| Partner Programs |
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Ada Township Park Saturday, October 3 10:00 – 4:00 Free to All Come out and enjoy Ada Township’s new Roselle Park! There will be activities for all ages plus food, music and river stewardship information. Special activities set for the day will include: Exhibits and displays by local river conservation organizations, Live Music, Hands-on and discovery activities for kids, Wagon Rides, Special Presentations, Hiking & Biking, River kayak and canoe information, Snacks available andFree admission “Spooky Creature Feature” Night Hike Ada Park Saturday, October 24 Start times from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. $2/youth, $3/adult Sign up your family or group for a start time between 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., one every 15 minutes. On arrival to the Shelter at Ada Park you will be guided through the trails in the dark where you will “encounter” spooky and scary (and some not so scary) “creatures” that will “teach” you about their lives in the wild. Snacks in the Learning Center after the hikes. Pre-registering with the Park office for a designated start time recommended. Ages 4 though adult suggested. Costumes optional. $2/youth, $3/adult fee. Please visit the Ada Township Park’s webpage for a complete list of events. Website Link: www.adatownshipmi.com __________________________________________________________________________________________ Blandford Nature Center Website Link: www.blandfordnaturecenter.org/events __________________________________________________________________________________________ Calvin College Ecosystem Preserve Super Seeds! 10:00 am to 11:00 am Join Miss Jeanette on a search for seeds around the preserve! Learn more about different types of seeds, seed dispersal and see unique seeds from around the world. Also create your own seed wreath with a variety of different seeds. A great program for families with children ages 4-12. This program is part of the Connecting Families with Nature Passport Program. Saturday, November7, 2009 Camouflage– Animal Hide & Seek 10:00 to 11:00 am Curtis Dykstra, Naturalist Come dressed in your favorite camouflage clothing and discover how and why animals use camouflage. Hidden animal pictures and an active hide & seek activity are sure to create a fun learning experience for children ages 4 to 12 years old. This program is part of the Connecting Families with Nature Passport Program. These free programs are geared for the whole family to enjoy and registration is not required unless designated otherwise. First Saturday programs take place at the Bunker Interpretive Center at the Calvin College Ecosystem Preserve just off the Beltline on the east side of Grand Rapids, MI (1750 Beltline Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546). For directions and more information please visit www.calvin.edu/go/preserve or call 616-526-7601. Please visit the Calvin College Ecosystem Preserve’s webpage for a complete list of events. Website Link: www.calvin.edu/academic/eco-preserve/programs/saturdays.html __________________________________________________________________________________________ Howard Christensen Nature Center Saturday October 10, 2009 10am-3pm Autumn is the perfect time to enjoy the natural wonders of the nature center. The center’s director and interpretive instructors will be available to show you around the Red Pine Interpretive Center and take you on guided hikes. Fall Colors Open House and Raffle Drawing Saturday October 17, 2009 10am-3pm Autumn is the perfect time to enjoy the natural wonders of the nature center. The center’s director and interpretive instructors will be available to show you around the Red Pine Interpretive Center and take you on guided hikes. We will also be drawing for our Fall Colors Benefit Raffle (License # 73102). Please visit the Howard Christensen Nature Center’s webpage for a complete list of events. Website Link: www.kentconservation.org/hcnc __________________________________________________________________________________________ John Ball Zoo Zoo Art Day A live, interactive art demonstration by ArtPrize artist, Tim Marsh. And other activities: KidsZooArtPrize ART Activity, hosted by Jessica Playel, ZooArt Tour, AnimalArt. Visit http://www.johnballzoosociety.org for more information. Saturday, September 26 and Oct 3, 8-9:30 pm Family Twilight Tour Experience the zoo in a new 'light'. Bring your family, flashlight and a sense of adventure for this guided tour of the zoo as the sun goes down. Learn how to use your senses at night and how animals are adapted to life in the dark. Program includes animal encounters, hands-on activities for all ages and guided tour. Visit http://www.johnballzoosociety.org for more information. Friday, October 16,17, 23 and 24 10:00 am -3:00pm Zoo Goes Boo West Michigan's favorite Halloween event! ZOO GOES BOO at John Ball Zoo. Two Fridays & Saturdays. October 16 & 17, and October 23 & 24 - 10-3pm! Trick-or-treat, giant hay maze, fun & krazy gross learning stations, entertainers, crafts, games, special animal demonstrations AND more!!! $5.00 per person ($2.00 members). Visit http://www.johnballzoosociety.org for more information. Saturday, October 17, 2009 Zoo Goes Boo Family Overnight Don't miss our special Halloween "Zoo Goes Boo" family overnight. Sign up today for the Family Overnight Adventure program and see the zoo in a new light! Spend the night at the zoo with your family and enjoy a fun filled learning adventure. Program includes live animal demonstration, zoo tours, evening snack (s'mores), continental breakfast, and a souvenir. Visit http://www.johnballzoosociety.org for more information. Please visit the John Ball Zoo’s webpage for a complete list of events. Website Link: www.johnballzoosociety.org __________________________________________________________________________________________ Wittenbach/Wege Agriscience and Environmental Education Center Harvest Moon Watch September 30th and October 1st 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Please join the Grand Rapids Amateur Astronomical Association for an exploration of our amazing solar system from the deck of the WWC. Observe the moon! Learn to identify Maria and craters! See Jupiter and the moons Galileo discovered in the fall of 1609! Learn how telescopes work! Name the brightest stars! Identify the constellations! This event is free and all are encouraged to attend. Halloween Hike October 17th 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. Want an affordable, fun and educational way to celebrate Halloween with your family? If you answered yes then the Wittenbach/Wege Agriscience and Environmental Education Center’s second annual Halloween Hike is for you! This non-scary alternative to traditional Halloween programs is scheduled for Saturday, October 17th, from 5:30-8:00 p.m. at the Center. The theme for this year, Aliens Invading West Michigan, will bring the lives of nocturnal animals to light through skits along the hiking trail. Afterwards, stop in the Center to warm up and enjoy cider and cookies. Cost is just $1 per child and $2 per adult. We also encourage individuals to enter our pumpkin decorating contest. Carve or paint your best pumpkin and drop it off at the Center on October 15th by 6:00 p.m. Halloween Hike participants will then vote on their favorite pumpkin Saturday night after the hike. There is no entry fee for the contest and the owner of the pumpkin voted best in show will win a gift basket filled with lots of seasonal goodies. All entries can be picked up on Sunday, October 18th between 1-4 p.m. Autumn Olive Removal Workday October 31st 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Help the Land Conservancy of West Michigan restore the oak forest on the Wege Preserve. This workday will focus on removing autumn olive, an invasive shrub, from the understory of the forest that surrounds Lee Creek. This workday is recommended for adults and children 10+ with adult supervision. All tools provided. Please bring leather gloves if you have them. Advanced registration is not required but appreciated. Please email Melanie@naturenearby.org or call 616-451-9476. Please visit the Wittenbach/Wege Agriscience and Environmental Education Center’s webpage for a complete list of events. Website Link: www.lowellschools.com Updated 09/22/2009 |