summer outdoor education
We’re excited to get outside with your little ones this summer! Program descriptions are listed below by age group. Click the buttons below to register.
Knee high naturalist (ages 3-5)
PROGRAM FULL!
Tuesday, June 27 at Resort Township East Park
10:00 – 11:30am
Bring your imagination and creativity as we make magical homes from natural materials for our forest friends. We will leave our fairy houses and gnome homes in the woods, but will make a special project to bring back to our own homes.
PROGRAM FULL!
Tuesday, July 11 at Spring Lake Park
10:00-11:30am
Come explore the amazing world of tiny water insects. We will learn about aquatic insects like mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies that make their homes in the mud and rocks of ponds and streams. By collecting our own aquatic insects and taking a closer look we will discover the special features of these cool water critters!
PROGRAM FULL!
Tuesday, July 18 at Spring Lake Park
10:00-11:30am
There are so many smells, sights, sounds, and touches to discover! During our adventure we will engage all of our senses through activities and observations of the natural world.
PROGRAM FULL!
Tuesday, July 25 at Resort Township East Park
10:00-11:30am
Get ready to take a peek under logs and rocks, look up into the sky and through tall meadow grass to discover some amazing critters. Stories, activities, and crafts will help us get a closer glimpse into the world of insects and their unique adaptations.
PROGRAM FULL!
Tuesday, August 1 at Spring Lake Park
10:00-11:30am
Come join avid birder and LTC Volunteer Mary Trout to learn all about birds, including amazing flying facts, the family life of birds and much more bird lore. Come ready to discover the world of birds through observations, activities, and crafts.
Junior Naturalists (ages 6-8)
Adventure Naturalists (ages 9-12)
Thursday, June 29 at Boyne School Forest
10:00-11:30am
Our friends at Top of Michigan Mountain Bike Association (TOMMBA) built this trail system that meanders through a beautiful rolling hardwood forest. Designed for beginner to intermediate level riders. Bring your own mountain bike. Extra water, appropriate footwear, and helmets are
required.
Thursday, July 6 at Charles A. Ransom Nature Preserve
10:00-11:30am
This program will focus on one of the five priorities of survival, shelter building! We will also cover the importance of being prepared before venturing out into the woods, the 10 essentials, and the mindset needed in survival situations. The program includes a short hike. Sturdy shoes are recommended.
Thursday, July 13 at Five Mile Creek Nature Preserve
10:00-12:00pm
Take a walk on the wild side of the creek! With no established trail, this preserve is for the adventurous child. Be prepared to have some fun getting muddy and wet! This walk will be different from walking a maintained trail, and will require maneuvering over logs and through branches.
Dress for hiking, in clothes you won’t mind getting wet.
Thursday, July 20 at Round Lake Boat Launch via Powell Rd.
10:00-11:30am
You won’t want to miss this amazing opportunity to explore Round Lake via kayak! Life jackets are required. Some kayaks and life jackets are available. Space is limited.
PROGRAM IS FULL!
Thursday, July 27 at Offield Family Viewlands
9:00am-12:00pm
Trout Unlimited is partnering with LTC to offer this incredible opportunity for youth! Fly fishing is a beautiful sport that can be done throughout a lifetime in some of the world’s most beautiful places. This program will expose children to the sport of fly fishing, basics of fly tying, casting instruction and give them the opportunity to fish. All gear is provided. Space is limited. Please wear appropriate footwear and clothing you don’t mind getting wet. A towel and change of clothes is also recommended.
Thursday, August 3 at Agnes S. Andreae Nature Preserve
10:00am-12:00pm
Our adventure will begin with a hike along the Pigeon River to a gorgeous lookout and one of our nation’s only nature megaphones. The hike is two miles in total. If tromping through the woods and playing along a river sounds like fun, then this is the program for you! Dress for hiking, in clothes you won’t mind getting wet.
PROGRAM IS FULL!
Monday, June 26 Spring Lake Park
10:00-11:30am
Come for a leisurely ride along the paved bike path leading from Spring Lake Park. Riding north, we will pass several LTC nature preserves along the way. Parents are encouraged to come along. Helmets and extra water are recommended. This is an easy paved trail. However, children are expected to have an intermediate level of riding experience. Please bring your own bike. Meet at Spring Lake Park pavilion.
Wednesday, June 28 at Offield Family Working Forest Reserve
10:00-11:30am
Do you hear that buzzing sound? Join us as we explore the fascinating world of pollinators, like bees, butterflies, birds and beetles. We will learn the reason for a flower, observe the parts of a flower, identify some common wildflowers and help pollinate flowers by becoming pollinators ourselves! Through stories, activities, and crafts your naturalist will discover the importance of pollinators in our world.
PROGRAM IS FULL!
Monday, July 3 at Spring Lake Park
10:00-11:30am
Join LTC staff for a fishing adventure where we will observe fish up close, practice casting, and then go fishing! All fishing materials supplied and all experience levels welcome.
Wednesday, July 5 at Watson Nature Preserve
10:00-11:30am
Come out, come out, wherever you are! Camouflage helps animals blend into their surroundings and avoid being someone else’s lunch. We will build on our observational skills, while learning predator and prey adaptations through a fun hide-and-seek activity along the trail.
Monday, July 10 at Allan & Virginia McCune Nature Preserve via Berger Rd
10:00-11:30am
Bugs and slugs and everything in between! These little ones need homes too. Where do they eat, play, and sleep? Why are they called “decomposers”? Where would you hide if you were this small? Let’s build a shelter of our own!
Wednesday, July 12 at Spring Lake Park
10:00-11:30am
We will learn about food chains and energy flow through an ecosystem! Then, come along with us to do some scientist work! During this program we will use our attention to detail and observational skills to dissect an owl pellet and learn how this relates back to food chains.
PROGRAM IS FULL!
Monday, July 17 at Offield Family Viewlands
10:00-11:30am
We’ll explore the underwater world to discover the tiny creatures that live in ponds. We will use tools to safely examine the aquatic dwellers. All materials supplied, but children are welcome to bring their own dipping items. Be sure to dress for muck and goo!
PROGRAM IS FULL!
Wednesday, July 19 at Hailand/Helstrom Nature Preserve
10:00-11:30am
Insect enthusiasts, rejoice! Get ready to lift a log, dig through the mud, and follow the buzz in search of fascinating bugs. Let’s see how many different kinds of insects we can find. Sweep nets, bug jars, identification books, and travel-sized microscopes are provided, but feel free to bring your own!
Monday, July 24 at Allan & Virginia McCune Nature Preserve via Berger Rd
10:00-11:30am
Animals need homes too. Where do they eat, play, and sleep? Let’s explore some different habitats and where these woodland friends find shelter. Where would you hide? Let’s build a shelter of our own!
Wednesday, July 26 at Allan & Virginia McCune Nature Preserve via Berger Rd
10:00-11:30am
This program focuses on shelter building, the 10 essentials, and the mindset needed in survival situations. We’ll cover the importance of being prepared and informed before venturing out into the woods, as well as shelter building. Sturdy shoes are recommended as there will also be a short hike.
Monday, July 31 at Waldron Fen Nature Preserve
10:00-11:30am
Come join avid birder and LTC Volunteer Mary Trout to learn all about birds, including amazing flying facts, the family life of birds and much more bird lore. Come ready to discover the world of birds through observations, activities, and crafts.
PROGRAM IS FULL!
Wednesday, August 2 at Thorne Swift Nature Preserve
10:00-11:30am
Take a hike through the magical Thorne Swift Nature Preserve where animal homes and wildlife are abundant! We will talk about what makes a mammal a mammal, you will get to see mammal specimens up close and if you’re lucky (and sneaky!), maybe see some in real life on our nature hike!
