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1 event,
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Visit Sanctuary Woods to explore the sights and sounds of spring. This time of year brings migrating birds, beautiful wildflowers, and active mammals. We will hike the lower loop of […] |
1 event,
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Knee-high Naturalists introduces the wonders of the natural world to young children. Crafts, activities, books, snacks, live animals, and outside exploration will be incorporated into their nature-based learning experience.Parents can […]
$10
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2 events,
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Join ODC Network in partnership with Sergio Cira-Reyes, the founder of Latino Outdoors GR, for a birding hike around a local birding hotspot! Learn to identify birds by sight and […]
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Help us pull invasive garlic mustard to clear room for native plants on the trails at DeGraaf Nature Center! Gloves, wheelbarrow, and trash bags will be provided. Show up anytime […] |
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0 events,
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0 events,
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2 events,
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Join us for a morning birding hike around a local birding hotspot! Walk with one of our naturalists who will guide you through the trails. Our naturalist will help you […]
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Our Volunteer League (nicknamed "VoLes") is a service club for teens to experience what it takes to maintain a natural area and captive wildlife. This program is designed for 12 […] |
1 event,
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Help us pull invasive garlic mustard to clear room for native plants on the trails at DeGraaf Nature Center! Gloves, wheelbarrow, and trash bags will be provided. Show up anytime […] |
1 event,
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Come help us investigate the health of our area streams by collecting the aquatic macroinvertebrates that live there. These critters give us a general idea of the water quality. Plus, […] |
1 event,
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Knee-high Naturalists introduces the wonders of the natural world to young children. Crafts, activities, books, snacks, live animals, and outside exploration will be incorporated into their nature-based learning experience. Parents […] |
1 event,
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Help us pull invasive garlic mustard to clear room for native plants on the trails at DeGraaf Nature Center! Gloves, wheelbarrow, and trash bags will be provided. Show up anytime […] |
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0 events,
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2 events,
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Wetlands are some of the most important habitats on Earth! From frogs and turtles to birds and insects, wetland animals have incredible ways of surviving in watery environments. Join us […]
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Volunteer with the Allegan Conservation District to help remove garlic mustard, an invasive plant threatening our local ecosystems, at Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy’s Armintrout-Milbocker Nature Preserve. During this program, you’ll learn […] |
1 event,
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Stop by during our monthly Open Hours at the Cultural History Center to check out exhibits, ask questions, play games, and chat with staff and fellow community members. A large […] |
2 events,
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Bring your little tykes out to discover the wonders of nature! Each program is a hands-on experience that will spark curiosity and create unforgettable memories for both you and your […]
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Help us pull invasive garlic mustard to clear room for native plants on the trails at DeGraaf Nature Center! Gloves, wheelbarrow, and trash bags will be provided. Show up anytime […] |
1 event,
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Parents, enjoy a three-hour break while your kids spend the evening at the Hangar with ODC Network naturalists. During this Kids Night Out program, naturalists will lead a variety of […] |
2 events,
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Join us for a birding hike around a local birding hotspot! Walk with one of our naturalists who will guide you through the trails. Our naturalist will help you learn […]
Free
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Knee-high Naturalists introduces the wonders of the natural world to young children. Crafts, activities, books, snacks, live animals, and outside exploration will be incorporated into their nature-based learning experience. Parents […]
$10
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3 events,
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Our Volunteer League (nicknamed "VoLes") is a service club for teens to experience what it takes to maintain a natural area and captive wildlife. This program is designed for 12 […]
-
Help us pull invasive garlic mustard to clear room for native plants on the trails at DeGraaf Nature Center! Gloves, wheelbarrow, and trash bags will be provided. Show up anytime […]
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Women in Nature is a program series designed to motivate women to be more healthy, active and passionate about the natural world surrounding them.Discover the hidden life beneath the water’s […] |
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0 events,
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0 events,
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2 events,
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Explore the trails with a naturalist and learn to recognize some truly remarkable birds as spring migrants return. From warblers and vireos to flycatchers and shorebirds, this program is perfect […]
Free
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It’s time to round up the little ones and come out to the Outdoor Discovery Center for Explore a Story!We’ll be introducing kids to the outdoors through books and outdoor […] |
1 event,
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Help us pull invasive garlic mustard to clear room for native plants on the trails at DeGraaf Nature Center! Gloves, wheelbarrow, and trash bags will be provided. Show up anytime […] |
1 event,
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Bring the little ones out to West Side Park and enjoy a story and a stroll as we find out who’s awake for spring, who came back for warm weather, […]
Free
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2 events,Join us on a three-day, two-night camping trip focused on birding! Whether you're a seasoned birdwatcher or just starting out, this event is perfect for all skill levels. We will […]
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Knee-high Naturalists introduces the wonders of the natural world to young children. Crafts, activities, books, snacks, live animals, and outside exploration will be incorporated into their nature-based learning experience.Parents can […]
$10
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4 events,
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Help us pull invasive garlic mustard to clear room for native plants on the trails at DeGraaf Nature Center! Gloves, wheelbarrow, and trash bags will be provided. Show up anytime […]
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Join us for an hour-long guided walk as we explore the fascinating world of fungi right here in Michigan. We’ll stroll through the area looking for mushrooms and other fungi […] |
1 event,
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Get the family together and explore the outdoors on a spring scavenger hunt! Join one of our naturalists and hike the trails of Ransom Street Park in search of bright […] |
1 event,
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Volunteer with the Allegan Conservation District for the opportunity to help remove garlic mustard, an invasive plant threatening our local ecosystems. During this program, you’ll learn to identify garlic mustard, […] |
2 events,
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Join us for a hands-on dip-netting program as we explore the hidden world of aquatic macroinvertebrates in a local creek. We’ll use nets to sample the water while learning what […]
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Join ODC Network in partnership with Jessica Austin, founder of Cultivate the Community, in celebrating black birders week with a birding hike. Learn to identify birds by sight and sound […] |
1 event,
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Knee-high Naturalists introduces the wonders of the natural world to young children. Crafts, activities, books, snacks, live animals, and outside exploration will be incorporated into their nature-based learning experience. Parents […] |
3 events,
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Help us pull invasive garlic mustard to clear room for native plants on the trails at DeGraaf Nature Center! Gloves, wheelbarrow, and trash bags will be provided. Show up anytime […]
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Help clean up and celebrate the Kalamazoo River at Krazy for the Kazoo! We have 4 different ways to volunteer during the event. You can clean up the river by […]
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Come enjoy an afternoon of creativity and cookies at the Outdoor Discovery Center! Cookies & Canvas is a fun, interactive workshop where individuals, couples, and families can spend quality time […]
$25
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0 events,
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0 events,
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2 events,
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Looking for a fun way to learn, enjoy nature, and spend time with your family? Join us for a family-friendly birding hike! Walk along the trails with one of our […]
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Our Volunteer League (nicknamed "VoLes") is a service club for teens to experience what it takes to maintain a natural area and captive wildlife. This program is designed for 12 […] |
0 events,
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0 events,
|
2 events,
-
Knee-high Naturalists introduces the wonders of the natural world to young children. Crafts, activities, books, snacks, live animals, and outside exploration will be incorporated into their nature-based learning experience.Parents can […]
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Stop by the De Witt Birds of Prey Center during this open house style program and watch a naturalist feed our resident raptors. You will learn about the habitats these […] |
0 events,
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Cancellation Policy:
Cancellations made more than 48 hours in advance are eligible for:
• A full refund
• A credit toward a future program of the same price
• Donate your fee to ODC
Cancellations made within 48 hours are not refundable.
If you’re unable to attend due to illness, please reach out to discuss possible options.
We offer a wide variety of programs from archery to kayaking to bird watching. Our programs are geared towards all ages and knowledge levels. Check out our calendar as we update our programs frequently.
This booklet guides you to 16 local parks and natural areas within our nature-rich community. Learn about each site while exploring forests, beaches, dunes, lakes and trails.
Need a new and unique space to hold your meeting or event? The Outdoor Discovery Center has indoor and outdoor facilities available to rent. There is also a rentable space at Dragonflies Discovery Preschool in the Dragonflies Learning Lab.
We offer a wide variety of Natural and Cultural History programs for all grades and class sizes. Field trip registrations begin on the first Monday of August.
Are there dinosaurs hiding right here in Michigan? You might be surprised! Step back in time, and we’ll learn about what made dinosaurs so unique and exciting. Then, leap forward to today, and we’ll meet dinosaur relatives and neighbors in real life!
Join us as we visit with Outdoor Discovery Center’s animal ambassadors, including modern-day feathered raptors, dinosaurs’ fellow reptiles, and ancient bugs who lived long before even the dinosaurs!
Live animals will be present throughout our program, and may be available for closer visits during or after the presentation, depending on the size of the audience.
The Center’s birds of prey, including hawks, owls and falcons, will be used to share their life history and habitat. Depending on the group size, birds will be walked around or brought out after the presentation for viewing. Hands-on artifacts will include skulls, feathers, pelts, and talons.
Michigan is home to a diversity of reptile species. We are fortunate to house a number of live, native reptiles that can be used in educational programs. Audiences will learn how a reptile differs from other animal groups and how to identify them. Hands-on artifacts include skins, skulls, eggs, and shells of several species native to Michigan.
A wetland is a home for a wide variety of plants and animals. Our staff will share live examples of both vertebrate and invertebrate organisms that can be found in and near wetlands in Michigan. Animals may include toads, frogs, salamanders, fish, leeches, dragonflies, damselflies and more. Our naturalist will offer insight into the organism’s life history and habitat. A number of animals will be used and available to touch during the program.
This program focuses on introducing audiences to Michigan wildlife. Live animals including reptiles, amphibians and birds will be used during the presentation. People will learn unique characteristics of animals and how they fit into our diverse ecosystems. Hands-on artifacts include skins, skulls, wings, feathers and talons of several species native to Michigan.
Owls capture the attention of almost anyone who is lucky enough to encounter them in the wild. This live bird program will highlight several common owl species and show participants how they can encourage them to live in their backyard. Hands-on artifacts include feathers, pelts, skulls, and talons.
Free – Ottawa, Allegan, Kent Counties
$100 – Muskegon, Van Buren, Kalamazoo, Barry, Ionia Counties
$150 – Oceana, Newaygo, Montcalm, Eaton, Calhoun, Joseph, Cass, Berrien Counties
$200 – Branch, Jackson, Ingham, Clinton, Gratiot, Isabella, Mecosta, Osceola, Lake, Mason Counties
$250 – Hillsdale, Lenawee, Washtenaw, Livingston, Shiawasee, Saginaw, Midland, Clare, Missaukee, Wexford, Manistee
Other county pricing as requested
Our wildlife booth will be sure to excite guests at any event, young or old. Our naturalists will bring animals that can be touched or viewed in containers, touchable artifacts like skulls or furs, and a variety of interesting items meant to invoke wonder about the natural world. Pictures can be taken with our animals and our naturalist staff are always happy to answer any wildlife questions people may have.
Have your group visit one of our natural areas, meet us at a local park, or we can visit your site in this truly customizable experience. Design a program to fit your needs that could include activities like a guided nature hike or wildlife like our birds of prey. These programs are great for scouting groups, daycare centers, church groups, senior centers, and more.
