7/2/08   Wednesday
6:00 - 9:00 pm

Registration
Deadline: 6/26/08

Member: $12
Non-member: $15
Ages: 18+

F08-26 Adventures for Women Paddling Trip on the Chippewa River
By July the river level could be pretty low, but that's all the better to see fish and turtles swimming along the bottom! Senior Naturalist Janea Little will lead this casual float trip down the Chippewa River (from near Meridian to CNC, if water levels allow). For beginning kayakers, it is an easy stretch of river, with no rapids or serious obstacles. For serious kayakers. . . well, you can always paddle upstream for a bit more of a workout! Either way, enjoy the river and the camaraderie of other lady kayakers.

7/3/08   Thursday
8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Free Admission
Ages: 5+, under 18
w/adult

Bird Banding Research
If you missed the opportunity last year to see how birds are caught in mist nets and banded for the purpose of research, there are several chances again this summer for you to make such observations. This third year of bird banding research at the Chippewa Nature Center provides a great chance for you to see resident and migratory birds up close.

You can drop in at the east wetlands parking lot off of Grey road (the gate will be open during banding hours) and see these birds and learn from Chippewa Nature Staff and researcher and president of the Michigan Bird Banding Association, Mike Bishop.

If it is raining or windy banding will not take place. If you are questioning whether the banding will be taking place, you can call the front office after 8am to finalize whether it's worth making the trip.

7/4/08   Friday
8:30 - 11:00 pm

Free Admission
Members Only - 
   All Ages

Members Only - Fireflies and Fireworks
Wouldn't it be great to be able to watch the 4th of July Fireworks with a scenic backdrop of meadows and trees, a chorus of frogs and the twinkling of fireflies (and maybe even a few stars)? As a member of CNC you can! Between 8:30 - 11:00pm join Cathy Devendorf as she opens the Log Schoolhouse this year for this annual members-only event. Members can enjoy using stilts (weather permitting), hoops and other games, while inside you are invited to read and write by lantern light. After the sun sets (about 10pm), members will gather up their blankets and lawn chairs and prepare for a great viewing of the Midland City fireworks display. If we are lucky, we might also catch a glimpse of the Midland Country Club's display too. Please note, fireworks and sparklers are not permitted on CNC property.

7/6/08   Sunday
1:30- 5:00 pm

Free Admission
All Ages

Homestead Sunday
Take a break from your busy schedule and enjoy a peaceful afternoon at the Homestead Farm. Staff and volunteers will be on hand at our log cabin and one-room schoolhouse to answer your questions, give tours of the farm and teach lessons from long ago. Kids of all ages can help with chores, play traditional games and visit the farm animals. The Homestead and Schoolhouse are open Sundays, May 25 - August 31.

7/8/08   Tuesday
7:00 - 8:30 pm

Free Admission
All Ages

Michigan's Native Trees and Shrubs
Bring your questions and share your knowledge with us as we hike through the Garrett Arboretum of Michigan Trees and Shrubs. We will discuss the benefits of using native plants in your landscape, look at which species are most attractive and where to get them.

7/9/08   Wednesday
7:00 - 9:00 pm

Free Admission
Ages: 9+

Wildlife Walk
Fireflies should still be lighting up the evening, young owls may be calling from the woods, and the pond should be full of the chorus of green and leopard frogs (and perhaps the SMACK of a beaver's tail). Join Senior Naturalist Janea Little for a hike to look and listen for these and other wildlife species that are heading for bed at twilight, or who are just waking up. Please wear dark clothing so we are less visible to the wildlife.

7/9/08   Wednesday
6:30 - 9:00 pm

Free Admission
Ages: 18+

Woodcarvers
Instructor(s): Barb and Willy Stewart

7/10/08   Thursday
8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Free Admission
Ages: 5+, under 18
w/adult

Bird Banding Research
If you missed the opportunity last year to see how birds are caught in mist nets and banded for the purpose of research, there are several chances again this summer for you to make such observations. This third year of bird banding research at the Chippewa Nature Center provides a great chance for you to see resident and migratory birds up close.

You can drop in at the east wetlands parking lot off of Grey road (the gate will be open during banding hours) and see these birds and learn from Chippewa Nature Staff and researcher and president of the Michigan Bird Banding Association, Mike Bishop.

If it is raining or windy banding will not take place. If you are questioning whether the banding will be taking place, you can call the front office after 8am to finalize whether it's worth making the trip.

7/10/08   Thursday
5:00 - 10:00 pm

Registration
Deadline: 7/7/08

Member: $15
Non-member: $20
Ages: 12+, under 18
w/adult

F08-27 Saginaw Bay by Voyageur Canoe
Join Kyle Bagnall and Tom Lenon for an exciting adventure as we paddle the Saginaw Bay in a 29-foot Voyageur Canoe. The canoe is a fiberglass reproduction of the birchbark canoes used by voyageurs to haul loads of trade goods and valuable animal pelts in the 18th and 19th centuries. During the trip we'll explore the natural and cultural resources of the area and share stories of the past all while having a truly unique outdoor experience. We expect this program to fill up quickly, so sign up right away! If weather or water conditions are not favorable, this trip will be canceled (determined the afternoon of the trip at CNC's discretion) and participants will be refunded.

7/12/08   Saturday
12:00 - 4:30 pm

Free Admission
Ages: 5+

Butterfly Bonanza
Butterflies can be found in Michigan from March through October (and even in the winter if you can find the hibernating ones!), but July is the peak season for these beautiful insects, so come join us for a bonanza of butterflies!

We'll have live, native butterflies indoors, and a display of CNC's butterfly collection to give you a close-up look at the butterflies of the nature center. To see butterflies in their natural habitats, join us for a guided butterfly hike (starting every half-hour). Be sure to check out the plantings in the butterfly gardens to see what plants you might want to consider to provide food and shelter for butterflies and their caterpillars. There will be several butterfly crafts for kids to make, and a puppet show to help them learn about butterflies and other pollinators. There will also be videos on butterfly identification and butterfly gardening available for viewing, a Master Gardener to chat with about your garden needs, and information on banding migrating Monarchs and on the Monarch Larvae Monitoring Project.

7/13/08   Sunday
Start and end time
weather dependent

Free Admission
Ages: 9+

Butterfly Count
This is the 20th anniversary of CNC's Butterfly Count! Over the years we have found as many as 38 species in one day, adding a new species almost every year. Beginner and experienced lepidopterists alike are invited to spend a few hours, or the whole day, scouring CNC's property (and beyond, if we have enough participants) to record all of the butterflies we can find. We'll head out in small groups to cover as much area as possible, so if you are new to butterflies, don't worry, we'll put you with people who know what they're doing:) Much of the count is done off-trail, so plan on wearing long pants and maybe even long sleeves (thistle gets tall!). Start-time is weather dependent, so call Senior Naturalist Janea Little ahead of time (631-0830) to be put on the list of participants.

7/13/08   Sunday
1:30 - 5:00 pm

Free Admission
All Ages

Homestead Sunday
Take a break from your busy schedule and enjoy a peaceful afternoon at the Homestead Farm. Staff and volunteers will be on hand at our log cabin and one-room schoolhouse to answer your questions, give tours of the farm and teach lessons from long ago. Kids of all ages can help with chores, play traditional games and visit the farm animals. The Homestead and Schoolhouse are open Sundays, May 25 - August 31.

7/14/08   Monday
6:00 - 9:00 pm

Registration
Deadline: 7/9/08

Members: $15
Non-members: $20
Ages: 14+

W08-10 Adventures for Women: Compass and Orienteering Workshop
Using a compass to find your way in the woods or fields off trail is a fun and valuable skill. Learn the basics of using a compass, then follow a series of "bearings" to arrive at a new destination. Meet at the Visitor Center first. Wear comfortable shoes, appropriate clothing and a bring a water bottle. Compasses will be provided.

7/17/08   Thursday
9:00 - 11:00 pm

Free Admission
Ages: 9+

Full Moon Hike
The moon will be completely full at four o'clock tomorrow morning, so this evening's 9:30 moonrise should be spectacular! Join Senior Naturalist Janea Little for this guided walk by the light of the full moon, listening for wildlife and enjoying the view of Earth's only satellite at its monthly peak. Please wear dark clothing so we will be less intrusive to wildlife, and bring a flashlight (though we'll walk without additional lights if we can).

7/17/08   Thursday
9:30 - 10:30 am

Free Admission
Ages: 3-5

Preschool Story Hour: Good Day, Good Night
Come spend an hour learning about nature! The hour will include a story and may include songs, art, rhymes and other age-appropriate activities.

7/19/08   Saturday
9:00 am - 1:30 pm

Registration
Deadline: 7/12/08

Free Admission
Ages: 15+, under 18
w/adult

Volunteer River Cleanup Workday
Here's your chance to help keep our local rivers clean. In past years, we've pulled out old tires, bottles, a car engine, and a motorcycle! Bit by bit, the river appears to be getting cleaner. We'll use a combination of wading and canoeing. If you are interested in helping clean a section of the Pine or Chippewa River, contact Phil Stephens by July 12 at 989-631-0830, or pstephens@chippewanaturecenter.org.

7/20/08   Sunday
1:30 - 5:00 pm

Free Admission
All Ages

Homestead Sunday
Take a break from your busy schedule and enjoy a peaceful afternoon at the Homestead Farm. Staff and volunteers will be on hand at our log cabin and one-room schoolhouse to answer your questions, give tours of the farm and teach lessons from long ago. Kids of all ages can help with chores, play traditional games and visit the farm animals. The Homestead and Schoolhouse are open Sundays, May 25 - August 31.

7/22/08   Tuesday
9:30 - 11:00 am

Free Admission
All Ages

More Than Plants Hike
Bring your questions and share your knowledge on this hike with Naturalist Karen Breternitz. We will look at lichens, mosses, liverworts and fungi, as well as wildflowers and trees along the way.

7/23/08   Wednesday
9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Free Admission
Ages: 18+

Quilters
Instructor(s): Betty Thayer

7/23/08   Wednesday
6:30 - 9:00 pm

Free Admission
Ages: 18+

Woodcarvers
Instructor(s): Barb and Willy Stewart

7/24/08   Thursday
8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Free Admission
Ages: 5+, under 18
w/adult

Bird Banding Research
If you missed the opportunity last year to see how birds are caught in mist nets and banded for the purpose of research, there are several chances again this summer for you to make such observations. This third year of bird banding research at the Chippewa Nature Center provides a great chance for you to see resident and migratory birds up close.

You can drop in at the east wetlands parking lot off of Grey road (the gate will be open during banding hours) and see these birds and learn from Chippewa Nature Staff and researcher and president of the Michigan Bird Banding Association, Mike Bishop.

If it is raining or windy banding will not take place. If you are questioning whether the banding will be taking place, you can call the front office after 8am to finalize whether it's worth making the trip.

7/24/08   Thursday
7:00 - 10:00 am

Free Admission
Ages: 9+

Early Bird Hike
Late July may not seem like a peak birding season, but with shorebirds already starting to head south, resident birds well into their second nesting cycle, and other migrants busy with fledglings, there is still plenty of action to see! Join Senior Naturalist Janea Little for part or all of this morning walk to look and listen for birds along CNC's trails. Loaner binoculars are available.

7/26/08   Saturday
7:00 - 9:00 am

Free Admission
Ages: 9+

Short-N-Sweet Bird Hike
For this shortened walk, we'll concentrate on birds found along the river and in CNC's arboretum area. Kingfishers, herons, spotted sandpipers, and waxwings are likely along the river, while a walk through the arboretum can reward us with field sparrow, Baltimore oriole, bluebird and a variety of woodpeckers. Beginner and experienced birders are all welcome to join Senior Naturalist Janea Little for this walk. Loaner binoculars are available.

7/27/08   Sunday
1:30 - 5:00 pm

Free Admission
All Ages

Homestead Sunday
Take a break from your busy schedule and enjoy a peaceful afternoon at the Homestead Farm. Staff and volunteers will be on hand at our log cabin and one-room schoolhouse to answer your questions, give tours of the farm and teach lessons from long ago. Kids of all ages can help with chores, play traditional games and visit the farm animals. The Homestead and Schoolhouse are open Sundays, May 25 - August 31.

7/31/08   Thursday
8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Free Admission
Ages: 5+, under 18
w/adult

Bird Banding Research
If you missed the opportunity last year to see how birds are caught in mist nets and banded for the purpose of research, there are several chances again this summer for you to make such observations. This third year of bird banding research at the Chippewa Nature Center provides a great chance for you to see resident and migratory birds up close.

You can drop in at the east wetlands parking lot off of Grey road (the gate will be open during banding hours) and see these birds and learn from Chippewa Nature Staff and researcher and president of the Michigan Bird Banding Association, Mike Bishop.

If it is raining or windy banding will not take place. If you are questioning whether the banding will be taking place, you can call the front office after 8am to finalize whether it's worth making the trip.