Schedule of Events

Downtown Holland's the Big Give is back! On Saturday, February 1, Downtown Holland will be thanking the community for their support in a BIG way! That day, participating shops and restaurants will be donating 15% of all sales to non-profit organizations all day long! 

Each business will be selecting a deserving organization that they're passionate about...so stay tuned for more details! The more you shop and dine in Downtown Holland on Saturday, February 1 during The Big Give, the more good you'll help us do in the community! Cherry Republic has chosen to host the ODC, stop by from 2-5 PM for a wildlife encounter and to purchase your favorite cherry snacks all while donating to the ODC!

Downtown Holland will also be partnering with Ottawa Food to host a food drive to support our local food pantries as part of The Big Give! Bring a healthy non-perishable food items to donate and you'll be entered to win a $100 gift card to the Downtown Holland business of your choice.  

For more details, check out Downtown Holland's Big Give event page.

2020 notes: 2 families signed up - 1 cancelled because not enough snow for snowshoeing. Family (2 people) showed up at ODC at 10:15 instead of Bysterveld Park. AW
We are partnering with Allegan County Parks to offer a family snowshoe hike. Hikers will explore the trails of Bysterveld County Park in search of interesting animals and plants while walking in wooden, Ojibwa-style snowshoes. The snowshoes are ideal for people aged 8 years and up. Participants are welcome to wear their own snowshoes and bring a sled for little ones to be pulled while hiking.

Be prepared to be outside the entire time hiking. At least 4 inches of snow base is required in order for the loaner snowshoes to be available to the group.

Registration required

Fee: FREE - sponsored by Allegan County Parks, Recreation & Tourism

Program Location: Bysterveld Park 4171 14th Street, Wayland, MI 49348

Learn the uniqueness of these eight-legged animals from YouTube personality Bob McAndrews, aka "Bob The Spider Hunter". Bob will talk about the value of spiders including the 880 million tons of insects they consume from our prairies, woods and gardens each year. After a fun overview, Bob will share his special project that brought him close to Michigan's Six-spotted Fishing spider.

Registration required

Fee: $5 per person, FREE to members

It’s time to round up the little ones and come out to the DeGraaf Nature Center for Explore a Story!

We’ll be introducing kids to the outdoors through books and outdoor adventures. We’ll read stories, take hikes, meet animals, and have lots of fun. Dress for the weather because we’ll be heading outside to experience the nature around us!

No registration necessary

Fee: $5 per child, FREE for members

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 are encouraged to attend with their 4 to 6 year old - though not required. Parents or guardians are asked to attend with their 3 year old to help with bathroom use and transitioning into a group learning environment.

Registration required

Fee: $10 per child, $5 for members

We will have pre-cut birdhouse kits available for you to assemble. They can be finished for cavity nesters such as bluebirds, tree swallows, chickadees, nuthatches and wrens. Please bring a hammer. This is a great program for young children with an adult helper.

Registration required 

Fee: $12 per bird house or $8 for members

Bring out your little tykes to learn more about nature. In each program, you and your little tyke will have the opportunity to explore together. This winter we will be learning about hibernation, tracks & scat, and what insects do during the winter! Please dress for the weather.

Registration required

Fee: $5 per child, FREE for members

Dec - Hibernation
Jan - Tracks and Scat
Feb - Insects in Winter

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 are encouraged to attend with their 4 to 6 year old - though not required. Parents or guardians are asked to attend with their 3 year old to help with bathroom use and transitioning into a group learning environment.

Registration required

Fee: $10 per child, $5 for members

The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is a free, fun, and easy event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of bird populations. Anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from beginning bird watchers to experts, and you can participate from your backyard, or anywhere in the world. A naturalist will be in the Nature Center monitoring the feeders for the duration of this drop-in style program.

No registration necessary

Fee: FREE

Fall in love with birds of Michigan that entertain us all winter long with this step by step acrylic painting workshop. Naturalist and artist, Nancy Berg will lead you through this creative process as you choose to depict a winter bird and winter scene on a 16x20 canvas. All materials included and instruction is designed for ages 12- adult.

Registration is required

Fee: $30 per person

Join one of our naturalists in search of our resident owls. Following an introduction to Michigan’s native owls and what makes them such amazing animals, we will head out to call for those in the neighborhood. If there are any nearby, we will hopefully hear a response from them.

Registration required

Fee: $5 per person, FREE to members

Have you ever wondered what snakes eat? Snakes are carnivores and only eat other animals. They are definitely not vegetarians! Come to the Visitors Center to find out what's on the menu as you watch our resident serpents enjoy a meal.

No registration required

Fee: FREE

Using artifacts, language, traditional houses, games, hunting tools, and common life skills, our educators will share some of the basic life activities of Michigan’s Indigenous Peoples before and after contact with Europeans.

This drop-off program is geared for home schoolers ages 6 - 10. Please bring a water bottle and a snack.

Registration required

Fee: $10 per child

Program location: 5675 142nd Ave. Holland, MI

A minimum of 10 registrants is needed for this class to be conducted.