IGO Classes 2009

Have you always wanted to learn about canoeing, but didn't know where to begin? Does a weekend backpacking trip sound like fun, but you don't know how to get started? Have you watched someone cross-country ski, navigate with a compass or fish with a fly rod, and wished you knew how?

Cleveland Metroparks Institute of the Great Outdoors (IGO) is the focal point of adult outdoor recreation activities in Cleveland Metroparks.   Through the Institute, you can take part in activities that help you develop outdoor skills.   And learning a skill is only one of IGO's features.   While you are having fun canoeing, kayaking, backpacking, or fishing, you will also learn about the environment and the need to be responsible stewards of the great outdoors.

The IGO Mission:

To provide a wide range of enjoyable outdoor experiences which enable participants of all abilities to develop or enhance outdoor skills, knowledge and environmental ethics.

Our goals:

  • To provide learning opportunities which promote personal growth, ethical relationships with nature, and low-impact outdoor experiences.
  • To offer skill-building and skill-enhancement programs which enable participants to build competency and enjoy safe outdoor experiences.
  • To present programs in locations outside of Cleveland Metroparks lands which further participants' understanding of the ecology of North America, environmental problems and potential solutions.

Inclusive Outdoor Recreation Opportunities

All IGO programs have been evaluated regarding accessibility and activity level. With our professionally trained staff and ability to make equipment adaptations, most programs are accessible to anyone who would like to participate. For further information regarding program accessibility, or to schedule an accessible custom program, please contact the IGO office at 216-341-1704.
 

CANOEING AND KAYAKING

American Canoe Association Canoe & Kayak Instructor Certification Workshop
This workshop follows standards established by the American Canoe Association and is designed for individuals and programmers interested in offering certified canoe and kayak instruction to all ages. The first day will be spent on the water practicing paddling strokes. On day two, participants will start off in the classroom learning topics to teach as instructors and will then split into kayak and canoe instructor groups to spend the afternoon outside. The third day, experienced trainers will evaluate each candidate's paddling skills, knowledge and teaching abilities. Candidates will present a minimum of two subjects both in the classroom and on the water and will receive a critique of their on- and off-water teaching and paddling skills. Upon successful completion of the workshop, participants can receive instructor certification through the American Canoe Association. Please specify either the canoe or kayak instructor workshop when registering.
Pre-requisite: previous paddling experience is required. Completion of ACA Intro to Canoe/Kayak course preferred. All participants must be members of the ACA & SEIC prior to the program - visit www.americancanoe.org.
Ages: adults
Activity Level: moderate
June 12 - 14 • 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. • Hinckley Reservation
Fee: $225 per person (includes instructor manual, text, materials and all necessary paddling equipment)

Canoeing I: Canoeing Basics
Discover the pleasure of cruising in-land waters by canoe. This program includes all necessary canoeing equipment and covers canoeing basics, boating safety and proper boat control. Participants may be required to complete a capsize drill. All canoeing equipment provided.
Ages: adults
Activity Level: easy
June 22 • 6 - 9 p.m. • Hinckley Reservation OR
July 11 • 9 a.m. - noon • Hinckley Reservation
Fee: $40

Canoeing II: Flat-water Fundamentals
This in-depth program will offer you a chance to learn the essentials of canoe safety and the fundamentals of flat-water paddling. These skills will prepare you for daylong cruises or excursions. Participants will be required to complete a capsize drill and rescues.
Ages: adults
Activity Level: moderate
June 27 • 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.  • Hinckley Reservation
Fee: $65 (All canoeing equipment provided)

Canoe/Camp - The Massasauga
Located in Ontario, Canada, Massasauga Provincial Park offers the canoe-camper a journey along tranquil waters. River otters, moose and yellow-billed cuckoos are just a few of the inhabitants often seen during these expeditions. Enjoy fishing for bass, crappie and northern pike, hike through bogs and marshes, and explore the beauty and wildlife of Silver Lake and Clear Lake. Participants must provide their own meals, Canadian fishing license and transportation to Massasauga. Passports may be required.
Prerequisite: Canoe I and Canoe II, or equivalent skills
Ages: adults
Activity Level: moderate
Pre-trips: June 18 • 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Garfield Park Nature Center AND
July 7 • 7 - 9 p.m. • Hinckley Reservation
Trip: July 15 - 19
Fee: $295 (includes canoes and paddling equipment, some camping equipment, permits and educational materials)

Kayak I: Kayaking Basics
Interested in learning to kayak but not sure where to start? Join IGO for this entry-level course to learn the basics for having fun and paddling safely on in-land lakes and rivers. This on-the-water class includes all necessary kayaking equipment and will cover kayaking basics, boating safety, proper boat control and wet exits, so come prepared to get wet.
Activity Level: easy
Ages: adults
July 8 • 6 - 9 p.m. • Hinckley Reservation
Fee: $40

Kayaking on LaDue Reservoir
Spend your evenings in a kayak along LaDue Reservoir in Geauga County. These leisurely floats will offer opportunities to discover  birds, insects and other wildlife. Bring waterproof binoculars and search for eagles and osprey while enjoying the serenity of being on the water.
Ages: adults
Activity Level: easy
May 22 • 6:30 - 9 p.m.,  May 29 • 6:30 - 9 p.m. OR
July 21 • 6:30 - 9 p.m. • LaDue Reservoir
Fee: $20 (Equipment for kayaking included.)

Kayak Float on Hinckley Lake 
Start your summer off right! Join us for a lazy Saturday morning of kayaking floating along Hinckley Lake. Bring waterproof binoculars if you want to look at the birds or just sit back in your kayak and appreciate the morning on the water.
Ages: adults
Activity Level: easy
June 6 • 10 a.m. - 1 p.m • Hinckley Reservation
Fee: $20 (Equipment for kayaking included. Bring a lunch.)

CAMPING/BACKPACKING

Hocking Hills Getaway
Spend the weekend in southern Ohio camping along the Hocking River. Rejuvenate yourself after a long week by exploring the Hocking River by kayak and reconnect with nature while hiking various trails. The kayaking and camping are easy and the hiking is moderate, so bring your enthusiasm along and enjoy a fun weekend. 
Ages: adults
Activity Level: easy to moderate
Pre-Trip: June 23 • 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Garfield Park Nature Center
Trip: June 26 - 28 • Logan, OH
Fee: $85 (includes camping gear, kayaking gear, camping fees, park entrance fees)

WEGO Beginner Backpacking
Join IGO and Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) staff on this rare opportunity to explore backpacking in the National Park. The trip will begin at Hunt Farm and proceed four miles to Saturday night's campsite. Spend the evening learning hands-on backpacking skills such as Leave No Trace ethics, knot tying and fire-starting. On Sunday, pack out two miles to the starting point. Hike along streams, farm fields, and villages, and travel through succession and mature growth forests, exploring nature in a new way. This easy excursion is designed to introduce women to backpacking in a fun, low-impact way. Most camping equipment provided. Registration begins May 4.
Ages: adult women
Activity Level: easy (approx. 6 miles round trip)
Pre-Trips: June 10 & 17 • 6:30 - 9 p.m.
Brecksville Nature Center
Trip: June 20 - 21 • Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Fee: $75

Kelly's Island Getaway
Join us for a trip to the largest fresh water American island in Lake Erie. Kelly's Island is home to diverse habitats and offers recreational opportunities for the whole family. Spend Friday and Saturday night camping at Kelly's Island State Park and enjoy your days hiking, cycling and kayaking. Bicycle to the largest and most spectacular example of glacial grooves left in the entire world then explore the island by kayak. Participants should provide their own bikes and helmets. Helmets are required.
Ages: 13 years & older
Activity Level: moderate
Pre-Trip: May 14 • 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Garfield Park Nature Center AND
May 26 • 7 - 9 p.m. • Hinckley Reservation
Trip: June 5 - 7
Fee: $85 (includes camping gear, kayaking gear and instruction and camping fees)

Great American Backyard Campout Weekend
Bring the family and camp in the backyard of Cleveland Metroparks during the Great American Backyard Campout weekend. Families across the country will be camping out this weekend as this national event encourages everyone to experience the fun of spending a night sleeping under the stars. Learn how to set up a tent, how to use a compass, and many other camping skills, plus a lot about the nature around us. Explore nature while on a hike with the family on Saturday afternoon. After dinner we will have some time to relax around the campfire and finish the evening by going on a night hike! Sunday morning we will wake-up with a short bird hike.
Activity Level:  easy to moderate
Dates/Time: June 27 • noon - Sunday June 28 • noon
Hinckley Reservation
Fee: $55 for family of 3, $75 for family of 4 or
$20 per person (camping equipment included)

CYCLING

Vermont Back Roads Cycling Tour
Experience covered bridges, white church steeples, and cascading rivers - an atmosphere uniquely Vermont - plus  the Green Mountains and Lake Champlain as you ride from South Alberg to Jamaica. You begin on North Hero Island in Lake Champlain where you'll enjoy camping on the shore of New England's largest lake. As you pedal south, you'll come to Branbury State Park in the Green Mountains and then take on the famous Brandon Gap. After a rapid descent, enjoy touring the beautiful White River Valley to Quechee Gorge. This tour features evening accommodations at some of Vermont's best state parks and rest stops at many of Vermont's antique general stores. Participants must have their own bicycles and helmets are required. Registration begins April 28.
Ages: adults
Activity level: advanced - mountainous, 30 - 65 miles a day
Pre-trips: June 30 • 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. AND
 July 21 • 7 - 8:30 • Garfield Park Nature Center
Trip: July 26 - August 1
Fee: $875 (includes camping fees, some meals, sag wagon and camping equipment) - $440 deposit required

ESCAPES TO NATURE

Santa Cruz Island Excursion
Twenty miles off the coast of Ventura, California is the largest of the eight Channel islands, Santa Cruz Island. Bring your backpack and travel by boat to the island, then take an easy one-half mile hike to set up our base camp at Scorpion Ranch. Our week will consist of day hiking along miles of rugged trails learning how plants, animals and people have shared the islands over the past centuries. Search for the declining Island Scrub Jay and visit old ranch sites. Our trip would not be complete without exploring the rich marine life surrounding Santa Cruz and kayaking through caves.
Ages: adults
Activity Level: moderate-strenuous (day hikes up to 10 miles round trip)
Pre-trip: August 18 • 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Garfield Park Nature Center AND
August 29 • 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. • Hinckley Reservation
Trip: September 19 - 26 • Santa Cruz Island, California

GENERAL RECREATION

Sunrise Hikes 
Rise with the sun and get your energy flowing! We will go for a brisk hour-long hike followed by 30 minutes of yoga. In the calm atmosphere of nature, Yoga will relax the body and mind to help you be mentally and physically ready for facing your daily challenges. You'll also have a chance to enjoy a healthy snack to enhance your energy levels for the day.
Ages: adults
Activity Level: easy
June 4 • 7 - 8:30 a.m. • Rocky River Nature Center
June 5 • 7 - 8:30 a.m. • Huntington Reservation
June 18 • 7 - 8:30 a.m. • CanalWay Center
     July 16 • 7 - 8:30 a.m. • Rocky River Nature Center
     July 23 • 7 - 8:30 a.m. • Huntington Reservation
     July 30 •7 - 8:30 a.m. • CanalWay Center
Fee: $8 (includes light breakfast)

Fly Fishing Weekend
Fish your weekend away! Potter County Pennsylvania is home to streams stocked with beautiful trout just waiting for your arrival. Located only four hours away, participants will meet us at First Fork Lodge in Austin, PA where you will spend a weekend learning how to fly fish and testing your new skills. Bring your fly fishing equipment and be ready for a great weekend. Registration begins April 20.
Ages: adults
Activity Level: easy
Pre-trip: May 23 • 5:30 - 7 p.m. • Chagrin River Outfitters
Trip:  June 13 - 14 • First Fork Lodge, Austin, PA
Fee: $275 (includes one night lodging, meals at the lodge, casting lessons and guided fishing on Sunday)

How to Survive Just About Anything
Terrorist strikes, bears, floods, mountain lions - what do these things have in common? With planning you can survive them all. Practice fire-starting techniques (without matches), and learn what your disaster kit should have in it for home and the road. We'll even throw in tips for pet disaster kits! Each participant will receive an IGO survival tool to add to your kit.
Ages: adults
Activity Level: easy
May 11 • 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. • Garfield Park Nature Center
Fee: $15

Wilderness First Aid
Join us for a two-day workshop to learn wilderness first aid skills. Designed specifically for groups and their leaders, the workshop stresses preparedness and prevention, wilderness evacuation techniques and long-term patient care in prolonged transport situations. Classroom lectures and discussions will be combined with hands-on experiences in the field. Mock rescues will be practiced in the field that will allow participants to practice skills learned in class.
Ages: adults
Activity Level: moderate
May 30 - 31 • 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. • Look About Lodge
Fee: $195 (Lunch, instruction text and first aid supplies are included.)

Safety in Bear Country
Few animals in the North American wilderness command as much respect, fear or interest as bears. Spend an evening getting a behind-the-scenes tour of the bear area at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and enjoy a light dinner and presentation on how to stay safe when visiting "bear country." Participate in a distance learning session with a leading expert on bear ecology and behavior. Participants will learn how to safely enjoy outdoor activities such as camping, backpacking or fishing in bear country.
Activity Level: easy
May 12 • 6:30 - 9 p.m.
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Auditorium
Fee: $25

Fly Fishing Classes
Want to learn how to catch tasty trout for your summer cookouts? We have two classes to choose from. Class A is a one-day class at Sunnybrook Trout Fishing Club with staff from Chagrin River Outfitters learning the basics of fly fishing. Class B is taught by instructor Bill Grake and is an evening class followed by a full day at Sunnybrook. In both classes you will learn knot tying, lure selection, casting basics and more. Registration begins April 20.
Ages: adults
Activity Level: easy
Class A: June 6 • 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunnybrook Trout Fishing Club
Fee: $75 (equipment and lunch provided)
Class B: July 8 • 6 - 9 p.m. • Garfield Park Nature Center
AND July 12 • 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunnybrook Trout Fishing Club
Fee: $150 (equipment and lunch provided)

 

IGO Gift Certificates

Looking for a gift for the outdoors person who has it all? Why not send them on a trip. Cleveland Metroparks offers gift certificates of any denomination that can be used for Institute of the Great Outdoors programs. To order, call EarthWords ar 216-206-1003         

How to Register

By Mail/Fax: Register immediately for all programs. Complete the registration form including your credit card number or check payable to Cleveland Metroparks.

By Phone: Call 216-341-1704 weekdays between 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. with your Visa or MasterCard (some courses may already be filled).

In-Person: Stop by Garfield Park Nature Center in Garfield Heights weekdays between 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.(some courses may already be filled).

 IGO Registration form

Registration Information

  • For programs with more than one session, note your choice when registering.
  • A course reminder and map will be mailed prior to the first class.
  • By registering, you acknowledge that you have read and understand the refund policy. Participants must complete and sign a liability waiver and medical emergency form prior to participation in any program. Forms are available for review by calling 216-341-1704.

 

Registration Policy

  • Some courses require a certain level of proficiency and knowledge.
  • Prerequisites are listed in the course descriptions. If you have not completed the prerequisite, call 216-341-1704 to discuss skills.
  • Plan to attend all classes.

 

Fees

  • Fees must be paid upon registration.
  • A 50% deposit may be accepted for some programs (see program descriptions).
  • Registration will not be confirmed without fee payment.
  • Program fees recover the direct program costs.

 

Refund Policy

Program fees are not refundable unless Cleveland Metroparks cancels a program. Then a full refund of program fees will be processed.

 

General Information

IGO programs are listed in the January, March, May, July, September and November Emerald Necklace. For more information, call 216-341-1704.

 

For more information and to register for any IGO program, call 216-341-1704.