Put-in-Bay Green Week

Put-in-Bay Green Week Events August 5th-11th at Put-in-Bay and Middle Bass Islands is a time for everyone to take a deep breath and just enjoy the natural beauty of these Lake Erie Ohio Islands. The Put-in-Bay Lake Erie Islands Nature & Wildlife Center, Lake Erie Islands Conservancy, OSU’s Stone Laboratory, and the Put-in-Bay Township Park District have collaborated to put together a week of Ecotourism, .Adventure Travel and Agritourism.

The second annual Put-in-Bay Green Week will allow visitors to learn more about the many natural treasures that are on the Lake Erie Islands. Please see the following schedule.

Middle Bass Island Poker Kayak Day-Saturday, August 5th from Noon until 4 p.m., on Middle Bass Island, the cost is $10. The kayakers will start and finish at the Middle Bass Island State Park camping area. Participants will paddle the island shores of Lake Erie around Middle Bass Island stopping at two preserves and the State Park. Each Put-in-Bay Green Week participant will receive a welcome packet with information about each stop. At the final stop, there will be a cook-out at the State Park with hot-dogs, chips, fruit, and water. Proceeds from the event will be used for new fencing and interpretive signage at the Put-in-Bay Township Park District’s newest preserves on Middle Bass Island. (Rain Date August 6th)

Massie Cliffside Preserve Dawn Walk- Sunday, August 6th –from 8 to 10 a.m. Free. Meet AmeriCorps Intern Samantha Newhouse
at the parking lot on State Route 357 and enjoy a morning walk to the water’s edge.

Dodge Woods Dedication Sunday, August 6th at 2 p.m. Free. Located at the corner of Langram and Thompson
Road. The parking lot is on Thompson Road.

South Bass Island Lighthouse Tours-On Monday, August 7th, and Tuesday, August 8th, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., there will be
free tours of the Put-in-Bay South Bass Island Lighthouse. Guests will be able to tour the lighthouse and learn about its history. Visitors can climb the 60-foot stairway to take in the great view of Put-in-Bay Ohio from the top of the tower, plus tour the historic grounds that include a certified butterfly garden by Monarch Watch. The Lighthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The view from the lighthouse point is stunning!

Wild Tuesdays & Monarch Butterfly Tagging-Tuesday, August 8th from 1 to 3 p.m., at the Lake Erie Islands Nature & Wildlife Center
free to the public. The purpose is to educate visitors on Ohio’s native wildlife by providing an up-close and hands-on interactive experience for visitors and local residents. This  Put-in-Bay Green week topic will be Monarch Butterflies and Fall Tagging. Jackie Taylor has been tagging monarchs as they migrate through the Lake Erie Islands since 2012. This is a great family event. The entrance to the museum will also be free.

Put-in-Bay Island Preserve Ramble and Eco-Tour- Tuesday, August 8th at 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., on South Bass Island. Put-in-Bay Green Week Participants will meet at the Put-in-Bay Town Hall at 9 a.m. to pick up their wristbands and tour packet that includes 33 plus locations to see. This includes maps, times of activities, tour booklets, several goodies, freebies and coupons from island businesses. This unique ramble and island tour will include many fun nature-related stops. Among the highlights planned will be hiking Coopers Woods and seeing the entrance to a natural cave. Take in a talk and show at the Senior Center about “The Maiden Voyage of Onward.” Get a discount all day at Kayak the Bay, plus a free dry bag. Receive a special discounted day rental at Put-in-Bay Golf Cart Rentals. Visit all five island preserves. Tour Freshwater Retreat built in the 1860’s/1870’s. Visit a 1912 historic Put-in-Bay island home at 4 p.m. to see a 75-gallon freshwater aquarium filled with native species. Tea and cookies will be provided at this historic island home on Bayview Avenue overlooking the harbor of Put-in-Bay. Tour an island vineyard and glacial grooves and enjoy discounted tickets at Perry’s Cave, The Butterfly House, and Heineman Winery and Crystal Cave tour.

Put-in-Bay Green Week Participants will enjoy free entry to the Lake Erie Islands Historical Museum, the Wildlife Center, and the Lighthouse. Plus, visit both Put-in-Bay churches, the school, the library, and the gym. At the end of the day enjoy a fire at the South Bass Island  State Park  Transportation for the Ramble is on your own. Proceeds benefit the Put-in-Bay Township Park District and will be used to maintain and preserve island parks. The fee for adults is $20. Under 18 is Free. (Early ticket sales 419-341- 2725)

Historic Gibraltar Island Tour-Wednesday, August 9th from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Cost $5 per person (Special Price for Island Green Week Only). Gibraltar Island Tour Discount Is only for Eco-Ramble participants (must show wristband). Take the Water Taxi from the Boardwalk. Special price for the water taxi only this day is $3 Round Trip. (Please park at the Put-in-Bay Town Hall or on Street, not at Boardwalk).

Nature & Wildlife Center’s Annual Pig Roast & Raffle Wednesday, August 9th from 6 until 9 p.m., near the beautiful woods at the Goat Restaurant at Put-in-Bay. Islanders will put on a true island-style pig roast. Food tickets are for sale at the LEINWC for $15 until August 8th and $20 the day of the event. This feast features a slowly roasted hog spit on an outdoor barbecue grill with corn and baked potatoes, dessert included. Island wine culture is featured and island wines will be available. The Chinese Bucket Raffle and other raffles will feature a variety of island prizes you cannot get anyplace else; a trip for two to Rattlesnake Island, a day sail trip aboard the U.S. Brig Niagara,Ferry Passes, five-course dinner for four at a local restaurant, hand-crafted artwork and jewelry from Jessie an artist famous on South Bass Island for her gorgeous gemstones. Raffle tickets will be available at the Wildlife Center every day and at the Town Hall at the Eco-Tour August 8th. Much of the food is donated by island restaurants. The proceeds from this event will go towards the Building Addition Fund for more space at the Lake Erie Islands Nature & Wildlife Center to continue to carry out its mission educating youth and adults about the unique ecology on the Lake Erie islands.

3rd Annual Put-in-Bay Green Week Stargazing Cruise- On Thursday, August 10th at 8 p.m., is the third annual Stargazing Cruise. Tickets prices are Adults $20 and Kids $10. The cruise will leave from the downtown Miller Boat Line dock via Miller Boat Line. The stars will light up the sky as island resident, a retired teacher and astronomer Jay Reynolds will engage the guests about the night sky, planets and stars allowing the general public an opportunity to enjoy a show from outer space on the ferry boat. Heineman Winery is donating wine with nice appetizers. —

Put-in-Bay Hotels and Resorts including the Put-in-Bay Resort, Bay Lodging Resort, the Edgewater Hotel, and the Put-in-Bay Villas will be offering special rates and packages for Put-in-Bay Green week attendees. Reservations may be made by calling the central reservation number at 1-888-742-7829

Aquatic Visitor Center Tours Historic Fish Hatchery On Friday, August 11th from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m, visitors can stop by the Put-in-Bay Aquatic Visitors Center for free to experience Lake Erie science up close. The center is about one mile west of downtown Put-in-Bay. Activities include inspecting Lake Erie’s complex ecosystem through hands-on displays, observing and identifying live fish in ten large aquariums and discovering current research to protect Lake Erie. Children under age 16 can fish from the fishing pier for free. The facility is run by Ohio State University’s Stone Lab. This day will also include a special interpretive program about invasive species