Tuesday Excursions
Museum of Biological Diversity Tour (Free) 
Join us for a tour of Ohio State’s biological research collection, which dates back to the University’s founding in 1870. Special collections include those in Acarology, the Borror Lab of Bioacoustics, the Triplehorn Insect Collection, Crustacea, Fishes, the Herbarium, Mollusks, and Tetrapods. https://mbd.osu.edu
The Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Tour (Free)
The Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center (BPCRC) at The Ohio State University is recognized internationally as a leader in polar, alpine, and climate research with research programs conducted throughout the world. The Center is named in honor of Admiral Richard E. Byrd, America’s most famous polar explorer. There are ten research groups at BPCRC, along with a Library, Archival Program, the Polar Rock Repository, and a team of support staff. Research at the Center focuses on the role of cold regions in the Earth’s overall climate system, and encompasses geological sciences, geochemistry, glaciology, paleoclimatology, meteorology, remote sensing, ocean dynamics, and the history of polar exploration. https://bpcrc.osu.edu
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
The Conservatory’s extensive gardens and art collections pulse with life and bring the truly exotic wonders of nature right to you. Explore over 400 species of plants from around the world in the Conservatory’s biomes, take in the beauty of James Turrell’s Light Raiment II, or simply marvel at the intricate glasswork of Dale Chihuly. https://www.fpconservatory.org/explore/gardens-collections/
Saturday Excursions
The Wilds
The Wilds is a private, non-profit conservation center located on nearly 10,000 acres of reclaimed mine land in rural southeastern Ohio. It was created as the conservation center of the future by a group of civic leaders, political leaders and zoo professionals who believed that a serious scientific approach was required to find solutions to environmental concerns.
From its inception, the Wilds has been envisioned as a facility that combines cutting-edge conservation science and education programs with unique visitor opportunities.
Take a 2.5 hour tour of the facilites on a safari bus which will put you up close and personal with the residents of the park. Lunch will be on your own in the café at The Wilds.
https://thewilds.columbuszoo.org/home/visit
Hocking Hills State Park
Located on the Alleghany Plateau in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, the Hocking Hills State Park features 12 separate hiking trails spread out over as many separate parks. The geological features include cliffs, lakes, gorges, waterfalls, and true caves and are truly a beautiful way to spend a day. We will pre-select 2-3 of the trails which range in difficulty from highly accessible to moderate hikes. A boxed lunch will be provided for this day-long adventure. http://www.hockinghills.com/about_hocking_hills.html
National Museum of the US Air Force at Wright Patterson Air Force Base [Cancelled]
Spend the day touring the world’s largest military aviation museum featuring aircraft dating back to the beginning of the modern era of flight, and including such treasures as SAM 26000 (the 707 first painted in the familiar scheme as Air Force One) and other Presidential aircraft. Lunch will be on your own in the on-site café.
http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil