Description: Enjoy the full moon and celebrate the winter solstice by walking a lantern-lit trail on the Natural Education Reserve. If the weather allows, a limited amount of snow shoes will be available.

When: Sunday, December 15th from 5:00 - 6:30pm

Where: Natural Education Reserve, 1450 Cass Rd., Traverse City, MI 49685

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

Description: Kick off the holiday season by creating a wreath for your front door! This DIY experience allows you to create a beautiful wreath you'll be proud to hang in your home. Wreath form, a mix of fresh evergreens, ribbon, instructions, and tools will be provided. Attendees will take home their gorgeous wreaths at the end of the class.

When: Saturday, December 14th from 10:00am - 12:00pm

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

Registration: $50/person. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Kick off the holiday season by creating a wreath for your front door! This DIY experience allows you to create a beautiful wreath you'll be proud to hang in your home. Wreath form, a mix of fresh evergreens, ribbon, instructions, and tools will be provided. Attendees will take home their gorgeous wreaths at the end of the class.

When: Friday, December 6th from 6:00 - 8:00pm

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

Registration: $50/person. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: GTCD invites you and your family to join members of the STEAM/Maker Alliance for a Mini MakerFest with local STEAM organizations. Engage in hands-on and educational activities!

The STEAM/Maker Alliance's goal is to create opportunities for youth to explore STEAM in Northwest Michigan. For more information about this alliance and its partner organizations, please visit their webpage.

All children attending must be accompanied by an adult/guardian.

When: Thursday, November 14th 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: Learn about the ecological and human history of the Natural Education Reserve and discover glimpses into past human use and natural communities! Join the Forest Forensics Webinar hosted by MSU Extension followed with an in-person hike.

When: Friday, November 8th from 3:30 - 5:00pm

Where: Natural Education Reserve. Meet at the Oleson Bridge Trailhead

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

Description: Come dressed in your costume and celebrate Halloween with a self-guided lantern walk at the Boardman River Nature Center and surrounding trails! GTCD naturalists will host several seasonal activities in the Nature Center!

When: Wednesday, October 30th from 6:00 - 8:00pm

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

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

Description: Help restore, diversify and beautify the Brown Bridge Quiet Area by planting native trees and shrubs along the banks of the Boardman-Ottaway River. Plants will range in size from very small bareroot seedlings to large saplings. All ages and abilities are welcome. Water and light snacks will be provided. A limited number of extra shovels will be available, but feel free to bring your own!

We welcome new members of Grove Community Incubator!

When: Friday, October 25th from 10:00am - 2:00pm

Where: Brown Bridge Quiet Area - Canoe Landing Trailhead

Registration: Please click here to register.

Description: Join the Introductory webinar to the Michigan Forest Forensics Series to learn about the the basics of reading the landscape and catch a sneak-peek of the offered in-person hikes.

When: Tuesday, October 22 from 6 :00 - 8:00pm

Where: Virtual

Registration: Please click here to register.

Description: Join the Grand Traverse Conservation District on Saturday, October 19th for our Fall Native Seedling Sale! Unlike our spring Native Seedling Sale, this sale will be first-come, first-served (no pre-orders) and will feature native Michigan conifers - balsam fir, red cedar, red pine, white pine, and white spruce. After shopping, participate in fall activities for all ages led by GTCD staff! 

When: Saturday, October 19th from 10:00am - 2:00pm

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

Registration: No registration required. Trees are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

Description: Steve Veatch from Grand Traverse Area Rock and Mineral Club Pebble Pups will join GTCD to celebrate Earth Science Week by discussing careers and fields in Earth Science! This event will be dedicated to exploring the diverse professions within the earth sciences. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about working in one of the Earth Science fields through hands-on activities and discussions. Steve will share his experiences and insights into fields like climate science, oceanography, and natural resource management, paleontology, and mining. The event aims to inspire students to consider careers in Earth sciences and promote awareness of how these roles are vital to addressing global environmental challenges.

When: Monday, October 14th from 5:30 - 7:30pm

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 at Medalie Park in Traverse City on October 12th to participate in the October Big Day Birding! "October Big Day" is an annual bird census conducted around the world by volunteers like you! You’ll help count birds and learn how the data is entered online. We will submit our observations and support conservation worldwide.

This is a joint venture between the Grand Traverse Audubon Club and the Grand Traverse Conservation District. We will begin our observations at Medalie Park and walk around the Boardman Lake Loop (4 Miles). Join for all or part of the walk.

When: Saturday, October 12th from 9:00 - 11:00am

Where: Medalie Park

Registration: Free. Please click here to register.

Description: Have you ever wanted to grow your own mushrooms at home? Join Grand Traverse Conservation District and Great Lakes Mushroom Company for a hands-on educational workshop about mushroom cultivation. During this informational presentation, each participant will create their own grow kit and sample mushroom dishes. Each kit will include: 5lb bag of sterilized substrate, 0.2 micron filter patch, and 12 mm liquid culture.

When: Sunday, September 29th from 2:00 - 4:00pm (This event was rescheduled from July 14th)

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

Registration: $45/person. Registration is required. This program is for ages 18 and older. Please click here to register. *All registrations must be completed by 09/13/2024 by 4:00pm to ensure materials.

Description: Gaze through a solar telescope provided by the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society to discover sunspots, filaments, and more!

When: Sunday, September 22nd from 1:00 - 4:00pm

Where: Oleson Pavilion 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 us at the Great Lakes Incubator Farm for a fall equinox celebration. Warm up by the fire, engage in autumnal storytelling, and finish the night by setting your intentions for the new season. Storyteller and Touring Artist, Jen Strauss will be joining us for this Fall Celebration by sharing stories about the moon, stars, pumpkins, and more!

When: Saturday, September 21st from 6:00 - 8:00pm

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

Registration: $15/person or $40 for a group of 3 or more. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Agricultural producers! If you have old or unwanted large tractor tires and other tires from large agricultural equipment, this event is for you! Register today for this tire recycling event taking place on September 13th from 9:00am - 2:30pm at the Northwest Education Services Career Center.

Only tires from large equipment and tractors for agricultural production will be accepted.

This event is made possible due to generous donations from the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Foundation and partnership with the Northwest Education Services Career Center.

When: Friday, September 13th from 9:00am - 2:30pm

Where: Northwest Education Services Career Center., 800 Parsons Rd., Traverse City

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

Description: Join us on Thursday, August 15th for a lantern make and take workshop. Use recyclable materials and natural objects to make two unique styles of lanterns!

All materials will be provided
This workshop is recommended for ages 12+

When: Thursday, August 15th from 5:00 - 6:30pm

Where: Oleson Pavilion at the Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd., Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: $15/person. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Have an up-close experience with live raptors from North Sky Raptor Sanctuary! Join us with a blanket on our programming lawn to learn about Michigan raptors in the summer.

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

When: Saturday, August 3rd from 2:00 - 3:00pm

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

Registration: Registration prices below. Please click here to register.

• $10 for children under 12

• $15 for ages 12 and up

• Free for ages under 2

• $55 for a family of 5+
  
  Registration fees contribute to a donation to support North Sky Raptor Sanctuary.

Description: Join GTCD naturalists on a walk through East Creek Reserve to identify edible mushrooms growing in August!

When: Thursday, August 1st from 5:00 - 6:30pm

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

Registration: $15/person. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Visit the Boardman River Nature Center for after-hours fun! Be a nature detective and complete an educational scavenger hunt and learn about Michigan Animals and ecosystems through the soft glow of lanterns!

When: Friday, July 26th 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: Join Storyteller Jen Strauss for this special Summer Peeper’s Pop-up program, Growing Green with Jenny Jean! This program is designed for a preschool audience and is all about growing things that are healthy and green. With songs, stories, puppets and props, Jenny Jean will introduce young listeners to gardening tools and gardening clothes, and participants will even meet two important garden helpers: Herman the Worm and Lady Bug Lou! Listeners will learn the importance of sun, soil, air, and water, make a rainstorm, sing songs about rainbows, and even do the Bean Planting Dance! Participants will plant their own Bean Groot in a mini-greenhouse, make their own Herman the Worm, and receive a Jenny Jean coloring sheet to take home!

When: Tuesday, July 23 from 10:00 - 11:00am

Where: Oleson Pavilion at the Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd., Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: $10/child. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Join Skegemog Raptor Center for an Interactive and informational presentation about the raptors of Michigan featuring live raptors!

This program will be geared towards an adult audience.

When: Saturday, July 20th from 5:00 - 6:00pm

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

Registration: $15/person. Registration required. Please click here to register.
Registration fees contribute to a donation to support Skegemog Raptor Center.

Description: Take a break and immerse yourself in nature. Reap the benefits of hearing birds or touching trees while practicing mindfulness techniques. During this walk at Brown Bridge Quiet Area, a GTCD naturalist will lead participants on a trail to slow down and use their five senses.

When: Tuesday, July 16th from 2:00 - 3:30pm

Where: Brown Bridge Quiet Area, Meet at the Canoe Landing on Brown Bridge Road.

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

Description: Join us as we go Back To Basics for the 6th annual Protecting our Lakes and Shorelands (POLS) series hosted in partnership with the Friends of Spider Lake and Rennie Lake. The goal of the POLS series is to share information about northern Michigan’s lakes and shorelands and encourage community members to be better lake stewards. Our first ever POLS presenter, Grand Traverse Bay Waterkeeper, Heather Smith, from The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay, will return to share information on the Grand Traverse Bay watershed and the beautiful, unique water features that make our area such a desirable place to live and visit. We will learn about the interconnections between ground and surface water with shorelines and uplands and the native flora and fauna that thrive there. She will discuss water quality threats specific to our region and the way in which The Watershed Center works with local communities to restore, protect, and improve our wetlands, lakes and streams. She’ll conclude with information on how riparian owners and lake users can help protect our invaluable water resources today and into the future. Time for questions will be available.  

When: Saturday, June 15th from 10:00 - 11:00am

Doors open : 9:30am

Refreshments follow:  11:00 - 11:30am

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd., Traverse City, MI 49685. Virtual option is also available.  

Registration: Free. Please click here to register.

Description: Get crafty at the Boardman River Nature Center! Use natural materials to experiment with color and texture to create a completely unique piece of art!

This program will be geared towards ages 16+.

When: Wednesday, June 12th from 5:00 - 7:00pm

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

Registration: $15/person or $40 for a group of 3 or more. Registration is limited and required. Please click here to register. All materials provided.

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 both formal* and non-formal educators.

When: Thursday, June 6th from 9:00am - 3:00pm

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.

Event Canceled: Due to unforseen circumstances this hike: Geology Hike Series: Ice Age Odyssey, scheduled for 06/01 at Brown Bridge Quiet Area is canceled. We look forward to inviting all attendees for a special Geology Hike Series in the fall! We encourage all to get out and enjoy nature this weekend. Thank you for your understanding. - GTCD

Description: Join us for the third and final hike in our Family & Children Geology Hike Series 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, June 1st from 10:00am - 12:00pm

Where: Please note the location of this event has changed. This hike will now take place at Brown Bridge Quiet Area Canoe Landing, 3408 Brown Bridge Rd, Kingsley, MI 49649.

Registration: Free. 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; how to start your nature journal, sketching observations, mapping and storytelling. Afterwards, you will leave with the tools to confidently continue your nature journaling experience!

This third and final session’s theme is mapping & storytelling. Participants can sign up for a single class or the whole series!

This program is geared towards an audience of 16+

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

Where: Oleson Pavilion behind the Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd, Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: $25/class or $60 to register for all three classes in the series. All supplies are included. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Join Skegemog Raptor Center for an Interactive and informational presentation about the raptors of Michigan featuring live raptors!

This program will be geared towards an adult audience.

When: Saturday, May 25th from 1:00 - 2:00pm

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

Registration: This is event is now full. Thank you for your interest and we hope to see you at another raptor event this summer!

Description: Our Plant Sale is a one day first-come, first-served event, which will be held on Saturday, May 18th, 2024 from 10:00am - 2:00pm outdoors at the Boardman River Nature Center, featuring over 70 species of Michigan native flowers, ferns, and grasses!

Plants are available individually in quarts (or in some cases, gallons or single-species flats). All plants are Michigan-grown and organic, and ready to go in the ground as soon as you pick them up.

We also offer Plant-By-Number flats. These kits are the perfect way to plant a beautiful garden without hours of research — just choose the type of garden you want and receive a flat of 38 plugs of a variety of species with a planting plan for a 4x10 foot area. There is a little preparation needed, though; Plant-By-Number flats are only available by pre-ordering starting on April 1st for pickup during the Native Plant Sale.

When: Saturday, May 18th from 10:00am - 2:00pm

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

Description: Join us for the second hike in our Family & Children Geology Hike Series featuring the Grand Traverse Area Rock and Mineral Club Pebble Pups - Ancient Echoes Expedition! 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 18th from 10:00am - 12:00pm

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

Registration: Free. Please click here to register.