Natural Areas Public Programs - Free Events
Hurrah for World Migratory Bird Day!
This year’s World Migratory Bird Day focuses on the importance of water, and we’re celebrating by taking stewardship action at Mentor Marsh. Join us as we pull garlic mustard and pick up litter along our trails, our roadway, and at the Marsh’s edge. Bags will be provided. Wear clothing and footwear for off-trail walking. Co-sponsored by Blackbrook Audubon Society.
Nonmembers: Free
Leadership Circle: Free
Leaders: Rebecca Donaldson
Meeting Location:
Exact location and directions will be emailed to registrants prior to the date of the field trip.
Field trip intensity: Moderate
What to wear and bring (if out of the ordinary): Waterproof footwear, water, gloves (if you have a favorite pair—otherwise we’ll provide them)
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Special Sunday Winter Walk: Hiking the Buckeye Trail
Join us on the second of three winter hikes on the Buckeye Trail, which traverses Mentor Marsh's Zimmerman Trail. We will walk it in both directions (out and back), so come prepared to hike about 4½ miles! Enjoy wintery views of the Marsh and glimpses of wildlife along the way.
The hike will end around 4:30pm.
Nonmembers: Free
Leadership Circle: Free
Meeting Location:
Carol H. Sweet Nature Center, Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve
5185 Corduroy Road, Mentor, OH 44060
Get Google Maps directions.
Field trip intensity: Moderate to difficult, depending on weather conditions
What to wear and bring (if out of the ordinary):
Bring binoculars, a hand lens, a camera, or any other tools for exploring. Be sure to dress for the weather and wear waterproof footwear for winter hiking.
Mentor Marsh Nature Hikes: Special Sunday Winter Walk: Hiking the Buckeye Trail
02/22/2026
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Mentor Marsh Nature Hikes: Special Sunday Winter Walk: Hiking the Buckeye Trail
02/22/2026
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Sun 02:00 PM
Sun 04:30 PM
Join us on our monthly Sunday guided nature hike as we learn how to identify bare trees in winter. As we walk the woods at the rim of the marsh, we’ll share tips and tricks to identify trees from their bark, buds, and overall shape. Starting with simple botanical terminology, we’ll look at field guides and dip into the use of dichotomous keys to look for characteristics that group similar trees together as steps toward a final identification. We may even look for nuts/seeds and leaves on the ground for more clues to help us learn about the trees in our diverse woods.
Come join us to learn how to identify trees in winter. Identification materials will be provided for the hike.
Nonmembers: Free
Leadership Circle: Free
Leaders: Rebecca Donaldson
Meeting Location:
Carol H. Sweet Nature Center, Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve
5185 Corduroy Road, Mentor, OH 44060
Get Google Maps directions
Field trip intensity: Moderate, depending on weather
What to wear and bring (if out of the ordinary):
Bring binoculars, a hand lens, a camera, or any other tools for exploring.
Be sure to dress for the weather and wear waterproof footwear for off-trail walking.
Mentor Marsh Nature Hikes: Winter Tree Identification
03/01/2026
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Mentor Marsh Nature Hikes: Winter Tree Identification
03/01/2026
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Sun 02:00 PM
Sun 03:30 PM
Hiking the Buckeye Trail
Join us on the final in a series of three winter hikes on the Buckeye Trail, which traverses Mentor Marsh's Zimmerman Trail. We will walk it in both directions (out and back), so come prepared to hike about 4 ½ miles! Enjoy wintery views of the Marsh and glimpses of wildlife along the way.
The hike will end around 4:30pm.
Nonmembers: Free
Leadership Circle: Free
Leaders: Rebecca Donaldson
Meeting Location:
Carol H. Sweet Nature Center, Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve
5185 Corduroy Road, Mentor, OH 44060
Get Google Maps directions
Field trip intensity: Moderate to difficult, depending on weather conditions
What to wear and bring (if out of the ordinary):
Bring binoculars, a hand lens, a camera, or any other tools for exploring. Be sure to dress for the weather and wear waterproof footwear for winter hiking.
Mentor Marsh Nature Hikes: Special Sunday Winter Walk: Hiking the Buckeye Trail
03/29/2026
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Mentor Marsh Nature Hikes: Special Sunday Winter Walk: Hiking the Buckeye Trail
03/29/2026
More Info
Sun 02:00 PM
Sun 04:30 PM
Wonderful Woodland Wetlands
Join us at Mentor Marsh for an exploration of our wooded wetlands. We'll explore vernal pools from the water’s edge and look for all signs of life in these special wetlands. This hike will be a fun way to learn about this habitat’s vital importance to a variety of animals, including salamanders and frogs!
Nonmembers: Free
Leadership Circle: Free
Meeting Location:
Carol H. Sweet Nature Center, Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve
5185 Corduroy Road, Mentor, OH 44060
Get Google Maps directions
Field trip intensity: Moderate
What to wear and bring (if out of the ordinary):
Bring binoculars, a hand lens, a camera, or any other tools for exploring. Be sure to dress for the weather and wear sturdy, waterproof footwear for off-trail explorations.
Mentor Marsh Nature Hikes: Wonderful Woodland Wetlands
04/05/2026
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Mentor Marsh Nature Hikes: Wonderful Woodland Wetlands
04/05/2026
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Sun 02:00 PM
Sun 03:30 PM
Spring Bird Walks
Multiple Sundays in April and May
Join us on our Spring Bird Walks at Mentor Marsh to observe spring migration in our area.
Led by experienced birders from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and the Blackbrook Audubon Society, these walks are part of the larger Cleveland Spring Bird Walk Series and are a great way to improve your birding skills. From beginning to advanced, all levels of birders are welcome!
Bird species will be tallied via the online resource eBird and can be shared with participants.
Nonmembers: Free
Leadership Circle: Free
Meeting Location:
Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve, Shipman Pond parking lot, 9600 Headlands Road, Mentor, OH 44060
Field trip intensity: Moderate; terrain is mostly flat, but there will be some off-trail/road travel, with a total distance of about 3 miles.
What to wear and bring (if out of the ordinary):
Bring your binoculars (we will have some to lend). Be sure to wear sturdy footwear and dress for the weather. Please email Becky Donaldson at rdonaldson@cmnh.org with any questions.
Mentor Marsh Nature Hikes: Spring Bird Walks
04/12/2026 - 05/17/2026
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Mentor Marsh Nature Hikes: Spring Bird Walks
04/12/2026 - 05/17/2026
More Info
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