Enjoy the Great Outdoor Weekend on the Mill Creek! Various activities throughout the day are available. Opportunities for all ages. Registration for paddling events is required. MCYC supplies all necessary equipment for the paddle trip. Drop -in for other activities without registration!

MCA WQ and Habitat Activity Table, 10:00am  - 1:00pm

• Citizen Scientists join the Mill Creek Alliance staff in performing chemistry testing on a fresh creek water sample and learn how these parameters relate to the local habitat.  All ages can explore at their comfort level.

FORE (Foundation for Ohio River Education) “Who Lives Here?  Plankton, Macroinvertebrates, and Fish”, 10:00am  - 1:00pm

• Citizen Scientists of all ages learn what lives in the river. Use microscopes and other tools to look at PLANKTON, MACROINVERTEBRATES, and FISH.  All ages.

Mill Creek BioBlitz/Species Count - EXPLORE the Watershed, 10:00am  - 1:00pm

• Walk the trails at Salway Park and learn about local species. Make observations using iNaturalist app and capture data for the 2022 Mill Creek Species Count.  For a quicker start, download the iNaturalist app before heading down to Salway Park.

Global Water Dance/Community Modern Dance Class,  Saturday & Sunday 1 - 2 pm

• Take a free outdoor modern dance class with Alissa Stachowski (of the Great Global Water Dance group) on the banks of the Mill Creek. At the end of each class there will be a short 5 minute sample of choreography for next year's Global Water Dances. This class is mainly designed for adults and teens, and older kids can also participate with parents. It is recommended that you sign up in advance by email (alissa.stachowski@gmail.com) but you can also just show up that day.  Any changes due to the weather will also be posted on the Facebook group “Outdoor Dance Cincinnati”.  Be sure to wear comfortable clothing and shoes that you can move in - class may be held on grass or pavement. Park near the Old Timber Inn.

Mill Creek Urban Hike , 10:00, 11:00, or 12:00

•  Urban Hike along the Mill Creek Greenway trail, investigating ecosystems as well as the built environment along the trail. We will be looking at some of the restoration projects in the creek as well as some of the installation’s along the trail. These include the constructed riffles that mitigate the low head dam that cuts across Mill Creek, the edible forest garden located on the banks of Mill Creek at Freedom Tree, as well as stormwater infrastructure along the way.

Mill Creek Up-Stream Float (register on Eventbrite or walk-in), 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

• Paddle the Pool! Put a canoe in at Salway for a short and easy paddle with a stop on a sand bar for exploration. Round trip, put-in and take-out is less than 30 minutes from Salway boat ramp.  All equipment provided. Open to 4 yrs and up/youth must be accompanied by parents.

Mill Creek Mini Urban Stream Adventure by Canoe (REGISTRATION REQUIRED on Eventbrite), 10:00am - 12:00pm

• A "Mini" Urban Stream Adventure from Salway Park to Yellow Bridge. (~1.3 mile). All paddling equipment provided. The return trip back to Salway is by foot on a trail, next to the creek.

SPACE WALK, Dusk

• Self-guided tour of the Space Walk installation. .  Installation created in 2016 by Josiah Wolf.  Tour starts at “The Sun” near the North Salway Park parking lot.

MERCH FOR SALE in Support of MCA

• BOOKS by author, C.A. Newsome, The Dog Park Mystery Series
  This series includes a story about the Mill Creek and the intrepid Mill Creek Yacht Club. Author Carol Newsome is a Northside resident and will be offering her books for sale and signature at the event Preview the Dog Park Mystery Series.

• CARDS & STATIONERY by Sarah Jane Miller of DearJane Cards (@etsy.com/dearjanecards) Sarah recently moved to the area and got connected to the Mill Creek as an Angler. She captures the spirit of fly fishing in her cards and stationery.

Registration for the paddle is open now through noon on Thursday, September 22nd, or until all available seats have been reserved. BRING YOUR OWN BOAT or use one of ours. MCYC boat seats are limited.  Once tickets are sold out, you will be put on a waiting list. If you are on the waiting list, consider stopping down at Salway Park at the time of the event to check on last minute seat availability.

Great Outdoor Weekend is Green Umbrella's annual outdoor events sampler, featuring over 100 free outdoor activities hosted by dozens of organizations across Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana. Find your adventure on the website by clicking the link below.