CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES
Hand Feed A Chickadee. Ford Nature Education Center, Mill Creek MetroParks; 840 Old Furnace Road, Youngstown, 44511; 330-740-7107. Coax and feed black-capped chickadee. Mill Creek MetroParks will provide the birdseed. Call Ford Nature Center for details. 9-11 a.m., Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27.
Tales for Tots: When it Starts to Snow. Birch Hill Cabin, Mill Creek MetroParks, Youngstown; 330-330-740-7107. Ages 2-3, plus adult. When it starts to snow, what do animals do? Where do they go? Find out through story and outdoor discovery. Register/pay at Ford Nature Center by Jan. 10. 10-11 a.m., Friday, Jan. 12. $4 R; $6 NR.
DANCE & MOVEMENT
Salsa Dance Class. Pioneer Pavilion, Mill Creek MetroParks, Youngstown. 44511; 330-740-7107. Learn this fun and versatile dance. No partner? No problem. It’s a paired dance, but everyone learns together. Beginners welcome and encouraged. Led by dance expert Lynda McPhail. Call Ford Nature Center for details. Occurs Jan. 9, 16, 23, 30. 6-7 p.m. $6/class at the door.
West Coast Swing. Pioneer Pavilion, Mill Creek MetroParks, Youngstown. 44511; 330-740-7107. Learn this slower paced form of swing dance. No partner? No problem. Everyone learns this paired dance together. Beginners welcome and encouraged. Led by dance expert Lynda McPhail. Call Ford Nature Center for details. Occurs Jan. 9, 16, 23, 30. 7-8 p.m. $6/class at the door.
FITNESS & EXERCISE
Yoga Basics Course. Fellows Riverside Gardens, Mill Creek MetroParks, 123 McKinley Ave., Youngstown, 44509; 330-740-7116. Choose Sunday mornings or Tuesday evenings for this seven-week yoga course with Karres Cvetkovich. 9-10 a.m., Jan. 7-Feb. 25 (Sundays) or 6-7 p.m., Jan. 9-Feb. 27 (Tuesdays). $80; 10 percent discount ($72) if registered by Jan. 3.
Yoga in the Gardens. Fellows Riverside Gardens, Mill Creek MetroParks, 123 McKinley Ave., Youngstown, 44509; 330-740-7116. Led by Marina Perdos. Bring a mat and small blanket. 9:30-11 a.m., Jan. 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30. Drop-in. $12/class/
T’ai Chi Step One in the Gardens. Fellows Riverside Gardens, Mill Creek MetroParks, 123 McKinley Ave., Youngstown, 44509; 330-740-7116.Warm-ups, breathing exercises and movements with Marie Lew. Noon-1 p.m., Jan. 10, 17, 24, 31. Noon-1 p.m. Drop-in. $10/class.
HIKES & NATURE WALKS
The Snow Moon. Meet at Calvary Run Parking Area, near Lake Glacier Boathouse, Mill Creek MetroParks, Youngstown, 44511; 330-740-7107. Welcome in the New Year walking through the Gardens’ holiday lights under the first full moon. Moderate with hills, 1 miles. 7-8 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 2.
Recreational Hikes. Meet at MetroParks Bikeway Trailhead at MetroParks Farm, Mill Creek MetroParks, Canfield; 330-740-7107. Easy, 2 or 4 miles. 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3; meet at the Ford Nature Education Center, Mill Creek MetroParks; 840 Old Furnace Road, Youngstown, 44511; 330-740-7107. Moderate, 2 or 4 miles. 9 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 17; meet at overflow parking lot on West Golf Drive, Mill Creek MetroParks, Boardman; 330-740-7107. Easy, 1 or 3 miles. 9 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 31.
New Year, New Sebring Hike. Sebring Woods, Sebring; 330-740-7107. Celebrate the New Year with a hike at the newly renovated Sebring Woods. Enjoy the sights and sounds of winter in this rural space. Moderate/difficult, 1 miles. 2-4 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 7.
Walking in a Wetland Wonderland. Newport Wetlands Parking Lot Discover the wonders of the wetlands in winter in a hike around Lake Newport. Moderate/Difficult, 5 miles. 2-4:30 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 14.
Winter Trackin’. Sawmill Creek Preserve-Parking off of South Turner Road; 330-740-7107. Look for the sights and sounds of this hidden gem’s animal residents. Moderate with hills, 4 miles. 1-3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 20.
The Blue Moon. Ford Nature Education Center, Mill Creek MetroParks; 840 Old Furnace Road, Youngstown, 44511; 330-740-7107. An organized walk along Lake Cohasset. Find out if tonight’s full moon is “blue” or not. Moderate, 2 miles. 7-8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 31.
NATURE EDUCATION
Junior Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist Training. Various locations in Mill Creek MetroParks; 330-330-740-7107. For 9th grade and up. The Junior Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist program will expose students to relevant natural resource skills and knowledge. They will accomplish this with training, monthly meetings, and volunteer opportunities through OSU Extension and Mill Creek MetroParks. Call/register at Ford Nature Center. 6:30-8:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 29, Feb. 12, 26, March 5, 19 and 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Saturday, March 31.
Book Discussion: Boundary Waters: The Grace of the Wild. Ford Nature Education Center, Mill Creek MetroParks; 840 Old Furnace Road, Youngstown, 44511; 330-740-7107. Read and enjoy vivid descriptions of the Boundary Waters region interspersed with the author’s observations on human relationships to wilderness, then join a discussion to share your thoughts about the book. Call Ford Nature Center for details. 10:30 a.m.-noon., Saturday, Jan. 27.
PET ACTIVITIES
MetroMutts: Barking Among the Pines. Ford Nature Education Center, Mill Creek MetroParks; 840 Old Furnace Road, Youngstown, 44511; 330-740-7107. Bring your pup for a hike among beautiful vistas and trees that are still green. Easy, 2 miles. 11 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Jan. 13.
WELLNESS & SELF-IMPROVEMENT
Fragrant Fridays: Creating Intention with Essential Oils. Fellows Riverside Gardens, Mill Creek MetroParks, 123 McKinley Ave., Youngstown, 44509; 330-740-7116. Marina Perdos will lead you through the sacred art of mala making and creating intention with essential oils. Bring pen and paper. Register/pay at Fellows Riverside Gardens by Jan. 14. 1-2:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 26. $20 R; $22 NR.
Create Focused Intention. Birch Hill Cabin, Mill Creek MetroParks, Youngstown; 330-330-740-7107. Join Marina Perdos in creating focused intention through breath, restorative yoga poses and the sacred art of mala making. Bring a Yoga mat, two yoga blocks, four thick yoga blankets, a yoga strap, and an eye pillow. Register/pay at Fellows Riverside Gardens by Jan. 14. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 27. $20 R; $22 NR.
Manifest Your Greatness. Birch Hill Cabin, Mill Creek MetroParks, Youngstown; 330-330-740-7107. Join Marina Perdos to create a mala bracelet for opening the heart, individual empowerment, and well-being. Bring pen and paper/journal. Register/pay at Fellows Riverside Gardens by Jan. 14. Noon-1:30 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 28. $20 R; $22 NR.
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