Pierce Cedar Creek Institute

Pierce Cedar Creek Institute Celebrating 25 Years of Environmental Education. Trails open dawn to dusk! https://www.cedarcreekinstitute.org/ The Education Building is open for programs only.

Set on 850 acres in Southwest Michigan, Pierce Cedar Creek Institute provides unique experiences and beautiful moments in nature. The Institute's Visitor Center is open to the public Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm. Institute trails are open daily, dawn to dusk. The Institute is a mix between a nature center and a biological field station, offers programs to serve the community, while also building p

artnerships with area colleges and universities to serve their faculty and students. Whether you come to take a class, explore the trails, attend an event, or participate in research, your experience at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute will be a rewarding one. Please be aware WiFi and cell service can be spotty in this area. Please check our web site for driving directions if you are a first-time visitor to the Institute. cedarcreekinstitute.org or (269) 721-4190.

🌿📚 Love nature? Love a good book? Join us!The Cedar Creek Book Club returns this September with The Nature of Nature: Wh...
09/05/2026

🌿📚 Love nature? Love a good book? Join us!

The Cedar Creek Book Club returns this September with The Nature of Nature: Why We Need the Wild by Enric Sala.

This book club brings together readers who are curious about the natural world through a mix of fiction, nonfiction, and biographies. And the best part? There’s no commitment beyond enjoying good books and sharing great conversations.

Haven’t read September’s book? That’s okay! Come join the discussion anyway...you may even leave inspired to pick it up. 📖

📅 September 15 | 10 AM–Noon
📍 Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
💚 Free - please register
👥 Ages 15+ (under 18 with an adult)

👉 Sign up: https://tinyurl.com/PCCIBookClubFall2026

Participants obtain books themselves; local libraries and bookstores may carry the title. Contact PCCI if you need help finding a copy.

📖🌿 Take a Storybook Hike this September!Explore the trails at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute while enjoying A Sky That Sin...
09/04/2026

📖🌿 Take a Storybook Hike this September!

Explore the trails at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute while enjoying A Sky That Sings by Anita Sanchez and George Steele. Follow Mia, a blind girl who loves identifying birds by their unique calls and songs, as she takes her aunt on a bird-listening adventure through the park. 🐦

The hike is free and self-guided on the purple and green trails. Come enjoy a story, explore the outdoors, and listen closely—you never know what you might hear!

🇺🇸🌿 A Special Outdoor Adventure for VeteransPierce Cedar Creek Institute, with support from Hastings Elks Lodge #1965, ...
09/03/2026

🇺🇸🌿 A Special Outdoor Adventure for Veterans

Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, with support from Hastings Elks Lodge #1965, is pleased to offer Veteran Accessible Tours on Wednesday, September 16.

Veterans and a guest are invited to enjoy a guided outdoor adventure from the comfort of an all-terrain vehicle. One-hour tours will be available between 1–4 PM.

📅 Wednesday, September 16
⏰ 1–4 PM
🚙 One-hour guided tours
💚 FREE for veterans and one guest
📍 Pierce Cedar Creek Institute

Space is limited, so registration is required.

👉 Register: https://tinyurl.com/PCCIFall26Veterans

Thank you to Hastings Elks Lodge #1965 for sponsoring this special opportunity!

Time to Lace Up Those Running Shoes 👟Run alongside us October 10th at our annual Over the Creek and Through the Woods Tr...
09/02/2026

Time to Lace Up Those Running Shoes 👟

Run alongside us October 10th at our annual Over the Creek and Through the Woods Trail Run! Enjoy the beauty of autumn while winding through scenic forests, boardwalks, and prairies. New this year, our 5K course is permanently marked, allowing participants to practice on the course throughout the season.

📅 Saturday, October 10
📝Registration & Continental Breakfast - 8 am
👟1-Mile Fun Run (Free & All Ages) - 9 am
🌲5K Trail Run - 9:30 am
💚Registration Required

In partnership with The South Jefferson Street General Store, Lansing Sanitary Supply, Inc., and Burnham and Company, we are so excited to invite runners and walkers alike to experience this long-standing Pierce Cedar Creek Institute tradition!

Register by September 15th for the Early Bird Discount and a race t-shirt
Register 🎟 https://tinyurl.com/PCCIOvertheRiver

🌲🇺🇸 Everyone deserves the opportunity to experience the outdoors.Join us at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute on September 16...
09/01/2026

🌲🇺🇸 Everyone deserves the opportunity to experience the outdoors.

Join us at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute on September 16 for Veteran Accessible Tours, generously sponsored by Hastings Elks Lodge #1965.

Veterans and a guest can enjoy a guided outdoor adventure while riding comfortably in an all-terrain vehicle. It’s a chance to experience the beauty of PCCI, spend time outdoors, and enjoy a unique adventure together.

🚙 One-hour tours available between 1–4 PM
💚 FREE for veterans + one guest
📅 Wednesday, September 16
📝 Registration required

👉 Reserve your tour: https://tinyurl.com/PCCIFall26Veterans

We’re grateful to the Hastings Elks Lodge #1965 for helping make this experience possible!

08/31/2026

🐦☕ Calling birders of all experience levels!

Join Pierce Cedar Creek Institute and guides Anne and Doug Klein on Tuesday, September 8 for a social morning of birding!

Start with a beverage and conversation with fellow bird enthusiasts, then head out on the trails to look for some of Barry County’s best birds. Whether you’re an experienced birder or just getting started, come learn, explore, and enjoy the morning together.

📅 Tuesday, September 8
🕣 8:30–9:30 AM
🥾 Up to 1 mile on uneven trails
📍 Meet in the Education Building
💚 Free — registration required

A limited number of binoculars will be available to borrow. The program will take place rain or shine; in inclement weather, we’ll offer a shorter indoor birding session.

👉 Register: https://tinyurl.com/PCCIFallBirdHikes

🧪✂️📖 What happens when science, art, and creativity come together?STEAM at the Library!Join Hastings Public Library’s yo...
08/30/2026

🧪✂️📖 What happens when science, art, and creativity come together?

STEAM at the Library!

Join Hastings Public Library’s youth librarian, MSU Extension, and Institute employees for an afternoon of books, activities, crafts, and exploration designed for young scientists in grades 1–5.

📍 Hastings Public Library
🕓 4–5 PM
📅 September 8 | October 13 | November 10
🎉 Free — no registration needed!

Come discover something new and let your curiosity lead the way!

Calling all artisans, creatives, & makers 📣🎨🎁We are still looking for more vendors for our Holiday Gift Show Sunday, Nov...
08/29/2026

Calling all artisans, creatives, & makers 📣🎨🎁

We are still looking for more vendors for our Holiday Gift Show Sunday, November 8th from 11 am - 3 pm. Application closes this Monday, August 31st! We are looking forward to seeing your applications and bringing together an amazing creative community!

Apply Here 👉 https://www.cedarcreekinstitute.org/forms/view.php?id=517169

08/28/2026

🌿🧸 Playdates in the Playspace are back this fall!

Bring your little nature explorers (ages 6 and under) to Pierce Cedar Creek Institute for outdoor play, hands-on activities, books, and plenty of opportunities to discover nature together. 🍂📚

Join us the first Thursday of each month from 10–11 AM:

📅 September 3
📅 October 1
📅 November 5

The program is free, but registration is required. Children must attend with an accompanying adult, who should plan to actively participate.

👉 Register here: https://tinyurl.com/PCCIPlaydatesFall2026

Every season is outdoor season! 💚

Address

701 W Cloverdale Road
Hastings, MI
49058

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12697214190

Website

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