Need a break? Why not meet up with other parents/ grandparents and enjoy some adult conversation while the kiddos run off all that excess energy?
Here’s a list of awesome playground in Toledo and the surrounding areas….
Month: April 2018
Celebrate Earth Day 2018 in Toledo
“Why are we celebrating Earth when it keeps giving us snow?” That was a totally valid point made by my 1st grader, lol! Though, some may want to boycott Earth Day this year thanks to Mother Nature’s wonky weather, we are indebted to our planet. And Earth Day is a wonderful way to remind ourselves and our families that we need to be one with our environment, respect it, and do our best to minimize our carbon footprint so our grandchildren and our children’s grandchildren can enjoy the riches this planet offers. Here is a list of some fun activities going on this weekend to help you celebrate:
9th Annual Community Earth Day Celebration! Over 20 community partners are joining efforts for a fun-filled day!
When: Sunday, April 22 @ 2- 4pm
Where: Montessori School BG 515 Sand Ridge Rd
Website: www.communityearthday.com
Admission: FREE FUN FOR ALL AGES
Archery! Take Nature walks! Listen to great Stories! Participate in great Activities! Make an art project! Take home a Live sapling!
In addition to this celebration, a wide variety of events and activities will be taking place all month, check out website for upcoming events!
Literacy in the Park
When: Saturday, April 21, 2018 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Where: Bowling Green State University – Perry Field House 801 N. Mercer Rd. Bowling Green, OH
Admission: Free
Enjoy a snack and literacy-based activities for the entire family. The day will include prizes, crafts and entertaining activities from the community’s top organizations. Each family receives a goodie bag with a free book by award-winning author and illustrator, Don Tate, who will offer two talks.
Party for the Planet at the Toledo Zoo
When: Saturday, April 21, 2018 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Address: 2 Hippo Way, Toledo, OH 43609
Phone: 419-385-5721
Website: https://www.toledozoo.org/tickets
Admission: FREE to Members. Adult (12-59) $17.00, Child (2-11) $14.00, Senior (60+) $14.00, & Child under 2 FREE for Lucas County Residents. Non-Lucas County visitors ….Adult (12-59) $19.00, Child (2-11) $16.00, Senior (60+) $16.00, & Child under 2 FREE
Celebrate Mother Earth and learn all about recycling, reusing and conserving our world through educational displays and fun activities. Bring in recyclable goods to make the Earth a little “greener.”
Drop off your recyclable goods between 10am and 4pm in the Zoo’s Anthony Wayne Trail parking lot. Admission/parking charges do not apply to this special recycling project. Below is a list of items that will be accepted along with the organizations that made this possible.
Items can be dropped off in the Zoo’s Anthony Wayne Trail Parking Lot.
As well as dropping off your recyclables, the Zoo is the perfect place to spend a great day with your family! Get tips on how to be more ecofriendly as you talk with people from local “green” organizations. Enjoy special Earth Day activities in Nature’s Neighborhood and watch animal demonstrations (Dive Talks at the Aquarium at 11am and 2pm) all across the zoo. It’s all included free with regular Zoo admission!
Visit 577 Foundation
Where: 577 East Front Street, Perrysburg, OH 43551
BLOG POST WITH MORE INFO: https://momonthegoinholytoledo.com/2016/07/23/the-577-foundation-is-a-must-see/
Phone: Phone: (419) 874-4174
Website: http://www.577foundation.org/index.html
Hours: 9am-5pm Monday-Sunday
Admission: FREE
Interested in Planting a Garden? In 1989, The 577 Foundation Community Gardens was an idea from Virginia Secor Stranahan. She was a gardener & invited anyone to garden with her, discover organic practices, share their knowledge & “learn to love the land”.
The Community Gardeners are an important part of The 577 Foundation; their gardens have created a pleasant environment for visitors, an education in organic growing & an inspiration to future gardeners. The garden spaces are free!! Click here for more information http://www.577foundation.org/plantagarden.asp
Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth Storytime
When: Saturday April 21, 2018 11:00 AM
Where: At Barnes & Noble Locations
Filled with gentle humor and insight, Oliver Jeffers’ New York Times bestselling Here We Are is a poignant celebration of life on Earth. Join us for Storytime, with activities to follow.
Nature’s Nursery Spring Open House
Where: Blue Creek Metropark 7790 Schadel Road Whitehouse, OH, 43571
When: Sunday April 22nd 1pm-4pm
Join us for our first open house of the year. Meet dozens of our Education Animal Ambassadors, participate in several education programs, tour our facility and enjoy Blue Creek Metropark. This is a free, family and large group friendly event but donations are gladly accepted. Please leave your pets at home.
Family Hike: Spring Wildlife
Where: Swan Creek Metropark Saturday
When: April 21st 1pm-2:30pm
Enjoy an afternoon stroll with the whole family while on a guided nature tour with a park interpreter and experience your favorite Metroparks from a new perspective.
Get to Know Your Trails on Earth Day
Where: Farnsworth Boat Launch Area
When: Sunday April 22nd 1pm-2pm
Celebrate Earth Day and get on the trails with a park naturalist. We will look at the flora and fauna of Northwest Ohio as we explore a new trail each month. This is a great way to experience our beautiful Metroparks and all they have to offer us. Please wear sturdy shoes and dress accordingly to the weather.
Family Center Activities: Celebrate Earth Day!
When: Sunday, April 22, 2018 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Where: Toledo Museum of Art 2445 Monroe St. Toledo, OH
Admission: Free
Celebrate Earth Day with the family! Kiddos will enjoy creating art they can take home using recycled materials and found objects! Open to families and children 0-10(ish) While you are there be sure to stop in and see the AWESOME Mummy Exhibit! (Free for members, there is a fee fro non-members)
Know of additional Earth Day celebrations that didn’t make the list? Please share & tag a friend so you can make those weekend plans now!
Make-A-Wish BIG Wish Gala & World Wish Day
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house!! My husband and I attended the Big Wish Gala last Friday and let me tell you, it was an emotionally charged, educational, and fun experience. There was a silent action, open bar, delicious food, live auction, amazing speakers, oh, & a puppy…it checked all my boxes!
And the speakers, omg! When Karen, a Wish Mom spoke about her daughter, her daughter’s illness, & what an amazing gift her daughter’s wish was…this momma’s heart and purse strings were tugged & the flood gates opened. It was such a raw experience; the evening took me to a place I hadn’t anticipated. Are you familiar with Make-a-Wish? Did you know that not all kids wish for luxury vacations? Did you know that granting a wish for a child renews hope & is an integral part of their treatment…it helps them fight their illness?( Stats- ◦89% of medical professionals say that the wish experience influences wish kids’ physical health. (Results from national wish impact study) And ◦99% of parents reported that the wish experience gave their children increased feelings of happiness and 96% said that the wish experience strengthened their families.) Sadly, only one out of two wishes gets granted! But not at the Gala, at the BIG Wish Gala $180,000 was raised & 22 life changing wishes will be granted for local Toledo kids!!! Thank you, Toledo!!
But there are still more kids waiting for their wish, we need you! As the old saying goes: We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give! There is a new feature event coming up, click on the clip to see the trailer…
World Wish Day is April 29th please consider donating, volunteering, and checking out all the numerous ways you and your family can get involved and help other families in our community.
Click HERE for more info. http://oki.wish.org/ways-to-help
Make-A-Wish 2018 Toledo BIG Wish® Gala!
As the old saying goes: We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
Three big principles of any solid financial plan are to save, spend and give. Most people forget about the giving part, though, because they think mostly about saving and spending.
But giving is just as important. It softens the heart of the giver and frees their soul from dependence on money. You’ll never walk away from giving feeling bad! (Source)
Those wise words from the money guru himself, Dave Ramsey, resonate in my mind as I eagerly raid my closet for something to wear to the upcoming Make-A-Wish 2018 Toledo BIG Wish® Gala!
Make-a-Wish Foundation is a household name, but how much do we really know about it?
The heartfelt experience of local wish kids coupled with ongoing independent research from a pediatric specialist illustrating the impact of wishes on kids battling critical illnesses will be the highlights of the 2018 Make-A-Wish® Ohio Kentucky & Indiana BIG Wish® Gala, presented by RMF Nooter, to be held on Friday, April 13 at the Hilton Garden Inn. An event fundraising goal of $150,000 has been set to help make wishes come true for at least 18 local kids battling critical illnesses in Northwest Ohio.
An event fundraising goal of $150,000 has been set to help make wishes come true for at least 18 local kids battling critical illnesses in Northwest Ohio.
Dr. Anup Patel, Section Chief of Pediatric Neurology and Director of the Complex Epilepsy Clinic at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, was inspired to conduct an academic research study of the physical and financial outcomes of a wish journey on eligible kids after observing firsthand the impact of a wish on patients. Preliminary observations of his study will be conveyed during the BIG Wish Gala. (Pics from 2017 BIG Wish Gala)
Currently, only one out of every two eligible kids experience a wish.
One of the reasons Dr. Patel has since joined the Make-A-Wish America Advisory Board is to increase medical provider awareness of the benefits of a granted wish on eligible kids. Currently, only one out of every two eligible kids experience a wish. During the Gala, wish kid Hannah, of Northwood, Ohio, and her mom will speak about how Hannah’s treatment journey inspired her to wish to be a medical student. She ultimately hopes to become a pediatrician.
WHAT: Make-A-Wish 2018 Toledo BIG Wish® Gala
WHERE: Hilton Garden Inn at Levis Commons
6165 Levis Commons Boulevard Perrysburg, Ohio 43551
WHEN: Friday, April 13th
6:30 p.m. – Registration, Cocktails & Silent Auction
7:30 p.m. Dinner Program
TICKETS: Tickets and event sponsorship information are available at ohio.wish.org
The early findings of Dr. Patel’s study will be highlighted at the event, with the full results to be published later in 2018. Currently, there are nearly 123 medically eligible wish kids in Northwest Ohio.
In addition to hearing the inspiring stories from kids and families whose lives have been changed by a granted wish, two local professionals will be honored by Make-A-Wish:
- Volunteer of the Year – Linda Chaney. Volunteering to support multiple wishes at a time, Linda truly believes in the Make-A-Wish and does everything she can to make sure all of her wish kids have an incredible wish journey.
- Medical Professional of the Year – Sue Hoover, ProMedica. Sue refers every child that is eligible to Make-A-Wish; she’s referred over 100 children during her time at ProMedica.
I am looking forward to learning more and sharing what I learn. Are you familiar with Make-A-Wish Foundation? Are you interested in learning more and/or donating or perhaps know someone who is? Please feel free to share and tag a friend. And stay tuned for my follow-up post.
