The Grange Insurance Audubon Center offers fun events and activities for all ages to connect with nature. The Audubon Center is located in downtown Columbus, but you’ll feel like you are away from the city and immersed in nature along the Scioto River.
Grange Audubon Center offers STEAM-based programming for youth, birding and conservation experiences, as well as indoor and outdoor fun.
Upcoming Fun at Grange Insurance Audubon Center
Preschool Adventures
Each Thursday morning at 10:00 am kids enjoy nature-themed, read-alouds and maybe sing a song or two. Stay after to visit our ambassador animals, check out an adventure backpack or just enjoy our gardens and some outdoor play time in the surrounding Scioto Audubon Metro Park.
Registration is required, program is free.
Beginner Bird Hike
Most Saturday mornings through June 1, from 10 – 11:30 am
Take a guided hike with our Grange Insurance Audubon Center Educators or Columbus Audubon Volunteers to see what birds you can find in your Scioto Audubon Metro Park each Saturday at 10 am.
Guided hikes will give you the basics of birding and help you learn about areas in our park that are great for birdwatching! You can enjoy self-guided hikes in the park anytime during open hours.
Columbus Audubon Monthly Program
Join Columbus Audubon each month for a free in-person series in partnership with and located at Grange Insurance Audubon Center. Events include speakers, conservation education and updates, prizes, and refreshments. Held of the 4th Tuesday of the month through May. Doors open at 6:30 pm.
March 26, 2024: AI for Wildlife Conservation: AI and Humans Combating Extinction Together
April 23, 2024: Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative
Find future themes and register here.
Birds, Brews, and Burgers
Friday, May 3, 2024 from 5:30 pm- 7:30 pm
COSI Science Festival event hosted by the Grange Insurance Audubon Center. Take a bird walk throughout the Scioto Audubon Metro Park with our educators and learn how to use the Merlin Bird ID app to explore the world of birding!
After the bird hike, participate in a beer tasting experience sampling 5 Nocterra Brewing Company Beers and Hard Ciders while enjoying sliders. Bird trivia and games will also be featured. Participants must be 21+ years old.
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Current members are $30 each, non-members are $40 each.
IBA (Important Bird Area) Kayak Tour
DATES: Fridays (June 21 & July 5) 4p-6p Saturdays (July 27 & August 17) 10a-12p
Beginner-friendly kayak tours depart from Scioto Audubon Metro Park boat launch. Tours are 2 hours, and your guide will point-out birds seen throughout the tour. Explore the inlet and paddle the Scioto Mile to downtown and back.
Each participant will be provided a single kayak, life vest, binoculars and a bird guide to use on the tour. Participants must be at least 10 years old. Register here.
Price is $40 from members ($50 for non-members) per person and includes a single kayak. Please contact Anne Scott if you wish to bring your own kayak: (614) 545-5481 or anne.scott@audubon.org
Reserve a private playtime!
Small indoor play room with books, bird watching, costumes, climbing structure and cave.
Reserve your playtime! Have an adventure while engaging in imaginative play in the Grange Insurance Audubon Center Forest Room Playroom and Climbing Area with your family and/or playgroup. No more than 40 in the group (infants included).
Reservations are $25-$40. Birthday parties can add an additional party space with tables and chairs where you can have birthday treats and beverages for $100. See website for details and cancellation policies. Reserve your playtime here.
Grange Insurance Audubon Center
505 W Whittier St. Columbus OH 43215
614-545-5475
website | Facebook
Hours change seasonally; see details here.
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Past events at Grange; tba for 2024
Juneteenth/Summer Celebration at The Grange Insurance Audubon Center
Sunday, June 19, 2023 from 1 pm -7:30 pm
An entire day of nature, art, community, family, music & more!
Red, White & Boom Fundraiser Celebration 2022
Friday, July 1, 2022 at 5:30 pm
General Admission: Provides access to Nocterra Brewing Company Beer Garden 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Beer tickets available at $8/beer. No preferred parking access.
General Admission ticket holders are encouraged to find a spot in the park and reserve it for viewing the fireworks after access to the Nocterra beer garden closes at 8pm. General Admission ticket holders will not be permitted to stay in the roped off area to view the fireworks.
VIP ticket options (5:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.) includes access to Nocterra Brewing Company Beer Garden, appetizers, food stations (grilled chicken, pulled pork, petite vegan Impossible Burgers, a selection of sides & salads and dessert station), beer/wine Tickets, live music by the Village Brass quintet, preferred parking (full table only)and a prime spot on the lawn to view the fireworks display.
VIP and sponsor ticket holders can remain in the beer garden area to view the fireworks.
First Friday’s Let’s Do Yoga Together
Start the evening with a yoga class intentionally welcoming of the LGBTQIA+ community and the people who support them. After yoga, join us for an optional bird walk around the center grounds and Scioto Audubon Metro Park.
The program will include 1 hour of yoga, led by Andy King, with the beautiful city skyline as a backdrop and a 45 minute bird walk by a Grange Insurance Audubon Center staff member or Columbus Audubon member, Sheila Fagan. Participants are asked to bring a mat or towel to use during the yoga class.
Use this registration for the following dates:
Registration is $5 per person. Email Allison Clark at allison.clark@audubon.org with registration questions. Check in at the front desk of the Grange Insurance Audubon Center starting at 6 pm the day of the event.
Fall Family Fest and Trunk or Tweet
Sunday, October 29, 2023 from 5-9pm
This FREE event will feature live entertainment/music, trunk or tweet, hay rides through the park, a self-guided scavenger hunt, Ohio Wildlife ambassador animals and more!
3p-5p: Visit with Ohio Wildlife Center
4p-7p: Hayrides Through the Park
5p-7p: Trunk or Tweet! Kids can come in costume and bring a bag to collect goodies from our participating community partners.
6p-8p: Enjoy Live Music by Heather Evans and band. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets for this outdoor concert.
7p-8p: Take a self-guided flashlight hike. Look for the lanterns, then find the nocturnal animal signs!
27th annual Great Backyard Bird Count
Saturday, February 17 at 10 am and 1 pm.
During each hike, participants will walk around the Scioto Audubon Metro Park to watch, learn about, and count all of the birds we can. After each hike, we will submit our count as a group using eBird.
Meet us inside the center at your selected hike time. Birders of all experience levels are welcome, and bringing binoculars is encouraged. If you don’t have binoculars, we have pairs that can be checked out with a valid ID at the center. Sign up here.
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