Nature Trivia Night  

Thursday, April 18, 2024 

6:00 pm 

$5 per person 

Short’s Pull Barn, Elk Rapids 

Join Grass River Natural Area for our last Nature Trivia Night of  

the season 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, nature-themed 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. Get more information at grassriver.org.  

 

Earth Week Bird Walk 

Saturday, April 20, 2024 

9:00am to 11:00am 

$5 per person – PLEASE PRE-REGISTER 

Join Grass River Natural Area in celebrating Earth Day with 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. Get more information  

and register at grassriver.org. 6500 Alden Hwy, Bellaire MI 49615. 

 

Earth Day at Ethanology 

Sunday, April 21, 2024 

2:00pm to 5:00pm 

at 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 2:00pm to 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 

Monday, April 22, 2024 

6:00am to 9:00am 

$10 per person, PLEASE PRE-REGISTER 

Join the GRNA staff as we head out before dawn and experience  

the Earth waking up! We’ll meet at the Grass River Center 

promptly at 6am 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. Space is limited to 10 participants. Get more information and  register at grassriver.org. 6500 Alden Hwy, Bellaire MI 49615. 

 

The Wonders of Wildflowers at Charlevoix Library 

Tuesday, April 23, 2024 

6:00pm to 7:00pm 

Free 

At Charlevoix Library, 220 West Clinton St, Charlevoix, MI 

The wildflowers of our region have amazing adaptations for  

their survival. Join Grass River Natural Area at Charlevoix  

Library for a colorful and warm photography presentation  

looking at over a dozen of our local species and how their  

beauty is only outmatched by their wondrous feats, like their  

abilities to melt snow, change from male to female, shoot seeds long distances, cure ailments, or trick  insects into helping in their survival. Discover methods of seed dispersal, pollination, medicinal and  edible properties, and reproduction of our beloved wildflowers that rival exotic plants around the world. Get more information at grassriver.org. 

 

NMC Amphibians of Northern Michigan 

Tuesday, April 30, 2024, 1:00pm – 3:00pm @ NMC &  

Tuesday, May 7, 2024, 1;00pm – 3:00pm at GRNA 

PRE-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. Register through NMC  Extended Education. Get more information at grassriver.org.

 

Spring Fling at Dockside  

Tuesday, May 7th, 2024 

5:00pm to 9:00 PM 

Dockside Torch Lake, 6340 Old Torch Lake Dr, Bellaire, MI There is no easier way to support Grass River Natural Area than  enjoying food and drinks on the beautiful shores of Torch Lake.  Join the GRNA staff at The Dockside south of Bellaire on  Tuesday, May 7th 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. Get more information at grassriver.org.