A NATURE SANCTUARY AND
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER
Established 1967
2026 NATIVE PLANT SALE
Saturday May 16, 2026
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
There will be a large selection of native woodland and prairie flowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees available for purchase. Knowledgeable staff and volunteers will be on site to help with any native plant and gardening questions. If you are interested in the plant list, please contact Seven Ponds closer to the sale date, as we will not have a final list prior to the sale.
Seven Ponds Nature Center 2026 Bird-A-Thon!
This May, TWO crack squads of elite birding assassins, known by their code names Passenger Princess Pigeons (7 Ponds Staff Team) and The Hawkeyes (7 Ponds Board of Directors Team), will rise early and begin scouring the woods, fields, and waters of Lapeer County to see which team can find the most birds. They'll start in the dark, searching for owls, then continue throughout the day, seeking warblers, vireos, tanagers, orioles, hummingbirds, sparrows, jays and crows, ducks, geese, swans, shorebirds, and more - MAYBE even gulls!
By the end of their long day, will the Passenger Princess Pigeons or The Hawkeyes come out as the champions! Who will have the highest tally? Can either team top the 2025 total of 116 species? Dare they attempt to break the single-day bird-a-thon record of 122 species, set way back in 2000? Only time will tell. The Hawkeyes vs. the Passenger Princess Pigeons, GO!
Which Team do you think will win?!?
If you would like to challenge either or both teams and make a per-bird pledge, please click the link button below each picture to be taken to the pledge page, or call the nature center at 810-796-3200. You can even offer more incentive by pledging a $10 "bonus bird" - you name the bird species, and if one or both the teams record that bird, you pay an additional $10 on top of your pledge. After the event, you will receive a letter detailing the teams' efforts, along with the amount you owe based on your pledge.
THANK YOU for your support of Seven Ponds Bird-A-Thon. All funds raised during this event help us do our very important work of connecting people to nature!
2026 NATIVE PLANT SALE
Saturday May 16, 2026
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
There will be a large selection of native woodland and prairie flowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees available for purchase. Knowledgeable staff and volunteers will be on site to help with any native plant and gardening questions. If you are interested in the plant list, please contact Seven Ponds closer to the sale date, as we will not have a final list prior to the sale.
SPECIAL GIFTS 2025
Our Special Gifts campaign is the only regular giving campaign we conduct, and it helps us plan for the upcoming year, providing critical operational funding. This funding allows us to continue offering high-quality environmental education programming to schools, children, families, and adults. If you can, please help us close that gap with a generous gift. It also helps us maintain and improve the building and grounds, including important land stewardship projects as we care for nearly 500 acres of woods, prairie, fields, wetlands, and our beautiful lakes. Help us continue our very important work of connecting people to nature.
Join us for our annual winter fun day!
There will be make-your-own s'mores over a fire, pond dipping, lawn games, ice cutting, ice skating (please bring your own skates!), a snowman building competition, and interpretive walks outside.
In the event there is not sufficient snow or ice, alternative activities will be provided.
Fee: $3.00 per person. Please pre-register for this event online as space will be limited this year. Click the link above or below to register.
Join us for our annual winter fun day!
There will be make-your-own s'mores over a fire, pond dipping, lawn games, ice cutting, ice skating (please bring your own skates!), a snowman building competition, and interpretive walks outside.
In the event there is not sufficient snow or ice, alternative activities will be provided.
Fee: $3.00 per person. Please pre-register for this event online as space will be limited this year. Click the link above or below to register.
Donate to the Critter Corner!
The nature center houses over ten species of live reptiles, amphibians, and fish that call Michigan home. These critters play an essential role, providing visitors with an opportunity to learn first-hand about our fellow animals that live in the wetlands, forests, and prairies of Seven Ponds.
We love our ambassador animals, so we strive to give them the best possible care.
That’s where you come in!
Click the DONATE button below, or donate the next time you visit the nature center. In the front lobby, you can find the holiday Critter Corner Giving Tree with tags listing suggested donation amounts to help buy food, equipment, and supplies for our animal friends. Grab a tag and see Gina or Damian at the front desk to make a donation.
“Ggrriiiiihhhlll!” (That’s tree frog for “Thank you!”)
Suggested Donation Amounts:
- $5.00 = 50 delicious crickets (feeds for ½ month)
- $10.00 = 100 tasty superworms (feeds for 1 month)
- $15.00 = Basking lightbulb 2-pack to stay toasty warm (lasts for 1 year)
- $20.00 = 1 small UVB lightbulb for healthy bones and shells (lights must be replaced annually)
- $30.00 = 1 large UVB lightbulb for healthy bones and shells (lights must be replaced annually)
