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Visitor Center Hours:
Monday-Friday 8-5,
Saturdays 9-5, Sundays and Holidays 1-5
Trails
open every day from dawn to dark
2010:
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June
July |
August |
September |
October |
November |
December
Download a
Registration
Form to sign up for fee-related programs |
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April 2010 |
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1/1/10-12/31/10
Member: $5
Non-member: $7
All Ages |
Walk
100 Miles
Register
at the temporary visitor center
to walk 100 miles on
Chippewa Nature Center Trails
and you will receive a logbook in which to
keep track of the dates and mileage you have
traveled. To
achieve your goal, travel along any of the
nature center trails by walking, skiing or
snowshoeing. Take in the beautiful views along
the Pine and Chippewa Rivers, investigate the
fields, forests and wetlands, see how things
change throughout the seasons, look for and
enjoy the bountiful wildlife and join the many
guided hikes throughout the year.
Travel
100, 200 or 500 miles in 2010 and receive a
t-shirt to mark your achievement!
Three additional prizes will be awarded to the
three people who have logged the most miles.
Registration:
989-631-0830 or scheduler@chippewanaturecenter.org
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4/7/10
Wednesday
7:00 pm
Free Admission
All Ages |
Valley Herb
Society
Join the VHS for their
monthly meeting. |
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4/7/10
Wednesday
7:00 pm
Green Point
Environmental Learning
Center, 3010 Maple
Street, Saginaw
Members (CNC or
Friends of Shiawassee
NWR): Free (show your membership card)
Non-members: $2
Ages: 9+ |
People
Aren't the Only Sap Lovers
People might be
the only animal that actually boils maple sap to make
syrup, but dozens of animal species make use of the
sweet stuff as it drips from trees.
This program is co-sponsored by the Friends of
Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge and Chippewa Nature
Center. |
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4/10/10
Saturday
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Registration Deadline:
4/2/10
Member: $15
Non-member: $20
Ages: 14+ |
W10-05
Adventures for Women: Geocaching Workshop
What do you get when you mix space age
technology and a scavenger hunt? Geocaching! Louise
Wilkins, an avid outdoors woman and frequent participant
in the Adventures for Women programs, along with CNC
Senior Naturalist Janea Little, will lead this program
and take you through the basics of geocaching - an
outdoor activity that's been sweeping the world for the
last few years. Geocachers use a hand- held GPS (Global
Positioning System) and the Internet to get coordinates
that will lead them to caches hidden all over the world.
the caches usually contain a log book, recyclable camera
and other treasures. The program will focus on GPS
basics, how to get cache coordinates and responsible
geocaching behavior. Explore the outdoors in a new way
by trying out this popular activity. CNC will provide
the GPS units. (If participants bring their own, they
must already know the basics of using their specific
model.) |
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4/10/10 Saturday
7:00 - 10:00 pm
Bullock Creek High
School
1420 Badour Rd.
Midland, MI
Member: $10
Non-member: $12
Ages: 12+ |
IP10-01
Banff Mountain Film Festival
World Tour
Each year in November, The Banff Centre hosts
the Banff Mountain Film Festival, celebrating the spirit
of adventure and mountains! The top films from that
festival go on tour, and Chippewa Nature Center is proud
to host one of the stops on the World Tour. See some of
the best mountain films of 2009 featuring the people who
live, play and enjoy those area through high adventure,
humor and a love for the out-of-doors!
Buy tickets online
Watch the 2009-10 tour intro now! |
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4/13/10
Tuesday
7:30 - 9:30 pm
Free Admission
Ages: 9+ |
In Search of
Woodcock and Snipe
Go on a short
hike with naturalist Tom Lenon to look for Woodcock and
Snipe. Tom will not only show you the different habitats
these birds use and discuss their mating behaviors, but
should also be able to find some of the birds as they go
through their mating displays. Wear dark clothing to aid
in getting us up close to the birds at night. |
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4/18/10 Sunday
2:00 - 4:00 pm
Registration Deadline:
4/12/10
Free Admission
Ages: 5+ w/adult |
Fishing Fun
for Kids
Learn the basic
skills of fishing. We will learn to tie a simple knot,
practice casting, rigging the pole, placing a worm on a
hook, and have time to fish. Parent or guardian must
accompany the child. Limited space available so call
ahead to reserve your spot. |
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4/21/10
Wednesday
5:00 - 8:00 pm
Registration
Deadline: 4/16/10
Member: $12
Non-member: $15
Ages: 18+ |
F10-08
Adventures for Women Advanced Paddling Trip
Spring in Michigan - there could still be
snow under the hemlocks along the riverbank to enjoy on
this paddling trip, or we could already be in short
sleeve and shorts! Either way, paddling the Chippewa
River in early spring usually means higher water and a
faster current than we see on the summer trips. That's
actually good news - no grinding to a halt on hidden
sandbars at this time of year! If the weather has not
warmed up much, we might have to wear wetsuits, just in
case we get tipped into the cold water. (Wetsuits
rentals are available locally at reasonable rates -
approximately $10/day.) Join Senior Naturalist Janea
Little and Jackie Kelly for this first-of-the-year
paddling adventure! |
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4/21/10
Wednesday
8:00 - 11:00 am
Free Admission
Ages: 9+, under 18
w/adult |
Early Bird
Hike
Join Senior
Naturalist Janea Little for part or all of this morning
bird walk to look and listen for spring migrants,
departing winter visitors, and nesting residents. This
is a great time of year to look for birds - before the
leaves come out and hide them all! Loaner binoculars are
available. |
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4/22/10
Thursday
6:00 - 8:00 pm
4/29/10
Thursday
6:00 - 8:00 pm
5/1/10
Saturday
7:00 - 10:00 am
Registration Deadline:
4/16/10
Member: $20
Non-member: $30
Ages: 15+ |
W10-06
Beginning Birdwatching
A bird flashes by when you are on a walk, and
the person with you says, "Wow, did you see that male
White-breasted Nuthatch?" How do birdwatchers DO that?
If you are a beginning birdwatcher, or would like to
give it a try, this three-session course is for you!
Senior Naturalist Janea Little will help you learn the
basics of birdwatching, from using binoculars and field
guides to learning how to notice the most important
features of a bird, even when it is flying away from
you.
The first session (April 22, 6-8 pm) will be indoors and
will include choosing and using binoculars and field
guides, how to distinguish the major families of birds,
and learning to use the field guide with bird mounts.
(It's easier to identify birds if they aren't moving!)
What is the difference, really, between the pointy beak
of a warbler and the thick beak of a cardinal? What does
the field guide mean by "bold" in describing an eyeline?
We'll work through basic field guide "language," then
put it to work in the next two sessions. Those sessions
(April 29, 6-8 pm and May 1, 7-10 am) will be mostly
outdoors and will concentrate on watching and
identifying common birds around the nature center.
Participants in this course can bring their own
binoculars and field guides, or they can borrow CNC's
for the three sessions. Meet at the Nature Study
Building the night of the first session. |
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4/22/10
Thursday
5:30 -
7:00 pm
Free Admission
All
Ages |
Earth Day
Hike
Celebrate Earth
Day by getting out and into the woods to take in the
sights, sounds and smells of spring. Naturalist Karen
Breternitz will lead this 1 ½ hour hike and talk about
the trees, wildflowers and fungi that are getting ready
for their busy season. |
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4/24/10 Saturday
2:00 - 4:00 pm
Registration Deadline:
4/16/10
Free Admission
Ages: 5+
w/adult |
Fishing Fun
for Kids
Learn the basic
skills of fishing. We will learn to tie a simple knot,
practice casting, rigging the pole, placing a worm on a
hook, and have time to fish. Parent or guardian must
accompany the child. Limited space available so call
ahead to reserve your spot. |
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4/24/10 Saturday
7:30 pm
At Washington Woods
Free Admission
Ages: 18+ |
Honeybees
in Trouble
Presented by Bill Ferris
Bill is a self-described "old fart who is twice retired
and has been messing around with honeybees for 25
years." In this program, he will share how honeybees
came to this continent, how the bee-keeping industry
started, how to start and maintain a hive, and why the
honeybee is now in trouble. He will also present
information on native bees and what we can do to help
them. The program is sponsored by the Midland Nature
Club. |
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4/24/10 Saturday
7:00 am - 4:00 pm
Registration
Deadline: 4/16/10
Member: $20
Non-member: $25
Ages: 15+, under 18
w/adult |
F10-09
Maple River Waterfowl & Birds
The Maple River Flooding (just north of St.
John's, Michigan) offers tremendous habitat for
migrating and resident waterfowl, herons, osprey, and
many other water-loving species, as well as wooded areas
that support lots of resident songbirds. Join CNC
Naturalists Janea Little and Jeanne Henderson for this
all-day birding trip to explore this state-owned
wildlife area. We will walk several miles on the dikes
that surround the flooding areas, as well as the more
wooded sites on the west side of the flooding. Please
bring a sack lunch and beverage, and plan for walking,
rain or shine! |
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4/25/10 Sunday
2:00 - 4:00 pm
Registration Deadline:
4/16/10
Free Admission
Ages: 5+
w/adult |
Fishing Fun
for Kids
Learn the basic
skills of fishing. We will learn to tie a simple knot,
practice casting, rigging the pole, placing a worm on a
hook, and have time to fish. Parent or guardian must
accompany the child. Limited space available so call
ahead to reserve your spot. |
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4/27/10
Tuesday
8:00 - 10:00 pm
Free Admission
Ages: 9+, under 18
w/adult |
Full Moon
Stroll
Have you ever
walked through the woods at night without using a
flashlight? It's not so hard to do when there's a full
moon lighting your way. Join Senior Naturalist Janea
Little for this nighttime experience enjoying a view of
the full moon coming up through the trees, and listening
to the chorus of spring peepers, wood frogs, American
woodcocks and other spring singers. Please wear dark
clothing so we are less visible to the wildlife. And
bring a flashlight -- just in case. |
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4/27/10
Tuesday
9:30 - 11:00 am
Free Admission
All
Ages, under 18
w/adult |
Woodland
Wildflowers
Woodland
wildflowers have a short window of opportunity to get
their blooming done before the forest canopy leafs out
and stops the sun from reaching the forest floor where
these guys live. Come on out and take a hike with
Naturalist Karen Breternitz to find out if they are
getting the job done and if the early spring pollinators
are doing their job. |
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2010:
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June
July |
August |
September |
October |
November |
December
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