Description: Join a group of passionate women who own and/or appreciate woodlands on March 7th from 1:00 - 4:30pm for a hands-on workshop to learn about best land management practices. During this workshop, you will learn about the best land management practices, cost share opportunities for landowners, and shoreline management. Become inspired to add native species into your landscape and sketch out a management plan of your own!

When: Friday, March 7th from 1:00 - 4:30pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd., Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: Registration is now full.

Join the Grand Traverse Conservation District (GTCD) and Earthen Ales for Spring Nature Trivia! Whether you are a nature enthusiast, a trivia buff, or simply looking for a fun way to learn, this is the perfect adventure for you! Embrace the curiosity, challenge your knowledge, and discover the marvels that surround us every day!

When: Friday, March 21st starting at 6pm

Where: Earthen Ales, 1371 Gray Dr., Suite 200, Traverse City, MI 49684

Registration: Free to play. No registration needed, limited space available. Up to 6 players per team.

Prizes: *To be announced

Description: Celebrate Spring at the Grand Traverse Conservation District among local nature-themed artisans. Find the perfect gift for a friend, loved one, or treat yourself!

When: Saturday, March 22nd from 11:00am - 2:00pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd., Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: Free. Registration not required but is appreciated to help us plan. Please click here to register.

Description: Have an up-close experience with live raptors from North Sky Raptor Sanctuary, and learn about Michigan raptors in the spring!

When: Friday, March 28th from 6:00 - 7:00pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd, Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: Free for ages under 2; $10 for children under 12; $15 for ages 12 and up; $55 for a family of 5+. Registration is required. Please click here to register. Registration fees support North Sky Raptor Sanctuary.

Description: Join the Grand Traverse Conservation District and the Great Lakes Mushroom Company for a two-part, hands-on educational workshop about mushroom cultivation! Take home a mushroom grow kit, explore cloning, learn how to grow mushrooms indefinitely, and more!

Part 101 (2:00 - 4:00pm) : Follow step-by-step instructions to make your own 5lb sterilized substrate grow bag. Learn how to care for your kit at home and sample delicious mushroom dishes provided by GLMC.

Part 102 (5:00 - 7:00pm) : Explore cloning, collecting spores, Taking spore prints, creating agar dishes, and create your own liquid culture in sterile jars.

When: Sunday, April 6th

Part 101 : 2:00 - 4:00pm

Part 102: 5:00 - 7:00pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Road, Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: $50 per session. Must register by March 21st to reserve a spot. Please click here to register.

*a meal will be provided to participants that register for both sessions*

Description: Become a certified educator in the nationally-recognized Project Learning Tree and Project WILD curricula! Engage in a hands-on workshop investigating environmental topics with indoor and outdoor activities. This workshop is designed for formal and nonformal educators. *SCECH’s available upon request.

When: Friday, April 11th from 10:00am - 3:30pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd, Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: $70/person. Includes two curriculum books. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Ease into the spring gardening season at GTCD’s 4th annual Seed Swap!
Bring your garden seeds - any vegetables, fruits, or flowers that you enjoy growing and plan to leave with seeds for your 2025 garden! Don’t forget to stop by the Traverse Area District Library’s station to check out their seed library!

When: Saturday, April 12th from 10:00am - 12:00pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd, Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: Free. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Join us for our Family & Children Geology Hike: Hiking Through the Legacy of the Ice Age featuring the Grand Traverse Area Rock and Mineral Club Pebble Pups. This hike offers participants the unique opportunity to traverse the terrains shaped by the colossal forces of the Ice Age. Led by knowledgeable guides well-versed in geological history, hikers will walk through picturesque remnants of ice-carved landscapes while gaining insights into the ecological and geological legacies left by the retreating ice.

This program is geared towards an audience of children and families.

When: Saturday, April 12th from 10:00am - 12:00pm

Where: Brown Bride Quiet Area 

Registration: Free. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Grab your shovels and give back to nature this Earth Day! Join us at the Boardman River Nature Center for native planting along the Natural Education Reserve's Bottomlands. Help repopulate the watershed with native seedlings and trees!

When: Tuesday, April 22nd from 10:00am - 2:00pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd., Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: Free. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Join the Great Lakes Incubator Farm for an engaging Seed Starting Workshop designed to help you grow healthy plants from the ground up! Participants will learn about seed selection (heirloom vs. hybrid), germination techniques, transplanting tips, organic pest and disease prevention methods, proper soil and containers, and essential practices for maintaining light, temperature, and water balance. Participants will conclude the workshop with a hands-on activity to plant seeds to take home.

Whether you're a first-time gardener or a seasoned grower, you'll gain hands-on experience and expert tips to ensure your seedlings thrive.

When: Wednesday, April 23rd from 5:00 - 6:00pm

Where: Great Lakes Incubator Farm (GLIF), 1091 N Keystone Rd, Traverse City, MI 49696

Registration: $10/person. Please click here to register.

Description: Join a GTCD naturalist on a walk though East Creek Reserve to learn the basics of identifying spring edibles.

When: Thursday, April 24th from 3:00 - 4:30pm

Where: East Creek Reserve. Meet at the parking lot on Mayfield Road.

Registration: $15/ person. This program is geared towards an audience of 18+. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Connect with the natural world on paper! During this 3-part series, you will slow down and nurture your connection with the outdoors. Each week will focus on a different theme including; nature journaling basics, all senses on paper, and sketching like scientists. Afterwards, you will leave with the tools to confidently continue your nature journaling experience!

No prior experience necessary! All supplies included.

When: Thursday, May 1st from 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd, Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: $25 per session or $60 if you register for all three sessions. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Join us for the second Family & Children Geology Hike featuring the Grand Traverse Area Rock and Mineral Club Pebble Pups - Journey Into the World of Fossils! Embark on a hike that invites you to step back in time and explore the geological wonders of our planet. This program will guide hikers through a landscape rich in ancient echoes, where fossilized remnants tell the tales of prehistoric life. Led by seasoned experts in paleontology, this event combines a scenic hike with hands-on fossil discovery, offering participants the chance to learn about ancient creatures.

This program is geared towards an audience of children and families.

When: Saturday, May 3rd from 10:00am - 12:00pm

Where: Meet at the Meadows Pavilion on the Natural Education Reserve.

Registration: Free. Please click here to register.

Description: Experiment with textures and ink with monoprinting at the Boardman River Nature Center! Whether you're a seasoned printmaker or a curious beginner, you’ll create something completely unique.

Participants will have the opportunity to create and take home a framed piece of artwork and charming greeting cards.

This workshop is recommended for ages 10+.

When: Saturday, May 3rd from 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd., Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: $35/person. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Join the Grand Traverse Conservation District and our partner, the Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network (ISN), in planting native seedlings on the beautiful landscape of Hickory Meadows. We will also hand pull invasive garlic mustard that has been located in parts of the park.

When: Saturday, May 10th from 9:00am - 12:00pm

Where: Hickory Meadows, Randolph St, Traverse City, MI 49684

Registration: Free. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Connect with the natural world on paper! During this 3-part series, you will slow down and nurture your connection with the outdoors. Each week will focus on a different theme including; nature journaling basics, all senses on paper, and sketching like scientists. Afterwards, you will leave with the tools to confidently continue your nature journaling experience!

No prior experience necessary! All supplies included.

When: Thursday, May 15th from 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd, Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: $25 per session or $60 if you register for all three sessions. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Learn how crops protect themselves from pests and diseases, and how to create a balanced ecosystem with our Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Workshop at the Great Lakes Incubator Farm! This hands-on workshop explores beyond the fundamentals of IPM and the vital role pollinator habitats play in sustainable agriculture. Topics covered include plants' disease and pest defense mechanisms, practical strategies for managing pests effectively while fostering biodiversity and supporting pollinator health.

Participants will practice pest scouting in the field and develop a personalized IPM plan for their garden or farm! 

When: Wednesday, May 21st from 5:00 - 6:00pm

Where: Great Lakes Incubator Farm (GLIF), 1091 N Keystone Rd, Traverse City, MI 49696

Registration: $10/person. Please click here to register.

Description: Come visit the Boardman River Nature Center for after-hours fun. Be a nature detective and complete an educational scavenger hunt. Learn about Michigan Animals and their homes through the soft glow of lanterns.

This program is geared towards an audience of children and families.

When: Friday, May 23rd from 6:00am - 7:30pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd, Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: $5 suggested donation. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Connect with the natural world on paper! During this 3-part series, you will slow down and nurture your connection with the outdoors. Each week will focus on a different theme including; nature journaling basics, all senses on paper, and sketching like scientists. Afterwards, you will leave with the tools to confidently continue your nature journaling experience!

No prior experience necessary! All supplies included.

When: Thursday, May 29th from 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd, Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: $25 per session or $60 if you register for all three sessions. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Hike with our District Forester to learn about the local ecology and management considerations of Michigan forest ecosystems!

When: Friday, May 30th from 10:00am - 12:00pm

Where: Hickory Forest, trailhead access is located off Barney Road, across from Harris Road.

Registration: Free. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Become a certified educator in the nationally-recognized Project Learning Tree and Project WILD curricula! Engage in a hands-on workshop investigating environmental topics with indoor and outdoor activities. This workshop is designed for formal and nonformal educators. *SCECH’s available upon request.

When: Wednesday, June 11th from 10:00am - 3:30pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd, Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: $70/person. Includes two curriculum books. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Take a break from your busy schedule to immerse yourself in nature. Reap the benefits of hearing birds, touching trees, and practice mindfulness techniques. Slow down and use your five senses on a GTCD managed parkland. Each hike (led by a GTCD Naturalist) will meet at a different trailhead and follow a similar structure of wellness activities on trail.

When: Thursday, June 12th from 5:00 - 6:30pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd., Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: $5/person per hike. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Discover new skills to grow to healthier plants and higher yields at the Great Lakes Incubator Farm’s Soil Testing & Analysis Workshop! Learn about how labs test your sample, how to pull your soil sample, choosing the right lab, and how to interpret the results to improve your garden or farm’s productivity.

When: Wednesday, June 18th from 5:00 - 6:00pm

Where: Great Lakes Incubator Farm (GLIF), 1091 N Keystone Rd, Traverse City, MI 49696

Registration: $10/person. Please click here to register.

Description: Join the Grand Traverse Conservation District for an introduction to home food preservation, specifically on water bath, high acid canning method. This workshop features a live demonstration from MSUE Food Safety Educator Kara Lynch.

When: Wednesday, June 25th from 5:00 - 7:00pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd., Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: Free. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Hike with our District Forester to learn about the local ecology and management considerations of Michigan forest ecosystems!

When: Friday, June 27th from 10:00am - 12:00pm

Where: East Creek Reserve. Meet at the parking lot on Mayfield Road.

Registration: Free. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Take a break from your busy schedule to immerse yourself in nature. Reap the benefits of hearing birds, touching trees, and practice mindfulness techniques. Slow down and use your five senses on a GTCD managed parkland. Each hike (led by a GTCD Naturalist) will meet at a different trailhead and follow a similar structure of wellness activities on trail.

When: Thursday, July 10th from 5:00 - 6:30pm

Where: Great Lakes Incubator Farm (GLIF), 1091 N Keystone Rd, Traverse City, MI 49696

Registration: $5/person per hike. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Join us at the Great Lakes Incubator Farm for a hands-on Garden Tool Use and Maintenance Workshop! Learn how to properly use, clean, sharpen, and care for your garden tools to keep them working like new. Participants will leave this workshop with skills to improve efficiency, save time, and extend the life of your tools.

When: Wednesday, July 23rd from 5:00 - 6:00pm

Where: Great Lakes Incubator Farm (GLIF), 1091 N Keystone Rd, Traverse City, MI 49696

Registration: $10/person. Please click here to register.

Description: Hike with our District Forester to learn about the local ecology and management considerations of Michigan forest ecosystems!

When: Friday, July 25th from 10:00am - 12:00pm

Where: Natural Education Reserve. Meet at the Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd, Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: Free. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Join the Grand Traverse Conservation District for an introduction to home food preservation, specifically low acid high pressure canning. This workshop features a live demonstration from MSUE Food Safety Educator Kara Lynch.

When: Wednesday, August 6th from 5:00 - 7:00pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd., Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: Free. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Take a break from your busy schedule to immerse yourself in nature. Reap the benefits of hearing birds, touching trees, and practice mindfulness techniques. Slow down and use your five senses on a GTCD managed parkland. Each hike (led by a GTCD Naturalist) will meet at a different trailhead and follow a similar structure of wellness activities on trail.

When: Thursday, August 14th from 5:00 - 6:30pm

Where: Brown Bridge Quiet Area, East Overlook parking lot on Ranch Rudolph Rd

Registration: $5/person per hike. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Join us for this interactive workshop as part of the Great lakes Incubator Farm Community "Growing Together" Series, where we’ll explore the benefits of cover cropping and crop rotation for soil health and sustainable farming. Learn which cover crop species work best for different goals, such as improving soil structure, reducing erosion, or fixing nitrogen, and discover how strategic crop rotations can enhance fertility, suppress pests, and maximize yields. Perfect for gardeners, farmers, and anyone passionate about growing sustainably!

When: Wednesday, September 17th from 5:00 - 6:00pm

Where: Great Lakes Incubator Farm (GLIF), 1091 N Keystone Rd, Traverse City, MI 49696

Registration: $10/person. Please click here to register.

Description: Discover the techniques and tools needed to keep your garden or farm productive through the cold months at the Great Lakes Incubator Farm’s Season Extension & Winter Production Workshop! This workshop will explore strategies for extending the harvest season and producing crops throughout winter, utilizing season-extension tools like row covers and hoop houses, and planning your planting schedule for year-round harvests.

Learn about using high tunnels, low tunnels, cold frames, crop selection and timing for extended winter harvests, and tips for hoop house fertility and temperature management in the cold.

When: Wednesday, October 15th from 5:00 - 6:00pm

Where: Great Lakes Incubator Farm (GLIF), 1091 N Keystone Rd, Traverse City, MI 49696

Registration: $10/person. Please click here to register.