Community Corner

April Events at Indian Springs and Kensington Metroparks

Looking for something to do with the kids? Check out these events at the local metroparks.

The following are the events listed for both Indian Spring Metropark in White Lake, and Kensington Metropark in Milford for the month of April.

A Metroparks vehicle entry permit is required to enter any Metropark and is only $25 annually for regular admission, $15 annually for seniors or $5 daily. General information can be found at www.metroparks.com or by calling 1-800-47-PARKS.

Indian Springs Metropark

For additional information or to register for programs at the Indian Springs Metropark Environmental Discovery Center near White Lake, please call 248-625-7280.

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“Tot Time: Eggs,” Saturday, April 6 at 10 am, Environmental Discovery Center. What hatches from those little eggs? Your little explorer will discover the exciting arrival of spring with an eggs-traodinary program. Fee: $5 per person. Preregistration required.

“Orienteering,” Saturday, April 6 at 10 am, Environmental Discovery Center. Baffled by tech gadgets? Out of bread crumbs? Learn how to use a compass to find your way during this 2 ½-hour program. Learn how to orienteer indoors, then navigate an outdoor course. Fee: $5 per person/$8 per person if you are participating in both mapping and orienteering sessions the same day (Scouts may earn badge credits). Preregistration required. Participants should dress for the weather and wear hiking boots.

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“Map an Orienteering Course,” Saturday, April 6 at 1:30 pm, Environmental Discovery Center. Hone your new skills by mapping a simple cross-country course. Participants will cover pacing briefly, but the point of this exercise is to map out the directions and timing, as well as using basic topography knowledge. Fee: $5 per person/$8 per person if you are participating in both mapping and orienteering sessions. Preregistration required. Dress for the weather and wear hiking boots. No sports shoes, please.

“GPS Scavenger Hunt,” Saturday, April 13 at 1 pm, Environmental Discovery Center. Learn about latitude and longitude to see how GPS works and then use a GPS unit to find practice geocaches hidden in the park! Fee: $5 per person. Preregistration required.

“Green Schools – Successful Nestboxes,” Saturday, April 20 at 11 am, Environmental Discovery Center. It is possible to have bluebirds, chickadees, tree swallows and other native birds nesting on your school’s property or in your yard! Participants will learn how to be a great nest box landlord with many tricks, examples and tips to help you succeed. Fee: $3 per person. Preregistration required.

“Keep it Clean for Earth Day,” Saturday, April 20 at 1 pm, Environmental Discovery Center. Join the park and celebrate Earth Day by lending a helping hand. A park-wide cleanup effort will give you and Mother Nature something to feel good about.

“Timberland’s Spring Wildflower Walk,” Sunday, April 21 at 11 am, Environmental Discovery Center. Which wildflower can live to be 500 years old? Discover the secrets and identities of woodland wildflowers on a walk through the Timberland Swamp, one of the last places in lower Michigan untouched by humans. Fee: $3 per person. Preregistration required. Dress for the weather and wear proper hiking footwear.

“Woodcock Waltz,” Friday, April 26 at 8:30 pm, Environmental Discovery Center. Early spring, under a full moon, is woodcock display season! This program requires patience and quiet so we do not frighten the birds. Fee: $5 per person. Preregistration required.

“Webelos Badge Day: Forester, Naturalist and Geologist,” Saturday, April 27 from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm, Environmental Discovery Center. Scouts can earn their Forester, Naturalist and Geologist badges. Participants may earn one, two or three badges in one day. Each badge program is 1-1/2 hours. Badge day fills quickly. Please call for cost of each badge and to make reservations. Program fee is due at time of registration.

Kensington Metropark

For additional information or to register for programs at the Kensington Metropark Nature Center or Farm Center located near Milford/Brighton, please call 810-227-8910.

At the Nature Center:

“Wildwing Watch,” Saturday and Sunday, April 6 and 7, from 2 pm to 4 pm, Boardwalk near the Nature Center. It’s spring and the herons are back on the rookery!  Interpreters will have spotting scopes out on the boardwalk so that you can get a better look.

“Webelos: Geologist,” Saturday, April 13 at 2 pm, Nature Center. All requirements for this badge will be met during this indoor/outdoor program. Fee: $5 per Scout. Preregistration required. 

“Leave No Trace Camping for Scouts,” Sunday, April 14 at 2 pm, Nature Center. Learn how to camp without scarring the landscape. Fee: $5 per Scout. Preregistration required.

“International Astronomy Day,” Saturday, April 20 from 10 am to 4 pm, Nature Center. The Great Lakes Association of Astronomy Clubs will be sharing the wonders and excitement of astronomy from 10 am to 4 pm. Solar scopes will be set up for safe viewing of the sun. Telescope displays and sky charts will be available for those wanting to get started in this fascination hobby.

“Webelos: Outdoorsman,” Sunday, April 21 from 1 pm to 4 pm, Nature Center. Some requirements for this badge will be met during this indoor/outdoor program. Fee: $5 per Scout. Preregistration required.

“Homeschool: Critter Conversations,” Thursday, April 25 at 1:30 pm, Nature Center. Listen to all that springtime animal chatter! Birds are singing and frogs are calling. Participants will head out into the woods to discover what’s going on at this busy time of year. Fee: $4 per student. Preregistration required.

At the Farm Center:

“Farmer for a Day,” Saturday, April 6 from 10 am to 3 pm, Farm Center. This program is offered to boys and girls, ages 7 to 15 years old, interested in working on a farm. Kids will work alongside the farmers and in teams to accomplish daily or seasonal chores. This program is designed to be educational and fun. Children will leave with a greater appreciation of farm life. Fee: $35 per child and is due at the time of registration.

“Fun on the Farm: Horses,” Thursday, April 11 at 10 am, Farm Center. This program for the little ones consists of story time, a craft and an activity.  Children will get a chance to visit with and help groom the horses and then go on a hayride. Fee: $5 per person.

“Farmer for a Day,” Saturday, April 20 from 10 am to 3 pm, Farm Center. This program is offered to boys and girls, ages 7 to 15 years old, interested in working on a farm. Kids will work alongside the farmers and in teams to accomplish daily or seasonal chores. This program is designed to be educational and fun. Children will leave with a greater appreciation of farm life. Fee: $35 per child and is due at the time of registration.

“Fun on the Farm – Spring Babies,” Thursday and Friday, April 25 and 26, at 10 am, Farm Center. Little ones will hear a story, make a craft, participate in an activity and meet the new farm babies. Fee: $5 per child.

“Spring Festival,” Saturday and Sunday, April 27 and 28, from noon to 4 pm, Farm Center. Enjoy a fun-filled weekend of activities for the whole family. This two-day event centers around shearing the farm’s flock of sheep. Other activities include horse-drawn hayrides, candle dipping, wool spinning, weaving, a Border collie demonstration and entertainment by Rosco the Clown.

 


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