Events
Special Event
Training
Educational Presentation
Guided Hike
Kids and Families
Volunteer Opportunity
Nature Exploration
Older Adult Program
Tabling Event
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Maple Fest Saturday, March 21, 2026 - Location: Bureau of Forestry Join 42 North Brewing and Erie County Parks at the TreeTap Maple Fest! Featuring live music, maple-inspired beer and food, sugar shack tours, sawmill demonstrations, wood carving, and more! This event is rain or shine. |
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Senior Hiking Club Wednesday, April 1, 2026 - Location: Eighteen Mile Creek - Meeting Location: Parking Lot Join us as we partner with Erie County Senior Services for their Senior Hiking Club. The Hiking Club is a wonderful opportunity for seniors to stay active and enjoy the beauty of nature in the company of like-minded individuals. Summary: Join the Environmental Specialist Wendy on a hike along the upper rim trail of Eighteen Mile Creek Conservation Park gorge. As we take in the beautiful views of the gorge, we will look for spring ephemeral flowers and flower buds.
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Friday Field Days Friday, April 10, 2026 - Location: Thomas F. Higgins Natural Habitat Park (Bailey Peninsula) - Parking Lot Friday Field Days engage volunteers in habitat management and park stewardship projects. Park Staff will teach you about the task and provide tools. Volunteers Needed: 10
Task: Planting native perennials, seeding, and strawing
Rain Date April 17th
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Spring Tree I.D. “Bark and Buds” Saturday, April 11, 2026 - Location: Seneca Bluffs Natural Habitat Park - Parking Lot Join Park Ranger Austin as he leads a Spring Tree I.D Nature Hike at Seneca Bluffs Habitat Park! Learn how to identify local tree species during the spring season and enjoy a beautiful walk through one of your favorite habitat parks. Please review the hike summary to be sure this hike is a good fit for you! · Meeting Location: Seneca Bluffs Natural Habitat Park - Parking lot · Duration: 1-1.5 hours · Distance: Approximately 1 mile · Elevation: Minor variations · Surface Description: Mix of Grass and dirt trails; potential for wet and muddy conditions · Equipment Needed: Warm waterproof hiking boots; weather appropriate clothing · Other: Dog friendly, no wheelchair or stroller accessibility |
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Spring Wildflower Hunt Saturday, April 18, 2026 - Location: Franklin Gulf - Parking Lot on Larkin Rd Spring Ephemerals are vibrant wildflowers that bloom for only a few short weeks before the forest canopy fills in. Join Ranger Adam as we hunt for these rare flower species throughout Franklin Gulf Park and discover the unique survival strategies these plants use to race against the summer shade. Feel free to download "Seek by iNaturalist" on your smartphone for a great, plant and animal identification application. · Meeting Location: Larkin Rd Lot · Duration: Approximately 2 hours · Distance: Approximately 1.5 miles · Elevation: Moderate elevation change · Surface Description: Forested trails, potential for mud/snow conditions · Equipment Needed: Proper footwear & water. Optionally, a camera or magnifying glass · Other: Dogs are welcome on a leash. This program is not accessible to strollers or wheelchairs |
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Spring Clean Up Day Sunday, April 26, 2026 - Location: Ellicott Creek - · Meeting Location: Sports Fields gravel parking lot (across from Shelter 11) In recognition of Earth Day 2026, join Ranger Matt for a Spring Clean Up at Ellicott Creek Park. We’ll follow the Empire Trail along Tonawanda Creek down to the Bark Park and back, scanning the shoreline for trash and litter of all shapes and sizes. Every little bit helps, and our park will be a little bit cleaner with YOUR involvement! · Meeting Location: Sports Fields gravel parking lot (across from Shelter 11) https://maps.app.goo.gl/ft64wdJR7skbTgbi9 · Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours · Distance: Approximately 2.2 miles · Elevation: Minimal elevation change (mostly flat) · Surface Description: gravel, paved blacktop, large boulders and shrubbery along creekbank · Equipment Needed: gloves (rubber or gardening), sturdy footwear, trash picker of you have one, extra trash bag · Other: Weather-appropriate clothing, water bottle, snack if desired |
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Friday Field Days Friday, May 1, 2026 - Location: Seneca Bluffs Natural Habitat Park - Parking Lot Friday Field Days engage volunteers in habitat management and park stewardship projects. Park Staff will teach you about the task and provide tools. Volunteers Needed: 20
Task: Invasive Species Pull - Garlic Mustard, Thistle, Teasel
Notes: All tools will be provided however we recommend you wear long pants and sleeves to prevent scratches.
Rain Date May 8th
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2nd Annual Pollinator Festival Sunday, May 3, 2026 - Location: Emery Park - Ski Lodge Join Erie County Parks and BWELL at our 2nd annual Pollinator Festival, a free, family-friendly event! Learn about native plants, discover how to make a pollinator-friendly habitat, and what you can do to help our native pollinators! Featuring fun nature walks, mead tastings, informational workshops, and vendors all supporting and encouraging you to start your very own pollinator-friendly garden!
This event is rain or shine.
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Spring Pond Exploration Saturday, May 9, 2026 - Location: Red Jacket Natural Habitat Park - Parking Lot Join Park Ranger Roy at Red Jacket Habitat Park to learn about some of the varieties of organisms that live and visit the water’s edge. Spring is a busy reproductive time for many species of plants, animals and other categories of living things. We will use some simple tools to look at small creatures in the water. · Meeting Location: Red Jacket Natural Habitat Park https://maps.app.goo.gl/9xpzFXzFyZF2Wj9T7 · Duration: Approximately 2 hours · Distance: Less than ½ mile · Elevation: Minimal · Surface Description: Walkways, river’s edge and pond edge · Equipment Needed: Proper footwear, dress for the weather. If you have an aquarium net, magnifying glass or other devices to observe in the water bring them · Other: There are no facilities at this park. Dogs are welcome on a leash |
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Senior Hiking Club Wednesday, May 13, 2026 - Location: Sergeant Mark A. Rademacher Memorial Park/Hunters Creek - Meeting Location: Parking Lot Join us as we partner with Erie County Senior Services for their Senior Hiking Club. The Hiking Club is a wonderful opportunity for seniors to stay active and enjoy the beauty of nature in the company of like-minded individuals. Summary: Join the Environmental Specialist Wendy and a Ranger on a dual hike where you can pick either the moderate or the high-level difficulty! Wendy will lead the moderate group on a shortened version of an intense hike lead by the park ranger. You can decide as you hike to either turn around with Wendy or continue on with the ranger.
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Ranger Meet and Greet w/ S’mores! Friday, May 22, 2026 - Location: Sprague Brook - Meeting Location: Upper camping loop between loops A and B Come hangout with Ranger Austin at Sprague Brook Park and learn about the Ranger Program! Bring your camping or ecological questions and pick the brain of your Erie County Park Ranger - Roast marshmallows, talk about your favorite outdoor activities, parks, trails, and more. This is a meet and greet style event so come and go as you please! No registration is required. · Meeting Location: Upper camping loop between loops A and B https://maps.app.goo.gl/fuPLUNVsQQAtyaa29 · Duration: 1.5 hours · Distance: Stationary event · Elevation: None · Surface Description: Stationary event on a grassy area · Equipment Needed: A good marshmallow roasting stick · Other: Dog friendly, stroller and wheelchair accessible |
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Friday Field Days Friday, June 5, 2026 - Location: Red Jacket Natural Habitat Park - Parking Lot Friday Field Days engage volunteers in habitat management and park stewardship projects. Park Staff will teach you about the task and provide tools
Volunteers Needed: 20
Task: Invasive Species Pull - Thistle, Teasel, Dames Rocket
Notes: All tools will be provided however we recommend you wear long pants and sleeves to prevent scratches.
Rain Date June 11th
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Senior Hiking Club Wednesday, June 24, 2026 - Location: Como Lake - Meeting Location: Casino Parking Lot Join us as we partner with Erie County Senior Services for their Senior Hiking Club. The Hiking Club is a wonderful opportunity for seniors to stay active and enjoy the beauty of nature in the company of like-minded individuals. Summary: Join the Environmental Specialist Wendy on a leisurely walk through the park to the light house! We will cross over three bridges over Cayuga Creek as we walk and look for birds, butterflies, and turtles. This park is a great place to be on a hot summer day.
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Friday Field Days Friday, July 17, 2026 - Location: - TBD Friday Field Days engage volunteers in habitat management and park stewardship projects. Park Staff will teach you about the task and provide tools
Volunteers Needed: 15
Task: Newly planted tree care such as watering, weeding, replacement staking
Notes: The location will be determined by June 17th and the event updated. It will depend on the site most in need
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Senior Hiking Club Wednesday, August 5, 2026 - Location: Sprague Brook - Meeting Location: Cross Country Ski Trail Parking Lot Join us as we partner with Erie County Senior Services for their Senior Hiking Club. The Hiking Club is a wonderful opportunity for seniors to stay active and enjoy the beauty of nature in the company of like-minded individuals. Summary: Join the Environmental Specialist Wendy on a summer hike of the cross country ski trail! On this hike we will explore the forests at the park and also the adjacent forestry lot. This park is a great place to be on a hot summer day.
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Friday Field Days Friday, August 7, 2026 - Location: Thomas F. Higgins Natural Habitat Park (Bailey Peninsula) - Parking Lot Friday Field Days engage volunteers in habitat management and park stewardship projects. Park Staff will teach you about the task and provide tools
Volunteers Needed: 20
Task: Invasive Species Seedhead clipping - Teasel and Thistle
Notes: All tools will be provided however we recommend you wear long pants and sleeves to prevent scratches.
Rain Date Aug. 14th
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Friday Field Days Friday, September 11, 2026 - Location: Seneca Bluffs Natural Habitat Park - Parking Lot Friday Field Days engage volunteers in habitat management and park stewardship projects. Park Staff will teach you about the task and provide tools
Volunteers Needed: 20
Task: Native Perennial plug planting
Notes: All tools will be provided
Rain Date Sept. 18th
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Senior Hiking Club Wednesday, September 16, 2026 - Location: Franklin Gulf - Meeting Location: Larkin Road Parking Lot Join us as we partner with Erie County Senior Services for their Senior Hiking Club. The Hiking Club is a wonderful opportunity for seniors to stay active and enjoy the beauty of nature in the company of like-minded individuals. Summary: Join the Environmental Specialist Wendy on the orange loop trail through this conservation park’s forest! We will hike along a creek, up and down ravines, while listening to the sounds of the forests and breathing in the clean hemlock scented air.
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Friday Field Days Friday, October 2, 2026 - Location: - TBD Friday Field Days engage volunteers in habitat management and park stewardship projects. Park Staff will teach you about the task and provide tools
Volunteers Needed: 15
Task: Native Tree Planting
Notes: The location will be determined by September 2nd and the event updated. It will depend on the site most in need and the nursery stock available.
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Senior Hiking Club Wednesday, October 28, 2026 - Location: Wendt Park - Meeting Location: Main Parking Lot Join us as we partner with Erie County Senior Services for their Senior Hiking Club. The Hiking Club is a wonderful opportunity for seniors to stay active and enjoy the beauty of nature in the company of like-minded individuals. Summary: Join a park ranger on a fall stroll along the beach and boardwalk at Wendt Beach Park! Enjoy the fall orange colors contracting with the rich blue of Lake Erie water. Perhaps see some spooky nature sightings on our final Senior Hike of 2026.
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