Below is a sampling of the family-friendly activities across the state for the next two weeks. For a full listing of events at state parks, visitor centers, hatcheries, museums and more, visit us at www.michigan.gov/dnrcalendar.
Save the seeds, plant the future
Bring the entire family and help collect native prairie seeds at a state park. We depend on many hands just like yours to gather seeds for planting later in the parks to restore the landscape. You’ll learn about the natural and cultural history of the area while helping restore it for future generations.
All you need is a clean, empty milk jug and a few free hours to spend outdoors. The following parks need your help in the coming weeks:
Sterling State Park in Monroe, Oct. 13 & 20
Fort Custer Recreation Area in Augusta, Oct. 13 & 21
P.J. Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon, Oct. 14
Highland Recreation Area in White Lake, Oct. 14
Grand Mere State Park in Stevensville, Oct. 20
Algonac State Park in Marine City, Oct. 21
Island Lake Recreation Area in Brighton, Oct. 21
Plan a not-so-scary Halloween outing
Fall is here! Many state parks go all out with pumpkins, hayrides, custumes and family-friendly festivals to celebrate the traditions and treats of the special time of year. For a list of fall festivals, check the DNR calendar. Some events are for campers only, so be sure to make camping reservations early to be a part of the fall fun!
Below are two Halloween events where you and your family can explore a pumpkin-lighted forest trail and learn the facts about bats, snakes, wolves and other often-misunderstood critters native to Michigan – and you don’t need to be a camper to attend!.
Critters in the Moonlight at Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling on Oct. 13
Mother Nature’s Halloween Trail at Bay City State Recreation area in Bay City on Oct. 20.
Catch a fish (and then let it go!)
It’s tough to get the kiddos hooked on fishing unless they feel the excitement of reeling one in! At Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery’s stocked show pond near Kalamazoo they’re almost guaranteed to catch a fish! Youth ages 3 to 16 can practice catch-and-release fishing for free on Oct. 13 and 27 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. We provide all of the equipment—even the bait!
Looking ahead…
It’s time to start mapping out your hunting plans! No matter where you are in Michigan, you can find public hunting land with our Mi-HUNT interactive map application on the DNR website atwww.michigan.gov/mihunt.
Navigate through a variety of map layers and create your own custom maps or download pre-made maps. With the interactive layers you can view private land open to public hunting, all state game and wildlife areas, 7 million acres of vegetation cover types, aerial imagery and more. Mi-HUNT also include GPS download, so you can pick a spot on the map in Mi-HUNT and navigate to it while hunting.
Know before you go!
A $10 Recreation Passport is required for entry to Michigan state parks and recreation areas. If you don’t have one yet, visit www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport for details. Also, registration and fees apply to some of the above programs and events. Please be sure to click on each section’s links to learn more.
Link to MDNR web page.
October 12, 2012
MDNR News