What to Know:

Out in the Outdoors is a monthly series designed for LGBTQIA+ community members and allies to explore nature together. Led by friendly and welcoming Great Parks program leaders, who are proud members of the LGBTQIA+ community, this series offers a chance to connect with nature in a variety of ways.

Each month, this group will visit one of Great Parks’ stunning destinations to explore a new topic, embracing the beauty of the natural world while building community with others who share a passion for the outdoors. These are free programs and open to all adults.

When & Where: 

Winter Birds
Feb. 16 | 4:30 p.m. | Little Miami Golf Center | Avoca Trailhead

Follow an interpreter on this bird hike to Kroger Hills conservation area as we search for birds spending their winter with us. We will hike approximately three and a half miles over paved and unpaved trails, so be sure to dress for the weather! Bring your own binoculars or borrow ours if needed. Embrace the beauty of the great outdoors and join a supportive community through outdoor exploration!

Woodcock Walk
March 15 (register by March 8) | 7-9 p.m. | Otto Armleder | Pavilion at Multi-use Trail

Join us and the Queer Birders of Cincinnati as we search for one of nature’s early signs of spring...woodcocks! Together, we’ll hike through the prairie and listen for their iconic “peent” calls while watching for their dazzling aerial displays.

Paving the Way
April 12 | 10 a.m. | Glenwood Gardens | Gatehouse

Take a walk on the paved Garden Loop Trail and spread kindness along the way. We’ll be making chalk paint and writing or drawing positive affirmations along the trail as we go.

Fishing
May 3 | 1 p.m. | Lake Isabella | Boathouse

Let's go fishing! We’ll learn the basics of fishing and see what fish we can reel in ourselves.

The T on Tea
June 7 | 1 p.m. | Sharon Woods | Sharon Centre

This Pride Month, we’ll brew tea in all the colors of the rainbow! Using native plants, we’ll create vibrant teas before heading out on a hike to find some of these plants along the unpaved School Trail.

Creatures of the Creek
July 12 | 1 p.m. | Sharon Woods | Sharon Centre

Walk around the creek and search for animals that call Sharon Woods home. We hope to find snakes, crawdads, water pennies and more!

Natives in the Garden
Aug. 27 | 7:30-8:30 p.m. | Glenwood Gardens | Highfield Discovery Garden

Play and learn in the park after dark! We’ll tour the garden with a focus on native plants you can use in your home landscape. Learn how to divide plants and take home a native transplant for your yard.

Mushroom Mania
Sept. 13 | 1-2:30 p.m. | Sharon Woods | Sharon Centre

Let’s hunt in the forest for fungi! We’ll sample some native mushrooms, then venture out to identify some different fungi on the trails.

The Magic of Monarchs
Oct. 4 | 1 p.m. | Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve | Ellenwood Nature Barn

Learn about the life cycle of monarch butterflies and take part in a citizen science project to tag them. Plant swamp milkweed to take home and start your own native wildflower garden!

Indigenous Ingenuity
Nov. 15 | 1-2:30 p.m. | Shawnee Lookout | Cedar Bend

Join us for a guided hike through the earthworks on the Miami Fort Trail in honor of Native American History Month. We’ll conclude with a hands-on exploration of ancient food-gathering technology, comparing spears to atlatls!

Meteors at the Mound
Dec. 13 | 7 p.m. | Woodland Mound | Weston Shelter

On this winter night, gaze up at the stars as the Geminid meteors streak across the sky. When you’re not viewing the meteor shower or peering through the telescope, warm up by the fire with some s'mores. Don’t forget to bring your own blanket!