Description: Hike with our District Forester to learn about the local ecology and management considerations of Michigan forest ecosystems!

When: Friday, May 30th from 10:00am - 12:00pm

Where: Hickory Forest, trailhead access is located off Barney Road, across from Harris Road.

Registration: Free. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Audience: Adults

Description: Connect with the natural world on paper! During this 3-part series, you will slow down and nurture your connection with the outdoors. Each week will focus on a different theme including; nature journaling basics, all senses on paper, and sketching like scientists. Afterwards, you will leave with the tools to confidently continue your nature journaling experience!

No prior experience necessary! All supplies included.

When: Thursday, May 29th from 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd, Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: $25 per session or $60 if you register for all three sessions. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Audience: Adults

Description: Visit the Boardman River Nature Center for after-hours fun! Be a nature detective and complete an educational scavenger hunt. Learn about Michigan Animals and their homes through the soft glow of lanterns.

When: Friday, May 23rd from 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd, Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: $5 suggested donation. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Audience: Families

Description: Connect with the natural world on paper! During this 3-part series, you will slow down and nurture your connection with the outdoors. Each week will focus on a different theme including; nature journaling basics, all senses on paper, and sketching like scientists. Afterwards, you will leave with the tools to confidently continue your nature journaling experience!

No prior experience necessary! All supplies included.

When: Thursday, May 15th from 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd, Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: $25 per session or $60 if you register for all three sessions. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Join the Grand Traverse Conservation District and the Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network in planting native seedlings at Hickory Meadows. We will also hand pull invasive garlic mustard that has been located in parts of the park.

When: Saturday, May 10th from 9:00am - 12:00pm

Where: Hickory Meadows, Randolph St, Traverse City, MI 49684

Registration: Free. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Experiment with textures and ink with monoprinting at the Boardman River Nature Center! Whether you're a seasoned printmaker or a curious beginner, you’ll create something completely unique.

Participants will have the opportunity to create and take home a framed piece of artwork and charming greeting cards.

This workshop is recommended for ages 10+.

When: Saturday, May 3rd from 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd., Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: This event is now full.

Description: Join us for a Family Geology Hike, featuring the Grand Traverse Area Rock and Mineral Club Pebble Pups, where you’ll step back in time on a journey into the world of fossils. Led by seasoned experts in paleontology, this event combines a scenic hike with hands-on fossil discovery, offering participants the chance to learn about ancient creatures and geological wonders of our planet.

This program is geared towards an audience of children and families.

When: Saturday, May 3rd from 10:00am - 12:00pm

Where: Meet at the Meadows Pavilion on the Natural Education Reserve.

Registration: Free. Please click here to register.

Description: Connect with the natural world on paper! During this 3-part series, you will slow down and nurture your connection with the outdoors. Each week will focus on a different theme including; nature journaling basics, all senses on paper, and sketching like scientists. Afterwards, you will leave with the tools to confidently continue your nature journaling experience!

No prior experience necessary! All supplies included.

When: Thursday, May 1st from 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd, Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: $25 per session or $60 if you register for all three sessions. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Join a GTCD naturalist on a walk through East Creek Reserve to learn the basics of identifying spring edibles.

When: Thursday, April 24th from 3:00 - 4:30pm

Where: East Creek Reserve. Meet at the parking lot on Mayfield Road.

Registration: $15/ person. This program is geared towards an audience of 18+. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Join us at the Great Lakes Incubator Farm for an engaging Seed Starting Workshop designed to help you grow healthy plants from the ground up! Participants will learn about seed selection (heirloom vs. hybrid), germination techniques, transplanting tips, organic pest and disease prevention methods, proper soil, containers, and essential practices for maintaining light, temperature, and water balance.

Whether you're a first-time gardener or a seasoned grower, you'll gain hands-on experience and expert tips to ensure your seedlings thrive.

When: Wednesday, April 23rd from 5:00 - 6:00pm

Where: Great Lakes Incubator Farm (GLIF), 1091 N Keystone Rd, Traverse City, MI 49696

Registration: This event is now full.

Description: Grab your shovels and give back to nature this Earth Day! Join us at the Boardman River Nature Center for native planting along the Natural Education Reserve's Bottomlands. Help restore the watershed with native seedlings and trees!

When: Tuesday, April 22nd from 10:00am - 2:00pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd., Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: Free. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Ease into the spring gardening season at GTCD’s annual Seed Swap!
Bring your garden seeds - any vegetables, fruits, or flowers that you enjoy growing and plan to leave with seeds for your 2025 garden! Don’t forget to stop by the Traverse Area District Library’s station to check out their seed library!

When: Saturday, April 12th from 10:00am - 12:00pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd, Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: Free. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Join the Grand Traverse Conservation District and the Great Lakes Mushroom Company for a two-part, hands-on educational workshop about mushroom cultivation! Take home a mushroom grow kit, explore cloning, learn how to grow mushrooms indefinitely, and more!

Part 101 (2:00 - 4:00pm) : Follow step-by-step instructions to make your own 5lb sterilized substrate grow bag. Learn how to care for your kit at home and sample delicious mushroom dishes provided by GLMC.

Part 102 (5:00 - 7:00pm) : Explore cloning, collecting spores, Taking spore prints, creating agar dishes, and create your own liquid culture in sterile jars.

When: Sunday, April 6th

Part 101 : 2:00 - 4:00pm

Part 102: 5:00 - 7:00pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Road, Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: $100/person for both sessions. Please email Environmental Educator, Jenn Miller at jmiller@gtcd.org to register.

*a meal will be provided to participants between sessions*

Description: Have an up-close experience with live raptors from North Sky Raptor Sanctuary, and learn about Michigan raptors in the spring!

When: Friday, March 28th from 6:00 - 7:00pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd, Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: Free for ages under 2; $10 for children under 12; $15 for ages 12 and up; $55 for a family of 5+. Registration is required. Please click here to register. Registration fees support North Sky Raptor Sanctuary.

Description: Celebrate Spring at the Grand Traverse Conservation District among local nature-themed artisans. Find the perfect gift for a friend, loved one, or treat yourself!

When: Saturday, March 22nd from 11:00am - 2:00pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd., Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: Free. Registration not required but is appreciated to help us plan. Please click here to register.

Join the Grand Traverse Conservation District (GTCD) and Earthen Ales for Spring Nature Trivia! Whether you are a nature enthusiast, a trivia buff, or simply looking for a fun way to learn, this is the perfect adventure for you! Embrace the curiosity, challenge your knowledge, and discover the marvels that surround us every day!

When: Friday, March 21st starting at 6pm

Where: Earthen Ales, 1371 Gray Dr., Suite 200, Traverse City, MI 49684

Registration: Free to play. No registration needed, limited space available. Up to 6 players per team.

Prizes: *To be announced

Description: Join a group of passionate women who own and/or appreciate woodlands on March 7th from 1:00 - 4:30pm for a hands-on workshop to learn about best land management practices. During this workshop, you will learn about the best land management practices, cost share opportunities for landowners, and shoreline management. Become inspired to add native species into your landscape and sketch out a management plan of your own!

When: Friday, March 7th from 1:00 - 4:30pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd., Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: Registration is now full.

Description: Join GTCD Staff for a guided hike along the trails of Brown Bridge Quiet Area to learn about the parkland's history, management, flora and fauna, and much much more!

When: Friday, February 28th from 10:00am - 12:00pm

Where: Brown Bridge Quiet Area

Registration: Registration is now full.

Description: Nick Carlson, Owner/Operator Carlson Tree Service and Carlson Tree Consulting, will discuss best management practices that can be applied to any backyard tree to encourage health and vigor, nipping common tree problems in the bud.

When: Tuesday, February 25th from 6:00 - 7:00pm

Where: Zoom

Registration: Free. Please click here to register.

Description: Join Dr. Rachel Kappler, Great Lakes Basin Forest Health Collaborative Coordinator, as she expands on how the Forest Services Emerald Ash Borer resistance research is being applied to new regional efforts to improve ash for future forest restoration.

When: Tuesday, February 11th from 6:00 - 7:00pm

Where: Zoom

Registration: Free. Please click here to register.

Description: Learn a new skill this winter from professional artist Samantha Hall at the Grand Traverse Conservation District. This beginner friendly workshop will teach you the techniques of using colored pencils to sketch a natural object you would find on the winter forest floor. Learn tips and tricks to draw and blend colors with a realistic result with your included colored pencil kit!

When: Saturday, February 8th from 10:00am - 1:00pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd., Traverse City, MI

Registration: $50/person. Must be 18+ to attend. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Join District Forester Ellie Johnson and GTCD Naturalists for a hike along the trails of the Natural Education Reserve to learn about identifying trees and woody plants in the winter months while enjoying the beauty of the Boardman-Ottaway River Valley.

When: Friday, January 31st from 10:00am - 12:00pm

Where: Natural Education Reserve

Registration: Free. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Join Jason Kimbrough (Natural Resources Conservation Service), DJ Shook (Conservation Resource Alliance), and Brett Fessell (Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians) as they discuss the Bridging the Crystal River project which aims to restore the natural flow regime and aquatic connectivity of the Crystal River by replacing three sets of undersized, outdated, and problematic culverts with bridges that will span the river’s bankfull width.

When: Tuesday, January 28th from 6:00 - 7:00pm

Where: Virtual

Registration: Free. Please click here to register.

Description: Join GTCD and the Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network staff for the third annual Seed Sowing Workshop!

We will learn about the importance of native plants and the cold-moist stratification process. Using recycled materials, we will sow seeds in containers to set outside for the remainder of the winter season. Once spring comes, the seeds will germinate at their own rate with very little maintenance - ready to be planted in their new homes soon after!

Attendees will create two containers to take home for their own landscape.

When: Thursday, January 23rd from 6:00 - 7:30pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd., Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: $10/person. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: GTCD naturalists and Grand Traverse Audubon Board member Kirk Waterstripe invite you to a community bird watching hike along the Boardman-Ottaway River and Boardman Lake.

When: Saturday, January 11th from 9:00 - 10:30am

Where: Meet at the Governmental Center, County of Grand Traverse, 400 Boardman Ave, Traverse City, MI 49684.

Registration: Free. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Enjoy the full moon and celebrate the winter solstice by walking a lantern-lit trail on the Natural Education Reserve. If the weather allows, a limited amount of snow shoes will be available.

When: Sunday, December 15th from 5:00 - 6:30pm

Where: Natural Education Reserve, 1450 Cass Rd., Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: Free. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Kick off the holiday season by creating a wreath for your front door! This DIY experience allows you to create a beautiful wreath you'll be proud to hang in your home. Wreath form, a mix of fresh evergreens, ribbon, instructions, and tools will be provided. Attendees will take home their gorgeous wreaths at the end of the class.

When: Saturday, December 14th from 10:00am - 12:00pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd., Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: $50/person. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Kick off the holiday season by creating a wreath for your front door! This DIY experience allows you to create a beautiful wreath you'll be proud to hang in your home. Wreath form, a mix of fresh evergreens, ribbon, instructions, and tools will be provided. Attendees will take home their gorgeous wreaths at the end of the class.

When: Friday, December 6th from 6:00 - 8:00pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd., Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: $50/person. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: GTCD invites you and your family to join members of the STEAM/Maker Alliance for a Mini MakerFest with local STEAM organizations. Engage in hands-on and educational activities!

The STEAM/Maker Alliance's goal is to create opportunities for youth to explore STEAM in Northwest Michigan. For more information about this alliance and its partner organizations, please visit their webpage.

All children attending must be accompanied by an adult/guardian.

When: Thursday, November 14th from 5:00 - 7:00pm

Where: Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd., Traverse City, MI 49685

Registration: Free. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Description: Learn about the ecological and human history of the Natural Education Reserve and discover glimpses into past human use and natural communities! Join the Forest Forensics Webinar hosted by MSU Extension followed with an in-person hike.

When: Friday, November 8th from 3:30 - 5:00pm

Where: Natural Education Reserve. Meet at the Oleson Bridge Trailhead

Registration: Free. Registration is required. Please click here to register.