GRASS RVER NATURAL AREA SPRING EVENTS
BIRDING BY EAR ; May 3, 2025, 8:00-10:00 am
$10 per person
The birds are singing but may be difficult
to see this time of year as the trees begin
to leaf out. Learn to ID birds by their songs
and go for a birding walk. Grass River is a
birding hotspot and a great place to learn and appreciate your birds.
WEEKLY WILDFLOWER WALK ; Every Tuesday, May through August, 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Free to attend
Take a leisurely stroll through the scenic
trails of Grass River Nature Area alongside
knowledgeable docent Lyn Petty. Discover
the stunning variety of wildflowers and
learn to identify their unique beauty. As we
wander, keep an ear out for the delightful
melodies of the birds that call Grass River
home. Join us every Tuesday at 10:30am to
see new flowers in bloom. Donations are gratefully accepted.
SPRING FLING AT DOCKSIDE, May 6th, 2025 , 5:00-9:00 pm
Dockside-Torch Lake
There is no easier way to support
Grass River Natural Area than
enjoying food and drinks on the
beautiful shores of Torch Lake.
Join us at The Dockside south of Bellaire on Tuesday, May 6th from 5 pm to 9 pm where 50% of all food and drink proceeds benefit GRNA. Enjoy great food with wonderful people in a relaxing environment all while supporting a great organization.
SPRING STREAM MONITORING; Saturday, May 10th, 2025, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Twice a year Grass River collects data
through stream monitoring. This year,
teams will be collecting habitat data
and macroinvertebrates (aquatic
insects) at several sites along Finch
Creek. After collection we will return
to the Grass River Center to sort through the samples.
Pre-registration for this event is required. Pre-register by RSVP’ing to Emma at emma@grassriver.org.
**New volunteers should reach out to the Conservation Director, Emma, to get training materials in order to be ready for the stream monitoring day. **
SPRING MUSHROOM HUNT; Saturday May 10, 2025 , 10:00 am-12:00, $10 per person
Morels, other fungi, fiddleheads, and
tasty spring edibles are cropping up
all over. We will search for morels
and other spring fungi along with a
naturalist from Grass River.
Afterwards, we will take time to ID what we collect. Register here.
SPRING STEWARDSHIP DAY; Saturday, May 17, 2025, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
As spring rains are falling and
flower buds begin emerging, it is
time to join in the spring cleaning
at GRNA! Trail grooming, garden
weeding, and window shining are a
few of the many tasks for
freshening up our grounds and
Center in preparation for summer.
No experience is necessary, just a pair of gloves, a "spring" in your step, and an open spirit.
Pre-registration is encouraged - email Brian at stewardship@grassriver.org.
FICTION WRITING WORKSHOP WITH CHRISTINE MAUL RICE; Thursday, May 22, 2025 , 1:00-3:00 pm
Free but please Register HERE
Join us at Grass River Natural Area Education
Center for a fiction writing workshop with
Christine Maul Rice. This event is free, but please
register. Christine’s novel, Swarm Theory, was
called "a gripping work of Midwest Gothic" by
NPR and won numerous awards. Christine was
included in New City's Lit 50: Who Really Books
in Chicago and named One of 30 Writers to
Watch by Chicago's Guild Complex. Most recently, her short stories, essays, and interviews have appeared in Allium, Make Literary Magazine, The Rumpus, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, The Millions, Roanoke Review, The Literary Review, among others. Christine is the founder and editor of Hypertext Magazine and is an Assistant Professor of English at Valparaiso University. Her newest novel, based on the Flint water crisis, will be published in 2026.
FORESTRY FOR MICHIGAN BIRDS; THURSDAY, May 22, 4:00-6:30 pm
Free and open to all
Join Austin Heslinga, Private Lands
Biologist with the American Bird
Conservancy, to learn how to better
manage your property for better bird
habitat. This interactive presentation will
also include a walk on the trails to look at bird habitat. This program is held in partnership with Torch Conservation Center. This program is free. RSVP to james@grassriver.org so we know how many to expect!
