Things to Do
Fun For All
Back to Things to DoFun for All!
All programs require preregistration and follow Cincinnati Nature Center's COVID Program Safety Protocol. Please register online well in advance of the class start date to ensure placement.
As of March 3, 2021, masks are no longer required indoors or outdoors. Children and adults may wear a mask based on personal preference, informed by personal levels of risk.
Click on the program dates for pricing, registration information and full descriptions.
CLICK HERE to view the Events & Programs Calendar.
CLICK HERE to sign up and be notified for various upcoming programs.
Visitor Center Nature Moments
Join us at the Rowe Visitor Center for interactive programs presented by a naturalist. Members free; nonmember adult $9 and nonmember child $4 (includes daily admission).
Spring
Native Fish and Red-eared Slider Turtle Feeding, Tuesdays, 11 am
Nature Discovery at the Nature Nook, Thursdays, 12 pm
Snake Handling and Feeding, Every Other Tuesday, 11 am
Click here to register for your preferred program date and time.
Summer
Native Fish & Red-eared Slider Turtle Feeding, Every Other Tuesday beginning June 7, 11 am
Wild Senses, Every other Tuesday beginning June 14, 11 am
Under the Boardwalk--Fish and Turtle Feeding, Wednesdays, June 15, July 13, August 17, 3 pm
Poison Ivy and other Itchy, Stingy Plants, Saturdays, June 11, July 9, August 13, 10 am
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Bluebird Box Watch
Every Thursday, March 31–July 28, 9:30-11 am
Discover what kind of bird families may be nesting in the bluebird boxes at Rowe Woods. Will you find a new nest being built, eggs, newborn chicks, or an empty box? Join us as we monitor some bluebird boxes and learn how the Nature Center supports bluebirds (and other birds) with their 100+ monitored bluebird boxes. Members $5; nonmembers $11 (includes daily admission).
Click here to select your preferred date and register.
Family Hot Dog Roast: Help the Birds!
Kick off summer by celebrating “nature’s hot dogs,” the caterpillars. Roast real hot dogs while unearthing the relationship between baby birds and "nature’s hot dogs,” and why caterpillars are the pickiest eaters of all. Members $6; nonmembers $12 (includes daily admission).
Stream Clean Up
Give back and have a unique experience on a naturalist-guided stream cleanup. We’ll hike out on a trail and back in the stream, collecting trash, checking out stream life, and seeing the Nature Center in a new way. Suitable for adults and interested youth ages 10 and up with a caregiver. Preregistration required. Members $5; nonmembers $11 (includes daily admission). Program fees help fund ongoing stream monitoring efforts.
Nature’s Fireworks! A Firefly Evening Program
Did you know there are many species of fireflies in Ohio? Or that some of them are cannibals while others don’t even light up? Join us for a leisurely hike as we learn about these delightful creatures and discover the magic of an evening firefly light show. Preregistration required. Members $7; nonmembers $13 (includes daily admission).
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Make a Hiking Stick
Grab a pre-harvested honeysuckle branch and craft it into a hiking stick with our hand tools. Use our leather stamping set and brass tacks to embellish your new hiking companion. Preregistration required.
Hike for Your Health with Roads Rivers and Trails
Sunday, June 12, 2-3:30 pm - Fernwood Trail at Rowe Woods
Sunday, July 17, 2-3:30 pm - Upland Trail at Rowe Woods
Sunday, August 21, 2-3:30 pm - Salamander and Mayapple Trails at Long Branch Farm & Trails
Looking for a way to stay active? Join us on one of our popular hiking excursions, led by Nature Center staff and Roads Rivers and Trails representatives. While the focus of these hikes is physical well-being, we’ll casually explore local natural history and science along the way, boosting your mental well-being, too! Members $6; nonmembers $12 (includes daily admission).
Full Moon Walks
Tuesday, June 14, 9-10:30 pm—Buffalo Moon at Rowe Woods
Witness the night’s magic transform the trails as we marvel at the full moon and reveal natural history happenings on this guided hike. Recommended for adults and children 8 and up. Preregistration required. Recommended for adults and ages 8 and up with an adult.
Pollinator Search with Queen City Pollinator Project
Saturday, June 18, 10 am–12 pm -- No registration necessary for this drop-in program.
From bees and butterflies to moths, beetles, and more, the insects that pollinate our flowers need your help! Drop in to learn how to find and identify local pollinators while exploring the trails with Queen City Pollinator Project. Together, we’ll upload findings to iNaturalist to help scientists with conservation efforts! No registration necessary for this drop-in program. Members free; nonmembers pay daily admission at the gate.
Summer Solstice Trail Run for Women and Girls at Rowe Woods
Celebrate the summer solstice at Rowe Woods and join us on our award-winning trails as we “unplug” from our daily lives and “plug into” nature. This 2-stage, 5-mile run is meant for beginner to intermediate runners. Come for stage 1 only or stay for the full experience. We welcome adults and youth 12 years old and up with an adult. Preregistration required. Members $7; nonmembers $13 (includes daily admission).
Firefly Fiddle Fest
Dance and sing alongside the fireflies! Grab a picnic blanket and bring the whole family for this night of music under the stars at Long Branch Farm & Trails. Fireflies will light the night as live music fills the summer air. Join in a game or stop by an activity station, feast on dinner from a local food truck, and enjoy a cold beer or wine (21+ only, please). Take a short stroll through the trails and you might just catch our glowing friends in action! Act fast, this is one you don’t want to miss. This program is suitable for all ages. Preregistration required. Member $12, member child $8; nonmember adult $18; nonmember child $14 (includes daily admission).
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After-Dinner Creek Romp at Long Branch Farm & Trails
Thursdays, July 14, 21, 28, 7–8:30 pm
Fridays, July 15, 22, 29, 7–8:30 pm
Click here to choose your date and register.
Enjoy exclusive access to aquatic wonders at Long Branch Farm & Trails. Search for mussels, crayfish, snakes, minnows, kingfishers, and fossils, while looking for signs of other stream visitors. Don’t miss this guided, in-the-stream hike! Preregistration required. Recommended for adults and children aged 7 and up with an adult. Members $6; nonmembers $12 (includes daily admission).
Pretty Flowers, Picky Pollinators
Take a leisurely hike to observe pollinators in action, and discover how colors, patterns, shapes, and smells play an important role in the partnership between native plants and pollinators. On our hike, we’ll be visiting the Witt Pollinator Garden to “see like a bee,” try to pet a bee (optional), discover who’s living in the bee hotel, and experience how much work it is to be a pollinator. This will be a sting-free experience. This program is most suited to children ages 6 and up in the company of an adult caregiver. Preregistration required. Members $6; nonmembers $12 (includes daily admission).
Healthy in Nature Trail Run
Saturday, July 23, 8;30-9:30 am -- Long Branch Farm & Trails
Get healthy in nature by running our trails. Each month we’ll explore the changes in nature. This is a beginning-intermediate run and will be 2-3 miles. We welcome ages 12 and up (with an adult) for this fun outdoor run.
Butterfly Search with Queen City Pollinator Project
Saturday, August 20, 10 am–12 pm - No registration necessary for this drop-in program.
Drop in and learn about your neighborhood butterflies! Find out more about the defenses caterpillars have, the host plants they survive on, and the transformation these marvelous insects go through. Together, we’ll track butterflies and caterpillars and upload findings to iNaturalist to help scientists with conservation efforts! Members free; nonmembers pay daily admission at the gate.