Discover the places animals call home and what makes them the perfect fit.

Nature center availability: This program is available at both Red Oaks and Wint nature centers

Season offered: All

Michigan is the #3 apple producer in the U.S. Discover how beautiful blossoms develop into apples, try your hand at our cider press and hike to see what trees are doing in the fall. Enjoy a tart taste of Michigan cider for $1/cider taster.

Nature center availability: This program is available at both Red Oaks and Wint nature centers

Season offered: Fall

Insects make up 80% of the world’s known animal species. Become an Entomologist as you take a close-up look at specimens and discover what makes an insect a bug. Take a hike to find and identify local insects. 

Nature center availability: This program is available at both Red Oaks and Wint nature centers

Season offered: Summer

Learn about this international scavenger hunt pasttime. Solve clues to unravel the riddle on the trail. Craft a stamp to leave in the logbook and start your nature journal with a stamp at the end of the adventure. There is an additional fee of $2/person for stamp and journal.

Nature center availability: This program is available at both Red Oaks and Wint nature centers

Season offered: Spring-Fall

Learn about the regionally significant process of maple sugaring. Investigate the science of sap, taste a sweet treat and talk about the different tools and processes used through time. There is an additional fee of  $2/person for tasting and materials.

Nature center availability: This program is available at both Red Oaks and Wint nature centers.

Season offered: February-March

Discover the signs and symbols of the great state of Michigan! Learn the scuttlebutt on the state bird debate, see our state gemstone and take a hike to see what state symbols you can spot along the trail. 

Nature center availability: This program is available at both Red Oaks and Wint nature centers

Season offered: All

Michigan is home to an amazing array of animals. “Meet” our locals during a nature talk, enjoy our nature center residents and exhibits, and take a seasonal hike to spot wildlife in the park. 

Nature center availability: This program is available at both Red Oaks and Wint nature centers

Season offered: All

See real macroinvertebrates that live in our waterways up close and personal. Learn how biologists use their presence to determine water quality. If your group chooses, dip net your own sample from Crooked Lake for an additional fee of $2/person. Participants must be ages 8+ for this optional dip net activity.

Nature center availability: This program is available at Wint Nature Center only.

Season offered: May-September

Enjoy a tour of the current night sky inside our portable, indoor, inflatable planetarium. A naturalist will teach you how to starhop through the constellations so you can go home and try it yourself tonight! Portable planetarium programs are designed for ages 6+.

Nature center availability: This program is available at both Red Oaks and Wint nature centers

Season offered: All

Discover the wonders of the season. Learn what animals are doing and take a hike to see the seasonal sights.

Nature center availability: This program is available at both Red Oaks and Wint nature centers

Season offered: All

Explore why some feathered friends are just passing through, while others reside in the park year-round. Dive into bird anatomy and learn the basics of birding while you enjoy the sights and songs of the trail. 

Nature center availability: This program is available at Red Oaks Nature Center only.

Season offered: Spring and Fall

Learn about our winter friends and investigate how to find them. Look for the clues they leave us on the trail. For $1/printer, participants can stamp animal tracks on a T-shirt that they provide. 

Nature center availability: This program is available at both Red Oaks and Wint nature centers

Season offered: All, but best in winter