How ODC Network's Cultural History Center Brings State Education Standards to Life
What makes Michigan special? It’s one of the first big questions Michigan asks its third graders to explore through their social studies curriculum. The answer lives in the land: the lakes and rivers that shaped where people settled, the natural resources that built the economy, and the Indigenous Peoples who have called this place home for generations and continue to do so today. Similarly, fifth graders begin their study of American history not with European arrival, but with the Indigenous Peoples of the Eastern Woodlands—exploring their governance, family structures, trade, and relationship to the land.
These concepts are difficult to teach from a textbook alone. At ODC Network, helping people connect with the stories of our region through the outdoors is at the heart of what we do. For years, we’ve been committed to the power of experiential, nature-based learning for children.
The Cultural History Center is where much of that work happens—making the concepts in Michigan’s social studies standards tangible, engaging, and rooted in real places, objects, and stories. Students can walk a replica village, handle traditional tools and artifacts, and participate in hands-on activities tailored to their learning.
Grounded in Community Expertise
What sets this work apart is who leads it. Our programming is guided by Cultural Educator Myriah Williams, M.Ed., a citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, and shaped in partnership with Indigenous communities. That matters. Michigan’s standards call for teaching Indigenous history with accuracy and respect, and for helping students understand Indigenous Peoples not only in the past but as vibrant, contemporary communities. Programming led by and developed with Indigenous voices is the difference between meeting that expectation and truly fulfilling it.
Plan a School Visit
The Cultural History Center offers standards-aligned, hands-on programming designed to make the learning stick, and we’re ready to welcome you in. Field trips, tours, and homeschool options are available to schedule by calling 616-317-5256 or emailing programs@outdoordiscovery.org.
Explore our program page for more information.
Building Support for Educators, Too
We don’t just teach students—we equip teachers. Through Kinomage teacher trainings, ODC Network helps educators approach Michigan’s Indigenous Peoples standards from a place of confidence and competency. Kinomage—a Potawatomi concept meaning “she or he teaches; the earth shows us the way”—guides these sessions, where teachers can gain practical tools, explore current tribal resources, and learn classroom-ready approaches they can weave across multiple lessons and subjects.
Interested in setting up a training? Contact Myriah Williams at 616-317-5256 or programs@outdoordiscovery.org.
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Plan Your Visit to the Cultural History Center
How ODC Network’s Cultural History Center Brings State Education Standards to Life
