Summer is an exciting season at Pyramid Hill! The lineup of programming coming to the Park in June, July, and August is so full, nearly every weekend boasts family-friendly programming for all ages. Read on to find fun debut activities and the return of family favorites coming to Pyramid Hill this summer
Dogs & Doughnuts
10AM – 11:30AM
Bring your furry family along to craft pet-friendly treats and treasures at the Park. Snack on doughnuts and work together with your dog to create a unique masterpiece. Dogs & Doughnuts events are drop-in (no registration) and are included in general Park admission. All dogs must remained leashed.
Saturday, June 1: Watch your dog paint a masterpiece with a little help from peanut butter
Saturday, July 6: Tie-dye a bandana for your furry friend
Saturday, August 3: Pose your pup for a portrait by a caricature artist and create a paw print bouquet
Thank you to Susan Domonkos for support of the Dogs & Doughnuts series!
Family Fun on the Hill
10AM – 2PM
Celebrate play and creativity with the whole family at Pyramid Hill! Join in on artist-led projects and nature adventures as you explore the Park together at these monthly programs. Family Fun on the Hill events are drop-in (no registration) and are included in general admission.
Saturday, June 8: Invisible; Explore the invisible as you build fairy houses with artist collective Permabuds, create artful wind chimes with artist Sophia Grollmus, write secret messages, and more
Saturday July 13: Strike a Pose; Strike a pose as you create self-portraits with artist Julia Lipovsky, make and play with puppets from artist Lizzy Duquette, and join in on kid-friendly yoga inspired by the animals that live around us
Saturday, August 10: Sounds All Around; Explore the noises all around you as you create a nature sound map, play with percussion instruments from Band in a Van, and enjoy a performance from the Cincinnati Opera
Summer Series for Kids
1PM – 2PM
From creating artwork to meeting critters, these bi-weekly summer art and nature workshops for kids ages 5-12 are a summer tradition for many families in Butler County. We are excited to welcome back favorites from years past, like Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, and introduce exciting new workshops including kite-making and copper tooling. Each workshop requires registration through our website; www.pyramidhill.org/summerseriesforkids2024
Friday, June 14: Copper Creations; Carve designs into copper sheets using wooden tools in this hands-on workshop inspired by the ancient artwork of the People of the Hopewell culture. Participants are encouraged to visit Mounds, Moon, and Stars on display in the Gallery Museum. Organized by the Great Circle Alliance, this exhibition explores the ceremonial sites we now call the Newark Earthworks and the astounding expertise of those who built them
Friday, June 28: Kite Making; Craft your own kite with step by step guidance from artist Lizzy Duquette! Then, put your kite creation to the test throughout Pyramid Hill’s 300 acres of park grounds
Friday, July 12: “Only Owls”; What is that bird hooting in the night? In this program, meet three Ohio native owls from the Glen Helen Raptor Center and discover their unique adaptations that make them masters of the night
Friday, July 26: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom; Bang on buckets and learn to make rhythm with everyday objects alongside percussionist Stan Ginn. Who doesn’t love to bang on stuff?
Nature/Nurture Series: Outdoor Yoga
9:30AM – 10:30AM
Every other Saturday from June 15 through August 24
Cultivate mindfulness and explore the natural world in our Nature/Nurture series. Relax and practice mindful movement in nature at our summer yoga series, designed for beginners and experienced practitioners alike. Enjoy a calming practice that fosters flexibility and strength in a beautiful outdoor setting amidst sculptures, fields and forests.
The Nature/Nurture series at Pyramid Hill was sponsored by the Photography Club of Cincinnati.
Wilks Insurance Fishing Derby
Saturday, June 15
10AM – 12PM
Create a family tradition in the great outdoors with our annual Fishing Derby! Test your skills in a catch-and-release contest that kids and adults can enjoy together, and learn about healthy watersheds with Butler County Soil and Water Conservation District. The Fishing Derby is a drop-in event (no registration) and is free to participants thanks to generous support by Wilks Insurance.
NEW: Story Time for Littles
10AM – 11AM
Listen, move, play, and create at our art and nature story time for children 4 and under. Stories curated with help from Lane Library. This program is best suited for children 4 and under and their grown-ups, although older children are welcome. Story Time for Littles events are drop-in (no registration) and are included in general Park admission.
Friday, June 21: Nocturnal Animals; Learn about nocturnal animals, their habits, and their importance with the help of sensory activities and night-themed crafts!
Friday, July 19: Scribble & Wiggle; One wiggly line has the potential to be anything! Scribble and wiggle along to stories about creating entire masterpieces out of simple lines
Friday, August 16: Plants & Trees; Make leaf prints and learn about the wonderful plants and trees we see outside every day
Nature/Nurture: Forest Bathing
Sunday, August 18
1PM – 3PM
Cultivate mindfulness and explore the natural world in our Nature/Nurture series. Forest Bathing, or Shinrin-Yoku (“Bathing in the Healing Elements of the Forest”) is an evidence-based practice from Japan that quiets the mind by gently re-awakening our five senses. The session involves a slow guided walk, a sequence of soothing, nature-based readings, moments of stillness, and poetry that will be led by Pam Lowe Cho, ANFT-Certified Forest Therapy Guide.
The Nature/Nurture series at Pyramid Hill was sponsored by the Photography Club of Cincinnati.
Adult Workshop: Botanical Painting
Sunday, August 25
1PM – 3PM
Learn the basics of making your own paints, then use natural paints to paint local flora in this workshop led by artist Devan Horton. No experience necessary!