Nature Center at Shaker Lakes

Qigong: Movement & Mindfulness
2024-09-24 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-10-01 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio, 44120
Tuesdays, August 27 through October 1 | 10:00AM – 11:00AM | Nature Center
Qigong is an ancient Chinese practice that combines gentle, slow, and powerful movements with breath, self-massage, and meditation to bring multiple benefits at physical and emotional levels. Qi means internal life force energy and gong is work or skill. Qigong moves and works with internal energy to facilitate health, wellness, and calm.
AnaMaría Carrillo has personally practiced Qigong and Tai Chi for many years and is certified to teach both. Her certifications include Holden Qigong (200 hours Tier 1 Teacher), Tai Chi Easy Practice Leader, and Satori Qigong-Flow Form. AnaMaria has been teaching group and individual classes both in person and virtually in Shaker Heights and Beachwood for 5 years. She can be contacted at carrillo.anama@gmail.com
The emphasis of the class at the Shaker Nature Center will be on Qigong and will be suited for people of all ages and skill levels. No special equipment or clothing is necessary although comfortable clothes are preferred. Participants will learn:

Proper alignment and posture

Breath

Tapping and stretching to stimulate adequate blood and energy flow

Gentle, easy to learn and practice flows to benefit body, mind, and emotions

Simple, yet powerful, coordination of breath and movement to maximize benefits

Basic self-massage

Registration Link: https://givebutter.com/Ppc8D7

Fall Bird Banding
2024-09-25 07:30 - 11:00, 2024-09-27 07:30 - 11:00, 2024-09-30 07:30 - 11:00, 2024-10-02 07:30 - 11:00, 2024-10-04 07:30 - 11:00, 2024-10-07 07:30 - 11:00, 2024-10-09 07:30 - 11:00, 2024-10-11 07:30 - 11:00 and 9 more dates
Meet Julie West at the table near the right side of the driveway to observe migratory birds as they are banded. Generally, the timing is around 30 minutes after sunrise and goes until 12PM. Weather permitting. Free. All ages and abilities welcome.

National Public Lands Day
2024-09-28 10:00 - 13:00
The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes is teaming up with the Sustainability Committee of the City of Shaker Heights and Doan Brook Watershed Partnership in sponsoring a native planting and invasive plant control event at our Grow not Mow Site #2 on the corner of South Park Boulevard and Lee Road in honor of National Public Lands Day. This parcel is located in the floodplain of the Doan Brook, and we are working to restore and enhance biodiversity in this area to make it a better habitat for pollinators, wildlife, and people. Our plantings will also help to absorb and filter stormwater runoff and prevent soil erosion.
Please bring gloves, and sturdy footwear for planting trees/pulling invasives and dress for the weather, rain or shine. Tools will be provided. Team leaders will show volunteers how to plant our native species of trees and shrubs as well as how to remove invasives. All ages welcome!
Learn more and register https://shakerlakes.org/volunteer/
Sponsored by

Trekking Together: Hike with GirlTrek Cleveland
2024-09-29 16:00 - 17:00
Select Sundays: September 29, October 27, November 24 | 4:00PM – 5:00PM | Nature Center
Join Jo Rattliff of GirlTrek Cleveland for our monthly Sunday evening hikes as we enjoy the changing of the seasons while trekking the beautiful trails of Shaker Parklands and the surrounding neighborhood. Enjoy the crisp air, leaves turning, sounds of flowing water, evening bird calls, and much more, all while moving your body. The trail will be of natural surfaces (paved and dirt trails) and sidewalk. Come rain or shine. All are welcome to join us for a fun-filled evening in nature. Registration required. Free. Donations welcome.
Learn more about GirlTrek here: GirlTrek.org
Registration Link: https://shakerlakes.doubleknot.com/openrosters/ViewActivitySpaceAvailable.aspx?OrgKey=4283&CategoryID=27739

Tree Identification Hike
2024-10-03 17:30 - 18:30
Thursday, October 3 | 5:30PM-6:30PM | Nature Center
Soak in the beauty of the changing seasons! Join the Natural Resources team on a tree identification hike and learn about the other features like buds, twigs and bark that can help you identify trees all year round. 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. All participants will receive a copy of Tree Finder: A Manual for the Identification of Trees by Their Leaves. $7 per person. Registration required.

Registration Link: https://givebutter.com/XW7Ebd

Fall Perennial Sale
2024-10-05 15:00 - 17:00
DON’T MISS THE FALL PERENNIAL SALE
taking place during AutumnFest on October 5 from 3–5PM
Attendees of AutumnFest can look forward to a condensed version of the popular Annual Plant Sale held each spring. The Fall Perennial Sale will offer a limited selection of native Ohio perennial species, featuring perennials suited for fall planting, many of which are not typically available at the annual spring sale. The sale will take place in the pavilion. Attendance is free and plants will be offered for a fee with proceeds benefiting the Nature Center.

AutumnFest: Fairytales in the Forest
2024-10-05 15:00 - 19:00
POWERED BY PNC
Saturday, October 5 | 3:00PM-7:00PM | Nature Center
This FREE (excluding food, drink and glitter tattoos) magical evening in the forest will be held, rain or shine. Activities for all ages and abilities. Food trucks, libation stations, and vendors will have items available for purchase. Costumes welcomed and encouraged

Street parking available on South Park and West Park Blvds, overflow parking and shuttle provided from the Board of Education Parking Lot, 15600 Parkland Blvd.

Activities include:

Adventurous Tree Climbing (Ages 4-8) | N. Woodland Trailhead

Pixie Dust Sidewalk Chalk & Games | Parking Lot

Decorate a Magical Pumpkin | Parking Lot

Shop Mythical Wares | Marsh Overlook

Magical Glitter Temporary Tattoos | Marsh Overlook

Bat Barrettes & Fairy/Gnome Home | Lavelle Family Amphitheater

Sorcerer’s Scavenger Hunt | Welcome Table

Craft a Fairy Wand | Nature Play Area

Spooky Slime Station | Parking Lot

Mythical Music and Games | Parking Lot

Spellbinding Storywalk with Shaker Heights Public Library | Stearns Trail

4:30 PM – Kid’s Costume Parade | Parking Lot

6:00 PM – Enchanting Evening Hike | Stearns Trail

Fall Perennial Plant Sale | 3PM-5PM | Pavilion

Food and Libation Stations | EDWINS Restaurant, Zanzibar Soul Fusion Food Truck, County Line Concessions Food Truck, S’mores, Donut Pantry and Patterson’s Sweet Treats

History of the Van Swerigen Brothers: An Author Talk with Lauren Pacini
2024-10-10 18:00 - 19:30
History of the Van Swerigen Brothers: An Author Talk with Lauren Pacini
Thursday, October 10 | 6:00PM-7:30PM | Nature Center
Join local history author and architectural photographer Lauren Pacini at the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes as he discusses his new book, Empire Builders: An Illustrated History of the Rise and Fall of Cleveland’s Van Swerigen Brothers.
Empire Builders tells the story of Cleveland’s Oris P. and Mantis J. Van Sweringen, two brothers born near Wooster, Ohio, in the late nineteenth century. Although they were born into abject poverty, O. P. was an extraordinary visionary who, with the help of M. J., his devoted younger brother, amassed a vast fortune in real estate and railroad developments. Free. Registration required.

Registration Link: https://givebutter.com/lee75t

The Big Sit
2024-10-13 07:00 - 19:00
The Big Sit, also known as the ultimate tailgate party for bird watchers, is a 24-hour period of birdwatching!
Attending The Big Sit is free, and no registration is required. Pledges and donations are accepted to support bird banding research and bird-related projects here at the Nature Center. Pledges can be made in-person at the Nature Center, on Sunday at the Big Sit or by email to Julie West at jwest@ameritech.net.
Registration Link: https://shakerlakes.doubleknot.com/event/the-big-sit-2024/3064731

Native Seed Collection Workshop
2024-10-16 17:30 - 19:00
Fall Native Seed Collection Workshops
Wednesday, October 16 | 5:30PM – 7PM | Nature Center
Saturday, November 9 | 3:00PM-4:30PM | Nature Center
Fall is a great time to start collecting mature native seeds! This workshop will cover the steps needed to identify, find, collect, clean, and store seeds for future planting. Help contribute to our native seed library!
Join Nick Mikash and Nick Fletcher to discuss the importance of collecting seeds, answering your questions about how to stratify seeds that are collected, and hiking the trails to find seeds of different species.
Please dress for the weather and plan to spend about an hour collecting seeds! Trails include a mix of pavement, dirt, rocks, and roots. Please contact turner@shakerlakes.org for any questions. $5 per person. Registration required.
October Registration Link: https://givebutter.com/V4hnSz
November Registration Link: https://givebutter.com/TgYvOq

All About Animals: Frogs (Oct-TOAD-ber!)
2024-10-19 11:00 - 12:00
All About Animals: Frogs (Oct-TOAD-ber!)
Saturday, October 19 | 11AM-12PM | Nature Center
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/registration/calendardetail.aspx?activitykey=3064015

Trekking Together: Hike with GirlTrek Cleveland
2024-10-20 17:00 - 18:00
Select Sundays: September 29, October 20, November 24 | 5:00PM – 6:00PM | Nature Center
Join Jo Rattliff of GirlTrek Cleveland for our monthly Sunday evening hikes as we enjoy the changing of the seasons while trekking the beautiful trails of Shaker Parklands and the surrounding neighborhood. Enjoy the crisp air, leaves turning, sounds of flowing water, evening bird calls, and much more, all while moving your body. The trail will be of natural surfaces (paved and dirt trails) and sidewalk. Come rain or shine. All are welcome to join us for a fun-filled evening in nature. Registration required. Free. Donations welcome.
Learn more about GirlTrek here: GirlTrek.org
Registration Link: https://shakerlakes.doubleknot.com/openrosters/ViewActivitySpaceAvailable.aspx?OrgKey=4283&CategoryID=27739

Fall Tree Care: Proper Tree Pruning Workshop and Demonstration
2024-10-24 17:30 - 19:00
Thursday, October 24 | 5:30PM-7:00PM | Nature Center
Love your trees, but don’t know how to care for them? Knowing how to properly care for your trees will make them healthier and more vibrant parts of your landscape.
Join our Natural Resources team as we discuss how to properly maintain your trees. Fall is the right time for things like annual pruning and trimming and in this timely workshop we’ll cover basic maintenance, what tools to use, how to properly care for those tools and when to perform your work. Then you’ll learn proper technique with a hands-on portion of the class as we head out to the grounds to apply what we learned. Feel free to bring your own hand tools and work gloves. Registration required. $5 per person for members with code NCSLFALL2024, $10 for non-members.
Registration Link: https://givebutter.com/uBsH9q
