Show off your photography skills in our Winter Photo Contest. Categories include: Best Landscape Photo, Best Wildlife Photo, Best Pet Photo and People in Parks with all photos taken within a Greene County Parks & Trails site. All entries must be submitted to info@gcparkstrails.com (1 entry per category/person) and must be clearly labeled with participants name and category. Entries can be received between January 1st and February 28th. Submissions will be posted on Facebook the first week of March with the winner in each category eligible to be the Overall Winner. Prizes too be awarded to the winners in each category.

What is sap? What does it do for trees? How did the Native Americans learn to turn it into sugar? What is a sugar camp? These questions and more will be answered as you hike along the Sugar Bush Trail learning all about the history of turning sap into delicious syrup. Groups of 8 or more can schedule a private tour of our sugar maple camp. The tour will end at our sugar camp where participants can see syrup as it is being made and get a free sample. There is no fee for this program. Tours need to be completed by 5pm.

Create family memories during this winter adventure! Maple sugaring excitement begins by hearing "drip, drip, drip" as the first droplets of sap go into your bucket. Bring your whole family to learn all about the history of maple sugaring. Along the way you will find out how to identify sugar maple trees in winter, take turns drilling a hole and tapping a spile. Then, your family will have a special bucket that can be checked throughout the season. Sap from the bucket will be cooked into syrup for the Pancakes in the Park event. Families who rent a bucket will receive a free breakfast for up to 4 people at the event.

Interested in learning about beekeeping? During this six week class series (one class per week starting Jan. 31st and ending March 7th), participants will learn everything from equipment (what is needed and what is not), setting up hives, bee pests, products of the hive and much more. Interested class participants will have the opportunity to order equipment from a major bee supply company (not required). Snow date: March 14th.

Do you like a challenge? Each month we will send you to a new location on a different scavenger hunt. Photos will be available on our Facebook page at the beginning of each month. Locate each place or item depicted in the photos and take a selfie at each spot. Upload your photos to Facebook, tagging Greene County Parks & Trails or send them to info@co.greene.oh.us. Prizes will be awarded to those who find all the items/locations in the photos; staff will contact participants about prize pick-up.

Throughout the winter we will be collecting information about birds that frequent our feeders. Enjoy a cup of coffee, relax in our bird viewing area and help us county the birds that come to our feeders. All data goes to the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.