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News
GRNA Announces Scholarship Availabilities
Grass River Natural Area is pleased to announce the availability of scholarships for the Wednesday Nature Nuts & Explorers classes. The scholarships are for children aged 4 to 10 who wish to attend the entire five week series. Classes are held weekly from 10 a.m. to noon and begin on
Wednesday, July 9 and run through August 6.
Nature Nuts (ages 4-6) and Nature Explorers (ages 7-10) discover the plants and animals that live in the natural area through hikes, games, crafts and other fun activities. The classes, held simultaneously and geared to the age group, are built around a different theme each week.
Nature Nuts & Explorers scholarships are made possible through the Jake Andrew Chappers Memorial Scholarship and the Velma Seaman Lessard Fund. Eleven year old Jake Chappers summered on Torch Lake and enjoyed Nuts & Explorers classes at GRNA. The scholarship was created by an anonymous donation in his memory. The family of Velma Seaman Lessard established the fund to honor their mother¹s respect for teachers and love of children and
life-long learning.
Scholarships will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. If you know a child between the ages of 4 and 10 that would like to attend all five classes but the $25 cost is prohibitive, please contact the GRNA office at 231-533-8314.
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 Dockside Hosts GRNA's Annual Spring Fling Fundraiser
Grass River Natural Area president, Chris Nightingale, receives a $1,500 check from the wait staff of the Dockside - Torch Lake. The Dockside hosts GRNA's annual Spring Fling fundraiser the first Tuesday in May each year.
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Summer Internship Available at Grass River Natural Area
Grass River Natural Area invites graduating high school seniors and college students interested in the natural sciences to apply for the Rotary Environmental Education Internship.
The Rotary Environmental Education Internship is funded in part by a $500 grant from the Bellaire Rotary Club. A goal of the program is to encourage local students to consider careers in environmental science.
The intern will work with Grass River naturalists to develop and teach nature classes, lead hikes, create educational displays and orient visitors. He or she will also participate in research for an ecological inventory of the natural area.
The eight week internship begins June 19. Minimum hourly commitment is 20 hours per week scheduled to accommodate both the student's and GRNA's needs.
Applications for the Rotary Environmental Education Internship are availabe at the Grass River office at 203 E. Cayuga, Suite 202-C, or contact Melynda Bagley, Education Director, at 231.533.8314.
Alden State Bank Sponsors Environmental Events
 Tom Lane, Alden State Bank President, presented the Grass River Natural Area a $5,000 check to sponsor classes and events for the 2008 season, including the GRNA/Three Lakes Association Golf Tournament on June 22. GRNA and the Three Lakes Association Jointly hold a golf tournament fundraiser to support each organization's water quatlity efforts.
"We appreciate Alden State Bank's generous donation to support local environmental efforts," said Mark Randolph, Executive Director of the Grass River Natural Area. "Their support allows us to offer free events to the public and provides assurance our fundraising events will be successful."
For more information on the golf tournament please click here . For a complete schedule of our classes please click here.
Help Grass River Natural Area Count The Birds
Where are the birds hanging out this winter? Grass River Natural Area and the National Audubon Society want to know and you can help. GRNA naturalists will be joining the Great Backyard Bird Count February 15 through 18 and they hope families in northern Michigan will too.
It's fun, it's easy and it's a great way for kids and adults to enjoy nature. By spending as little as 15 minutes counting the birds in your own backyard you can help scientists learn more about bird migration, species diversity and the impact of things like disease and temperature change on bird populations.
Want to get involved? To get the information you need to be an official bird counter click here, or call the Grass River office at 533-8314 for a mail-in version of the data gathering form.
Grass River will also conduct an informal survey of our region's winter birds. Send a copy of your results to Grass River Natural Area, PO Box 231, Bellaire, MI 49615. We’ll add it to our naturalists' data and post it on our website.
The Grass River Natural Area is a wonderful public resource for nature study and observation. Click here for classes, events, trail maps, and more.
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Great Horned Owls are nesting now at Grass River Natural Area. Join a naturalist on February 16th for a moonlit ski or snowshoe hike along the trails to call the owls. They just might answer back or fly out to take a look at who's invaded their territory. Call 231-533-8314 for information and to register. |
Grass River Fundraiser emphasizes support of local foods and environmental issues
Lulu's Bistro in Bellaire hosted a gourmet event to benefit Grass River Natural Area on May 7. The evening featured internationally renowned chef Michel Nishan, who partners with Paul Newman in a new restaurant called the Dressing Room in Connecticut, presenting his message of eating locally produced food. Chef Nishan emphasized the improved nutritional value of fresh food, the better taste, and the positive influence for the local economy that results when people choose locally produced food for their meals. Chef Nishan also took time to autograph his two cookbooks for Grass River supporters.
 Lulu's chef, Michael Peterson, reinforced Chef Nishan's message by creating an outstanding gourmet meal using local foods. Peterson used local fruits, vegetables, and meets, including
Glacier Springs trout and local greenhouse-grown vegetables.
GRNA volunteer board member, Lisa Culver, organized the fundraiser. GRNA director Mark Randolph also addressed the attendees with his message of the importance of local preservation efforts to help the global recovery of rare and endangered species. Loons, Eagles, Sandhill Cranes and Trumpeter Swans all find a safe haven at the Grass River Natural Area, as their populations recover from decades of decline.
For a list of local farmers markets, GRNA suggests calling the MSU extension office at 231 533-8818.
State awards Grass River Natural Area $2.1 million for land acquisition
 Lansing, Mich. (12.06.06) -- Antrim County's Grass River Natural Area has been awarded its largest gift ever -- $2.1 million for the purchase of additional property on the Grass River and Lake Bellaire. The state award was announced today by the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) and will protect another 1.6 miles of shoreline from development. The county-owned preserve will add 177 acres, bringing the total land protected for the 37-year old nature preserve to 1,325 acres with over six miles of river shoreline.
"This is a very important acquisition as it helps protect the water quality in the Chain of Lakes forever," said GRNA, Inc. Executive Director Mark Randolph about the six parcels in the sale. "It's wonderful news for everyone who enjoys the lakes and streams, including wildlife, fish and bird populations."
The Grass River award includes what was formerly known as the North Shore Hunt Club, a 155-acre piece of land with .5 miles on the west side of Intermediate River and nearly one mile of shoreline on the north end of Lake Bellaire. The property has been jointly owned by a group of six individuals that Grass River has been working with for three years.
"It is through the generosity and goodwill of these families that has made this possible by agreeing to sell the land for far less than it's worth," said Randolph. "We commend them for their philanthropy and dedication to the health and well-being of our environment and community. The Alden State Bank also stepped up with a bargain sale on two other parcels, making it possible to use that land value and that of the Hunt Club property as the necessary $600,000 match to obtain the grant."
In addition to the North Shore Hunt Club, the other parcels in the grant request are two lots located on the east shore of Lake Bellaire with 250 feet of lake frontage, and three lots along the east side of the Grass River, contiguous to the existing natural area. These five parcels represent 1,074 feet of shoreline.
Grass River Natural Area President Chris Nightingale said, in keeping with the mission of the area, that all the properties will adhere to the GRNA mission of preserving the land. The new parcels will remain in their natural state, open to hunting and fishing without the addition of trails or buildings.
The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund granted a total of $25 million to projects around the state for 2006.
Grass River Natural Area is located in the heart of the Chain of Lakes in Antrim County, between Bellaire and Alden on Alden Highway. Its mission is to protect the river and its watershed, provide opportunities that promote community-wide understanding, appreciation and stewardship of the natural environment. Eighty environmental education classes are offered year-round on and off-site for children, adults and schools with several universities performing research study at the natural area. It is managed by a 17-member volunteer board of directors under the auspices of Antrim County.
For more information about Grass River Natural Area, visit their website www.grassriver.org , call 231. 533.8314 or email info@grassriver.org.
The MNRTF began as the "Kammer Recreational Land Trust Fund Act of 1976" which created the Michigan Land Trust Fund (MLTF) program to provide a source of funding for the public acquisition of lands for resource protection and public outdoor recreation. Funding was derived from royalties on the sale and lease of State-owned mineral rights.
In 1984, Michigan residents voted in favor of Proposal B, which amended the State Constitution and created the MNRTF. The constitutional amendment required that oil, gas, and other mineral lease and royalty payments be placed into the Trust Fund, with proceeds used to both acquire and develop public recreation lands.
Dockside event raises funds for GRNA
 The Dockside Spring Fling officially kicked off the summer season on May 1 and, once again, Grass River Natural Area (GRNA) was the beneficiary. A total of $1,250 was donated to the nonprofit in support of GRNA's mission of environmental education, water and land protection.
"This is a nice event, easy for us and good for the Dockside," said Mark Randolph, Executive Director of Grass River Natural Area. "We really appreciate the moral support and financial help this event provides."
Attendees enjoyed good food and a fun night out while helping to support Grass River Natural Area operations and summer schedule of class offerings.
The Dockside is now open seven days a week at Clam River on Torch Lake.
Scholarships Available For Kids Classes At Grass River Natural Area
 Grass River Natural Area is pleased to announce the availability of scholarships for the Wednesday Nature Nuts & Explorers classes. The scholarships are for children aged 4 to 12 who wish to attend the entire five week series. Classes are held weekly from 10 a.m. to noon and begin on Wednesday, July 11 and run through August 8.
Nature Nuts (ages 4-6) and Nature Explorers (ages 7-12) discover the plants and animals that live in the natural area through hikes, games, crafts and other fun activities. The classes, held simultaneously and geared to the age group, are built around a different theme each week.
Nature Nuts & Explorers scholarships are made possible through the Jake Andrew Chappers Memorial Scholarship and the Velma Seaman Lessard Fund. Eleven year old Jake Chappers summered on Torch Lake and enjoyed Nuts & Explorers classes at GRNA. The scholarship was created by an anonymous donation in his memory. The family of Velma Seaman Lessard established the fund to honor their mother’s respect for teachers and love of children and life-long learning.
 Scholarships will be awarded on a first-come-first served basis. If you know a child between the ages of 4 and 12 that would like to attend all five classes but the $25.00 cost is prohibitive, please contact the GRNA office at 231-533-8314. If transportation is needed, the Antrim County Transportation bus cost will be included.
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