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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:
September |
October |
November |
December
Download a
Registration
Form to sign up for fee-related programs |
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October 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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10/1/10
Friday
6:00 - 7:30 pm
Free Admission
All
Ages |
Falling Leaves Walk
Join Naturalist Karen
Breternitz for this exploration hike along the rivers.
We will look for galls on fallen leaves, mushrooms on
rotting logs, flowers on late blooming plants and
anything else of interest along the way. Meet at the
temporary Visitor Center.
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10/1/10
Friday
9:00 am -
10/3/10
Sunday
6:00 pm
Registration
Deadline:
9/20/10Member: $85
Non-member: $100
Ages: 18+ |
F10-31
Wilderness Waterfalls of
Munising
Michigan's Upper
Peninsula has nearly 200 waterfalls, but we'll visit
only half a dozen or so on this field trip. The featured
falls will be Rock River and Silver Falls, a dynamic duo
located in the Rock River Wilderness Area west of
Munising. On previous (early spring) trips, these falls
have been inaccessible to us due to heavy winter snows
that left the Forest Service roads impassable even in
early May! So this time out, we're tackling them in the
fall, when the roar of the water will be lessened, but
the roads SHOULD be open! Plus, we'll have peak fall
colors to enjoy along the way. The hike to these falls
is classic Upper Peninsula hiking -- a couple of miles
of rocks (which are slick when wet), steep slopes,
narrow trails, lots of tree roots, and year-round mud!
But the surrounding scenery is beautiful! Participants
need to wear sturdy hiking boots, and be prepared to be
out ALL DAY in a wilderness area (meaning "trowel
toilets," with CNC providing the trowels) on Saturday.
On the other days, we will explore more easily-accessed
waterfalls, including Wagner, Munising, and the hidden
jewels, Tannery and Memorial Falls, in the Michigan
Nature Association's Twin Falls Preserve. Other
possibilities, depending on time constraints, are
Whitefish, Au Train, Miner's and Hay Meadow Falls.
CNC's Senior Naturalists,
Janea Little and Phil Stephens, will lead this trip,
which means we'll also spend time looking at birds,
flowers, trees, geology, etc. We'll spend some time at
all of the falls, just enjoying the show and perhaps a
sack lunch, so be sure to bring your camera.
Transportation will be in
CNC's vans. The registration fee does NOT include meals
or lodging. A block of rooms has been reserved at the
Munising Comfort Inn - please call (906)
387-5292 to reserve your room, and be sure to ask for
the Chippewa Nature Center rooms to receive the group
discount. If you would like to share a room with
someone, let us know when you sign up. (If you DON'T
want to share a room, let us know that, too.)
Participants should plan on bringing sack lunches for
all three days. Evening meals on Friday and Saturday
will be at local restaurants; breakfast Saturday and
Sunday will be the hotel's continental breakfast.
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10/2/10 Saturday
1:00 - 2:30 pm
Free Admission
Ages: 5-9 |
Nature for Youth
(Nature's Colorful Ways)
This program is
designed to help kids develop a connection to the
natural world through fun, hands-on activities including
experiment stations, games, crafts, and more. Each
session is held on the first Saturday of the month at
the temporary Visitor Center.
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10/5/10
Tuesday
6:00 - 7:00 pm
Free Admission
Ages: 5+ |
Natural History of the
White-tailed Deer
Join naturalist Tom Lenon
for a presentation/hike where he shares the natural
history and behaviors of the white-tailed deer. This is
a time of year where it is easy to find signs of deer
and it is very likely that some deer will even be
observed. Learning how to age deer, understanding some
of their vocalizations, exploration of their preferred
habitats and discovering many of their unique
characteristics will be covered in this program.
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10/6/10
Wednesday
9:00 - 10:30 am
Free Admission
All
Ages, under 18
w/adult |
Falling Leaves Walk
Join Naturalist Karen
Breternitz for this exploration hike along the rivers.
We will look for galls on fallen leaves, mushrooms on
rotting logs, flowers on late blooming plants and
anything else of interest along the way. Meet at the
temporary Visitor Center.
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10/7/10
Thursday
6:00 pm - Hike
7:00 pm - Meeting
Free Admission
All Ages |
Midland
Hiking Club:
Canoeing and
Kayaking Lake Superior Provincial Park
Join the Midland
Hiking Club to hike, meet new friends and hear
a presentation on canoeing
and kayaking at Lake Superior Provincial Park. Roy Kranz
will talk about his recent multiple-day kayaking trip to
the park which involved back-country camping and
portaging.
Meet at the Temporary Visitor Center for the hike and/or
presentation. For
more information, visit
Midland Hiking Club online. |
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10/7/10
Thursday
7:00 pm
Free Admission
All Ages |
Valley Herb Society
Join
the Valley Herb Society at the Nature Study Building to
sample rare, historical and antique apples - not the
varieties you find in the grocery store! Jackie Earley
will share the stories and history of the apples, along
with some information on growth and care. Jackie will
pick a Russian apple, a historical American and 6 others
the day of the program so they will be in pristine
condition. |
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10/9/10
Saturday
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Registration
Deadline:
10/1/10
Member: $20
Non-member: $30
Ages: 18+ |
F10-28
Adventures for Women: All
Day Trippin' Down the Chippewa
Most of our paddle trips
on the Chippewa River are just a couple of hours, from
CNC's boat launch to the Tridge, or from our Chippewa
Cabin site to our main property. But this time out,
we're going to make a whole day of it! We'll put in at
Magruder Road and paddle all the way to our main canoe
launch (just past the Pine/Chippewa confluence), with a
lunch break at Midland County's Manitou Park and another
rest stop at CNC's Chippewa Cabin. (Facilities are not
exciting at either place - both have pit toilets.) The Magruder Road site is not an easy put-in site
- a steep
bank with a healthy poison ivy population, but once
you're in, it's a beautiful stretch of river! At Manitou
Park, the trail up to the restrooms and picnic area is
quite steep, so we'll just tie our boats up at the bank.
Participants should dress for changing weather
conditions through the day, and bring beverages/sack
lunch/snacks.
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10/16/10
Saturday
1:00 - 2:30 pm
Free Admission
All
Ages, under 18
w/adult |
Autumn Walkabout
Spend an afternoon
enjoying a leisurely stroll as we discover the treasures
of the Autumn landscape. Perhaps we'll encounter some
colorful fungus, unique seeds, or busy chipmunks.
Participants of all ages will enjoy learning as we
wander through the woods.
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10/17/10
Sunday
2:00 - 4:00 pm
Free Admission
All
Ages, under 18
w/adult |
Rambling at the Ridge
Falling leaves of many
colors and tracks of many shapes and sizes are just a
few of the things you can discover while rambling at the
Ridge area today. Enjoy an autumn afternoon outdoors
discovering nature's artistry. Meet at the Ridge Area
parking lot on Grey Road.
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10/20/10
Wednesday
8:00 - 11:00 am
Free Admission
Ages: 12+ |
Not-So-Early Bird Walk
Birding gets a little
easier at this time of year, at least for people who
like to sleep in a bit! Join Senior Naturalist Janea
Little for part or all of this hike along CNC trails to
look and listen for birds, including year-round
residents, late fall migrants and early-arriving winter
visitors. Loaner binoculars are available.
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10/20/10
Wednesday
5:00 - 7:00 pm
Free Admission
Ages: 12+, under 18
w/adult |
Stroll Through Averill's
Logging Past
In the 1880s the small
town of Averill, just west of Midland City, boasted the
'largest banking grounds in the world' on the banks of
the Tittabawassee River. Join Kyle Bagnall, CNC's
Manager of Historical Programs, for a stroll into
Averill's past at the famous banking grounds. Here,
you'll hear local lumbering tales, view historic photos
of the site and appreciate recent efforts the Little
Forks Conservancy has made to preserve its rich history
and natural resources. Wear walking shoes and meet in
Averill at the Tittabawassee River overlook of the Pere
Marquette Rail Trail, near the interpretive sign, where
we'll begin our hike.
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10/21/10
Thursday
4:00 - 7:00 pm
Registration
Deadline:
10/15/10
Member: $12
Non-member: $15
Ages: 14+ |
F10-33
Adventures for Women:
Chippewa River Kayaking
BRRR! Yes, this could be a cold one! You know
how fall is in Michigan - this kayak trip could be warm
and cozy, or a winter adventure! If the combined air and
water temperature is below 100 degrees, participants on
this trip will be required to wear a wetsuit (local
rentals available at very reasonable fees - call Janea
Little, 631-0830, for details). We'll put in at the
Chippewa River Rd. property and enjoy
fall colors (past their peak, but still great!) on the
two-hour float trip down to the main canoe launch at the
Pine/Chippewa confluence.
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10/23/10 Saturday
9:30 am - 6:00 pm
Registration
Deadline: 10/15/10
Member: $45
Non-member: $55
Ages: 18+ |
W10-17
Woodstove
Cooking Workshop
Join volunteer
Monika Pfannes in a workshop dedicated to woodstove
cooking in the kitchen of the log cabin at CNC's
Homestead Farm. Participants will learn the art of
starting and maintaining a woodstove cooking fire for
food preparation, prepare food for 3 meals, cook on top
of the woodstove and bake in the oven.
The first meal will be a quick breakfast, followed by a
lunch item to be prepared quickly (in approximately 1-2
hours). Then it's time to prepare a full scale/supper
consisting of meat, vegetable, bread and dessert.
Serving of the main meal will take place between 4:30 -
5:00 pm, followed by final cleanup. A spouse or guest of
each participant is encouraged to come and share the
evening meal (preregistration of guests required). Class
size is limited to 6 adults due to the size of the
cabin's kitchen. Join us for this all-day event filled
with a lot of fun and good food! |
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10/23/10 Saturday
1:00 - 2:30 pm
Free Admission
All
Ages |
Kicking Leaves Hike
How long has it been
since you kicked your way through a carpet of leaves?
Join us as we enjoy the fall colors and smells as we
kick through the leaves on the trail. Learn why leaves
change color and how the plants are preparing for
winter. This slow, short hike will be led by Naturalist
Karen Breternitz, so fungi will be a choice topic too!
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10/26/10
Tuesday
6:00 - 9:00 pm
Registration
Deadline:
10/15/10
Member: $18
Non-member: $25
Ages: 15+ |
W10-12
Fire and Cordage Making
Workshop
Join CNC's Dennis Pilaske
and Kyle Bagnall to learn the traditional skills of
making cordage from plant fibers and creating fire in
this hands-on workshop. Use basswood bark, dogbane and
swamp milkweed to create string of any size and length.
Learn the skill of "rubbing two sticks together" to
create fire in minutes with a bow and drill or make a
fire with flint and steel in seconds. Participants will
receive materials for cordage making, a bow and drill
kit and a flint and steel kit to take home.
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2010:
September |
October |
November |
December
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