Little Traverse Conservancy Field Trips

Little Traverse Conservancy
The Little Traverse Conservancy hosts a number of field trips throughout the year. Here is information on some upcoming field trips:

June 7, 8-10am Spring Birding at Ransom Nature Preserve Join the Little Traverse Conservancy and the Petoskey Regional Audubon Society (PRAS) on a birding field trip at the Charles A. Ransom Nature Preserve near Charlevoix. The preserve offers a delightful mixture of habitats, which allows it to support a wide diversity of bird species. Scarlet Tanagers and Indigo Buntings have been regular in the past. Great-crested Flycatcher nested at this location last summer. Rose-breasted grosbeak, various woodpeckers, various sparrows and even some warblers are all possibilities. Plan to spend approximately two hours hiking through meadow, woods, and forest edge trails. Darrell Lawson, current president of the PRAS, will lead the trip and help to both locate birds and explain their behavior.

June 14, 10am-12pm Geocaching Adventure at Darnton Nature Preserve Get the kids outside exploring the woods and trails with a purpose. Learn new skills with the GPS unit or enhance your knowledge while searching for these hidden treasures in small groups. Please bring your own GPS Unit if you have one, or try your smartphone.

June 21, 9am-3pm Boardwalk Building at Hailand Preserve Help prepare to build boardwalks for this new trail so that it is accessible in the wettest of seasons. Wear good work shoes (and bring muck boots if you have them in case the ground is wet) and bring work gloves if you have a favorite pair. Snacks and refreshments will be provided, but please bring a sack lunch to enjoy on the trail.



June 21, 10-11:30am Family Birding at Greenwood Sanctuary Sanctuary, a privately-owned, conservation easement-protected property. Woodlands, wetlands, two lakes, and the Little Pigeon River support a rich variety of creatures including eagles, hawks, owls, geese, turkeys, otter, beaver, raccoon, fox, and deer. Pack a picnic lunch and end the summer solstice celebration at the Greenwood Pavilion. Registration is required. Activities and fun for the whole family! Binoculars will be provided, but please bring your own if you have them.

July 4, 8pm 4th of July Firework Viewing at The Hill Nature Preserve Hike will begin at Dusk. From the Parking area on Clute Road, hike about 1 mile to the top of The Hill. Bring a backpack with a blanket to sit on and any snacks you might want, and a flashlight. We will have a small bonfire and provide smores for you while watching the fireworks over Lake Charlevoix.

July 12, 7:30am-12pm 3rd Annual Waugoshance Marathon and Half-Marathon at Wilderness State Park Great Lakes Endurance is working with the Little Traverse Conservancy to promote awareness of the need to preserve wild habitat in northern Michigan. This event will help support environmental education efforts that focus on land preservation and knowledge of local flora & fauna. The course follows a remarkable section of the North Country Trail that travels from Cross Village to Mackinaw City in the far northwestern region of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. The course features over 90 percent single track and includes rolling bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan, coastal forests, inland wilderness lakes.

July 18, 10am-12pm Native American History Hike at Oden Island Nature Preserve Hike the mile of trails at the Oden Island Preserve with Eric Hemenway, historical researcher, who will share how inland waterways and wetlands were, and still are, of great importance to the Odawa. Registration is required.

July 18, 10am-4pm Trail Building at Darnton Preserve Little Traverse Conservancy is working to create miles of trails on the Darnton Preserve that are mountain biker and hiker-friendly. Join us in clearing trail on this new preserve to help open it up for the community to enjoy. Bring lunch and work gloves, and wear sturdy footwear.

July 19-20, 9am-4pm Invasive Spotted Knapweed Removal @ Vermilion Point Nature Preserve For the 8th year in a row, LTC will pull invasive spotted knapweed at Vermilion Point Nature Preserve in Chippewa County, on the beautiful Lake Superior shoreline. This high-priority project is a cooperative effort of Little Traverse Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, Lake Superior State University, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Eastern U.P. Cooperative Weed Management Area, and will help keep Vermilion’s habitat in shape for Piping Plovers and Lake Huron Tansy. This is a rare opportunity to stay overnight at Vermilion in the historic Life Saving Station barracks.

July 25, 10am-4pm View Clearing at The Hill Preserve at The Hill Preserve The view at the top of the hill overlooking Lake Charlevoix is a sight to be seen. Help clear some trees to maintain the view for all to enjoy. Volunteers will be moving brush, cutting small trees, and enjoying the scenery. Bring lunch and work gloves, wear heavy duty footwear, and bring any bow saws or loppers you may have on hand.

August 2, 1-4pm Hike the Hindle-Ross Trails at Hindle Property There are many ways to conserve property, one of which is to leave it to LTC in your will, as Debbie Hindle and Ken Ross have done with their 80-acre property in Cross Village. Through Debbie and Ken’s creativity and love for the land, they have turned their property into a wonderful place to quietly sit and go for leisurely walks. Join a guided walk at 2pm or independently explore the two miles of well-maintained walking trails on this nearly 80 acres of rolling meadows and woodland. Enjoy the beautiful and unique views of the Waugoshance Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and take time to linger at the various seating areas provided and look for wildflowers and birds. Registration required.

August 3, 8-9:30pm Night Sky Gazing at Elmer Johnston Preserve August is one of the best months for stargazing because the weather is warm and the richest part of the Milky Way arcs up over the horizon in the South, with mystery and promise and beauty. We will take a wilderness hike to the stars with Mary Stewart Adams to watch the waxing Crescent Moon on its silent path toward fiery red Mars and golden Saturn in the West, followed on by the red giant Antares and the Sagittarius tea pot, tipping toward the center of our Milky Way Galaxy. Mary is the Program Director for the Emmet County’s International Dark Sky Park at the Headlands, and she will provide an entertaining and informative perspective on the wonders of the northern Michigan night sky. Registration is required. Program is suitable for families, but we will be hiking about 1.5 miles. Please bring something to sit on that is easy to carry on the hike.

August 7, 10am-12pm Orienteering for Families at Ransom Nature Preserve Time to put the electronic devices aside for a bit and get back to basics! Come learn how to use a compass or refresh your skills while exploring the Charles Ransom Nature Preserve. An introduction to the compass and how to use it will be followed by excursions where you follow bearing routes to markers. How many markers can you find? Don’t be compass shy!

This field trip is for individuals or families. The content is most appropriate for older children (12+) and adults. Compasses will be provided for use during the program. You will be going off trail, so please dress in long pants and sturdy close-toed shoes or hiking boots. Also, bring sunscreen, sunglasses and water.

September 7, 2-5pm Legends, Labyrinths and Lore at Ward & Eis Private Property Join Jennifer Eis and Don Ward, authors and lecturers, for an educational walk-about at their 50-acre protected property. Site of the "Wisdom Keeper-Wisdom Seeker" summer lecture series for the past 12 years, this is a rare and wonderful opportunity. You will be free to explore the teachings of the Medicine Wheel, walk the largest turf Labyrinth in Michigan, sit in the Talking Circle or the coils of the Great Serpent. Interpretive signs at each of the features will allow for a self-guided experience. Jennifer and Don’s unique hand-built log home will also be open for viewing. Arrive anytime between 2-5pm and expect the unexpected. Due to the walking and fragility of structures, this program is not suitable for young children.

For more information:
Little Traverse Conservancy
231-347-0991
www.landtrust.org

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For more activities & attractions, check out these additional links for Things to Do in Northern Michigan:



Harbor Springs, Michigan -- Harbor Springs is the place to try new things! Rent a bike or a kayak, go snow tubing, attend a concert or an art fair, or play a round of golf with friends.
Petoskey -- There's so much to do in Petoskey from the Bear River Valley Recreation Area, to Petoskey State Park, to biking, golfing, hiking, and more.
Charlevoix, Michigan -- Visiting Charlevoix in Northern Michigan is a fun-filled vacation with great beaches, boating, skiing, fishing and year 'round family fun.
Things to Do in Boyne City, Michigan -- Nothing is quite like Boyne City in Northern Michigan with camping, boating, skiing, year 'round outdoor activities, and of course, the morel mushroom!
Lots of Activities in Mackinaw City, Michigan -- Explore Mackinaw City in Northern Michigan for history, the International Dark Sky Park, and outdoor activities.
Mackinac Island -- Take a step back in time and find lots of things to do when you visit Mackinac Island by horseback or bike--no cars allowed!
Northern Michigan Activities & Things to Do -- Northern Michigan offers many fun things to do for the entire family whatever the season, whatever the reason!
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Last Updated: 09-01-2020 10:11 AM ID: 1539