Upcoming:

These events can also be found at https://www.stewardshipnetwork.org/events/ by selecting “Grand-Raisin Conservation Community” under the “tags” section.

Earth Day Celebration at Cascades Park

Saturday, April 23rd, 2022, 1:00pm – 4:00pm ET

Sparks Foundation Park (1528 Kibby Rd, Jackson, MI 49203)

The Jackson County Conservation District is excited to announce the Annual “Earth Day Celebration in the Park” event which will take place on Saturday, April 23rd from 1-4pm at the Sparks Foundation County Park (Cascades Park). This is a free family event for all ages that will include hands-on activities, crafts, and live music. Come join the Conservation District and other participating organizations to learn more about how you can help take care of our planet!

Several partners of the Grand-Raisin Conservation Community will be there, including the host, JCCD and Grand River Environmental Action Team (GREAT), Jackson Audubon and the Jackson Lenawee Washtenaw CISMA

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/649696283028422

Event listing: https://www.jacksoncd.org/2022/03/earth-day-celebration-in-the-park-april-23/0

Explore the Night Frogs and Toads @ the Dahlem

Thursday, April 28th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Dahlem Center (7117 S Jackson Rd, Jackson, MI 49201)

https://www.dahlemcenter.org/event/explore-the-night-frogs-and-toads-the-dahlem/

Hop to it – April is all about frogs and toads! Join Dahlem Nature Center and the Ella Sharp Museum for an in-depth exploration of these wetland creatures. First, meet live examples of Michigan’s frogs and toads, and experience rarely-seen pieces of wildlife art from the Andrews Wildlife Collection. Then grab your galoshes and join a frog-hunting hike! Participants will learn to identify frog calls and how to safely catch and release live frogs.

“Explore the Night!” is a collaboration between the Ella Sharp Museum and Dahlem Nature Center. Join us each month for a family-friendly evening program exploring the exhibits, collections, and grounds of these Jackson institutions. This program is recommended for ages 10+.

$12 for 18+, $8 for 17 or younger

Spring Bird Migration Walk

Sunday, May 1, 2022, 8:00am – 10:00am

11007 Mull Rd Tipton, MI, 49287United States (map)

One of the most beautiful displays of spring is the migration of birds during their flight to their breeding grounds in the north. Filling the air with new colors and sounds, the spring migration is truly a treat. This will be a great opportunity to both catch up with returning summer residents and brush up on the migrators that only pass quickly through. This tour will include wetland, forest, and field habitats and encounter mildly adverse terrain. Wear hiking shoes and bring binoculars if you have a pair!

Bark Containers

Saturday, May 7, 2022, 11:00am – 2:00pm

11007 Mull Rd. Tipton, MI (map)

Containers to transport food, water, objects and the like are largely factory made and totally taken for granted today, however this technology is essential to our daily lives as humans. In this class we will make a crude and simple container. Maybe yours will be beautiful and lasting, maybe it won’t hold together even for your drive home! But we will all get to interact with bark and experiment with creating basic bark containers like people from around the world have learned and practiced for thousands of years. Please bring good scissors and a writing utensil. Elm bark will be provided.

Grand River Paddle – US 127 TO VANDERCOOK LAKE COUNTY PARK

Saturday, May 14th, 2022, 9:30am – 2:30pm

US-127 Highway Bridge located 1,000 feet North of Reed Road (Liberty Township)

7.0 MILE TRIP FOR 3.5 TO 5 HOURS

Plan on arriving at the US-127 Highway Bridge located 1,000 feet North of reed Road with your boats or gear unloaded by 9:30 a.m. to participate in the shuttle.

All paddle events are open to the public. If you would like to reserve a canoe or a kayak for this event, at no charge, please call the GREAT phone at 517-416-4234 prior to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 12, 2022.

To check trip status due to weather, call GREAT at 517 416-4234 or check the GREAT Website at http://www.great-mi.org. Cancelled trips will be rescheduled for the following day, Sunday, unless posted on web otherwise. Waivers must be signed at the Put In. A PFD must be worn at all times.

See the event website for important details: https://www.great-mi.org/event-4758726

Spring Birding

Saturday, May 21st, 2022, 8:00am – 10:00am

Sharon Mills County Park (5701 Sharon Hollow Rd, Manchester, MI 48158)

Recent habitat restoration has led to exciting birding sights at Sharon Mills Park. New wetlands have given waterfowl and shorebirds a new place to visit. In addition, we’ll scan the nearby fields and tree lines for other exciting feathered friends. Led by Kelsey Dehring. Limited to 12 birders. Please bring binoculars. Pre-registration is required. Register by emailing dehringk@washtenaw.org.

Heckuva Hike – A wellness and fitness hike

Saturday, May 21st, 1:00pm – 3:30pm

Watkins State Park & County Preserve (14801 Arnold Rd, Brooklyn, MI 49230)

We’ll trek around 5.5 miles of trail as we wander through a mix of fields, forests, and lakeside. This wellness and fitness hike provides a fairly level terrain with a couple steep hills to get the heart pumping. These hikes focus more on the health benefits of being outdoors and less on nature interpretation. Space is limited to 12 hikers. Pre-registration is required. To register, email Kelsey Dehring at dehringk@washtenaw.org. State recreation pass required

Grass Lake Paddle

Saturday, August 13th, 2022, 10:00am – 1:00pm

Grass Lake County Park (373 N Lake St, Grass Lake, MI 49240)

2 TO 3 HOUR PADDLE EXPLORING GRASS LAKE

https://grand2995.wildapricot.org/event-4758919

Plan on arriving at the boat launch in the Grass Lake Couunty Park located at 400 N. Lake Street, Grass Lake, MI 49240 by 10:00 a.m.

We will be exploring the 338 acre lake with lots of undeveloped shorline full of wild flowers and waterfowl.

All paddle events are open to the public. If you would like to reserve a canoe or a kayak for this event, at no charge, please call the GREAT phone at 517-416-4234 prior to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 11, 2022.

To check trip status due to weather, call GREAT at 517 416-4234 or check the GREAT Website at http://www.great-mi.org Cancelled trips will be rescheduled for the following day, Sunday, unless posted on web otherwise. Waivers must be signed at the Put In. A PFD must be worn at all times.

See event website for more details