Wild and FREE Program at LENSC

Join our Level 3 Junior Naturalists for a wild and free program on February 27th at 3:00pm at the Lake Erie Nature & Science Center. Students will present several of our lesser know live animals, sharing the knowledge and skills they've gained through our Center Junior Naturalists classes. FREE for families of all ages. Visit their website for more information about this and other programs. Enjoy!

Check Out the FREE Make & Take Event at Archiver's This Weekend

Try the newest tools and techniques and take home three awesome projects for FREE this weekend at Archiver's, including a 12x12 page. Now through Monday, February 21st!

17th Annual Ice Festival in Medina This Weekend

The 2011 Ice Festival, February 18-21, will feature two ice carving competitions, on-going demonstrations, and the amazing Fire & Ice Tower. This family-friendly event, paid for by the generous sponsorships of local businesses, is FREE to the public. While most of the carving and demonstrations are done in the late afternoon and early evening, the sculptures will be illuminated at night. Aaron Costic, Olympic Gold Medallist in Ice Carving and owner of Elegant Ice, will place color-changing L.E.D. fixtures under each work of art.

Schedule of Events:
Friday, February 18
5:00pm Carving demonstrations
6:00pm Fire & Ice Tower (sponsored by Excalibur Auto Body)
Saturday, February 19
1-4pm Individual Carving Competitions
Sunday, February 20
11am-2pm, Carving competitions (winners at 3:30pm)
3:00pm Ice Prince and Princess Crowning (Medina Gazette)
Monday, February 21
Enjoy the beauty of the ice sculptures while wandering the historic Square

Visit the link for more information. Enjoy!

FREE Storytime at Target Stores

Come to Target on Saturday, February 26th for Dr. Seuss Storytime! Free at all Target stores from 9-11am.

Get Out Your Calendars: February 2011 FREEbees in Cleveland

Since the plethora of blog posts can sometimes be overwhelming to wade through, I've decided to create a list of events that happen each month. This can be your go-to guide for FREE ongoing programs, events, and activities! Since we're already a week into February, some events have already passed and won't be mentioned. Keep an eye out for a complete list for March at the end of the month. Happy planning!

Art House--All Ages Family Open Art Studio on February 19th (the third Saturday of every month) from 1-3pm. Make individual pieces of family art works. Art house provides the materials. Visit website for more details.
Beck Center for the Arts--Come for Super Saturdays at the Beck Center! Each month Beck Center offers free hands-on arts experiences for children ages 10 and under. February 19th is Orchid Mania! with Cleveland Botanical Garden.
Borders--Silverlicious Celebration: February 12, 2011 @ 2pm. Kids ages 4 to 8 are invited to join us for a special Pinkalicious celebration! NOTE: this is NOT a costume character event. Happy Birthday Elmo: February 26, 2011 @ 2pm. Elmo is celebrating on Sesame Street but we'll have fun without him! Best for kids ages 3 to 6. Visit the website for more details or to find a location!
Rink at Wade Oval--Open through February 21st on the weekends only. Fri & Sat 12-7pm, Sun 12-5pm. Admission is FREE, skate rental $3. Open President's Day, Feb 21st, 12-5pm.
Lowe's Build and Grow Clinics--Saturdays at 10am. Bring the kids into any Lowe's store and build a FREE wooden project. Each participant also receives a free apron, goggles, a project themed patch, and a certification of merit upon completion of their project. Build a Music Box (2/12) and a Pull-back #48 Race Car (2/26) at the Clinics this month.
Chick-fil-A (North Olmsted location)--Family Night on Tuesday the 22nd is Princess & Pirate Night! Bring you children in for FREE fun and activities. When an adult meal is purchased...you will receive a FREE 4 count Kid's Nugget meal. Kids will also make an IceDream sundae.
Great Lakes Science Center--Free Tuesdays for Youth! All youth 18 and under can enjoy FREE general admission to Great Lakes Science Center on Tuesdays when accompanied by an adult. Offer does not include OMNIMAX Theater or Steamship William G. Mather.
Westfield SouthPark Mall--Will be hosting the WFamily Charity Movie Series at Cinemark Strongsville. A different family friendly movie will be featured the third Saturday of each month at 10am, which is Feb 19th. The cost will be to attend will be $2 per person (almost FREE). Tickets will be available the morning of each show starting at 9 a.m. in front of Cinemark Strongsville.
Lake Erie Nature & Science Center--Meet the Great Horned Owl on February 19th! People are intrigued by owls, especially the awesome Great Horned Owl. Come and see why. In this program, we will discuss interesting facts about the “Tiger of the Woods” while viewing one up-close and personal.

If you know of anything that isn't mentioned, please send your ideas my way!

Valentine's Day FREE Date Night Idea

Sweetheart Hike
Saturday, February 12, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Wolf Creek Environmental Center.

Bundle up and bring your sweetheart to enjoy a romantic stroll along the snow-covered trails at Wolf Creek. Upon your return to the building, you may delight in each other’s company, hot beverages, delicious treats and a cozy fire. The perfect after-dinner activity for couples looking for a special way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Adults only please. No registration required. Hike is self guided and can be done anytime between 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. FREE! For the complete Medina County Parks events calendar click:
http://www.medinacountyparks.com/

For other fun outdoor activities at local parks this week, visit here.

FREE Winter Activities This Weekend at Fight the Frost Festival

Saturday, February 12, Canal Way Center in Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation in Cuyahoga Heights. Join in the fun to encourage Northeast Ohioans to quit hibernating and enjoy the winter season. The center staff has planned a fun-filled afternoon of FREE activities inside and outside. The “Fight the Frost Festival” features snowshoeing, winter hikes, nature crafts, bird watching, a puppet show, children’s nature music, and more. Plus, a great way to warm up will be sipping hot chocolate and munching on a few cookies. And while there, build and design a birdhouse with Earth Words Nature Shop. Choose from three different designs and use slotted natural wood for easy assembly. Earth Words will provide markers to decorate the birdhouse, twine to hang, and tips on where to hang it in backyards. Birdhouse kits are only $4. Canal Way Center is located on Whittlesey Way, off the East 49th Street entrance of Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation, between Grant Avenue and Canal Road in Cuyahoga Heights – just off the I-77/Grant Avenue exit. For more information, call 216-206-1000.

Visit this link to view other fun outdoor activities happening this week!

Get 3 FREE Bagels at Bruegger's Bagels on Tuesday, February 8th

Bruegger's is having a Birthday Bash on Tuesday, February 8th, and to celebrate they are giving away FREE bagels! Just "Like" Bruegger's on Facebook and print out your coupon for three FREE bagels on February 8th anytime from open until 2pm. Enjoy!

Sign up to host a Coffee Party on FREE FLAVOR FRIDAY in February

"On Friday, February 4th, 2011 COFFEE-MATE® is saluting its entire roster of flavors, and the people who love them with FREE FLAVOR FRIDAY! A special celebration filled with free product giveaways on Coffee-mate.com and Facebook, FREE FLAVOR FRIDAY is an opportunity to get a coupon for a free bottle of COFFEE-MATE®. Savor your favorite flavor or try a new one for FREE if you are one of the first 100,000 to respond!

And of course, every celebration needs a party! Be a part of the festivities by hosting a COFFEE-MATE® Café Party on FREE FLAVOR FRIDAY." Sign up here!

Ice Skate for FREE at the Rink at Wade Oval

The Rink at Wade Oval is back for a third year of outdoor fun! It's the only FREE outdoor rink in Cleveland. Last year, more than 20,000 people laced up a pair of skates and took to The Rink’s unique polymer surface, which feels just like real ice. This season, visitors are encouraged to stop by the new Wade Oval Information Center to warm up with a cup of hot cocoa or coffee after they're finished skating. Admission is free; skate rental is $3.

Rink Hours of Operation
November 20 - February 21
Weekends Only
Fridays & Saturdays, Noon-7:00 p.m.
Sundays, Noon-5:00 p.m.

December 20 - January 2
Open Daily
Sunday – Thursday, Noon-5:00 p.m.
Friday & Saturday, Noon – 7:00 p.m.

Closed Christmas Day and New Years Day

Open on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 17) and President’s Day (February 21),
Noon-5:00 p.m.

Visit the link for hours of operation and more information!

Target First FREE Thursdays at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Through Thursday, March 3, 2011, visitors to The Cleveland Museum of Natural History will enjoy FREE admission on the first Thursday of each month. Free admission does not apply to school or other groups. Bring the family for a fun-filled day exploring our permanent exhibits and watching the action in our outdoor galleries, where owls, bobcats, otters and more are busy all year long! 2010 Target Free First Thursdays:

October 7, 2010
November 4, 2010
December 2, 2010
January 6, 2011
February 3, 2011
March 3, 2011

http://www.cmnh.org/site/ClassesandPrograms/SpecialEvents/TargetFreeFirstThursdays.aspx