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

Pierce Cedar Creek Institute

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Pierce Cedar Creek Institute

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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 partnerships 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.

11/06/2026

🌿 25 Years of PCCI: Tales from the Field

What was PCCI like in its early days? Join us for a special 25th Anniversary Lunch and Learn with Matt Dykstra, PCCI’s former Field Station Manager and Community Program Manager.

Matt will take us back to his early years at the Institute and share memorable stories and firsthand experiences from his time in the field. Along the way, he’ll reflect on how PCCI has grown over the past 25 years and the impact that growth has had on research, conservation, and environmental education.

Matt is now the Managing Director of Calvin University Ecosystem Preserve and Native Gardens, but he’s coming back to share some of the stories that helped shape PCCI along the way. 🌳

🍽️ Lunch: Noon–1 p.m.
🎤 Program: 1–2 p.m.
📅 Friday, November 20
💚 Program is free
🍴 Lunch: Members $15 | Non-members $21

Please register by Friday, November 13 if you’d like to reserve lunch.

Register: https://tinyurl.com/PCCILunchandLearnNov20

Come hear the stories, memories, and moments from the field that are part of PCCI’s 25-year history!

11/05/2026

A sneak peek at some of the amazing artists and makers coming to our Annual Holiday Gift Show THIS SUNDAY!

Shop nature-inspired goods while sipping on some free coffee and munching on some treats from our kitchen bake sale 😋

Featured Artists:
on Instagram
Wander & Gather by Artist Maia Hausler
Birch and Blooms
Brickyard Farms
Left handed Compliments
Marcia Mellen
Elena Kroll
Sherry Potter Ceramics

All artists and makers generously donate 15% of their sales to PCCI to support our mission of inspiring environmental stewardship. Plus PCCI members receive 15% off all gift shop purchases the day of the show— regularly 10%!

11/03/2026

I'm just looking, or am I? 👀

So many irresistible handmade goods and art to snag at our Gift Shop and Annual Holiday Gift Show THIS SUNDAY from 11 AM–3 PM! Shop from 30 new and returning local vendors, enjoy free coffee, and grab a treat from our kitchen bake sale.

Members enjoy 15% off all Gift Shop purchases (10% regularly), and 15% of vendor sales support our mission of fostering environmental stewardship ❤️

11/02/2026

There’s something special about slowing down, stepping outside, and simply enjoying time with your little one💚

Join us for our next Playdates in the Playspace on Thursday, November 5, from 10–11 am! If the weather is bad, activities will still continue inside the Education Building with games, books, and crafts.

📅 Thursday, November 5
⏰ 10–11 a.m.
💚 Free (please register online)
👧 Ages 6 and under with an adult

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

11/01/2026

🕵️🌹 Who Stole the Rose Hips?

We have a mystery to solve at PCCI—and we need your help!

Somebody made off with the rose hips, and there are several woodland creatures who might be responsible. 👀 Follow the clues, solve the puzzles, and examine natural features along the green trail as you work to uncover the culprit.

Think you can crack the case? Grab your detective gear (or just your curiosity!) and head out for this free, self-guided adventure.

📅 November 2–December 31
🥾 Green Trail
🔎 Free & self-guided

Who do YOU think stole the rose hips? Come investigate and find out! 🌲🐾

10/31/2026

Happy Halloween Everyone 🎃

We loved seeing all the creative costumes on the trails last Saturday for our Trick or Treat on the Trails event! Thank you to all our amazing corporate partners, volunteers, and staff who came together to make the night a spooktacular time! We had a much larger turnout than expected and are excited for next year's extravaganza!

10/30/2026

Tired of giving the same gifts every year? Come find something truly one-of-a-kind at PCCI’s Holiday Gift Show on Sunday, November 8 🎁🎄

Our annual show brings together skilled local artists and makers offering handcrafted creations you won’t find just anywhere. Whether you're shopping for a thoughtful gift or just need a little retail therapy for yourself, you’re sure to find plenty of holiday

Plus, shopping at the Gift Show does more than check names off your list—it supports small businesses and helps advance PCCI’s mission 💚

📅 November 8
⏰ 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
🛍️ Holiday Gift Show + PCCI Gift Shop
✨ PCCI members receive 15% off Gift Shop purchases for the day, up from the regular 10%!

Bring your holiday shopping list and discover the joy of giving something made with care!

10/29/2026

🌱 25 Years of People. A Future Rooted in Nature.

For 25 years, the people of Pierce Cedar Creek Institute have helped connect our community with the natural world. As we celebrate our history and look ahead to the next 25 years, we're highlighting the staff who make that connection possible.

Meet Jim Kolar, our Education Assistant!

Jim helps people share their knowledge with others, especially when it comes to caring for the land. His interest in nature grew from seeing how little wild space remained amid the urban landscape where he grew up. His love of education comes from a simple desire to share things he learns that he believes have value—even a good joke!

At PCCI, one of his favorite things is seeing people smile when they visit. Outside, he enjoys observing plants and animals in their natural habitats, walking in the rain, and soaking up some sunshine.

Jim lives by the Golden Rule: “Do to others as you would like them to do to you!”

He also reminds us that humans are part of nature, not separate from it, and that we have a responsibility to care for the plants and animals with whom we share this planet.

We're glad Jim is part of the PCCI team helping inspire learning, stewardship, and a deeper connection to nature. 💚

10/28/2026

When fire is a friend 🔥

Prescribed burns are carefully planned fires managed by trained professionals under specific environmental conditions. When used responsibly, fire can be a powerful land-management tool that restores native habitats, reduces invasive species, recycles nutrients, and clears excess brush that reduces the risk of severe wildfires.

Rooted in natural fire cycles and Indigenous stewardship, prescribed burning reflects generations of ecological knowledge. By working with fire rather than always against it, we can support healthier ecosystems, protect the land, and preserve generations of traditional land-management knowledge.

Our Stewardship Team is always looking for volunteers to join PCCI’s prescribed fire crew!
Interested in getting involved? Reach out to our Stewardship Coordinator, Drew Vandegrift, to learn more!

10/27/2026

I am said people😅

Fall foliage is near the end of its peak here at PCCI! There’s no better time to get outside and enjoy the beautiful colors of the season. Our trails are FREE and open to the public from dawn to dusk, so grab your hiking shoes and come explore! Dogs are welcome, too — just remember to clean up after your furry friends 🥾🐾

We hope to see you out on the trails enjoying all the beauty fall has to offer!

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

http://www.CedarCreekInstitute.org/

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