Experience Nature in a Blink, a year-long series where you become eyewitness to the elusive wonders of nature at your favorite MetroParks.

One of the biggest meteor showers every year, the Perseids peak in the early morning hours on the night of August 12. Despite the brightness of the moon, we might just see some shooting stars! Enjoy this warm summer evening under the stars in your park after dark. This program will only take place if the weather is clear; please check for cancellation on our website and social media the day of the program to verify.

Registration required.

Join the Friends of Chrisholm to explore the historic Augspurger house at Chrisholm MetroPark. Learn about the family who once called it home.

Butler County's renowned farming past and present collide at Chrisholm MetroPark for Fun on the Farm! Explore the historic grounds and tour the 1800s Augspurger House with the Friends of Chrisholm. Want to get the dirt on composting and foraging? Discover the self-sufficient farm lifestyle while learning from local demonstrators. Always wanted to raise your own chickens? Meet special guest animals and MetroParks' own farm ambassadors to get the full scoop. Wherever your wind vane turns, there's sure to be fun for the whole family!

Celebrate MetroParks' 70th Anniversary as we reveal our 70 favorite elements of the park experience. From the fossil-filled creeks to the tops of the towering trees and constellations beyond, get an inside view of what makes the history and nature of your MetroParks so unique. Every ID70 program in 2025 spotlights seven interesting subjects in each category; attend all ten to add 70 new pieces of park and nature knowledge to your collection.

Butler County may be a hotbed of fossil activity, but do you commonly find yourself questioning whether you've spotted a dinosaur tooth or a horn coral? The creeks are calling and MetroParks' outdoor educators have the answers when they teach you how to identify seven of our favorite local fossils.

Registration required.
Free for all participants.

o The Controlled Bowhunting program is a tool used to manage deer populations within the MetroParks. When deer overpopulate, they cause ecological damage by extensive grazing, significantly harming forests. High deer populations also increase susceptibility to disease and starvation among deer themselves. A humane and effective method to manage the white-tailed deer population is with a controlled bowhunting program. This program targets specific areas in the MetroParks where damage to ecology or crops has been observed due to deer overpopulation. Additionally, it helps protect human health by addressing risks associated with dense deer populations, such as the spread of infectious diseases through tics or potential vehicle accidents for park visitors and the surrounding community.

o To participate in the program an application must be completed online via MetroParks's website before the deadline listed on the website. All communication regarding the program will be through email. All applicants must have an submit a valid email address with their application. Applicants are also required to complete a qualification test to ensure safety and accuracy while hunting with the MetroParks. Applicants who submit an accepted application and the associated application fee will be notified of the date, time, and location of the qualification. Any applicant who fails to arrive at the qualification at the specified time, or fails to satisfactorily complete the qualification course, will be disqualified from the program. After the qualifications, a lottery will be held to select those individuals who will participate in the controlled bowhunting program. The lottery will occur at the completion of the qualifications and applicants are encouraged to stay but attendance is not required.

o The Parks included in the Controlled Bowhunting season this year are Davidson Woods, Day Farm, Governor Bebb, Salamander Run, and Thomas Property. Youth hunters will be permitted in zone 2 at Davidson Woods. There are approximately 36 openings for adult hunters and 4 openings for youth hunters.

o Bowhunting serves as a crucial wildlife management tool, particularly in areas with deer overpopulation and where modern firearms are restricted, promoting healthier animal populations and enhancing habitats.