Medina County Park District — December Programs
COVID-19 policy: In an effort to keep park staff, volunteers, and our extended family members safe from COVID-19 and its variants, masks are required for everyone (vaccinated and unvaccinated) entering Oenslager Nature Center (6100 Ridge Road, Sharon Township), Susan Hambley Nature Center (1473 Parschen Blvd., Brunswick), and Park District Headquarters (6364 Deerview Lane, Medina). Masks are optional outdoors in our parks and at public programs that take place outside.
December Monthly Maker: Trees – Oenslager Nature Center – Do you like to build or create things by yourself or with your family? Take the opportunity, this winter, to get creative and showcase your artistic endeavors along the trail at Oenslager Nature Center. Each month will have a different theme, and every registered household will be provided an outdoor space to display what it makes. The topic for December is trees! Make a tree or decorate a tree any way you like as long as it is able to withstand being outdoors for at least two weeks. Each registrant will be limited to a five-foot by five-foot space in which to display his/her artwork. Setup will occur between December 8 and 12. Registered individuals/households will be contacted with further details regarding setup. Trees will be on public display through January 2. Register by December 3. Free. **PLEASE NOTE OENSLAGER NATURE CENTER HAS LIMITED HOURS. The gate, grounds, and building are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday Saturday and 12 to 5 p.m. Sunday (closed Monday).
Wednesday, December 1 until supplies run out – Handmade Take-n-Make Gifts for the Holidays – Oenslager Nature Center – Handmade gifts are the best gifts to give and receive! Stop by Oenslager Nature Center to pick up a take-n-make packet for a gift your child can make at home. Gift packs are limited to one per child between the ages of 3 to 12. All materials to put the gift together are provided; you provide the scissors, glue, and extra creativity! While supplies last. The gate, grounds, and building are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 12 to 5 p.m. Sunday (closed Monday).
Saturday, December 4 – A Healthy Dose of Nature: Hiking Series – Oenslager Nature Center – 9 to 11 a.m. Hiking outdoors in Medina County Park District has plenty of perks! There are beautiful views, fresh air, the sounds and smells of nature, AND it’s good for you, too. Mentally, being in the outdoors reduces symptoms of stress and anxiety. Physically, hiking is great for your heart, blood pressure, and muscles. Once a month, join a naturalist and volunteers to hike at a vigorous pace. This healthy hike will take place on a different trail each month and will be between three-to-five miles in length. Please dress for the weather, wear appropriate footwear, and bring along a bottle of water. Ages ten to adult. No registration is required. Free.
Saturday, December 4 and Sunday, December 5 – Holidays at Hambley – Susan Hambley Nature Center – 12 to 5 p.m. Start your festivities early this year with a stop at the nature center that will be transformed with festive decorations. Activities will be available. Drop by anytime between open and close to celebrate the holidays at Susan Hambley Nature Center! All ages are welcome. No registration is required. Free.
Saturday, December 4 through Sunday, December 19 – Self-guided Natural Discoveries Hiking Series: Rocks and Fossils – Princess Ledges Nature Preserve – 6 a.m. to one hour past sunset –From an ancient sea to massive glaciers, Ohio’s geologic past is quite fascinating. It’s hard to imagine that sea creatures, giant dragonflies, dinosaurs, and woolly mammoths all lived here at one time. On this hike, you will learn about the geology of the area as well as the prehistoric animals that once lived here. The popular Natural Discoveries award-based hiking program will continue in a hybrid format for the rest of the 2021 season with both self-guided and in-person hike options. Natural Discoveries is best suited for ages seven to adult. This is a self-guided hike. Visit the park to hike the trail and read the signs. You will find a code word listed on one of signs. Write the code word down on your Natural Discoveries form next to the hike title. No registration is required. Free.
Wednesday, December 8 – Seasonal Discoveries – Oenslager Nature Center – 10 to 11 a.m. Join us for an easy walk to observe the unfolding of nature all year long in the parks. This hike counts toward the Natural Discoveries award based hiking program. A naturalist will initial your form at the end of the hike. Ages seven to adult. No registration is required. Free.
Saturday, December 11 and Sunday, December 12 – Holidays at Hambley – Susan Hambley Nature Center – 12 to 5 p.m.See 12/4 program listing for a description. All ages are welcome. No registration is required. Free.
Saturday, December 11 through Sunday, January 2 – Gingerbread Journey – Hubbard Valley Park – 6 a.m. to one hour past sunset – Visit Hubbard Valley Park to take this self-guided hike along the sweetest trail in town. With gingerbread people as your guides, journey along the all-persons trail to learn how gingerbread cookies and cakes are made. In the center of the all-persons trail is a sledding hill, so if the weather is right, it can be a two-for-one stop! All ages are welcome. No registration is required. Free.
Sunday, December 12 – K-9 Kapers – Chippewa Inlet Trail North Lafayette Road/Route 42 parking lot) – 3 to 4 p.m.K-9 Kapers provides dog owners with an opportunity to socialize their pets with other dogs. These alternative hikes will interest both the dog and its owner while offering exercise and fun. All dogs must have an accompanying adult and eight-foot leash (non retractable). Participants must maintain control of their dogs at all times. We recommend bringing a towel for muddy feet and a water bowl. All ages are welcome. No registration is required. Free.
Tuesday, December 14 to Sunday, January 2 – Monthly Maker: Trees – Oenslager Nature Center – Visit Oenslager Nature Center to enjoy the creative talents of your fellow park goers. Walk along the Monthly Maker’s trail to view trees made from a variety of materials by families and individuals from across the county. The display runs through January 2. Get inspired and consider making your own contribution to next month’s Maker series. All ages are welcome. No registration is required. Free. The gate, grounds, and building are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 12 to 5 p.m. Sunday (closed Monday).
Friday, December 17 through Sunday, January 9 – Yule Lads – Oenslager Nature Center – The Yule Lads are back, and our holiday decorations are under attack! The lads have taken nearly everything, from cookies to garland, and even a stocking. Thirteen are they, the mischievous Yule Lads who have caused such dismay. Follow the trail to seek and find our holiday decorations; we hope you don’t mind! Visit Oenslager Nature Center anytime during open hours to search for the 13 mischievous Yule Lads hidden along the trail. This self-guided, outdoor scavenger hunt will be available from December 17, 2021 through January 9, 2022. The gate, grounds, and building are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 12 to 5 p.m. Sunday (closed Monday).
Saturday, December 18 and Sunday, December 19 – Holidays at Hambley – Susan Hambley Nature Center – 12 to 5 p.m.See 12/4 program listing for a description. All ages are welcome. No registration is required. Free.
Tuesday, December 21 – Winter Solstice Walk – Oenslager Nature Center – 10 to 11 a.m. Bundle up and join us as we celebrate the shortest day of the year with this walk in nature. All ages are welcome. No registration is required. Free.
Sunday, December 26 – Holidays at Hambley – Susan Hambley Nature Center – 12 to 5 p.m. See 12/4 program listing for a description. All ages are welcome. No registration is required. Free.
Sunday, January 2 – Holidays at Hambley Holidays at Hambley – Susan Hambley Nature Center – 12 to 5 p.m. See 12/4 program listing for a description. All ages are welcome. No registration is required. Free.
January Monthly Maker: Cardinals – Oenslager Nature Center – Do you like to build or create things by yourself or with your family? Take the opportunity, this winter, to get creative and showcase your artistic endeavors along the trail at Oenslager Nature Center. Each month will have a different theme, and every registered household will be provided an outdoor space to display what it makes. With so little color in nature at this time of year, the bright red of our state bird stands out. Make a cardinal big or small, red or not, out of any material as long as it is able to withstand being outdoors for at least two weeks. Each registrant will be limited to a five-foot by five-foot space in which to display his/her artwork. Setup will occur between January 12 and 16. Registered individuals/households will be contacted with further details regarding setup. Cardinals will be on public display through January 30. **PLEASE NOTE OENSLAGER NATURE CENTER HAS LIMITED HOURS. The gate, grounds, and building are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 12 to 5 p.m. Sunday (closed Monday). Register by January 7. Free.
Closures for the holidays
Oenslager Nature Center/Alderfer-Chatfield Wildlife Sanctuary is closed on December 24, 25, and January 1.
Park District Headquarters is closed on December 24 and 31.
Susan Hambley Nature Center is closed on December 25 and January 1.