GRASS RIVER NATURAL AREA UPCOMING EVENTS
FAMILY PLAYGROUP
Thursdays, September 4 and 18, 2025
10:30 - 11:30am, Free
Families with children ages 0–5 are invited to join
us at Grass River Natural Area for free,
nature-based playgroups on the 1st & 3rd
Thursdays each month. Enjoy stories, playtime,
snacks, and connection with other families — all in
the beauty of the outdoors. No registration needed!
Offered in partnership with the Great Start
Collaborative & Family Coalition of Traverse Bay. Learn more at
https://greatstartkids.com/playgroup-schedule/
WILDFLOWER WALK
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
10:30am - 12:00pm
Free to attend, donations gratefully accepted
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. This is the final
Wildflower Walk of the season.
NMC ASTERS AND GOLDENRODS - LATE SUMMER WILDFLOWERS
Thursday, September 18, 2025
1:00pm
Register through NMC Extended Education
The late summer wildflowers of Northern Michigan are
unique and striking, but the number of species of asters
and goldenrods can be overwhelming. Take a walk
through Grass River's boardwalk trails that give you
access to some of the most exquisite wetlands in
Northern Michigan as we learn the natural history and
conservation of these gorgeous flowering plants. Registration coming soon!
NMC FALL KAYAK RIVER TOUR
Friday, September 19, 2025
9:30am - 12:00pm
Register through NMC Extended Education
There is no better way to experience a Northern
Michigan river than by paddling its calm waters
and enjoying its unique wildlife! On this guided
tour, students will explore Grass River by kayak
and find out about Grass River Natural Area’s
conservation efforts, wetland ecology, and Michigan wildlife. Registration coming soon!
EYES ON THE FOREST: COMMUNITY SCIENCE
Opportunities to Detect Invasive Species
Friday, September 26th, 2025
10:00 - 11:30am
Free program
Email james@grassriver.org to RSVP
Join us to learn about two community science
opportunities that focus on keeping our Michigan
forests free of invasive species. During the
presentation, we’ll highlight hemlock woolly adelgid,
spotted lanternfly, and five priority invasive plants in
Michigan. Then, we’ll head outside to gather data
using two easy to use online apps (that can also be
used from a home computer). Most invasive pests
and plants are reported by people like you, and you
will join us in the fight against invasive species in our Michigan forests! Email james@grassriver.org to RSVP.
NMC FALL MUSHROOM FORAY
Friday, September 26, 2025
1:00 - 4:00pm
Register through NMC Extended Education
Tour the woods and fields with naturalists at Grass River
Natural Area to freshen up on your mushroom
identification skills. On the trek you will seek, find, and
identify fun fall fungi. In the process, learn about the
life-cycles, habitats, and features of these organisms.
Registration coming soon!
OWL PROWL
Friday, September 26, 2025
7:00 - 8:30pm
$10 per person, must pre-register
Join us as we learn about our local owls and their conservation with an introductory presentation, and then head out for a night hike in search of these amazing birds. Participants should be comfortable walking outdoors at night for about 1 mile on uneven trails. Bring a light. $10 per person. Must pre-register. No walk-in spaces available.
