Saturday, September 22
Sunday, September 23, 2007

12:00 - 4:00 pm

Admission:
FREE for Members & Kids under 18
$5 for Non-member Adults

Join us for Chippewa Nature Center's largest festival of the year! During this two-day event, the Nature Center comes alive with demonstrations and programs that focus on the autumn traditions of people in the 19th century.

Special thanks to our sponsors:

With additional support from Brandle Roofing & Sheet Metal Co.

Programs at the Homestead area will include "Rambling Naturalists" Wil and Sarah Reding as Prairie Pete and Miss Sarah, portraying early Michigan settlers during several shows each day. Michigan food historian Susan Odom will demonstrate traditional apple butter making in a giant copper kettle. And you won't want to miss Dennis Pilaske's costumed interpretation of Michigan's fur trading heritage.

• Learn about Midland’s logging history at the Logging Sled near the sugarhouse.
• Other demonstrations include threshing, beekeeping, woodworking, woodcarving, spinning, quilting, woodstove cooking, blacksmithing, herb-craft and folk music.
• A team of oxen from Tillers International will be plowing behind the schoolhouse and you'll have a chance to help with the process. You can also watch a three-horse team of Belgians plowing behind the wagon barn.
• Children's activities include candle dipping, corn grinding, flailing, sorting and carding wool, yarn dolls, stenciling, stamping leather bookmarks, rope-making and schoolyard games.
• The Wigwam area will also be alive with traditional skills by Jim Miller, as he demonstrates ways Woodland Indians used autumn's bounty. The Oxbow Archaeologists will also have a display near the wigwam, where they are currently conducting excavations at the Naugle Site.
• Stephan and Sandra Bowman will have a booth with fresh produce from their new Community Supported Agriculture project.
• Check out the latest inventory in CNC's store in the Visitor's Center!
• Food concessions will be also be available.

Also, check out our new Nature Preschool at an open house on Saturday from 12-4 p.m.!

Activities subject to change.