E N V I R O N M E N T A L      E D U C A T I O N

Know a Young Person who Loves Nature?

The Young Naturalist Club is intended to promote curiosity about nature among our youth. The club offers quarterly mailings of the Howling Herald, the Conservancy’s newsletter for kids, and provides opportunities throughout the school year to explore nature with a Conservancy naturalist and other club members. Membership is free, and anyone is welcome to join who is at least six years of age and residing in Emmet, Charlevoix, Mackinaw, Cheboygan or Chippewa counties. Simply call our office or e-mail Alison at alison@landtrust.org. Let us know your young naturalist’s name, address, phone number, and what they like to learn about in nature!

Summer Education a Huge Success!

In an effort to reach out to even more people in our service area, the Conservancy offered field programs at various preserves, making them open for anyone to attend this summer. Programs were free, but reservations were required. The new format was a huge success! Each week a new theme was introduced and programs took place on Tuesdays and Thursdays at different preserves. Each program included a hike or a special take-home activity, and fun, hands-on experiences. At one program titled "For the Birds," participants learned about how different beaks and feet helped us determine what the bird ate and where it lived. After hiking through a variety of habitats and looking for birds, the group then created their own make believe birds complete with appropriate beaks and feet for their imaginary lifestyle! Offering open programs allowed families to explore nature together, and gave individual children visiting the area the opportunity to meet new friends and learn about Michigan’s wonderful natural spaces. Next summer we plan to expand even further into our service area. Look for a complete listing in our Spring 2002 newsletter.