WVP Events

(R) Green Infrastructure Gardening Series Celebration

Sun, Aug 16, 10:30 - 12 p.m. @  Mitchell's Ice Cream Ohio City Kitchen

Join us in celebrating all our hard work and accomplishments during the 7 events of the Green Infrastructure Gardening Series this year.

This event is only for volunteers who participated in one of the 7 Green Infrastructure Gardening Series events this summer. 

(R) Invasive Cattail Removal

Thurs, Aug 20, 6 - 8:30 p.m. @  Lake Isaac, Big Creek Reservation in Rocky River Watershed

Help restore the native vegetation of this wetland complex. Join CMP Natural Resources Manager Val Carter-Stone to remove non-native, invasive cattail. This will release the native wetland plants within the Fowles Marsh wetland complex. 

(M) Marine Debris Monitoring

Sun, Aug 23, 9 - 11 a.m. @  Euclid Beach in Euclid Creek Watershed

Join us for monitoring Marine Debris at Euclid Creek.

(E) Caddis Tech MANTA Aquatic Drone Demo

Thurs, Aug 27, 6 - 7:30 p.m. @ Garfield Pond, Garfield Park Reservation in Mill Creek Watershed

WVP volunteers are invited to see a demonstration of brand new technology that seeks to impact water quality control measures using autonomous aquatic drones.

(E) Lecture and Training: Watershed Salting Stress and Its Impacts on Inland Aquatic Ecosystems Across a Forested–Urban Gradient with Ruchi Bhattacharya, Ph.D.

Sat, Aug 29, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. @ Garfield Pond, Garfield Park Reservation in Mill Creek Watershed

Join us for a lecture and training by Dr. R. Bhattacharya. This event will familiarize volunteers with the methods and techniques needed to assist in the monitoring of Garfield Pond and other sites within the Metroparks. 

Hours for supplemental events should be logged in Volgistics as WVP (S) Watershed Partner Event.

(S) Hike Opportunity – West Creek Conservancy: Thompson Ledges North – Thompson Township in Geauga County

Fri, Aug 14, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. @ Thompson Ledges North

Walk with Dr. David Saja and several local naturalists through the recently acquired and yet-to-be open northern section of Thompson Ledges. Learn about the uniqueness of the northern most Sharon-conglomerate sandstone rock outcropping in Ohio. Expect to see distinctive trails, caves, old growth forest and several listed species along the way. Meet up after the hike for comradery and wine-tasting  at a Grand River Winery. Exact location to be determined closer to hike. Registration: Call or email Kelly Eppink at 330-801-5446 | [email protected]

(S) Whiskey Island Paddlefest

Sat, Aug 15, 7:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. @ Wendy Park

Challenge yourself with a 1-mile, 2-mile, 6-mile, or Kids’ stand up paddleboard or kayak race during the 12th annual Whiskey Island Paddlefest, or enjoy a paddle at your own pace during the Capture the Swag Fun Paddle! Whiskey Island Paddlefest is perfect for both beginners and advanced paddlers.

More Information and Registration Here

(S) Tinker's Creek Family Fun Day

Sat, Aug 15, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. @ Twinsburg

Get ready for a day full of fun outdoor activities for the whole family! Explore nature, learn about watersheds, and enjoy games, crafts, and tasty treats. Perfect for all ages, this in-person event promises a great time connecting with nature and your community. Don't miss out on the laughs, learning, and lasting memories at the Tinker's Creek Family Fun Day!

More Information and Registration Here

(S) Friends of Doan Brook Gorge Community Stewardship Day

Sat, Aug 15, 10 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. @ 41.492796, -81.594048

This year, the Friends of Doan Brook Gorge will be hosting 6 Community Stewardship Days at the Doan Brook Gorge to remove invasive species, plant native trees, shrubs and pollinator plants, expand and maintain “no mow” areas by replenishing woodchips, and more!

More Information and Registration Here

(S) Hike Opportunity – West Creek Conservancy: Creekside Collaborative Partners Hike and Open House – Parma in Cuyahoga County

Tues, Aug 18, 6 - 7:30 p.m. @ Creekside Collaborative Partners

Creekside Collaborative Partners: A historic homestead, a stream restoration site, and a collaborative hub where conservation partners come together. Join us for a guided hike as we explore the land’s past, celebrate its purpose today, and share the vision ahead. This will be a leisurely, one‑mile hike around the site, offering a closer look at how this urban greenspace is being thoughtfully used and cared for. Along the way, we’ll visit a preserved upland forest, a restored urban stream valley, a culinary outdoor classroom, and a native plant nursery. After the hike, stay for an open‑house‑style gathering—chat with staff, ask questions, and explore the space at your own pace. Registration: Call or email Kelly Eppink at 330-801-5446 | [email protected]

(S) Take to the Lake

Sat, Aug 22, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. @ Lower Shaker Lake, Shaker Heights

Doan Brook Watershed Partnership has been hosting our annual event Take to the Lake which was started in 2013 as a memorial to Lester Stumpe, an avid paddler and early DBWP board member. We typically host the event on the last Saturday in August and this years event details can be found below. Canoeing on the Shaker Lakes was a popular pastime in the first half of the 20th century, but public boating on the lakes is now less common. Take to the Lake gives participants a chance to resurrect this recreational opportunity for a day, and gain a new perspective on the lakes and their place in our watershed community. We hope you will join us for an afternoon of paddling, guided hikes, yoga, along the banks of historic Lower Shaker Lake.

More Information and Registration Here

(S) Riding the Current of Change: CRWP 30th Anniversary Tours

Mon, Aug 24, 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. @ 38401 Johnnycake Ridge Road, Willoughby, OH

CRWP’s board and staff invite you to join our 30th Anniversary Bus Tours. Meet our team and partners, learn more about our sites, and educate on the importance of watershed protection and water funding! Lunch will be provided to all tour participants. TWO TOUR OPTIONS - Regional Partnership Highlights Tour & Chagrin River Headwaters to Mainstream Tour (see itineraries and follow the associated link to register). Free to attend, but space is limited, so registration is required.

More Information and Registration Here

(S) Green Yard & Healthy Homes Workshop

Sat, Aug 29, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. @ Cleveland Public Library Eastman Campus

Our yards and homes have an enormous impact on both the natural world and our own health. At this workshop, you’ll learn simple, practical ways to create a healthier landscape by reducing the use of unnecessary chemicals and adopting environmentally friendly lawn and garden practices. Household cleaners and lawn chemicals can be sources of water pollution, making their way into local streams and rivers and, ultimately, Lake Erie. Proper soil testing can help you save money, grow healthier plants, and reduce excess nutrients from washing into our waterways. The workshop is free to attend, and each attendee will receive a complimentary soil test kit while supplies last.

More Information and Registration Here

(M) Parks for Pollinators

Wed, Sept 2, 6 - 8 p.m. @  Huntington Reservation in Cahoon Creek-Frontal Lake Erie Watershed

Gather with your fellow WVP volunteers to join in the Cleveland Metroparks monthlong monitoring celebration of our park's pollinators.

(E) Monarch Butterfly Tagging

Sun, Sept 6, 1 - 4 p.m. @  Huntington Reservation in Cahoon Creek-Frontal Lake Erie Watershed

We will join the Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society for a walk with guide Judy Semroc to look for butterflies, bees, moths, and more. She is a conservation specialist, field biologist, and naturalist with 35+ years of experience offering hands-on exploration-based learning programs. Judy will bring her Monarch tagging equipment so that we can observe this process up close.

(E) Scout Day Macroinvertebrate and Enviroscape Assistants 

Sun, Sep 13, 12:30 - 4:30 p.m. @ Rocky River Reservation in Rocky River Watershed

Rocky River Nature Center is holding a Scout Day. WVP volunteers can assist with two programs: Macrovertebrate Monitoring and Enviroscape modeling. RRNC Naturalists will lead groups going down to the river and can use the help of knowledgable WVP volunteers to gather macros. They'll also need a hand with their Enviroscape demonstrations, involving setting up and cleaning up the watershed table.

(M) Scenic Rivers Macro Monitoring

Tue, Sept 15 (Rain Date: Fri Sept 18), 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. @ Old River Farm Picnic Area, North Chagrin Reservation  in Chagrin River Watershed

Learn how to use macroinvertebrates to measure the water quality of the Chagrin River as part of the Ohio Wild and Scenic Rivers Program! Join Cleveland Metroparks Aquatic Research Coordinator, Claire Weldon, in seining (netting) and identifying biological life living in the river.  

(E) NEORSD Clean Water Fest

Sat, Sep 19, Three Shifts: 8-11 a.m., 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 2-5 p.m. @ 4747 E. 49th St., Cleveland

A day all about water with games, education, tours, and more! Help spread the word about WVP and share your knowledge of watershed health. Breakfast or lunch will be provided to WVP table volunteers.

(E) Sturgeon Fest

Sat, Sep 19, 1-4 p.m. @ Rivergate Park, 1785 Merwin Ave., Cleveland in Cuyahoga River Watershed

Cleveland Metroparks, in partnership with the Ohio Division of Wildlife, is hosting the second annual Sturgeon Fest. The event celebrates the historic stocking of juvenile lake sturgeon into the Cuyahoga River to support the species' recovery. The event will include educational activities and volunteers will assist with the release of lake sturgeon.

(M) Parks for Pollinators

Thurs, Sept 24, 6 - 7:30 p.m. @ Jackson Field, South Chagrin Reservation in Chagrin River Watershed

Gather with your fellow WVP volunteers to join in the Cleveland Metroparks monthlong monitoring celebration of our park's pollinators.

(E) Steelhead Expo

Sat, Sep 26, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 12:30-3:30 p.m. @ Rocky River Nature Center in Rocky River Watershed

The Steelhead Expo is a great way to kick off the steelhead season. This event is a collaborative effort between the Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders and Cleveland Metroparks and will offer a full day of expert speakers and seminars, vendors, and other related information to usher in the fall steelhead season. Join us to help spread the word about WVP.

(M) Marine Debris Monitoring

Sun, Sept 27, 9 - 11 a.m. @  Euclid Beach in Euclid Creek Watershed

Join us for monitoring Marine Debris at Euclid Creek.

(E) Watershed Wednesday w/ Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Laboratory

Wed, Sept 30, 6 - 7:30 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center in West Creek Watershed

We will be joined by Mark Warman, Extension Specialist Contaminants of Emerging Concern, from Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Laboratory to learn about contaminants in Lake Erie.

Hours for supplemental events should be logged in Volgistics as WVP (S) Watershed Partner Event.

(S) Rain Barrel Workshop

Tues, Sept 1, 6 - 7:30 p.m. @ City of Aurora Service Garage

Discover how to conserve water and save on your utility bills by joining our Rain Barrel Workshop—your first step towards sustainable living! In this hands-on session, you’ll learn how to install and maintain a rain barrel, turning rainwater into a resource for your garden while reducing runoff and protecting our local watersheds.

More Information and Registration Here

(S) State Policy Showcase: Pressing “Pause” on the Data Center Boom

Thurs, Sept 10, 1:00 p.m. @ Webinar

Join us the River Network for their next State Policy Showcase on data centers! This special edition of the showcase will be 90-minutes long and feature speakers doing work in four different states: Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota, and New York. We’ll learn about the varied efforts across the nation to generate momentum around "pausing" the data center boom, creating effective policies to protect people and the environment, and highlighting the importance of working with state legislators on this hot-button topic. 

You'll hear from Andrew Rehn – Climate Policy Director with Prairie Rivers Network, Alexandra Campbell-Ferrari – Executive Director of The Center for Water Security and Cooperation, Michelle Stockness – Executive Director of Freshwater Society, Carly Griffith - Water Program Director with Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, and Jon Binder – Executive Director of Model Climate Laws Initiative. Register today! If you have a specific question or concern about data centers that you’d like addressed during the showcase, please feel free to include it in your registration. 

More Information and Registration Here

(S) Bluegill & Catfish Workshop with Cleveland Metroparks

Sat, Sept 12, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. @ Rockefeller Lagoon

Are you a long-time fishing fanatic, or would you like to try to catch your first fish? Join Doan Brook Watershed Partnership and Cleveland Metroparks at Rockefeller Lagoon on Saturday, September 12th for a free fishing workshop! The lagoon will be stocked with bluegill and catfish, and we will have free fishing rods and bait for registered participants while supplies last! Rockefeller Lagoon (7 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Cleveland, OH) is wheelchair accessible, and you do not need a fishing license to fish there!

More Information and Registration Here

(S) Canal Paddle

Sat, Sept 12, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. @ Summit Lake Nature Center

Join a certified instructor on the Ohio Erie Canal for a guided, round-trip paddle south from Summit Lake. Learn about the canal’s history and how it put Akron on the map. Minimum age is 13; ages 13 to 17 must be with an adult participant. Participants must wear closed-toe shoes and be able to swim. All equipment will be provided. Location subject to change based on water conditions. Cost: $15/person. Registration is required and begins 8/1.

More Information and Registration Here

(S) Sturgeon Release Celebration

Sat, Sept 19, 10 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. @ CV/Valley View Area

Join us as we celebrate the return of lake sturgeon to the Cuyahoga River! Once a familiar part of Ohio’s waterways, these ancient fish disappeared from the river for decades. Thanks to years of restoration work and improving river health, lake sturgeon are making their way back. Help us mark this exciting moment and send the next generation of sturgeon on their journey into the Cuyahoga River. Small visitor groups will have the opportunity to take turns releasing one young sturgeon into the river and learn about the ongoing efforts to restore the Cuyahoga River watershed. On the same date, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Cleveland Metroparks will be hosting their own sturgeon release events. Throughout these events, discover how collaboration and stewardship are helping transform the Cuyahoga River and create a healthier future for wildlife and people alike.

More Information and Registration Here

(S) Friends of Doan Brook Gorge Community Stewardship Day

Sat, Sept 19, 10 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. @ 41.492796, -81.594048

This year, the Friends of Doan Brook Gorge will be hosting 6 Community Stewardship Days at the Doan Brook Gorge to remove invasive species, plant native trees, shrubs and pollinator plants, expand and maintain “no mow” areas by replenishing woodchips, and more!

More Information and Registration Here

(S) Up! A Creek 2026

Sat, Sept 19, 6:00 - 11:00 p.m. @ Windows on the River

West Creek Conservancy invites you to celebrate and support 29 years of land conservation in Northern Ohio. Mark your calendars for our annual fundraising benefit, Up! A Creek on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at Windows on the River. Enjoy food stations, spirits, games, raffle baskets, TWO live bands, dancing, auction, late-night snack courtesy of Boom’s Pizza, and the Greater Cleveland Aquarium!

More Information and Registration Here

(S) Friends of Euclid Creek: Fall Social and East 185th Street Fish Passage Presentation

Tues, Sept 22, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. @ South Euclid-Lyndhurst Branch Library

Join the Friends of Euclid Creek to learn about the removal of the last barrier to fish migration up Euclid Creek from Lake Erie to the natural barriers of the waterfalls of the escarpment. Representatives from the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District will tell us the history of the existing barrier and the plan for restoring fish passage around it. 

More Information and Registration Here

(S) West Creek Conservancy Fall Plant Sale

Sat, Sept 26, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. @ Creekside Collaborative Partners

Join us as we welcome the new season with a vibrant selection of native wildflowers, hardy shrubs, and young trees, as well as a variety of culinary vegetables and herbs — perfect for enhancing your home landscape or starting a brand‑new garden project. 

More Information and Registration Here

(R) Tree Planting

Thurs, Oct 8, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. @  Wendy Park in Lake Erie Watershed

We'll join Valerie Carter-Stone, Natural Resources Area Manager South, and Jen Brumfield, Natural Resources Coordinator, to help plant trees the "Metroparks way" at the Wendy Park with offers crucial habitat for nesting and migratory animals, including extraordinary monarch butterflies in the fall. 

(R) Deer Fence Building

Wed, Oct 14, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. @  Lake Isaac, Big Creek Reservation in Rocky River Watershed

Help us to restore a recently reclaimed section of Big Creek Reservation to native habitat. We'll join Natural Area Manager, Valerie Carter-Stone and her team to build deer fence exclosures. We will be planting native trees in the newly constructed exclosures at our next event. 

(R) Deer Fence Building

Wed, Oct 14, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. @  Lake Isaac, Big Creek Reservation in Rocky River Watershed

Help us to restore a recently reclaimed section of Big Creek Reservation to native habitat. We'll join Natural Area Manager, Valerie Carter-Stone and her team to plant native trees in deer exclosures.

(E) Salt Watch Talk and Training with Izaak Walton League of America

Wed, Oct 28, 6-7:30 pm @ Watershed Stewardship Center, West Creek Reservation in West Creek Watershed

Join Izaak Walton League's Abby Hileman to learn about Salt Watch and how monitoring efforts can make a difference. Receive training and monitoring strips to test chloride at designated sites. If you have previously participated in Salt Watch or are interested in participating in Salt Watch this year, we encourage you to attend this training and talk.

(R) Native Seed Collection

Fall '26

(E) WVP End of the Year Celebration

December 7