Nature Education Programs

Fall Program season is upon us! September and October programs are now open for registration.

Fall and winter nature education programs are beginning to appear on our website! Please check back regularly as we continue to announce programs and events. You can always follow us on Facebook (Facebook.com/fairlawnparks) and Instagram for upcoming event announcements and other parks related information. THANK YOU!

LRC daily open hours are typically Monday - Friday 10am-4:30pm and Saturdays 10am-2pm. We are closed during scheduled on-site and off-site programs. The Naturalists are often called away on city business, meetings, wildlife calls, vet visits, and for other reasons. Therefore, hours are subject to change without notice.

Weekly YOGA Practice (All Levels Welcome)

Bring your own Yoga mat, blocks and straps or we will have some extras on hand. Our yoga instructor is a Certified RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher). All adults are welcome to attend! The first class is FREE for new students! Every Wednesday 10:00 am - 11:10 am at the Fairlawn Kiwanis Community Center lower level (rear doors) (3486 S Smith Road) Register at fairlawn.activityreg.com Fairlawn Residents: 5 class card $25 or 10 class card $45; Non-Fairlawn Residents: 5 class card $35 or 10 class card $55

NATURE PROGRAMS

ALL PROGRAMS REQUIRE REGISTRATION. Register at fairlawn.activityreg.com. Classes take place at the Learning Resource Center or Fairlawn Park, please see description for location. Refund requests must be made 48 hours prior to start of class, program or activity. Failure to attend a registered class, program or activity will be considered a forfeiture of materials supplied and all money paid.

SEPTEMBER

Fall Into Nature Series: Mondays September 11, 18, 25, and Oct 2, 10am - 11:15am, Ages 3-7. Cost for all four weeks is $16 Fairlawn Residents/$20 non-Residents. In these classes, the kids will get outside to explore and discover the changes taking place in the park as fall approaches. Fall nature topics will be covered and related crafts will be included.

Mushroom Hike: Thursday September 14, 10:15am. Free. All family members welcome!

Watercolors Art Class for Kids: Friday, September 15, 10:30-11:45am, Ages 3-7. Cost $4 Fairlawn Residents/$5 non-Residents. Kids will use learn how to use watercolor paints to paint a nature scene and other techniques to make art of their choice.

Fall Wreath Making Craft: Thursday, September 21, 10am - 12pm. All family members welcome! Cost $10 Fairlawn Residents/$12 non-Residents. We will use a combination of natural and artificial materials to make a wreath to celebrate the arrival of fall.

OCTOBER

Fall Hike: Friday, October 6, 10:30am. All family members welcome! Free. Meet at the LRC, 413 Trunko Rd.

Creature of the Night Series: Tuesdays, October 10, 17, 24, 31. Ages 4-16 (homeschool children welcome). Cost $10 Fairlawn Residents/$12 non-Residents. In this 4 class series we will learn and explore different native wildlife that are nocturnal preferring the cover of night to be awake and active. Crafts included.

Mad Scientist Day: Friday, October 13, 2-3:30pm. Free. Ages 5-17. This will be a fun opportunity to engage in some interesting and surprising common kitchen science experiments using everyday items and ingredients.

Rune Making Evening: Wednesday, October 18, 6pm. Ages 13 through Adult. Cost $10 Fairlawn Residents/$12 non-Residents. Ever wanted to make your own set of wooden Futhark runes and learn more about them? This is your opportunity and the perfect season to make a set! We will use precut wooden disks and you make use paints or wood burning tools (provided) or other means to create your rune symbols, then we will seal them with a protective clear coat.

Story Time with coloring and craft: Monday, October 23, 11am, Ages 2-7. Free. We'll read a few interactive stories and get the kids involved, then we will color and complete a craft related to the stories.

Annual LRC Halloween Party and Costume Contest: Friday, October 27, 5:30pm. Free. Join us again for a fun night of tricks and treats by participating in our costume contest, entertainment, games, food, and prizes.

Barktoberfest! Our second annual Barktoberfest will take place this year on October 28 from 11am-2pm at Bicentiennial Park 3486 South Smith Road, Fairlawn, Ohio 44333. The event this year is growing little by little and we will have our pet costume parade and contest, a few rescues will be present if you are looking for a new companion animal to adopt, some food vendors, and more! Mark your calendars! You don't want to miss this fun event!

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

Did you know...

Fort Island Park and Fairlawn Park (Oxbow) Hikes

The Naturalists will be offering hikes throughout the year as part of scheduled programs and as separate hike events to be posted on our calendar and on social media. If you have any group of 5 or more that would like to schedule a general or specific hike with a Naturalist please call the Learning Resource Center or email to schedule your personalized hike.

Garlic Mustard Pull Volunteers Needed!

If you, your family, school group, scout troop, or any other group is looking for a volunteer opportunity to help maintain our parks, then we need you! Garlic Mustard is an invasive plant that is taking over areas of the park and choking out the native plants, and we need you to help us get rid of it so that our native plants can thrive keeping our parks as biologically diverse as possible. Please contact a Naturalist by phone or email to schedule a Garlic Mustard Pull.

Looking to complete Scout Badge requirements?

If you any scout or scouting troop (daisies, brownies, lion’s den, webelos, girl scouts, cub scouts, boy scouts, etc.) and are looking to fulfill badge requirements we can help with that. We can help your scout or troop with requirements by providing content for badges such as home scientist, recycling, insects, geology, forestry, and many others. We have a wonderful resource here with the Learning Resource Center and natural outdoors of Fort Island Park. Please call or email a Naturalist to schedule your scout or troop.

Home Schoolers

If you have a home school group, consider scheduling your group for a Home School Science Program at the Learning Resource Center/Fort Island Park. We can accommodate just about any home school science topic upon request. Also, watch for our variety of nature programs offered every month! Ask for a program request form today!

The Naturalists travel, too!

The Naturalists will come to you! We travel to schools, daycares, senior groups, nursing homes, and other formal settings. Ask for a program request form by calling or emailing a Naturalist and schedule a visit soon!

QUESTIONS: 330-668-9518 Email T Dunn or email the Parks Department

The Naturalists are proud to offer a variety of free and paid nature education programs for all ages. All Nature Programs are held at Fort Island Park Learning Resource Center and the surrounding park. The Learning Resource Center is located at 413 Trunko Road in Fairlawn. 330.668.9518. We also visit schools and other places upon request. Please fill out the online form to request a visit and submit the donation amount.

Have a scout troop working on a merit badge? We can help with that! We can help your scout or troop with partial fulfillment of requirements as needed to complete their merit badges (i.e. daisy scout subjects, forestry or geology for boy scouts). We also welcome scouts who would like to work on a scout project at one of our parks. Call the number above or email one of the Naturalists to inquire. Click for more information about Girl Scout Badges, Boy Scout and Cub Scout Badges, and Community and School Visits.

Have questions about after school programs or test prep help in the sciences? Just contact a Naturalist at the number or email listed above.