Blandford Nature Center is offering free admission for the entire month of February after the overwhelmingly positive response received from the community during the two admission free months last year. This month of free admission from February 1st—February 29th will allow thousands of people from across West Michigan to explore our trails and grounds again at no
cost, in yet another new season. During Admission Free February, visitors of all ages are invited to
experience the magic of a West Michigan winter and enjoy complimentary programming at Blandford
Nature Center located at 1715 Hillburn Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504.
Blandford's trails and grounds are open daily from dawn to dusk and the Mary Jane Dockeray Visitor
Center is open Monday-Saturday from 9 am-5 pm. Visitors 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, and more—all free of charge.
In addition to free access to the trails and grounds, Blandford will be offering a variety of free activities
and programs throughout the month. “It can be intimidating to spend time outdoors when the
temperatures get cold, but we want to encourage everyone to enjoy what this new season has to offer
with our free programs and activities,” said Camilla Voelker, Community Programs Manager at
Blandford Nature Center. “We’re excited to launch our first ever Free Snowshoe Fridays and hope to
see lots of folks have the opportunity to snowshoe for the very first time.”
Weather permitting, Blandford’s Free Snowshoe Fridays will be on February 2nd and 16th between
10am and 4pm. There must be at least four inches of fluffy snow on Blandford’s trails to use
snowshoes, and snowshoes will be distributed on a first-come first-served basis. During this time,
individuals and families can stop in the Mary Jane Dockeray Visitor Center to check out snowshoes to
explore Blandford’s trails. Blandford has snowshoes available for individuals weighing over 40 pounds,
but encourages everyone to bring along a sled to tow their little ones.
The family fun doesn’t stop with Free Snowshoe Fridays. There are many other opportunities Blandford
is offering during Admission Free February to encourage the community to enjoy all that nature has to
offer in the winter. Animal-enthusiasts can visit over 30 rehabilitated Wildlife Ambassadors or check out
the Blandford Farm animals, and the youngest visitors can attend scheduled Storytime with the Animals
programs free of charge. Blandford is also offering free Trail Walking Group programs, where visitors
will enjoy a guided hike with a Blandford staff member. Free and paid program opportunities are color-coded and labeled on Blandford’s Community Calendar. The Community Calendar, more information about the trails and grounds, and FAQs can all be found at: www.blandfordnaturecenter.org
Check back the first of each month for a new West Michigan giveaway! Make sure you like our West Michigan Facebook Page for even more contests & freebies!
