Winter Sowing Workshop
2024-02-19 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio, 44120
Starting your garden in the winter can bring plenty of benefits, and an excellent way to kick off this green initiative is by sowing native seeds in January. Winter sowing offers the advantage of providing plants with a head start, winter sown plants will show growth and development far beyond plants sown in spring.
By opting for native seeds, you contribute to the preservation of local biodiversity and create a garden that is well-adapted to our northeast Ohio climate. To guide you through this exciting winter gardening endeavor, we are offering a hands-on workshop. We will use upcycled milk jugs to sow seeds provided by our own native seed library.
These jugs can be placed straight outdoors where they will provide a secure micro-environment that accelerates germination and growth. The Seed Sowing Workshop will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to sow seeds effectively. Don’t miss this informative workshop to jumpstart your winter garden and enjoy a lush, native landscape come spring.
No prior experience necessary. The workshop is great for all ages! Bring your own plastic milk or cider jugs to start your seedlings in.
Interested in native seeds? Check out our seed library! Click here for more information. Registration required

2024 Eclipse Over Cleveland: What to Expect
2024-02-22 18:00 - 19:30 | Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio, 44120
The 2024 Total Eclipse is coming…are you prepared?
On April 8th, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, darkening the sky for 3 minutes and 50 seconds and it’s the first one to happen in Cleveland since 1806!
Enjoy a presentation by Jay Ryan, a longtime astronomy educator, and learn what to expect during the first eclipse such as this in over 200 years. You’ll learn the science behind the eclipse, some common misconceptions, what to expect, how to keep your eyes safe while you watch.
Whether you’re a huge fan of astronomy or you’re just looking for some more information about the 2024 Eclipse Event- this event is for you!
Free. Registration required.
Registration Link: https://givebutter.com/eclipseovercleveland

Nature Night at the Brew-vies
2024-02-23 18:00 - 20:30 | Ohio
NATURE NIGHT AT THE BREW-VIES!
Friday, February 23rd | 6:00PM – 8:30PM | Market Hall at Van Aken District
Plan for a cozy winter night at the BREW-VIES in with the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes at Van Aken District’s Market Hall!
Drop in, kick back with a cocktail from Craft Collective, and enjoy a curated collection of six short nature documentaries. Chat with the Nature Center’s Natural Resource’s team about all things plants, wildlife, and learn more about the efforts to conserving our natural area.
Documentaries include: Does Nature Have Rights?, Hope and Restoration: Saving the Whitebark Pine, Retuning Fire to the Land, and more.
$7 per attendee. Registration required: https://givebutter.com/vanakenbrewvies

Winter Wonderland: Recenter and Reset Hikes
2024-02-25 16:00 - 17:00 | Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio, 44120
Sundays, February 25 | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Nature Center
Join Jo Rattiliff of GirlTrek Cleveland for our monthly Sunday evening hikes! These special Winter Wonderland Recenter and Reset hikes will highlight the beauty of nature and wildlife and encourages movement and community during the cold winter months. Be sure to bundle up and dress for the weather! In the case of inclement weather, the hike will be cancelled and an email will be sent out. Free. Donations welcome. Learn more about GirlTrek here: GirlTrek.org
Registration required. : https://shakerlakes.doubleknot.com/openrosters/ViewActivitySpaceAvailable.aspx?OrgKey=4283&CategoryID=27739

Art on View: Opening Reception
2024-03-07 17:30 - 19:00 | Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio, 44120
BEES, BUGS, AND BUTTERFLIES: POLLINATING ALONG THE CUYAHOGA
Bees, Bugs, and Butterflies: Pollinating Along the Cuyahoga is a traveling photography exhibit that highlights the beauty and importance of pollinators—more specifically, the ones that live in our own backyards. This exhibit will be shown from March 2 through April 30 during normal business hours. Prints available for purchase and a percentage of sales support the Nature Center.
Stop by for the opening reception on March 7 from 5:30-7PM for light refreshments and mingle with artists. No registration required.
This exhibit will be shown from March through April. For more information, please visit https://www.nps.gov/cuva/planyourvisit/pollinating-along-the-cuyahoga.htm

Winter Warmup: Whiskey Night
2024-03-08 18:00 - 20:30 | Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio, 44120
Warm up and enjoy the end of winter at the Nature Center! This night of fun and community will include music, conversation, tastings of whiskey provided by Cleveland Whiskey, and delicious food by local vendors. Additional drinks available for purchase. $35 per person. $30 for members. Registration required: https://givebutter.com/whiskeynight

Animal Care: Turtles
2024-03-09 11:00 - 12:00 | Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio, 44120
Have you ever wondered what it takes to keep our animal ambassadors here at the nature center happy and healthy? Join us the second Saturday of every month for a “behind the scenes” look at our animal care program. Each month will highlight a different species. Children 4 & up will be given the opportunity to interact with animal ambassadors. Children 3 & under will be asked to sit with their grown-ups. All presentations will conclude with a feeding demonstration for that species. Registration required. $7 for children 4 and up; no charge for adults and children ages 3 and under. Donations welcome.
Children audience members will be seated on the floor on mats. Adult audience members (and children under 3) will be seated behind them on benches.
Register: https://shakerlakes.doubleknot.com/openrosters/ViewActivitySpaceAvailable.aspx?OrgKey=4283&CategoryID=29963

Winter Tree ID Hike
2024-03-09 11:00 - 12:00 | Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio, 44120
Leaves are perhaps the most distinct feature of a tree, but how do you identify a tree with no leaves? Join the Natural Resources team on a winter tree identification hike and learn about the other features like buds, twigs and bark that can help you identify trees even in winter. You’ll get to know hickories, oaks, maples and more. The hike will be approximately 60 minutes on and off trail, getting up close and personal with trees. Each participant will take home a copy of The Winter Tree Finder field guide.
Registration required. $7 per person.
Registration Link: https://givebutter.com/dssFBs

Native Tree Selection and Care
2024-03-12 19:00 - 20:30 | Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio, 44120
Trees create walkable cities, reduce stormwater runoff, and support biodiversity. Give your tree its best shot at a long life by choosing the right tree for your soils, space, and growing conditions. Alyssa Zearley of Meadow City Native Plant Nursery will share practical guidance from her background in soil science. Register: https://givebutter.com/E1iX5Y

Spring Scout Event
2024-03-16 12:30 - 16:30 | Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio, 44120
SPRING SCOUT EVENT AT THE NATURE CENTER
Interactive Education Stations & More
Saturday, March 16 | 12:30 – 4:30PM | Nature Center
Join NOWcorps for Spring Scout, where you can explore what spring has to offer in Northeast Ohio! Start at our education stations to learn about what plants are in bloom and what birds you can spot in our forests. Then venture onto our guided scavenger hunt or invasive plant removal hike to put your learning into practice!
This is a free family-friendly event hosted by NOWCorps and the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes for the AmeriCorps 30th Anniversary Week.
No registration required!

Accessible Bird Walk
2024-03-17 08:00 - 09:30 | Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio, 44120
Join a guided walk through the Shaker Parklands looking and listening for birds. The first walk of each month begins on our ADA accessible boardwalk and moves to dirt trails throughout the Parklands. The second walk of each month (marked with an asterisk*) is fully accessible and includes an ASL interpreter. For all hikes, meet in the Nature Center parking lot. Binoculars are available to borrow. Rain or shine. Accessible hikes will be canceled if the paths are covered in snow/ice. Registration required. Free. Donations welcome. https://shakerlakes.doubleknot.com/openrosters/ViewActivitySpaceAvailable.aspx?OrgKey=4283&CategoryID=23991

Making the Most of Your Tree with a Soft Landings Garden
2024-03-21 19:00 - 20:30 | Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio, 44120
A beautiful “soft landings” shade garden is one of the best ways to support biodiversity in your yard. Learn how these plantings allow butterflies and moths to complete their life cycles, and pick up some practical gardening tips in this presentation by Dave Tomashefski of Meadow City Native Plant Nursery. Register: https://givebutter.com/15AWwF

Handmade Pressed Flower Cards
2024-03-22 18:00 - 19:30 | Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio, 44120
Blend the beauty of art and nature together by learning art of calligraphy from experienced luxury and event calligrapher Brenna Rudary of Brenna Claire Calligraphy!
Each guest will receive blank stationery cards to create their own art print using pressed wild flowers, arranging them on their paper and adhering with craft glue. They’ll leave space in the center to put their new calligraphy skills to work writing out a chosen greeting, quote, lyric and more! Keep them for yourself as a token of your newfound skills, or gift to a loved one.
Guests will receive 45 minutes of calligraphy instruction with one on one support, blank stationary cards with envelopes, pressed flowers, a calligraphy pen with a brush tip, practice paper, a printed instructional workbook, and a custom name card as a keepsake!
Registration required. $90 per person. Members enjoy a 20% discount with spring member code.

Gardening is for the Birds
2024-03-23 10:00 - 12:00 | Ohio
Presented by John Barber
As spring migration is beginning in the Mississippi Flyway where we live, John will talk about the decline of birds and what we can do in our own yards and community to mitigate the loss.
Hosted by Friends of Heights Parks
Location: CHUH Public Library Lee Road Branch, 2345 Lee Road, Meeting Room A & B
Registration Link: https://shorturl.at/ikzGO

Science Cafe: The Eclipse
2024-03-26 14:00 - 15:30 | Ohio
Ever wanted to sit down with an expert and chat about science? Now’s your chance! The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes present Science Cafes, events that allow you to learn and discuss different science, nature, and wildlife-related topics with the Education and Natural Resources team and your likeminded peers!
The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse event is coming up soon- but what does that mean? Nature Center Educator Lisa can answer your questions about what an eclipse is, what to expect during the event, what makes this eclipse special, and more! Registration begins March 12.
Eclipse glasses provided free with attendance. Must stay for full program. Register https://events.heightslibrary.org/event/11650822
Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library
Tuesday, March 26 | 2 – 3:30PM | Lee Road Branch

The Invasive Spotted Lanternfly
2024-04-02 19:00 - 20:30 | Ohio
“If you see it, squish it” – That’s what we’ve been told to do when we come across the invasive species. But why? Are the spotted lanternflies in northeast Ohio? What is this pest and what impacts does it have on our environment? And what should you do if you start to spot them? The Natural Resources team at the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes can help answer these questions and more!
University Heights Branch – Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library
Register: https://events.heightslibrary.org/event/11628508

Outdoor Spring Creative Play Day with Lake Erie Ink
2024-04-06 10:00 - 13:00 | Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio, 44120
Get inspired by a morning of creative expression with Lake Erie Ink to capture your responses to the beauty of nature in a song! Write your own verse to our forest song; use the melody provided to be part of a group sing-along. If your own melody comes to you, feel free to share it, too. This uplifting activity will naturally highlight the rhythmic and musical aspects of poetry.
Dress for the weather and prepare to take a hike on our Stearns Trail. Registration required. Free. Best for kids ages 8-12.
Saturday, April 6 | 10AM – 1PM | Nature Center
Registration Link: https://givebutter.com/rgtcDp

Eclipsed! At the Nature Center
2024-04-08 11:30 - 16:00 | Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio, 44120
Mark your calendars for April 8th, the day of the total solar eclipse that will darken the skies over Shaker Heights for 3-4 minutes as the moon passes directly in front of the sun! Rain, shine, or clouds- join the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes for a full day of science and learning, fun, and food!
FREE
Art:
Paint Handprint Community Banner Craft
Oreo Eclipse Take Home Craft
Citizen Science
Nature Observation Sheet
Eclipse Soundscapes Project (https://eclipsesoundscapes.org/)
Eclipse & Community
Great place to experience the eclipse!
Group commemorative photo
Donation based polaroid station
Refreshments and Parking:
Food for sale in the Duck Pond includes apple sauce (kosher), chocolates, cheese sticks, water, Nooma.
Dawg Bowl Food Truck will be on site from 12:30pm-4pm.
Parking lot will be closed for safely viewing the eclipse; South Park and West Park will be open for parking- be prepared to walk!
Activities will be available rain or shine under the Pavilion.

Recycle your Solar Eclipse Glasses with us! We will be collecting glasses after April 8 through April 30 as part of the The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District collection!

This section of the day is sold out!
These fun and educational workshops includes 7 different hands-on breakout sessions where kids and adults will learn about the the history of the eclipse beginning with Tecumseh’s Eclipse, how the the phenomenon affects nature and wildlife, citizen science projects, creating take home time capsules, and more!
Between breakouts, grab food at The Dawg Bowl Food Truck! Tickets include access to the workshop and a pair of eclipse glasses! $5 for kids, $10 for adults.
REGISTRATION https://givebutter.com/eclipsed

Walktail Meetup
2024-04-13 10:00 - 12:00 | Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio, 44120
WITH VERBENA FREE SPIRIT
Enjoy a morning of walking in nature, community, conversation, and mocktails at the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes!
With the backdrop of spring in bloom, you’ll meet new people, enjoy mocktails, connect with like-minded individuals and create lasting friendships in a relaxed and alcohol-free environment!
We’ll start with mocktails and conversation in the Friend’s Pavilion, followed by a walk through on the ADA accessible All People’s Trail. Adventurous walkers can continue on a slightly more strenuous walk through the Stearns Trail.
Registration required. $12 per person includes one complimentary mocktail and one complimentary hot chocolate. Additional drinks available for purchase.
Registration Link: https://givebutter.com/4eukj5

Going Wild in our Yards | Heights Native Pollinator Pathway
2024-04-13 10:00 - 12:00 | Ohio
Heights Native Pollinator Path with Peggy Spaeth. Dig deeper into learning how to go wild in your yard, beginning with a small front yard native garden on the Heights Native Pollinator Path. The Heights Native Pollinator Path is a local project initiated in 2019 to benefit nature by connecting habitat in our urban environment. Learn what to plant in your own yard to be part of a nature-based solution to the climate emergency. Peggy will share how her yard was transformed into native habitat a few plants at a time with a lavishly illustrated talk.
Hosted by Friends of Heights Parks
Forest Hills Park Cleveland Heights Community Center
Free. Register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUAAobQjl6ET0bW8XhVn3oe5fleKP4GWI7gWDGITdRfquG9A/viewform

Animal Care: Snails
2024-04-13 11:00 - 12:00 | Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio, 44120
Have you ever wondered what it takes to keep our animal ambassadors here at the nature center happy and healthy? Join us the second Saturday of every month for a “behind the scenes” look at our animal care program. Each month will highlight a different species. Children 4 & up will be given the opportunity to interact with animal ambassadors. Children 3 & under will be asked to sit with their grown-ups. All presentations will conclude with a feeding demonstration for that species. Registration required. $7 for children 4 and up; no charge for adults and children ages 3 and under. Donations welcome.
Children audience members will be seated on the floor on mats. Adult audience members (and children under 3) will be seated behind them on benches.
Register https://shakerlakes.doubleknot.com/openrosters/ViewActivitySpaceAvailable.aspx?OrgKey=4283&CategoryID=29963

Nature is a Language
2024-04-17 19:00 - 20:30 | Ohio
A READING WITH JILL BIALOSKY AND LINDSAY TURNER
How does language shape our relationship with nature and with each other? What is poetry’s role in the future of our planet?
Join Literary Cleveland and Orion Magazine at the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes for a literary reading and conversation between Jill Bialosky, editor at Norton and author of Asylum and The Deceptions, and Lindsay Turner, CWRU professor and author of the poetry collection The Upstate. Together, they will explore how poetry engages the natural world, reveals our interconnectedness as human animals, and challenges us to address ecological crises.
Books will be available at the event courtesy of Mac’s Backs-Books on Coventry. This event is sponsored by Orion Magazine in partnership with the Nature Center.
Register https://givebutter.com/natureisalanguage

The Invasive Spotted Laternfly
2024-04-18 19:00 - 20:30 | Ohio
“If you see it, squish it” – That’s what we’ve been told to do when we come across the invasive species. But why? Are the spotted lanternflies in northeast Ohio? What is this pest and what impacts does it have on our environment? And what should you do if you start to spot them? The Natural Resources team at the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes can help answer these questions and more!
Thursday, April 18 | 7-8:30PM | Lee Road Branch – Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library
Registration Link (April 18): https://events.heightslibrary.org/event/11628442

Community Swap Meet
2024-04-20 11:00 - 14:00 | Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio, 44120
All are welcome to this community “free-cycle” event! You can come empty handed and take home a few free treasures or sign-up as a vendor to bring a larger quantity of items to give away.
Celebrate Earth Month with the Nature Center at our Community Swap Meet! This “no-buy” event brings neighbors together to give and receive clothes, appliances, tools, home decor, and more in a sustainable and charitable way. This event is planned in partnership with the Shaker Heights Public Library.
Rain or shine, this event will be moved indoors in the case of inclement weather.
If you’re looking to do a little spring cleaning in an earth-friendly way and have items you’d like to give away at the Community Swap Meet, register as a vendor here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSflxPryoOG31VR6eWcCoBZON8g0iwf5KSeOamOoyivQycazzw/viewform

Doan Brook Stream Sweep
2024-04-20 13:00 - 15:00 | Ohio
To celebrate Earth Day, individuals, families, and community groups will have the chance to show the Doan Brook some love by pulling trash, debris, and invasive vegetation from the stream corridor and surrounding trails and roadways.
The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes partners annually with the Doan Brook Watershed Partnership and several other organizations for our Annual Stream Sweep. Volunteers will be cleaning up winter’s accumulation of litter. Gloves and trash bags will be provided.
Volunteers will meet at the Centennial Peace Plaza in the Cultural Gardens in Rockefeller Park in Cleveland, Ohio. When visiting the cultural gardens, you will find ample parking on side streets, and on Martin Luther King and East Boulevards. You will see wider sections of the road where you can park on the street right in front of the Garden(s) you are visiting. Please dress for the weather and wet or muddy conditions.
Location is the Cultural Gardens Centennial Peace Plaza, Cleveland Cultural Gardens 1051 Martin Luther King Blvd Cleveland, OH 44108 Please dress for the weather and wet or muddy conditions. Registration is requested and walk-ups are welcomed!
Register:https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=7iFglDojGk6XaEjA8rdk7-qJe2zfhZhGtFvgdIJjZVRUOThEMzdISFY0QUJWRlZDQjMxNUs4WVlYSC4u

Teen Climate Change Advocacy and Action Series
2024-04-21 11:00 - 13:00 | Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio, 44120
News surrounding climate change can be overwhelming. Though we all want to help in the environmental movement, it can seem daunting on where to start or how to make an impact.
The Nature Center is here to provide those resources and knowledge surrounding climate change advocacy and solutions! No matter if you are just starting your journey in advocacy or want to build more skills as an advocate, join in learning how to write a letter to a senator, congressman, or president, discover climate change solutions, and build connections for your environmental career goals.
Best for high school students ages 12-18. This is a free, three-part series, registration is open for one or all parts: Sundays, April 21st, April 28th, and May 5th.
Registration Link: https://givebutter.com/Z0CBqd

Earth Day Tree Giveaway
2024-04-22 10:00 - 17:00 | Ohio

Create an Eco-Friendly Backyard Oasis
2024-04-24 19:00 - 20:30 | Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio, 44120
Workshop with CH Green Team, Meadow City Nursery, and Good Nature
In this workshop, Heights’ residents will be able to ask and hear from experts about practical and available solutions to make their yards and gardens more eco-friendly. CH & UH residents can sign up to receive a free tree planted in their front yard as well as discounts on native plants. Registration is required. The event is free. For more information, contact the CH Green Team at: greenteam@chgreenteam.org
Wednesday, April 24 | 7PM-8:30PM | Nature Center
Registration Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeeOkBx1C7N2MzRB30VJHNYo1WYDOk8Ke8YRPxoiZDEVcBIiw/viewform

Guided Bird Walks
2024-04-25 08:00 - 09:30 | Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio, 44120
Join a guided walk through the Shaker Parklands looking and listening for birds. The first walk of each month begins on our ADA accessible boardwalk and moves to dirt trails throughout the Parklands. The second walk of each month (marked with an asterisk*) is fully accessible and includes an ASL interpreter. For all hikes, meet in the Nature Center parking lot. Binoculars are available to borrow. Rain or shine. Registration required. Free. Donations welcome. https://shakerlakes.doubleknot.com/openrosters/ViewActivitySpaceAvailable.aspx?OrgKey=4283&CategoryID=23991

Weed Wrangle® with The Shaker Lakes Garden Club
2024-04-27 13:00 - 15:00 | Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio, 44120
Weed Wrangle® is a one-day, area-wide, volunteer effort to help rescue our public parks and green spaces from non-native invasive species through hands-on removal of especially harmful trees, vines, and flowering plants. Supervised by an expert in invasive weed management, Weed Wrangle® volunteers learn, practice and begin a habit of maintaining an area free of non-native invasive plants and encourage replanting with natives in removal areas.
Registration is strongly encouraged. Dress for the weather! Light refreshments provided.
Registration Link: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=7iFglDojGk6XaEjA8rdk7-qJe2zfhZhGtFvgdIJjZVRUMkIyVUE3OVpPMDlPUkJRSlI1WElUTEU0NS4u
