Pierce Cedar Creek Institute

Located in West Michigan, just nine miles south of Hastings, Pierce Cedar Creek Institute is a community nature center, environmental education center and biological field station. The mission of the Institute is "To promote environmental education, research, preservation, and appreciation."The rural Barry County property encompasses a diverse 661 acres. There are numerous seasonal opportunities for hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, and observing wildlife on seven miles of hiking trailsthroughout the natural areas. Facilities at the Institute include an auditorium, classrooms, laboratories, and overnight accommodations.The property's previous owner, naturalist Dr. H. Lewis Batts, protected the land from development or degradation, and most of it has remained untouched for the past 50 years. Today, the Institute maintains the property as a preserve under an easement granted by the SouthwestMichigan Land Conservancy.The Visitor Center at the Institute features a common area, an auditorium, a dining room, a 1,000-gallon fresh water aquarium, and gift shop. The gift shop carries a variety of items, including hand-woven baskets, fair trade goods, birdfeeders, and field guides. Children's items for sale include nature books and craft kits.Facility rental for meetings, retreats, and conferences is available with a full-time chef and overnight accommodations.Visitors to the Institute may enjoy a seasonal art exhibit by a local artist or photographer. The Visitor Center also houses a clock collection, amassed by Willard (Bill) G. Pierce, the founder of Pierce Cedar Creek Institute. There are approximately 330 clocks in the Pierce collection; most of them on display in the Visitor Center. Click here for more information about the clocks (932kb PDF).AmenitiesKid FriendlyBarrier FreeBuses WelcomeGift ShopWeddingsWireless Internet Access (free)Conference CenterHiking TrialsPicnic AreaVisitors CenterArtAntiquesBird WatchingCross Country SkiingSnowshoesTubing/Sledding