Spring Bird Walk
Saturday April 5, 2025
9:00-11:00 am
$10 per person - must pre-register
Join us at the Grass River Natural Area 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.Please pre-register.
Vernal Pool Planning Meeting
Thursday, April 10, 2025
6:00-8:00 pm
Free, please RSVP
Spring melts bring Vernal Pools, and Vernal Pools bring unique and specialized amphibians, insects, plants, and soils! Every year at Grass River Natural Area volunteers work to monitor several of the Vernal Pools on site to observe how they change from year to year. Join us if you would like to learn more about Vernal Pools, the monitoring program, and how you might be able to help. RSVP to Emma Fitzgerald; emma@grassriver.org
NMC Amphibians of Northern Michigan
Friday, April 18, 2025
1:00-3:00 pm
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
Earth Day at Ethanology
Saturday, April 19, 2025
2:00-5:00 pm
Ethanology, 127 Ames St., Elk Rapids
Grass River Natural Area and Ethanology Distillation have teamed up for an Earth Day preservation event. Grass River Natural Area will be on-site offering conifer, hardwood, or shrub saplings with each donation to the non-profit. We all play a role in preserving our ecosystem, and it starts by planting more trees, and making responsible environmentally focused choices. What better way to kick-off earth day, and spring gardening, with the planting of a tree or shrub?
Swing by anytime from 2:00-5:00pm on Sunday, April 21. Grass River will have trees and shrubs on-site to take home during the event.
The Big Nature Sit on Earth Day
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
6:00-9:00 am
$10 per person
Join the GRNA staff as we head out before dawn and experience the Earth waking up! We’ll meet in the main parking lot and hike out to the Grass River dock. Each of us will find a space on the boardwalk to sit quietly & observe the sights and sounds of nature coming to life. Bring a portable, quiet camp chair, a flashlight/headlamp, binoculars (or borrow ours), quiet snacks, and warm clothes.
Registration is $10/person and is limited to 10 people, so register early.
Nature Trivia Night
Thursday, April 24, 2025
6:00-8:00 pm
$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.
