Celebrate the end of summer at Blandford with free admission
Blandford Nature Center will be celebrating the end of summer for the entire month of August by offering free admission beginning Thursday, August 1st through Saturday, August 31st. This month of free admission will include some complimentary programming and activities throughout the month at Blandford Nature Center located at 1715 Hillburn Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504.
Blandford’s trails and Visitor Center will be open to the public at no cost for the entire month of August in celebration of the end of summer and the back-to-school season in an effort to increase public access to nature. The trails and grounds will be open daily from dawn to dusk, and the Mary Jane Dockeray Visitor Center will be open Monday-Saturday from 9am-5pm. Guests will have access to 264 acres of forests, meadows, and wetlands, 8 miles of trails including 1 mile of ADA accessible trails, 2 outdoor playscapes, the Blandford Farm including the farm animals and Children’s Garden, and more. Guests can also enjoy visiting over 30 rehabilitated Wildlife Ambassadors in the Wildlife Education Center.
Blandford Nature Center is able to offer free admission during the month of August thanks to a generous donation from Meijer. “For 90 years, we’ve remained committed to being good environmental stewards and focused on initiatives tied to nature conservation,” said Erik Petrovskis, Director of Environmental Compliance and Sustainability at Meijer. “Blandford offers so much opportunity for visitors of all ages to explore the outdoors, and we encourage the entire community to get outside and enjoy what Blandford has to offer this month.”
Free Admission this month is open to all families and individuals, and includes resources to help everyone in the community explore the outdoors. Blandford offers accessibility equipment and activity-filled backpacks, both of which can be checked out at no cost.
“We are so excited to be offering free admission during the month of August for the very first time,” said Camilla Voelker, Community Programs Manager at Blandford Nature Center. “It’s almost back-to-school season, and we really encourage the entire community to come out to
Blandford and enjoy the last month of summer immersing themselves in all that nature has to offer!”
In addition to free admission, there are a few free program opportunities throughout the month of August including Storytime at the Blandford Farm and Wildflower Craft Wednesday. Free and paid programming have been color-coded and labeled accordingly with a key on Blandford Nature Center’s website. More information about program opportunities, the trails and grounds, and Blandford Nature Center’s other offerings can be found at: www.blandfordnaturecenter.org
