies as we color our canvas, the hearth blazes within, and the snow falls outside.

9 a.m. – noon SCR Look About Lodge Ages: 12 years – adult Fee: $12 for supplies Register by February 6 440-247-7075 or clevelandmetroparks.com

American Girl Afternoon: Julie

During monthly bite-sized programs, we will do activities like those in the American Girl books. Today we will meet Julie, a groovy girl living in San Francisco in 1974. You do not have to read the books to participate. Snack provided.

1 – 3 p.m. CWC Ages: 8 – 12 years Fee: $5 Register beginning February 1 216-206-1000 Nature Journaling

Take a deep breath of nature, and appreciate the signs of

the season as we venture out on the trail. We will reflect on what we have seen through art and writing in a journal of our creation. You may want to bring your camera.

1 – 3 p.m. SCR Look About Lodge Ages: 12 years – adult Fee: $10 first time only Terrain: slow-paced, 1 mile Register by February 6 440-247-7075 or clevelandmetroparks.com Dog Hike

Bring your best friend to the park for some exercise and socialization. We’ll hike

the wooded trails of North Chagrin Reservation. Dogs must be leashed.

3 – 4:30 p.m. NCNC Terrain: moderate, may be icy, 2 – 3 miles Hike for Your Supper

Join us for a refreshing winter hike at Look About Lodge.

Afterward we’ll enjoy a warm dinner prepared by volunteers while we’re out. You’ll be assigned an ingredient to bring when you register.

6 – 8 p.m. SCR Look About Lodge Terrain: rolling hills, 1 mile 440-247-7075

Frozen Waterfalls

Join Naturalists Pam Taylor and Valerie Fetzer as we trudge into the gorge of Bedford Reservation in search of seasonal waterfalls. Frozen or not, you won’t want to miss this hike! Be sure to dress appropriately and wear good shoes; the trail may be icy.

9:30 a.m. – noon BeR Egbert Picnic Area Terrain: strenuous, hills, 3 miles 440-526-1012 Urban Bird Count

Do you love birds? Come help us count them! You do not need to be an experienced birder to help count our urban bird population. Our results will be sent to Cornell University as a part of their national study. Bring binoculars and dress for the weather.

10:30 – 11:30 a.m. GPNC Pop-Up Program

Stop at the center to find where in the reservation Jill (our naturalist) will pop up.

Gather round the warm fire and learn about local fauna.

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. CWC 23

Second Saturday Storytelling

Expect the unexpected when you hear tales by entertaining local and regional storytellers.

After refreshments, you may share a tale in the story swap to round out the evening.

7:30 – 9 p.m. CWC 440-734-6660 Bird Photography Opportunity (see page 8 for details) Hand Feed a Chickadee (see 2/2 for details)

10 • Sunday Amazing Avian Anatomy

Have you ever wondered what birds look like under their feathers? Drop in; we’ll take bird watching to the next level as we examine the anatomy of live songbirds.

A banding demonstration is included. Program will be cancelled during rain.

9:30 – noon RRNC Bradley Woods in Winter

This beautiful and quiet reservation harbors wonderful winter wildlife. Come down and see for yourself on this fast-paced hike. Dress for ice and mud.

10 a.m. – noon BWR Codrington Shelter House Terrain: flat, muddy, icy, some roadside, 2 miles 440-734-6660 River Poets

Join Naturalist Joni Norris as we read nature poetry by outstanding poets. If you are inclined, bring a sample of your own poetry to share with others. Several examples of nature poems will be provided.

Listeners are always welcome.

Noon – 1 p.m. RRNC Ages: adults Logs and Blocks at the Lodge

Come in and try your hand at building something. We’ll have tons of wooden building blocks and Lincoln Logs to work with. If the weather allows, we may do some outdoor snow building, too!

Noon – 4 p.m. SCR Look About Lodge 24

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Emerald Necklace, February 2013

Cabin Fever Hike

Join a naturalist to explore the wintry trails around South Quarry Picnic Area in Mill Stream Run Reservation.

Dress warmly!

1:30 – 3 p.m. MSRR South Quarry Picnic Area Terrain: mostly level, 2 miles 440-734-6660 Sunday in the Park Concert

Enjoy an afternoon of music with the local duo Sunday in the Park (Christopher and Karen Ellicott). This program includes classical and contemporary arrangements.

2 – 3 p.m. BNC Tracking Wildlife

Come find out how to identify tracks made by some of Ohio’s native wildlife. We will investigate some examples at the nature center before going on a brief hike to see if we can put our skills to good use.

2 – 3:30 p.m. GPNC Chickadees at the Overlook

How would you like to be a tree for a chickadee? Here is your chance to meet these pint-sized hardy winter birds up-close and personal. Warm up afterwards with a cup of hot chocolate.

2 – 3:30 p.m. NCNC Terrain: trails, stairs, may be icy, 1.5 miles Hand feed a Chickadee (see 2/2 for details) Bird Photography Opportunity (see page 8 for details)

11 • Monday Cuyahoga Astronomical Association Astrophotography

Lyn Paul shares her exploits and experiences in astrophotography. See a variety of photographs and learn what techniques she used to create these images. Paul may shorten your astrophotography learning curve and help you successfully explore the skies with your camera.

7:30 – 9:30 p.m. RRNC

12 • Tuesday Hiking for the Young at Heart

Join Naturalist John Miller for a hike to Deer Lick Cave to check out the liverworts and look for very early signs of spring skunk cabbage and mourning cloak butterflies.

9:30 – 11:30 a.m. BNC Ages: adults Terrain: rugged, 4 miles

Preschoolers: Vintage Valentines

Let’s get ready for Valentine’s Day by creating homemade valentines like people did in the past. We will also read a story and play a game all about the holiday. Come dressed in red if you can!

10 – 11 a.m. CWC Ages: 3 – 5 years with adult Register beginning February 1 216-206-1000

13 • Wednesday Animal Crackers

Join Miss Jenny to explore the amazing world of reptiles.

We’ll make a fun craft, do some activities and meet a special guest.

10 – 11:15 a.m. or 1 – 2:15 p.m. BNC Ages: 3 – 5 years with adult, no siblings Register beginning February 1 440-526-1012

Mid-Winter Morning Hike

Come out and enjoy a quiet winter’s hike in A.B. Williams Memorial Woods. We’ll keep watch for whose toughing it out this winter as we trek the Hickory Fox and Castle Valley trails. Then we’ll reward ourselves with hot chocolate to knock off the chill!

10 – 11:30 a.m. NCNC Terrain: trails, stairs, 2 miles Northern Ohio Association of Herpetologists Captive Turtle Health Issues

Animals in captivity face different health issues from those in the wild. Tonight’s guest speaker, a veterinarian experienced in dealing with turtles, will share his insights into general health issues found in captive turtles.

7 – 9 p.m. RRNC Greater Cleveland Beekeepers Association Beginning Beekeeping Classes (see 2/6 for details)

14 • Thursday We Love Animals!

Bring your favorite teddy bear, or other stuffed animal, and get cozy by our fireplace.

We will learn about some of our favorite animals, read a story, sing a song, and maybe even make a valentine for our favorite animals!

10:30 – 11:30 a.m. GPNC Ages: 3 – 5 years with adult Register beginning February 1 216-341-3152 or clevelandmetroparks.com

15 • Friday Extreme Hiking

Get out of the house and into the woods! Join Naturalist Pam Taylor as she heads down the trail on this more walk than talk hike. Distance will depend upon weather and trail conditions. We will be carpooling.

9 a.m. – noon BrR Jaite Wayside (Vaughn Road) parking lot Terrain: hills, 5 – 6 miles

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Great Backyard Bird Count

Stop by the center anytime to help count our backyard birds. People across the continent will be counting birds at their backyard feeders. We will have a list of the birds you might see, field guides, and binoculars to use.

9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CWC

Friday Movie Night

Tonight we’ll continue the story of the establishment of our national parks with part four of The National Parks: America’s Best Idea by critically acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns. Doors open at 7:15 p.m. Popcorn will be served.

7:30 – 9:30 p.m. NCNC Ages: 8 years & over with adult, adults

Owl Pellets

Ever wonder what an owl eats? Come be a nature detective as we investigate what the owl coughs up after a meal. We will take a close look at bones, feathers, and fur as we learn about these silent hunters.

2:30 – 3:30 p.m. GPNC Register beginning February 1 216-341-3152 or clevelandmetroparks.com Fireside Concert Series: Honeybucket

Enjoy a winter evening at cozy Look About Lodge with toe-tapping bluegrass music shared by Honeybucket.

7 – 8 p.m. SCR Look About Lodge Fee: $5 Registration required 440-247-7075 or clevelandmetroparks.com

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Friday Nights with Nature: Kenya and Tanzania (see page 6 for details)

16 • Saturday Coffee with the Birds

Bird watching is fun, interesting and enjoyable. Join us for a relaxing hour to see which birds arrive at the Nature Center’s bird feeders. Bring a coffee mug.

9 – 10 a.m. RRNC Ages: teens, adults Register beginning February 4 440-734-6660 Bird Banding and Counting

Help us celebrate the Great Backyard Bird Count. We will have bird banding demonstrations in the morning. You can learn about our feathered friends up close. We will count the birds at the feeder throughout the day. Drop in anytime. The program will be cancelled if raining.

9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. CWC

Emerald Necklace, February 2013

Woodlands of Bedford: Winter Wonderland Trek

A scenic overlook, frozen waterfalls and a beautiful forested winter landscape will be key highlights of this hike lead by Volunteer Naturalist Fred Losi. Bring a snack and a camera. Please be prepared for potentially difficult midwinter conditions.

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. BeR Tinker’s Creek Scenic Overlook Terrain: rugged, hilly, 4 miles 216-341-3152 Winter Tree Identification: Intermediate

Are you looking to increase your tree identification skills?

Maybe you have already learned to identify basic buds and bark, but would now like to move to the next level.

During this hike, Naturalist Valerie Fetzer will show characteristics of the some of the more challenging trees.

10 – 11 a.m. RRNC Acoustic Players Circle

Join this well-established player’s circle to swap songs, chords and styles of playing. Professional abilities not needed, just a desire to have fun and learn from fellow musicians. Listeners are always welcome. Theme for the month: hearts and flowers.

1 – 3 p.m. CWC

Cleveland Natural Science Club Orchids

Cynthia Druckenbrod, director of horticulture at Cleveland Botanical Garden, will talk about the flower, just weeks before the institution’s annual orchid show.

7:30 p.m. SCR Look About Lodge Hand Feed a Chickadee (see 2/2 for details) Hi-Bear-Nation (see page 8 for details)

17 • Sunday Birding with Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society

Grab your binoculars and hike through the woods and fields of Huntington Reservation.

A guide from the Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society will keep watch for hawks and other species as we hike up to the lake. Afterwards, we’ll participate in the 15th annual Great Backyard Bird Count at the center. Registration required.

9 a.m. LENSC 440-871-2900 Sunday Bird Walk

Join us as we search for species from farther north as well as more of the common winter birds. Some binoculars will be available to borrow.

9 – 11 a.m. NCNC Ages: families, adults Terrain: easy, 2 miles

Drawing Birds at the Lodge

Drop by with your drawing supplies, and sketch birds with Naturalist-Artist Stefanie Verish. Some supplies available to borrow.

10 a.m. – noon SCR Look About Lodge Ages: 10 years – adult Chickadee Hike

Join Naturalist Joni Norris to try hand feeding a chickadee. We will walk part of West Channel Pond and the back part of the Wildlife Management trail. Sunflower seeds will be provided.

Noon – 1 p.m. RRNC Ages: adults Terrain: some stairs, 1 mile Fight the Frost Festival

Don’t be stuck in the house any longer. Join us for the fourth annual Fight the Frost Festival! We will have indoor and outside activities, plus snacks. There is something for everyone in the family to do, so stop by and celebrate with us.

Noon – 4 p.m. CWC

Animal Detectives

Do you rarely see wildlife on your hikes? Tracks, scat and chewed vegetation all give you a better idea of who shares the park. Learn to pick out animal signs and identify which animal left them.

1:30 – 3 p.m. NCR Strawberry Picnic Area parking lot Terrain: flat, may be icy, 1 mile School of the Wilds: Bird Banding

Discover the importance of bird banding and the secrets revealed through data. Bird banders Jill and Gary Fowler will discuss trends in avian research and local impacts.

See a bird banding demonstration after the talk.

2 – 3:30 p.m. RRNC Winter Book Review

Join Naturalist Joni Norris and the Rocky River Readers for a review of Whatever You Do, Don’t Run: True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide by Peter

Allison. Listeners are always welcome.

2 – 4 p.m. RRNC Ages: adults Hand Feed a Chickadee (see 2/2 for details)

18 • Monday Skunk Cabbage Hollow

Rising from the dirt, skunk cabbage is a subtle beauty.

Search for skunk cabbage with Naturalist Min Keung.

10 – 11 a.m. RRNC Little Explorers: Winter Birds

Even though it’s snowy and icy outside, our resident birds are still looking for food. Find out more about these birds, enjoy watching them at the Nature Center’s feeders and make a treat to take home for the birds in your yard.

10 – 11:15 a.m. or 1 – 2:15 p.m. RRNC Ages: 3 – 5 years with adult Terrain: some stairs, 0.5 mile Register beginning February 4 440-734-6660

A Day of Fun, Naturally!

Hey kids, have the day off of school? Come to Brecksville Nature Center for some fun.

We will spend the day playing games, hiking and making a craft. Bring lunch and dress for the weather because we will be outside for part of the day.

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. BNC Ages: 6 – 8 years Terrain: slippery, stairs, 1 mile Register beginning February 1 440-526-1012 Day for the Birds

Stop by throughout the day at CanalWay to enjoy the birds. We will have some bird activities to do as well as field guides and binoculars to use.

Today is all about the birds.

10 a.m. – 4 p.m. CWC

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The Pause that Refreshes

Just as a night’s sleep refreshes you, our natural world needs periodical refreshing. Winter allows the earth to pause before the bustling outburst of activity in spring. Come hike and refresh yourself.

1 – 2:30 p.m. NCNC Life Under the Ice

Join Naturalist Jen Brumfield on a winter expedition along the banks of West Creek.

Many animals have migrated or are hibernating, but some are active in winter under the snow and ice! Come on a quest to find them.

1 – 2:30 p.m. WCR Watershed Stewardship Center parking lot Ages: families Terrain: some hills, 1 mile

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Southwest Camera Club Print and Slide Competition

Learn more about photography by attending this month’s member photo competition in categories: pictorial and birds. Maximum print size is 8 inches by 10 inches.

Judges will review prints prior to scoring.

7:30 – 9 p.m. RRNC Cleveland Metroparks Photography Club East Cruising the Marquesas: French Polynesia by Freighter

Join Karen Beck for a trip on the Aranui III as it hops from port to port, supplying a group of far-flung South Pacific Islands.

8 p.m. NCNC

Emerald Necklace, February 2013

19 • Tuesday Little Explorers: Winter Birds (see 2/18 for details)

1 – 2:15 p.m. RRNC

20 • Wednesday Trail Trackers: Mammals

It’s a deer, a squirrel, a mammal! This month discover what makes an animal a mammal and explore where they live. Are there any mammals in your house?

10 – 11 a.m. or 1 – 2 p.m.

NCR Nature Education Building Ages: 3 years – K with adult Terrain: level, may be icy, 0.5 mile Register online beginning February 1 440-473-3370

All Access Pass

Go where few have ever gone before: upstairs and downstairs, on and off display.

Find out what happens when injured wildlife arrives at the center and get hands-on with rarely seen residents.

6:30 – 8 p.m. LENSC Fee: $12 per person; members, $10 per person Registration required 440-871-2900 or clevelandmetroparks.com Greater Cleveland Beekeepers Association Beginning Beekeeping Classes (see 2/6 for details)

21 • Thursday Great Lakes Exposition 1936 – 1937

The biggest party Cleveland has ever seen was held on a lakefront garbage dump!

Cultural History Interpreter Doug Kusak takes an irreverent look at how trashy things got above ground and benefitted the city. History and gossip abound.

10 a.m. – noon CWC Ages: adult Register beginning February 1 216-206-1000 Hidden Valley Homeschool: Local Wildlife

What animals live in the valley? What characteristics define a mammal? Join us as we discuss these questions and a few others. We will also take a short hike.

1 – 3 p.m. CWC Ages: 6 – 12 years Register beginning February 1 216-206-1000 Animal Crackers (see 2/13 for details)

10 – 11:15 a.m.

22 • Friday Venture through Viaduct

Interested in a short walk packed with history and nature? Join us for a short walk through Bedford’s Viaduct Park and learn about the past, present, and maybe even future.

10 – 11 a.m. BeR Willis Picnic Area parking lot Terrain: easy, some paved, 1 mile 216-341-3152 Outdoor Education for Homeschoolers: Winter Tree ID

Today we’ll become tree detectives and examine how to identify trees without their tell-tale leaves. Bark, branches and scars provide major clues

about the trees in our nearby woods.

10 am. – noon NCR Nature Education Building Ages: 6 – 12 years Terrain: trails, possibly icy, 1.75 miles Registration required 440-473-3370 or clevelandmetroparks.com Friday Nights with Nature: Life in the Freezer (see page 6 for details)

23 • Saturday Birds and Coffee

Practice your bird identification while having a cup of hot coffee. Observe nuthatches, chickadees and other birds through our one-way window. This is a great way to get to know our common feeder birds.

9 – 10 a.m. NCR Nature Education Building Registration required 440-473-3370 or clevelandmetroparks.com Winter Photo Hike

Bring your camera for a venture into the winter landscape around Jackson Field. We’ll capture the beauty of frozen fields, floodplains and other winter wonders.

9:30 – 11:30 a.m. SCR Jackson Field Terrain: slow-paced, 1 mile Women of the Wilds

Take some time for yourself. We’ll gather ‘round the hearth to chat, relax and write, and get a little wild on a winter hike. Nature offers all we need to unwind and connect with ourselves. Bring a journal and dress for out and indoors. Registration required.

9 – 11:30 a.m. SCR Look About Lodge Ages: women, 16 years – adult Fee: $10 for snacks Terrain: hilly, 1 mile Register by February 21 440-247-7075 or clevelandmetroparks.com

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Bark Brigade

Natural Crafts: Part 3

Dogs, bring your favorite humans to a social pack walk through the woods and fields of West Creek Reservation.

Come check out some brand new trails! All humans must be attached to dogs on a leash no longer than six feet.

10:30 – noon WCR Watershed Stewardship Center parking lot Terrain: some hills, 2 miles

Create something beautiful from natural woodland materials by making a small pine needle basket.

1 – 4 p.m. RRNC Ages: adults Fee: $2 (for materials) Register beginning February 1 440-734-6660

Winter Tree Identification: Advanced

Identifying trees in winter is like assembling a puzzle: in order to identify the picture, you need to put multiple pieces together. Although some trees can be identified by bark alone, others are not that easy. Join Naturalist Miin Keungto piece together the puzzle of the most challenging trees.

1 – 3 p.m. BCR Beech Hill Pond, near Whitney and Pearl roads 440-734-6660

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Hike to the Falls

Join a naturalist to hike to Berea Falls, and then return to Lagoon Picnic Area. This will be a fast paced hike through the winter woods.

1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. RRR Lagoon Picnic Area Ages: teens, adults Terrain: steep hill, 3.5 miles 440-734-6660 Five-Mile Hike

Don’t let old man winter stop you from coming to the park.

Bundle up and join Naturalist Angelec Hillsman for a fivemile hike. After the hike, thaw inside the nature center

Emerald Necklace, February 2013

with a cup of hot chocolate.

1:30 – 4:30 p.m. NCNC Ages: adults Terrain: hilly, rugged, 5 miles Soup-er Hike

Hike down a hemlock ridge and through a beech-maple forest while soup is cooking over the fire. Afterwards, enjoy the soup and the warmth of the fire.

4 – 6 p.m. BNC Fee: $6 Terrain: slippery, hills, 2.5 miles Register beginning February 1 440-526-1012 or clevelandmetroparks.com Cinema Saturday Night: Braving Alaska

Commemorate the start of the Iditarod by following four families who live as modernday pioneers in the harsh Alaskan wilderness. Doors open at 7 p.m.

7:30 – 9 p.m. RRNC Ages: families with older children, adults

Hand Feed a Chickadee (see 2/2 for details) For Women Only (see 2/8 for details)

24 • Sunday Hike Little Met

This rolling landscape comes alive in the winter. We’ll look at winter trees and shrubs, and keep our fingers crossed that we’ll get a glimpse of a wintering merlin. Dress for the weather.

10 – 11 a.m. RRR Little Met Golf Course Terrain: open, rolling hills, 1 mile 440-734-6660

Basket Weaving for Kids

This is a class just for kids.

They will be weaving a small utensil basket for their treasures. Parents may drop off their children or relax by the fireplace during the class.

Registration required.

11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. SCR Look About Lodge Ages: 7 – 11 years Fee: $15 for materials Register by February 15 440-247-7075 or clevelandmetroparks.com Pileated Woodpecker Hike

Join Naturalist Joni Norris at the Royalview Picnic Shelter for a hike in search of pileated woodpeckers.

Noon – 1 p.m. MSRR Butterfly Trail (corner of Edgerton and Valley Parkway) Ages: adults Terrain: rolling hills, 1 mile 440-734-6660 Dog Walk

Hike with your four-legged friend through the hills of Brecksville Reservation. We’ll

search for signs of other animals that call this park home.

2 – 3:30 p.m. BNC Terrain: hills, slippery, 2.5 miles Watch Your Step

Animal scat reveals where animals have traveled and the yummy food they ate along the way. Recreate the scat of some common Ohio species and learn about their diet.

The whole family will enjoy this messy hands-on activity.

2 – 3:30 p.m. GPNC Full Moon Hike: Snow Moon

Take a short stroll through North Chagrin Reservation by moonlight. We’ll also walk around Sanctuary Marsh in search of beaver activity, coyote tracks and white-tailed deer.

6 – 7 p.m. NCNC Terrain: mostly level, may be icy, 1 – 1.5 miles Hand Feed a Chickadee (see 2/2 for details)

25 • Monday

27 • Wednesday

Full Moon Hike

Winter Hike

Take a winter hike under the full moon around the field and along the Chagrin River.

7 – 8 p.m. SCR Jackson Field Terrain: flat, tree roots, 1.25 miles

Join us in beautiful Garfield Park Reservation for a hike through the reservation.

Discover some interesting facts about this historic park.

We will be hiking inner trails that could be muddy, so be sure to wear appropriate hiking shoes.

10 – 11 a.m. GPNC Terrain: small hills, unpaved, 2 miles 216-341-3152

26 • Tuesday Stroller Science

Great groundhogs! You and your little one will learn about these furry creatures. Discover how they prepared for winter and more through fun activities and a craft.

10:15 – 11:15 a.m. NCNC Ages: 2 years & under with adult Terrain: paved, snow, 0.5 mile

Greater Cleveland Beekeepers Association Beginning Beekeeping Classes (see 2/6 for details)

28 • Thursday Urban Explorations: The Alcazar

Join Historical Interpreter Doug Kusak as we tour this magnificent 1923 tribute to Spanish-Moorish architecture. Discover this Cleveland Heights gem listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Details will be sent after registration.

10 a.m. – noon Ages: adults Register beginning February 1 216-206-1000

Cleveland Metroparks is proud to serve the following products.

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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Cleveland, Ohio Permit No. 2911

4101 Fulton Parkway Cleveland, Ohio 44144-1923 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED DATED MATERIAL DO NOT DELAY

printed on recycled paper

Cleveland Metroparks Directory Administrative Offices

216-635-3200/general Cleveland Metroparks information - 24-hours a day.

4101 Fulton Parkway Cleveland, OH 44144 clevelandmetroparks.com 24-hour Job Hotline 216-635-3211 Office of the Executive Director 216-635-3214 Office of the Treasurer 216-635-3260 Human Resources 216-635-3228 Marketing 216-635-3268 Planning/Engineering 216-635-3237 Brochures/Maps/Emerald Necklace 216-635-3200 Permits/Picnic Area Reservations 216-635-3200 Volunteer Services 216-635-3258

Ranger Headquarters Ranger Chief 4600 Valley Parkway Fairview Park 440-331-5530 Accidents or Emergencies 440-333-4911 Parkway Alert Line (PAL) 440-331-5963

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo & The RainForest 216-661-6500/24-hour information.

3900 Wildlife Way Cleveland, OH 44109 clemetzoo.com Office of the Zoo Director 216-635-3330 Education Programs/Volunteers 216-635-3391 Travel Programs 216-635-3331 Marketing & Public Relations 216-635-3338 School Group Reservations 216-635-3308 Groups/Parties/Private Events/ Facility Rentals 216-635-3389 Cleveland Zoological Society 216-661-6500, ext. 4421

Winter Recreation 216-635-3200

Chalet/Tobogganing Mill Stream Run Reservation Strongsville 440-572-9990

Golf

Golf Tee Reservations (24 hours) and directions, hours, fees etc.

216-635-3673 clevelandmetroparks.com Golf Services – for general course info and inquires 440-232-7247 Big Met Golf Course 4811 Valley Parkway Rocky River Reservation Fairview Park 440-331-1070 Food Service/Catering: Big Met Grille 440-333-5575 Little Met Golf Course 18599 Old Lorain Road Rocky River Reservation Cleveland 216-941-9672 Manakiki Golf Course 35501 Eddy Road North Chagrin Reservation Willoughby Hills 440-942-2500 Food Service/Catering: Sammy’s of Manakiki 440-946-1140 Mastick Woods Golf Course 19900 Puritas Road Rocky River Reservation Cleveland 216-267-5626 Food Service/Catering: Eagle’s Nest Cafe 216-267-5626 Seneca Golf Course 975 Valley Parkway Brecksville Reservation Broadview Heights 440-526-0043 Food Service/Catering: Back 9 Grill 440-546-7797 Shawnee Hills Golf Course 18753 Egbert Road Bedford Reservation Bedford 440-232-7184 Food Service/Catering: Double Bogey Grille 440-786-7587 Sleepy Hollow Golf Course 9445 Brecksville Road Brecksville Reservation Brecksville 440-526-4285 Food Service/Catering: Theo’s of Sleepy Hollow 440-546-1555 Washington Golf Course 3841 Washington Park Blvd.

Washington Reservation 216-641-1864 The First Tee of Cleveland 216-641-7799

Outdoor Education

Outdoor Education Administration 216-341-9225 Institute of the Great Outdoors 216-341-1704 Historical Interpretation 440-786-8530 Voyageur Canoe Paddle Wallace/Hinckley Lakes 440-786-8530 West Creek Reservation 216-341-9225 Youth Outdoors 216-206-1010

Outdoor Education Facilities CanalWay Center E. 49th Street entrance Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation Cuyahoga Heights 216-206-1000 Brecksville Nature Center 9000 Chippewa Creek Drive Brecksville Reservation Brecksville 440-526-1012 Garfield Park Nature Center 11350 Broadway Avenue Garfield Park Reservation Garfield Heights 216-341-3152 North Chagrin Nature Center Sunset Lane Entrance North Chagrin Reservation Mayfield Village 440-473-3370 Rocky River Nature Center 24000 Valley Parkway Rocky River Reservation North Olmsted 440-734-6660 Look About Lodge 37374 Miles Rd., east of Rt. 91 South Chagrin Reservation 440-247-7075 EarthWords Nature Shops CanalWay Center Cuyahoga Heights 216-206-1003 Hinckley Lake Boathouse and Store Hinckley 330-278-2160 North Chagrin Nature Center Mayfield Village 440-449-0511 Rocky River Nature Center North Olmsted 440-734-7576 NatureTracks Education Unit/EcoExplorers 216-341-1707 Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Lake Erie Nature & Science Center Bay Village 440-471-8357

Boating Emerald Necklace Marina 1500 Scenic Park Drive Rocky River Reservation Lakewood 216-226-3030 Food Service/Catering: Sweetwater Landing 216-228-2233 Kayak Rentals 41° North Coastal Kayak Adventures Rocky River Reservation 1-866-529-2541 Hinckley Boathouse West Drive, Hinckley Lake Hinckley Reservation Hinckley Township 330-278-2160 Wallace Lake Off Valley Parkway, south of Bagley Road Mill Stream Run Reservation, Berea Quarry Rock Café

Swimming

440-331-8111 Hotline 216-635-3383 Hinckley Lake Hinckley Reservation Hinckley Township Huntington Beach Huntington Reservation Bay Village Ledge Pool and Recreation Area Hinckley Reservation Hinckley Township Ledge Rock Café Wallace Lake Mill Stream Run Reservation Berea Quarry Rock Café

Cleveland Metroparks Affiliates and Clubs Achievement Centers for Children Camp Cheerful 440-238-6200 Mill Stream Run Reservation BAYarts Huntington Reservation 440-871-6543 www.bayarts.net Vento 440-835-4530 Brecksville Historical Society Brecksville Reservation 440-526-7165 Brecksville Stables Brecksville Reservation 440-526-6767 www.brecksvillestables.com Brooklyn Exchange Cabin Hinckley Reservation 330-577-8882 exchangecabin@gmail.com Chagrin Valley Trails and Riding Club South Chagrin Reservation 216-635-3200 Cleveland Archery Club 216-635-3200 Cleveland Natural Science Club 440-247-4005 or 440-247-0151 Hinckley Historical Society Hinckley Reservation 330-278-3159 Huntington Playhouse Huntington Reservation 440-871-8333 www.huntingtonplayhouse.com Girl Scouts of North East Ohio Intergrove Lodge 1-800-852-4474 www.gsneo.org Lake Erie Nature & Science Center Huntington Reservation 440-871-2900 www.lensc.org Olmsted Historical Society Rocky River Reservation 216-501-3345 www.olmstedhistoricalsociety.org Rocky River Stables Rocky River Reservation 216-267-2525 (lessons & boarding – no trail rides) www.valleyriding.org

Affiliates are supported, but not operationally-funded, by Cleveland Metroparks. These outstanding non-profit organizations depend on class fees, special events, benefactor initiatives, and your financial support to operate. Your contributions and volunteer service are encouraged.