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EVERY WEEKEND IS A GREAT OUTDOOR WEEKEND

2023 Events

Birdwatching at Bortz

This event will be a guided birdwatching tour of Bortz Family Nature Preserve. This preserve has 1.8 miles of easy trails and is a fantastic place to see native species and migrating birds as they make the journey to their winter homes. Bortz is also home to a breeding pair of American Bald Eagles. The event is great for novice or experienced birders. Attendees should bring their own binoculars. Bortz Family Nature Preserve is located at 4609 Kellogg Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45226. The preserve is located next to Four Seasons Marina. You will take Kellogg Ave to the Four Seasons entrance, take the driveway past the pond on the left and soccer fields on the right, past the sand volleyball court and Upper Deck restaurant, and down the hill to Pirates Cove restaurant. Turn left at the bottom of the hill and drive all the way down to the end of the parking lot.

PET-FRIENDLY: NO

STROLLER-FRIENDLY: NO

AGES: ALL

EMAIL TO RSVP

Hosted by:

Saturday, September 30th
8:00am-10:00am

Bortz Family Nature Preserve

4609 Kellogg Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45226

ARI Extravaganza

Travel through time with several different experiences at ARI. Try native ingredients in historic and modern recipes, learn to create stone tools, practice your aim on our atlatl range, and take an augmented reality tour of the Guard Archaeological Preserve.

PET-FRIENDLY: YES

STROLLER-FRIENDLY: YES

AGES: ALL

Hosted by:

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Saturday, September 30th
10:00am-2:00pm

The Archaeological Research Institute 

424 Walnut St. Lawrenceburg, IN 47025

Family Fun Walk IN the Exciting Howard Creek

Please note that this 3-hour walk is on Sunday October 1 at 10am. RSVP required. We are limiting this fun family event to four or five families with children. If you remember the fun of exploring creeks when you were a kid, now you can share this experience with your own kids. We will gather at 10am at the University of Cincinnati Center for Field Studies at 11053 Oxford Road in Harrison, Ohio 45030. This is near Miami Whitewater Forest in western Hamilton County and is well marked. You will see a UC sign, and an old country barn and white house. Pull in and Park. Both Apple and Google maps can direct you to the address. Our Co-Leaders Naturalist Wayne Wauligman and UC Botanist Denis Conover will lead us a short distance to the nearby Howard Creek. We will then walk (in the water) a mile up the creek, catching (and releasing) frogs, tadpoles, snakes, fish, butterflies etc. Nets are provided. You will get a good look at whatever we see, and our guides can tell you what you have found. You will feel like you're exploring the Amazon. Both kids and adults should wear shoes that will get wet as we walk in the creek such as old tennis shoes. Some years the creek is mostly dry, but expect water. Please RSVP to Bob Bergstein at 513-477-4438 or bergstein123@gmail.com. He will then contact you to confirm your place for this exciting event. For many years, this has been a popular event provided by the Cincinnati Wild Flower Preservation Society and everyone will have a great time.

PET-FRIENDLY: NO

STROLLER-FRIENDLY: NO

AGES: ALL

RSVP REQUIRED: Call Bob @ 513-477-4438

Hosted by:

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Sunday, October 1st
10:00am-1:00pm

UC Center for Field Studies

11053 Oxford Rd, Harrison OH 45030

White Water Shaker Village Open House - Passport to the Past

Tour White Water Shaker Village. White Water, established in 1823, is one of the 24 Shaker communal villages founded in the United States. The village is home to the country's only remaining brick meeting house which was built in 1827 with an unusual suspended truss system. In 1832 the large dwelling was constructed next door. Learn about the daily life of a Shaker. Discover the styles of businesses the Shakers conducted. Check out our collections of Shaker goods. Explore the property to see the stable, barns, and historic outbuildings. Help us celebrate the 200th anniversary of the village’s founding. Step back in time at the 6th Annual Passport to the Past, when history comes alive in Harrison and Crosby Townships on Saturday, October 7. All five venues are within nine miles of each other, in or near Harrison, Ohio. Along with Passmore Cabin, Fernald Feed Materials Production Center (Fernald Preserve), The Harrison Village Historical Society Museum, & Othneil Looker Home

PET-FRIENDLY: NO

STROLLER-FRIENDLY: YES

AGES: ALL

Hosted by:

Sunday, October 7th
2:00pm-5:00pm

White Water Shaker Village

11813 Oxford Road, Harrison, OH 45030

Kingswood Park Habitat Restoration Day

Join us as we remove harmful invasive Honeysuckle and Callery Pear! Volunteers will hand saw/trim plants and trees and help drag them to the chipper area. Volunteers should be prepared for the weather in durable, layered clothing, long pants, long sleeves, hat, sunglasses and work gloves. Please wear sturdy closed-toed shoes and bring a water bottle.

PET-FRIENDLY: NO

STROLLER-FRIENDLY: NO

AGES: ALL

Hosted by:

Sunday, October 8th
9:00am-12:00pm

Kingswood Park (Northern Section)

4188 Irwin Simpson Rd. Mason, OH
Where to meet: Park in the new North Parking Lot on Duke Blvd, located across from Montessori Academy of Cincinnati. Once you arrive, please follow the signs to the worksite. Note: The closest bathrooms are located at the Kingswood Park pavilion (4188 Irwin Simpson Rd.)

39th Annual Salt Festival

Journey back in time as Big Bone Lick returns to days long past. The festival features demonstrations of pioneer living and skills, frontier ingenuity, traditions, and lifeways. Browse the crafter's corner to see the many unique and hand-crafted items for sale and find lots of good eats at the food court. Enjoy folk and bluegrass music, listen to a storyteller, view prehistoric artifacts, and watch traditional Native American drumming and dancing. See how salt was extracted from the springs of Big Bone, explore environmental education, and watch a flintknapper make a stone point.

PET-FRIENDLY: YES

STROLLER-FRIENDLY: YES

AGES: ALL

Hosted by:

October 20th-22nd (FRI-SUN)
10:00am-5:00pm

Big Bone Lick State Park

3380 Beaver Rd. Union, KY 41091

Alms Park Habitat Restoration Day

Focus for this event will be on planting native plugs. Work with Ohio River Foundation, Cincinnati Parks staff and members of the Alms Park Advisory Council (Alms Park Allies) in their efforts to improve the overall health of the park and support maintenance efforts. Projects will often include invasive species mitigation efforts as well as beautification efforts and grounds maintenance tasks. The removal of invasive species is part of ongoing efforts to restore our native forest understory. Volunteers will us handsaws and loppers to cut (Amur honeysuckle bushes) and may also be cutting porcelain Vine. Volunteers will also work behind chainsaw operators to drag cut honeysuckle to chipper or to lay on the forest floor.

PET-FRIENDLY: NO

STROLLER-FRIENDLY: NO

AGES: ALL

Hosted by:

Saturday, October 28th
9:00am-12:00pm

Alms Park

710 Tusculum Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45226

Make a Doggie Difference Day

This year’s Make a Difference Day is “doggie” themed! Support our furry friends by beautifying the Simmonds Family Dog Park through a variety of landscaping projects, including weeding, mulching, laying weed mat and gravel, and more. Volunteers under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Any pets must be supervised. To register, visit https://www.greatparks.org/get-involved/volunteer/one-day-volunteers, click the “Upcoming Volunteer Projects” section, and then click the “Register” button under the “Make A Doggie Difference Day at Simmonds Family Dog Park” event description.

PET-FRIENDLY: YES

STROLLER-FRIENDLY: YES

AGES: TEENS & ADULTS

Hosted by:

Saturday, October 28th
9:00am-12:00pm

Simmonds Family Dog Park @ Miami Whitewater Forest

8715 Hamilton Cleves Pike Rd, Cleves, OH 45002

2023 RAPTOR Inc. Open House - October

Whoo Whoo loves owls, hawks, eagles, and falcons? If you answered “I do” then come visit RAPTOR, Inc. during their monthly Open House! The Open Houses are FREE, FUN and ALL AGES ARE WELCOME! RAPTOR Inc.’s educators will be available to welcome guests, lead tours, conduct educational programs with our live avian ambassadors, share biological artifacts and answer questions. Visit our educational stations and learn about the birds of prey native to our area and learn what RAPTOR Inc. does to protect these beautiful birds. You can also visit our gift shop, see what your wingspan is (are you a Red-tailed Hawk? Turkey Vulture? Bald Eagle?), take your picture in our owl cut outs, get your face painted, and more! Keep an eye on our social media- we’re working on something special for October!

PET-FRIENDLY: NO

STROLLER-FRIENDLY: YES

AGES: ALL

Hosted by:

Sunday, October 29th
1:00pm-4:00pm

Raptor INC.

961 Barg Salt Run Rd, Milford, OH 45150

2023 RAPTOR Inc. Open House - November 

Whoo Whoo loves owls, hawks, eagles, and falcons? If you answered "I do" then come visit RAPTOR, Inc. during their last monthly Open House of 2023! The Open Houses are FREE, FUN and ALL AGES ARE WELCOME! RAPTOR Inc.'s educators will be available to welcome guests, lead tours, conduct educational programs with our live avian ambassadors, share biological artifacts and answer questions. Visit our educational stations and learn about the birds of prey native to our area and learn what RAPTOR Inc. does to protect these beautiful birds. You can also visit our gift shop, see what your wingspan is (are you a Red-tailed Hawk? Turkey Vulture? Bald Eagle?), take your picture in our owl cut outs, get your face painted, and more! RAPTOR Inc. will also be featuring one-of-a-kind photography from our favorite raptor photographer, Jordan West! You don’t want to miss out!

PET-FRIENDLY: NO

STROLLER-FRIENDLY: YES

AGES: ALL

Hosted by:

Sunday, November 26th
1:00pm-4:00pm

Raptor INC.

961 Barg Salt Run Rd, Milford, OH 45150

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