Ceramics & Sip – Adults Only

Spend an early evening personalizing, painting, and glazing a teacup and saucer. While waiting to glaze your piece, choose from a variety of organic herbs and flowers to blend a custom set of eight tea bags. Information about each herb will be provided so you can create a tea that suits your taste. Appetizers and hot tea will be served, and guests are welcome to bring their own beverages. Teacups and saucers will be fired at the center and should be ready for pick up the following week. Must pre-register by November 5th.

Adults Only Campfire Cooking & Night Hike

Bring your appetite – a cooler full of your favorite beverages and maybe your favorite joke – for an adult only evening around the campfire. Savor a delicious, campfire cooked kabob meal (with vegetarian options) along with great company. After we’re happily stuffed, a Naturalist will lead an adventurous night hike to see who wanders Oglebay’s trails after dark. Dinner will be kabobs with Twice baked potatoes and gourmet s’mores. Must pre-register with kabob preference.

Roots ‘N Shoots

The Roots ‘N Shoots series provides adults and their children the opportunity to connect with nature in all seasons.  Create meaningful connections and memories through hands-on nature activities, crafts, stories, songs, and outside exploration.  Pre-registration encouraged – walk-ins are limited.

Campfire Cooking & Night Hike (Sept. 12)

Bring your appetite & perhaps your favorite campfire song or joke, as we enjoy each other’s company & a good meal cooked entirely by campfire. September’s campfire meal includes pepperoni rolls & s’mores cones. Ice Cream to top our cones & bottled water will be provided. Once our bellies are full, we’ll venture into Oglebay’s forest to see who is active during the early hours of dark.
Must pre-register.

Campfire Cooking & Night Hike (Oct. 24)

Bring your appetite & perhaps your favorite campfire song or joke, as we enjoy each other’s company & a good meal cooked entirely by campfire. September’s campfire meal includes pepperoni rolls & s’mores cones. Ice Cream to top our cones & bottled water will be provided. Once our bellies are full, we’ll venture into Oglebay’s forest to see who is active during the early hours of dark.
Must pre-register.

Cocoa & Crafting @ Schrader

Winter is a wonderful time to get creative and sip cocoa—with marshmallows, of course! This month, personalize, paint, and glaze the perfect cocoa mug during this two-hour ceramics session. The class is open to children ages 4 and up, accompanied by an adult. After glazing, we’ll fire your mug in our kiln overnight. Cookies and cocoa will be served along with your favorite sounds of the season. Must pre-register by November 5.

Cocoa & Crafts – Ceramics for Kids

Winter is a wonderful time to get creative and sip cocoa—with marshmallows, of course! This month, personalize, paint, and glaze the perfect plate for Santa’s cookies on Christmas Eve. This two-hour ceramics session is open to children ages 4 and up, accompanied by an adult. After glazing, we’ll fire your plate in our kiln overnight. Cookies and cocoa will be served along with your favorite sounds of the season. Must pre-register by November 18.

Fall Astronomy Day

Explore the solar and lunar skies at the Speidel Observatory in Oglebay Park. Tour the facility, try your eye at “solar observing”, and participate in space science activities from 1-4pm. Observe planets through the telescopes and learn about the constellations from 8-11pm (weather permitting)

Journey through Southern Skies: Exploring World-Class Observatories

Join Oglebay Institute’s own Debbie McKay as she shares her experience visiting Gemini South, ALMA, the Rubin Observatory, and other remarkable astronomical sites in Chile’s Andes Mountains. Stay afterward for a free stargazing session with the local astronomy club at the Oglebay Observatory.

Holiday Wreath Making

Create a beautiful holiday wreath for your home. We’ll provide fresh evergreen boughs, berries, pinecones, accents, ribbons, a frame, and wire — everything you need to bring your wreath together. You’re welcome to bring your own ribbon or bows, too. We’ll guide you through the wreath-making process and share tips for identifying different evergreen trees. Coffee, hot cocoa, and cookies will be provided.  While you’re here, be sure to visit the Holiday Art Show and browse gifts made by local artists. Pre-registration is required. (Limit 20)

Pre-Made Holiday Wreath Decorating

Create a beautiful holiday wreath for your home. We’ll provide pre-assembled wreaths made with live greens, along with a selection of berries, pinecones, ornaments, and accents to choose from. You’re welcome to bring your own decorations, too. Coffee, hot cocoa, and cookies will be provided. Pre-registration is required. While you’re here, be sure to visit the Holiday Art Show and browse gifts made by local artists. (Limit 12)

Candy Cane Hunt

Oh no—Santa did it again! Appalachian winter winds swirled over our trails, and his candy canes weren’t secured. Now they’ve fallen into Oglebay’s forest, and we need your help to find them before the forest creatures do. Candy cane hunts begin promptly at 4:15 p.m. Hot cocoa will be provided.

Pre-registration Required

A.B. Brooks Nature Hike
Nature Hikes are part of a long tradition of nature study in Oglebay Park. The A.B. Brooks Nature Hike will focus on natural history and serves as a venue for socialization and the sharing of ideas.The Schrader Center staff will lead groups of up to 20 participants through 1 mile of trails around Oglebay. It is recommended to wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes and clothing that is weather-appropriate. Sunglasses are a plus. Field guides and binoculars will be provided.