CLASSES AND PROGRAMS CALENDAR
Scroll down to see full class listings
Programs at Grass River Natural Area are Green, Special Events that are off-site are Blue, Holidays are Brown.
PROGRAM REGISTRATION

GRNA has a wide selection of classes and events for all ages. All programs listed below are open to the general public. Many programs require preregistration.
Register for the classes below by clicking on the "Add to Cart" button.
Cancellations: Participants that cancel before 24-hours from the start of a program may receive a full refund, unless otherwise noted. Cancellations within 24 hours receive no refund. Programs run rain or shine, but may be cancelled by GRNA in inclement weather. If canceled by GRNA, a notification is posted online and registered participants are notified & receive a full refund.
Questions, or want a private program? Contact: James Dake, [email protected]
Register for the classes below by clicking on the "Add to Cart" button.
Cancellations: Participants that cancel before 24-hours from the start of a program may receive a full refund, unless otherwise noted. Cancellations within 24 hours receive no refund. Programs run rain or shine, but may be cancelled by GRNA in inclement weather. If canceled by GRNA, a notification is posted online and registered participants are notified & receive a full refund.
Questions, or want a private program? Contact: James Dake, [email protected]
FEBRUARY
Grass River Shiver 5k/10k Snowshoe Race Fundraiser
Saturday February 8, 2025 - 10:00am start
at Grass River Natural Area - Bellaire, MI
Put on your snowshoes and run or walk through the beautiful snow-covered Grass River Natural Area as a fundraiser for our programs! This snowshoe race in northern Michigan is only a short distance from Traverse City. A prize is awarded to overall male and female 5K/10K winners. 10k participants run two loops of the course. Walkers are welcome, too! An official clock will start at 10am on Saturday morning for those that would like an official clocked time to run their race with other runners and walkers, but the course will be up for the weekend if runners need to run it at a later time. Registration including a shirt at: Grass River Shiver Snowshoe 5k/10k | Bonfire
Or you may preregister for the race only and no t-shirt for $25 through paypal, HERE ($30 for walk-ins on race day).
Saturday February 8, 2025 - 10:00am start
at Grass River Natural Area - Bellaire, MI
Put on your snowshoes and run or walk through the beautiful snow-covered Grass River Natural Area as a fundraiser for our programs! This snowshoe race in northern Michigan is only a short distance from Traverse City. A prize is awarded to overall male and female 5K/10K winners. 10k participants run two loops of the course. Walkers are welcome, too! An official clock will start at 10am on Saturday morning for those that would like an official clocked time to run their race with other runners and walkers, but the course will be up for the weekend if runners need to run it at a later time. Registration including a shirt at: Grass River Shiver Snowshoe 5k/10k | Bonfire
Or you may preregister for the race only and no t-shirt for $25 through paypal, HERE ($30 for walk-ins on race day).
Fiction Writing Workshop with John Mauk
Thursday, February 13, 2025, 1:00 PM 3:00 PM at GRNA
Join author John Mauk as part of the Antrim Writers Series for a fiction writing workshop. 25 copies of John’s newest book, Where All Things Flatten, will be given to the first 25 people who register for the reading or fiction writing workshop. John Mauk grew up on the Ohio flatland, a stone’s throw from both Michigan and Indiana. He taught college writing courses for twenty-four years. During his academic career, he developed several widely used textbooks, worked with teachers around the country, and was twice elected professor of the year. He then pivoted to fiction—and still considers himself a student of the craft. His stories have appeared in journals such as Salamander, Arts and Letters, The Forge, New Millennium Writings, Main Street Rag, and The Dunes Review; his nonfiction in Rumpus, Beatrice.com, Writer’s Digest, and various anthologies. He has two full-length story collections, Field Notes for the Earthbound and Where All Things Flatten. He has judged for national writing contests, consulted for publishers, and read for magazines. He currently hosts “Prose from the Underground,” a free video series for active writers. Register at: https://www.crosshatch.org/writers
Thursday, February 13, 2025, 1:00 PM 3:00 PM at GRNA
Join author John Mauk as part of the Antrim Writers Series for a fiction writing workshop. 25 copies of John’s newest book, Where All Things Flatten, will be given to the first 25 people who register for the reading or fiction writing workshop. John Mauk grew up on the Ohio flatland, a stone’s throw from both Michigan and Indiana. He taught college writing courses for twenty-four years. During his academic career, he developed several widely used textbooks, worked with teachers around the country, and was twice elected professor of the year. He then pivoted to fiction—and still considers himself a student of the craft. His stories have appeared in journals such as Salamander, Arts and Letters, The Forge, New Millennium Writings, Main Street Rag, and The Dunes Review; his nonfiction in Rumpus, Beatrice.com, Writer’s Digest, and various anthologies. He has two full-length story collections, Field Notes for the Earthbound and Where All Things Flatten. He has judged for national writing contests, consulted for publishers, and read for magazines. He currently hosts “Prose from the Underground,” a free video series for active writers. Register at: https://www.crosshatch.org/writers
Valentine's Lantern-lit Evening
Friday, February 14, 2025 - 6:30pm to 8:30pm (2 hrs.), $5 per person Lantern light shining through the trees is a great way to enjoy the forest in winter. Enjoy a self-guided lantern-lit hike, or an evening ski or snowshoe on GRNA’s trails and boardwalks if there is snow. We will have a warm campfire at the Center pavilion and the heated building will be open and staffed. Come any time during the 2-hour, self-guided, "open-house" style event. All ages welcome. Bring a flashlight or headlamp. Skis and snowshoes for all ages are available for rent at the Grass River Center for an additional $5 rental fee during the program, or bring your own. |
|
NMC The Science of Making Maple Syrup
Friday, February 21, 2025 - 1:00pm at NMC, Register through NMC Extended Education
Did you know that the U.S. produces ~4 million gallons of syrup annually? And if you’re a consumer, you know how much it costs. Now you can make your own! Discover the art of tapping maple trees by learning both traditional and modern methods. Tap into the science of maple syrup production, tree identification, equipment needs, and instructions for small scale DIY projects. Second class meets on Fri Feb 28 at GRNA, 1pm. Register through NMC Extended Education.
Friday, February 21, 2025 - 1:00pm at NMC, Register through NMC Extended Education
Did you know that the U.S. produces ~4 million gallons of syrup annually? And if you’re a consumer, you know how much it costs. Now you can make your own! Discover the art of tapping maple trees by learning both traditional and modern methods. Tap into the science of maple syrup production, tree identification, equipment needs, and instructions for small scale DIY projects. Second class meets on Fri Feb 28 at GRNA, 1pm. Register through NMC Extended Education.
Nature Journaling Workshop - Feb 22, 1-3 pm
Saturday, February 22, 2025 - 1:00pm (2 hrs.), $10 per person Come explore nature journaling as a tool to investigate the natural world in new ways. A series of fun activities will help you build observation skills and record your experiences in words and drawings. Supplies provided. All ages welcome, no experience needed! |
|
MARCH
Early Spring Bird Walk
Saturday March 1, 2025 - 9:00am (2 hrs), $10 per person, must pre-register Who are the first birds to show up in the spring? Join us for the first walk in our birding series at the start of spring as we look and listen for these early arrivals. Binoculars are available to borrow, or bring your own. If there is still snow bring snowshoes, or rent some for an additional $5 in the Grass River Center. Limited space. Please pre-register. |
|
Tapping Maple Trees
Saturday March 8, 2025 - 11:00am (1.5 hrs), $10 per person Discover the ceremonial art of maple tapping by learning both traditional and modern methods. This program will cover all of the equipment you need to get started, as well as how to do it at home. Get a chance to tap a tree, and see maple syrup being made, from tree to bottle. Limited space. Please pre-register. |
|
Summer Camp Registration Opens
Wednesday, March 12 at 12 Noon Registration for our 2025 Summer Camp will open on this day and time on the Summer Camp Page. |
NMC Signs of River Otters & Other Elusive Animals
Friday March 14, 2025, 1:00pm (2.5 hrs), Register through NMC Extended Education
River otters are active and healthy at Grass River Natural Area. Join a naturalist to learn the natural history of river otters and how to spot signs of these elusive and fun indicators of water quality. On the trail we will look for signs of other elusive animals, like bobcat, mink, or black bear (dress to be outdoors). Register through NMC Extended Education.
Friday March 14, 2025, 1:00pm (2.5 hrs), Register through NMC Extended Education
River otters are active and healthy at Grass River Natural Area. Join a naturalist to learn the natural history of river otters and how to spot signs of these elusive and fun indicators of water quality. On the trail we will look for signs of other elusive animals, like bobcat, mink, or black bear (dress to be outdoors). Register through NMC Extended Education.
MapleFest
Saturday March 15, 2025 - 12:00 noon to 3:00pm
Join us as we boil sap to syrup on the evaporator at the Pavilion at the Grass River Center. Stop by any time and see the process in action of making maple syrup. Ask staff questions and hike on the trail to see where we tap trees, hang buckets and lines, and collect the sap. The Center will be open indoors from 10am to 4pm. A limited supply of Grass River Maple Syrup may be available for sale.
Saturday March 15, 2025 - 12:00 noon to 3:00pm
Join us as we boil sap to syrup on the evaporator at the Pavilion at the Grass River Center. Stop by any time and see the process in action of making maple syrup. Ask staff questions and hike on the trail to see where we tap trees, hang buckets and lines, and collect the sap. The Center will be open indoors from 10am to 4pm. A limited supply of Grass River Maple Syrup may be available for sale.
APRIL
Spring Bird Walk
Saturday April 5, 2025 - 9:00am (2 hrs), $10 per person, please pre-register Join us for a spring bird walk to learn to ID birds by sight and sound and how to log observations online using the eBird webpage or app. Bring binoculars, or borrow some from the Grass River Center. Limited space. Please pre-register. |
|
NMC Amphibians of Northern Michigan
Friday April 18, 2025 - 1:00pm (2 hrs) at NMC Health/Science Building, Register through NMC Extended Education
Explore Michigan’s wonderful variety of unique frogs and salamanders in this classroom and field course. In the classroom, examine the natural history and recent research on Michigan’s amphibians before hitting the trail in search of some of these elusive but spectacular creatures. Learn field ID and handling techniques as we search forest, field, swamp, and stream. Participate in a citizen science project by contributing our findings to the Michigan Herp Atlas and learn to identify frogs by their calls. Second class meets Fri April 25, 1pm at GRNA. Register through NMC Extended Education
Friday April 18, 2025 - 1:00pm (2 hrs) at NMC Health/Science Building, Register through NMC Extended Education
Explore Michigan’s wonderful variety of unique frogs and salamanders in this classroom and field course. In the classroom, examine the natural history and recent research on Michigan’s amphibians before hitting the trail in search of some of these elusive but spectacular creatures. Learn field ID and handling techniques as we search forest, field, swamp, and stream. Participate in a citizen science project by contributing our findings to the Michigan Herp Atlas and learn to identify frogs by their calls. Second class meets Fri April 25, 1pm at GRNA. Register through NMC Extended Education
Nature Trivia Night
Thursday, April 24, 2025 - 6:00 pm (2 hrs), $5 per person at Short's Elk Rapids
Join us for Nature Trivia Night at the Short's Pull Barn in Elk Rapids! Get your team of 2-6 players together and get ready to stretch your brain with 5 rounds of clever, family-friendly trivia. Don't worry if you're not a nature expert; questions will draw from other areas of knowledge - like movies and music - as well. $5 per player, which supports GRNA. Players will pay upon arriving at Short's.
Thursday, April 24, 2025 - 6:00 pm (2 hrs), $5 per person at Short's Elk Rapids
Join us for Nature Trivia Night at the Short's Pull Barn in Elk Rapids! Get your team of 2-6 players together and get ready to stretch your brain with 5 rounds of clever, family-friendly trivia. Don't worry if you're not a nature expert; questions will draw from other areas of knowledge - like movies and music - as well. $5 per player, which supports GRNA. Players will pay upon arriving at Short's.
If you are interested in a private program or tour, contact [email protected]
Do you benefit from our 100+ classes and programs? Please consider a donation in support of program development!
|