Geauga Park District is planting 1,000 beneficial native trees and shrubs at Veterans Legacy Woods between Earth Days 2023 and 2024!

Video: 1,000 Trees Initiative – Spring 2023

COUNTDOWN TO EARTH DAY 2024

In celebration of Earth Day 2023 last April, 274 volunteers assembled at Veterans Legacy Woods to plant 370 trees (spring planting photos). Then in October, another 64 volunteers headed back into the park’s former fairways (fall planting photos). Shout-out to each and every one of these volunteers, our NRM staff, 18 financial sponsors and three in-kind sponsors who made it all possible! We are proud to announce that our 2023 branch of this initiative yielded 680 new plantings in this park.

To restore this former golf course to a more natural state (“reforesting the fairways”), our ultimate goal is to engage the community in putting 1,000 trees in the ground —and at this point, only 320 trees more will do the job! Would YOU like to celebrate Earth Day 2024 with us planting trees, raising protective fencing, or funding part of the project? Please scroll down to learn more.

HOW TO HELP: TEAM UP TO PLANT & PROTECT

Volunteer packages offer recognition and take-home gifts for groups or assembled teams who help plant trees on dates to be determined this coming spring. Recommended group sizes this fall are five, 10 or 20 people. Volunteers work together to plant young trees, fuel them for success by cultivating less impacted soil from nearby woods, and build fencing to protect them from White-tailed Deer.

Note: Morning and afternoon shifts are now full. THANK YOU!

HOW TO HELP: BACK THE MISSION WITH FUNDING

Sponsorship packages offer a variety of opportunities to promote your business or organization while we all work together to help our environment. Levels of support afford us between 11 and 133 new trees for this park!

Earth Day 2024 Sponsorship Application

Links to Contribute Online: $250 • $500 • $1,500 • $3,000

Special thanks to the following outstanding supporters!

SPRING ’24 VOLUNTEERS

Groups of 5+

Coming soon…

RED OAK ($3,000) LEVEL

TULIP POPLAR ($500) LEVEL

In Memory of Frank Murzynski
($1,300 donation)

DOGWOOD POPLAR ($250) LEVEL

VLW of Middlefield

Also, Sage’s Apples and Sunrise Springs donated apples and water for our plantings, and the National Wild Turkey Federation donated hundreds of bare root saplings for plantings in both 2023 and 2024.

Wednesday, June 20 • 8 AM to 10 PM

Let’s make a splash in honor of 2024’s longest day! Attend one or many of this year’s Solstice Day programs by registering for those that require it (using the button below) or simply marking your calendar for the rest.

Early Morning Hike 8-9:30 AM, at Veterans Legacy Woods

Start your longest day of the year with an up-paced hike of 2-3 miles on hilly terrain. No registration required.

Horseback Trail Ride Connecting the Parks 10 AM-2 PM at Holbrook Hollows

Bring your horse for a naturalist-led trail ride to Cleveland Metropark’s South Chagrin Reservation. Registration required.

Elderberries: Summer Solstice Fun! Noon-2 PM at Claridon Woodlands

Seniors, choose your own adventure from a selection of activities including the high ropes course, a Nature scavenger hunt, fishing, pond dipping or a hike! Lunch provided by Chardon Healthcare Center. A collaboration with the Geauga Department on Aging and University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center. Registration required.

Solar Crafts 1:30-3 PM at Beartown Lakes Reservation

Celebrate the summer solstice with a variety of crafts and activities using solar power! We’ll work with solar ovens and solar print paper to harness the energy of the sun on this longest day of sunshine. Registration required.

Summer Solstice Sunset Float 7:30-9:30 PM at Headwaters Park, Boathouse/Boat Launch

Kayaking experience required. Registration required beginning June 13 at 10 AM.

Firefly Frolic Bike Ride 8:30-10 PM at Headwaters Park

End the longest day with a magical bike ride to discover lightning bug species along The Maple Highlands Trail. Begin at the boathouse with a short introduction on the natural history of these amazing insects. Then we’ll jump on our bikes and head out. Bring your own bike (no training wheels) and helmet. Participants must be able to ride a bike at least 3-4 miles round trip. A bike or helmet light is recommended since we’ll be riding after dark. We’ll also stop along the way where fireflies are displaying and enjoy Nature at night. No registration required.