Sat 10/15 @ 11AM

A lot of people think spiders are creepy. Arachnophobia — fear of spiders — is listed as one of the top five most common phobias. But others think they are fascinating, and they don’t exist just to creep you out: they perform valuable functions in our ecosystem.

Naturalist Nora Sindelar at the Geauga Park District is a fan of arachnids (spiders), so she’s created a family-friendly event called Spider Saturday, four hours of programs to introduce people to the habits, functions and value of these eight-legged critters.

The day features three different programs, all taking place at the West Woods Nature Center. At 11am-12:30pm, Dr. Sarah J. Rose, author and spider expert, will share “Spectacular Spiders” to tell you which ones live around us, how they capture their prey and the benefits they offer. There’ll be a limited supply of Rose’s Spiders of North America field guides available for purchase and she’ll be glad to sign them after the program.

Eight-Legged Fun, taking place from 1-2pm, is an all-ages activity hour with spider books from Geauga County Public Library, a spider craft and spider-themed scavenger hunt, as well as a chance to see some spiders found in Northeast Ohio. After that, from 2-3:30pm, Rose and Sindelar will lead a Spider Search & Exploration Hike through the surrounding woods and forests to look for spiders, webs and more.

It’s an all-ages program and while it’s free, registration is required; go to the Geauga Park District website under “Programs & Activities” or call at 440-286-9516.