Penitentiary Glen Reservation

09/05/2026

Curiosity is ready to take flight at Bug Day!

Don't miss this special chance to see, touch and even hold creepy-crawly critters (🕷️🦗🐞🐜🦂) plus learn more about the insects that buzz, flutter and glide through our natural world.

🐛 Sunday, September 6
🦋 Noon to 4 pm
🐝 Penitentiary Glen Reservation
🪲 FREE; no registration needed

Presented by Renewal by Andersen, Sylvan Learning of Mentor & University School. Details: goto.lakemetroparks.com/bugday

📸: Roger Lokar, Al Susinskas

09/03/2026

Meet the bugs... if you're brave enough! 🪲

Bug Day: Wondrous World of Wings is your chance to get up close with fascinating insects, explore hands-on activities and learn about the many ways wings help insects survive and thrive.

🐝 Insect exhibits
🔎 Scavenger hunts
🎨 Sustainable crafts
🎲 Bug-themed bingo
📸 Photo opportunities
🚂 Miniature train rides (weather permitting)
🦋 and so much more!

Think you're adventurous? Eat a bug and earn a special sticker!

Sunday (9/6) from 12–4 pm at Penitentiary Glen Reservation: goto.lakemetroparks.com/bugday

08/31/2026

Ever wonder what goes bump in the night or who's been howling after dark? 🌙 Explore nocturnal noises during Hoo-loween: Spooky Sounds at Penitentiary Glen Reservation!

👻 costume parades
🦉 animal chats
🥾 night hikes
🔥 fireside tales
🎨 whimsical crafts
🌟 glow zone fun
🍎 light refreshments
🚂 train rides through Pumpkin Forest
🎃 and so much more!

Lake County residents can register now. Open registration begins tomorrow (9/1) at 8 am, if space remains.

Find dates, details and tickets ($9) here: goto.lakemetroparks.com/magical-hoo-loween

Presented by Mint To Be Family Dentistry, Patterson Fruit Farm, Renewal by Andersen and Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library.

📸: Al Krall, Earl Linaburg

08/28/2026

🦋 Tiny wings. Big jobs!

From hovering and gliding to darting and zigzagging, insect wings make a lot possible. 🪽 These tiny but powerful tools help insects find food, regulate temperature, evade predators, attract mates and explore the world around them.

Join us at Bug Day: Wondrous World of Wings to explore the fascinating world of winged insects through hands-on activities, live exhibits and plenty of opportunities for discovery! 🐝🐞🪲

Sunday, September 6 (noon to 4 pm) at Penitentiary Glen Reservation: goto.lakemetroparks.com/bugday

📸: Roger Lokar

08/26/2026

A successful release doesn't always happen on cue. 🦊

This summer, two orphaned fox kits spent the season learning from an adult female fox at the Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center at Penitentiary Glen Reservation. After a slow and careful introduction process, she took on the role of surrogate mother to the young foxes, helping them build the skills needed to survive on their own.

When release day arrived, each fox had a different plan—one immediately bounded into the woods while the other seemed less interested in making a public appearance, choosing to remain in the carrier until the audience had cleared.

Moments like these are a perfect reminder that wildlife rehabilitation is all about helping animals remain wild! Through expert care and limited human interaction, the kits learn natural behaviors from their own kind, sometimes doing exactly what a wild fox should do: keeping its distance from people.

The result isn't always a picture-perfect release, but it is a good sign they're ready for life back in the wild.

📸: Earl Linaburg

08/25/2026

Get ready to buzz, flutter or glide on over to Bug Day: Wondrous World of Wings! 🦋🐝🪰

Mark your calendar for some family-friendly fun celebrating the fascinating world of winged insects at Penitentiary Glen Reservation.

🪲 Insect exhibits
🔎 Scavenger hunts
🎨 Sustainable crafts
🎲 Bug-themed bingo
📸 Photo opportunities
🎓 Master of Bugology degrees
🚂 Miniature train rides (weather permitting)
🐞 and so much more!

FREE for all ages; no registration required: goto.lakemetroparks.com/bugday

08/24/2026

08/21/2026

🎨 Our Fall Art Show officially opens this weekend at Penitentiary Glen Nature Center!

This year's exhibition features Pattianne and Patrick Baran, a talented husband-and-wife team whose work showcases two unique perspectives that complement each other beautifully. Pattianne specializes in wildlife and pet portraiture, landscapes and woodworking, while Patrick is a sculptor, photographer and toy designer.

Stop by the free opening reception tomorrow (8/22) from noon to 4 pm to meet the artists and explore the exhibit firsthand! 🖼️

Artwork will be on display and available for purchase through October 11. Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm with FREE admission.

Learn more: goto.lakemetroparks.com/fall-art-show