For Kids! Beautiful Native Butterflies
2025-03-04 12:00 - 12:45 (America/New_York) | Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio, 44120
Beautiful Native Butterflies and Their Native Host Plants
Tuesday, March 4 | 12–12:45PM | NCSL
Led by Kathryn Marshall (Education Coordinator) and Amy Fredricks (Communications Director) at Native Landscapes & Gardens
During this FREE class, children will read, move, and create while learning to identify a few local butterflies and the importance of native host plants to butterfly life cycles. Come have some “flutterby” fun!
Registration Link: https://givebutter.com/Fx4aej

Simplify Your Landscape Design with Native Plants
2025-03-06 12:00 - 13:00
Simplify Your Landscape Design with Native Plants
Part of our Bringing Nature Home Series! In Partnership with the Youth Climate Institute
Thursday, March 6 | 12–1PM | NCSL
Led by Jesse Smith (Conservation Biologist) at Native Landscapes & Gardens
This FREE presentation invites you to transform your outdoor space by harnessing the power of native plants. You’ll learn how to identify and tackle invasive species that threaten your home habitat, setting the stage for a thoughtful and vibrant garden. The talk highlights creative design resources, practical preparation, and management strategies. You’ll discover how planting natives elevates the beauty of your space and bolsters biodiversity.
https://givebutter.com/fd5YiL

Teen Climate Social
2025-04-03 17:30 - 18:00
Teen Climate Social
April 3 | 5:30-6PM
PIZZA WITH THE PRESENTER a pre-presentation social for teens only at our Bringing Nature Home lecture series.
Followed by the presentation 6-7:30PM | Soil Health
Teens join us 30 minutes before a climate-themed presentation for pizza. Meet other teens interested in conservation and climate action while chatting with the presenter directly about what they do and why they do it. No cost to attend. Youth Climate Institute credit hours available. Open to all teens. You do not need to be a member of Youth Climate Institute (YCI) to participate. Want to learn more about YCI? Reach out to prange@shakerlakes.org
REGISTER

Soil Health and Growing Native Plants
2025-04-03 18:00 - 19:30
Soil Health and Growing Native Plants
Led by Joe King (Rust Belt Riders & Tilth Soil)
Thursday, April 3 | 6pm-7:30pm | Nature Center
Soil is one of the key components to a healthy and happy garden- the nutrients, oxygen, and life within the soil directly affect how well your plants thrive in your yard. Joe King Botanist & Educational Outreach Coordinator with Rust Belt Riders/Tilth Soil will present on soil health and the relationship with native plants.
REGISTER https://givebutter.com/6l9jJ9

Teen Climate Social
2025-04-17 17:30 - 18:00
Teen Climate Social
April 17 | 5:30-6PM
PIZZA WITH THE PRESENTER a pre-presentation social for teens only at our Bringing Nature Home lecture series.
Followed by the presentation 6-7:30PM | The Everyday Conservationist
Teens join us 30 minutes before a climate-themed presentation for pizza. Meet other teens interested in conservation and climate action while chatting with the presenter directly about what they do and why they do it. No cost to attend. Youth Climate Institute credit hours available. Open to all teens. You do not need to be a member of Youth Climate Institute (YCI) to participate. Want to learn more about YCI? Reach out to prange@shakerlakes.org
REGISTER

The Everyday Conservationist: Nurturing Nature at Home
2025-04-17 18:00 - 19:30
The Everyday Conservationist: Nurturing Nature at Home
Thursday, April 17 | 6-7:30PM
Traditional landscaping practices are accelerating climate change and biodiversity loss—often without us even realizing it. The good news? Small, intentional changes can turn our backyards into thriving havens for wildlife and powerful tools for conservation. In this talk, conservation educator and photographer Danae Wolfe reveals how rethinking our outdoor spaces can help combat global environmental challenges. Through eye-opening insights and practical solutions, you’ll discover how to create a home landscape that nurtures nature—one that’s not just beautiful but also resilient, sustainable, and teeming with life.
FREE. Register.
ABOUT DANAE
Danae Wolfe is an award-winning conservation photographer, writer, and TEDx speaker passionate about helping people see backyard bugs in a new light. A firm believer in the power of small actions, she inspires gardeners to appreciate the beauty of our natural world and embrace their role in its protection. Her work has been featured by CNN, The American Gardener, and Nature Conservancy Magazine, and she was named Garden Communicators International’s 2022 Emergent Communicator. Through her homegrown conservation initiative, Chasing Bugs, Danae connects global audiences with the wonder of insects, and her upcoming book, Grass Isn’t Greener (2025), shows how simple changes in our yards can create lasting impact for the planet.

Climate Resiliency & The Nature Center
2025-04-30 18:00 - 19:30
CLIMATE RESILIENCY AND THE NATURE CENTER
Wednesday, April 30 | 6–7:30PM | NCSL
Led by Kyle Warren (NCSL Natural Resources Technician) and Rachel Lasso (NCSL AmeriCorps)
Learn how the Nature Center’s diverse ecosystems act as carbon sinks and contribute to climate resiliency. This presentation will highlight the species that inhabit our floodplains and wetlands and are available for purchase at our Annual Plant and Homegrown Sales.

REGISTER https://givebutter.com/FLHuIK

Getting Started with Native Planting
2025-05-10 09:00 - 10:00
Getting Started with Native Planting
Led by My Home Park
Saturday, May 10 | 9AM-10AM | Nature Center
Are you a beginner at native planting? Are you ready to take the next step into bringing native plants to your home or apartment garden, but you’re not sure what would work best for your space? This talk aims to ease hesitation and give the basic knowledge and tools needed for you to get your native garden started!
Take the information from this presentation, then find the plants that are suited best for you at the Nature Center’s 43rd Annual Plant sale in the parking lot from 10AM-3PM.
REGISTER

Will It Be Beautiful?
2026-02-06 18:00 - 20:00
Will It Be Beautiful? by Steve Cagan Thursday, February 6, 2026 | 6-8 PM
Kick off our spring Bringing Nature Home* series with this free lecture to help you prepare for planting your native garden. Whether you are new to native gardening and looking for education and direction or a more seasoned gardener who wishes to deepen your knowledge, this FREE lecture series has something for everyone. You’ll learn all you need to create a sustainable, beautiful garden and ecosystem right in your backyard. Visit shakerlakes.org/calendar to register. Registration is required. Donations welcome.
*Additional themes, dates, and times be will be added through March and April.
Register: https://givebutter.com/bnh-lecture-2-6-26

Winter Build-a-Birdhouse Workshop
2026-02-28 13:00 - 15:00
Winter Build-a-Birdhouse Workshop | Saturday, February 28 | 1-3 PM
Back by popular demand! Build your own birdhouse (and bring your own beverage!) Join us with your family and friends for a fun, winter craft – a gift that keeps on giving back to nature! We’ll be creating sturdy birdhouses that provide safe havens for local bird species and learning the role they play in supporting our feathered friends.
Please note: To ensure your birdhouse is dry and ready to be placed outdoors, it will need to stay at the Nature Center for 48 hours before it can be picked up.
Come join us for a cozy crafting night of creativity! One birdhouse can be worked on by an entire family or group of friends. $35 for non-members, $30 for members. Price includes all materials, instruction, and presentation.
Registration link: https://givebutter.com/birdhouse-workshop-2-28-26

Getting Started with Natives
2026-03-11 18:00 - 20:00
Getting Started with Natives
Wednesday, March 11 | 6-8 PM
Led by Nick Mikash (NCSL Natural Resources Manager)
Curious about how to start gardening with native plants? Nick Mikash, The Nature Center’s Natural Resources manager, will share tips, terminology and recommendations for those getting started. We’ll touch on trees, shrubs, perennials, and grasses. We’ll highlight some great starter plants, and how to give them the best chance of success. There will be plenty of time for Q&A as well.
Registration link: https://givebutter.com/bnh-lecture-3-11-26

A Garden Party for Butterflies: How to be the Ideal Host
2026-03-26 18:00 - 20:00
A Garden Party for Butterflies: How to be the Ideal Host
Thursday, March 26 | 6-8 PM
Led by Meadow City
Monarchs, Admirals, Emperors, Viceroys, Ladies… an important crew, indeed! And they won’t visit just any garden. Roll out the red carpet for this illustrious bunch with host plants, nectar sources, and even overwintering spots because your company won’t want to leave.
Registration link: https://givebutter.com/bnh-lecture-3-26-26

Stewardship and Your Backyard
2026-04-09 18:00 - 20:00
Stewardship and Your Backyard
Thursday, April 9 | 6-8 PM
Led by Kyle Warren (NCSL Natural Resources Technician)
Learn about the most common invasive plants found in NE Ohio backyards and how to remove them. Furthermore, we will discuss native plants that make excellent replacements to improve the ecological function of your yard, including ones available through our annual plant sale! Finally, we will discuss how to protect your native plants from deer predation.
Registration link: https://givebutter.com/bnh-lecture-4-9-26
