By Shauna Scott Rhone
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Get outside

Back to nature: Escape holiday stress during a Winter Woods Walk at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Woodland Mound in Anderson Township. Walk along Seasongood Trail with the park naturalist. Hikers should meet in Seasongood Nature Center. Free. 474-0580.

Celebrate the holidays with a Family and Friends Hike at 2 p.m. Friday at Winton Woods in Springfield Township. The naturalist leads visitors along the wooded slopes of the Great Oaks Trail. Meet at the trailhead. Warm up later at Winton Centre with hot chocolate and snacks. Free. 521-7275.

Bring the family out for Animal Days 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Sharon Woods in Sharonville. Hikes at 10 a.m. and live animal programs at 2 p.m. Topics are reptiles on Friday, birds Saturday and amphibians Sunday. Programs demonstrate how these animals survive winter. Free. 563-4513.

A Trailside Winter Scavenger Hunt is 1-3 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Woodland Mound. Come to the Seasongood Nature Center for a game of bingo with a natural twist. Free. 474-0580.

Step up to the Christmas Dinner Burn-up Hike at 9 a.m. Saturday at Fort Hill State Memorial in Hillsboro, Ohio. Free. 981-0801.

Peep at this: Participate in an annual ritual that's really for the birds - the 104th annual Christmas Bird Count, 8 a.m.-noonSunday at the Cincinnati Nature Center Rowe Woods in Milford. Work in small teams hiking the trails. $5, paid on morning of the count. Phone registration requested. 831-1711. Sponsored by the National Audubon Society.

A Burlington count on Saturday (not sponsored by the Audubon) covers birds in western Boone County. Phone registration required for time and meeting place. Free. 586-7520.

New Year's plans

Plan on it: For those determined to be more fit in the new year, here are three events to get you started:

• Sign up now for Orienteering Cincinnati's New Year's Eve Party, 9 p.m.-midnight at Governor Bebb Metropark in Okeana. Enjoy snacks, nonalcoholic drinks and games. Mass orienteering starts at midnight with a one-hour formatted course. A pitch-in breakfast will be held Jan. 1 at the site. The "Hang-O-ver O" starts at 11 a.m. Jan. 1 with traditional white, yellow, orange and green courses. Pay on site: $4 members, $6 nonmembers. $2 daily or $5 annual for 2004 Metroparks motor vehicle permit. 523-9279 or e-mail mikeminium@aol.com.

• You can literally run into 2004 during the 18th annual New Year's Eve Resolution Run 5K starting at 11:45 p.m. at Beavercreek High School in Beavercreek. Pre-registration: $15 through Tuesday includes T-shirt; $17 online at www.active.com includes T-shirt, or $12 without shirt. Game-day registration from 6 to 11 p.m. is $17. (937) 848-3042 or e-mail m_storage@yahoo.com.

• A real "snow or shine" race, the Frostbite Five-Mile Run starts at 10:30 a.m. New Year's Day at the Campbell County YMCA in Fort Thomas no matter the weather. A shorter competitive walk is also available. $10 pre-registration, $15 day of race. T-shirts, $8. (859) 781-1814.

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Contact Shauna Scott Rhone by phone: 768-8511; fax: 768-8330; e-mail: srhone@enquirer.com