Grand Traverse Conservation District

08/28/2026

What a summer it has been at Nature Day Camp and Hickory Hills Day Camp 2026!

From splashing in streams to discovering insects, creating nature-inspired crafts, and making new friends along the trail, our campers filled the season with curiosity, creativity, and plenty of outdoor adventures.

Favorite activities at Nature Day Camp this year included macroinvertebrate sampling, catching frogs and turtles at Discovery Boardwalk, harvesting at the Great Lakes Incubator Farm, meeting Speedy the Tortoise, and enjoying some hammocking time. At Hickory Hills Day Camp, campers particularly enjoyed hiking, disc golf, soccer, fire safety, weekly stewardship, fort building, and hammocking.

In total, 200 campers experienced immersive outdoor exploration and hands-on learning at Nature Day Camp at Grand Traverse County Natural Education Reserve and Hickory Hills Day Camp at the The City of Traverse City Hickory Hills.

A special thank you to our 2026 camp experiences:
North Sky Raptor Sanctuary
Michigan Technological University
Great Lakes Children's Museum
Raven Hill Discovery Center
G.T. Butterfly House & Bug Zoo
Challenge Island - Northwest Michigan
Carl T. Johnson Hunting & Fishing Center

To learn more about our seasonal and year-round educational programming, visit our website at www.natureiscalling.org/aboutedu

08/28/2026

The Grand Traverse Conservation District Through the Years: Week 3!

In 2019, in partnership with Conservation Resource Alliance - CRA, 13 erosion sites were restored along the new/relic river channel within Grand Traverse County’s Natural Education Reserve (NER). Restoration efforts included log piles, large logs with and without root-wads, terracing, seeding, and native plantings.

Woody debris creates pools and sheltered areas, providing places for fish to rest and hide from predators. These logs also trap leaves and other organic material, helping provide food and nutrients for aquatic life.

GTCD continues restoration efforts on the Boardman-Ottaway River. You can witness these impactful transformations as you float the river or walk on surrounding trails. For float maps and current river updates, please visit www.natureiscalling.org/boardman-river

08/26/2026

Bring your curiosity, a sense of humor, and your love of local nature as we pair the sounds of nature with specialty beers a Tank Space on 8th! Visit this link to register: https://tr.ee/uVQcbwVJml

08/25/2026

The cup plant is hard to miss, with bright yellow blooms that can reach 10 feet tall. Its large, cup-shaped leaves join around the stem, creating little reservoirs that collect rainwater and dew. These small pools can provide drinking water for birds and insects.
Cup plants also attract pollinators, including native bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, throughout the summer. By late summer and fall, their seeds provide essential food for birds.

Did you know the Boardman River Nature Center’s Native Garden has cup plants reaching over 9 feet tall?

You can help care for cup plants and other native flowers and grasses at our Native Garden Workbees. Join us this Wednesday, August 26th from 8:30 - 10:30am by the Oleson Pavilion next to the Boardman River Nature Center, to improve pollinator habitat, remove invasives, and familiarize yourself with the native species we have onsite.

If you can’t make this date, join us at the next one on Wednesday, September 9th.

No experience or tools required, but volunteers are welcome to bring their own gloves or small tools.

Learn more about our volunteer opportunities at www.natureiscalling.org/volunteer

08/25/2026

08/25/2026

08/24/2026

The Grand Traverse Conservation District offers a wide variety of opportunities, whether you are passionate about farming, conservation, outdoor recreation, or sharing nature with your family!

Help record local biodiversity at the Natural Education Reserve during our Summer BioBlitz, join an engaging Beer Pairing session at Tank Space, or consult with an expert on organic farming.

To discover more details and register for upcoming events, click the events tab on our page or visit our website at www.natureiscalling.org/events

08/20/2026

The Grand Traverse Conservation District Through the Years: Week 2!

After the construction of Jack’s Landing on the Grand Traverse County’s Natural Education Reserve in 2018, GTCD added the final touches of installing a vault toilet, fencing, and picnic tables for visitors to enjoy.

Jack’s Landing is a great trailhead to enjoy the sounds of the Boardman-Ottaway River, stop for a picnic, and witness a beautiful sunset.

Plan your trip to the Natural Education Reserve, or another GTCD-managed parkland by viewing trail maps and more information at www.natureiscalling.org/parklands-and-trails

Follow along on Thursdays for our District Through the Years series celebrating restoration efforts and educational and agricultural milestones.

08/18/2026

Did you know the Grand Traverse Conservation District offers formal and non-formal educators a variety of programs to connect you and your students with nature, natural resource conservation, environmental restoration, and stewardship?

Our Nature Education for Students and Teachers (NEST) Field Trips are 2-hour programs designed to connect your students to the natural world, while also helping teachers meet the State of Michigan’s K-12 Science Standards.

Each NEST program includes hands-on activities in the Boardman River Nature Center, on the Nature Center grounds, and on the trails of the surrounding Natural Education Reserve. Depending on the theme, students will explore the forests, meadow, wetlands, the Boardman-Ottaway River, and Jack’s Creek. Groups of students will rotate through learning stations taught by our Education Staff and trained volunteer instructors.

Inquire for field trips this fall at www.natureiscalling.org/field-trips

08/17/2026

Help us discover species at the Grand Traverse County's Natural Education Reserve!

Cross the Ottaway Crossing Footbridge and collect natural data on the east side of the Natural Education Reserve. Join GTCD staff and volunteers to record plant, animal, and fungi species using the iNaturalist app, creating valuable data that supports conservation and land management efforts.

Whether you are an experienced naturalist or simply curious about the outdoors, this event is open to all skill levels. GTCD staff will provide guidance on species identification and using iNaturalist. Bring your smartphone, dress for the weather, and discover the diversity in our community.

When: Friday, August 28th
Time: 10:00am - 1:00pm
Where: Meet at the Boardman River Nature Center
Audience: Adults

Register at www.natureiscalling.org/events