Seven Ponds Clubs and Groups
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Beekeeping Club
This enthusiastic group welcomes beginning and seasoned beekeepers alike. The club meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month. During warm months the club typically meets at 5:30 PM to inspect the club hives at the nature center. The doors to the nature center are opened at 6:30 PM for club social hour. The club meeting begins at 7:30 PM. Visitors are welcome. For more information, contact club president Preston Zale at popz@popzbeez.com.
Birding Club
The Seven Ponds Birding Club provides a forum for people to learn about and enjoy birds and birdwatching. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM. There are no meetings in July or August. Meetings feature a scheduled program, and a variety of short segments including recent bird sightings, identification tips, field trip plans, and conservation news. Meeting refreshments are provided by club members. Annual membership dues are $10.00, payable to Seven Ponds Nature Center. Visitors are welcome to attend meetings. There is a $3.00 admission fee for those who are not Seven Ponds Nature Center members. For more information, contact club president Nancy Kautz at nkautz@sevenponds.org.
Photography Club
The Photography Club is for photography enthusiasts to get together and share knowledge about photography. Mentoring is the main focus. The club meets on the first and third Fridays of the month at 7:00 PM. The first meeting consists of an educational presentation and a member slide show; the second meeting is a competitive evaluation of images. The club offers photo club trips and workshops throughout the year. For more information contact club president Jim Lewis at 7pondsphotoexpo@gmail.com or visit the club website.
Astronomy Club
The Seven Ponds Astronomy Club is an active club of amateur astronomers. The club meets monthly, usually at Seven Ponds, but sometimes off-site. The club also goes on "field trips" to local and regional events including a variety of public telescope observing events. The club cooperates with other local clubs to organize outreach and other events. The club is somewhat unique in that we have no officers, elections, bylaws, meeting minutes or dues. Everyone is welcome to attend meetings free of charge. A person can telescope from the Nature Center during non-meeting nights by becoming a member of Seven Ponds Nature Center. Check the club's website for detailed information.
Friends of Seven Ponds
The Friends of Seven Ponds, a.k.a. The Stingers, is a devoted, hardworking, and friendly volunteer group that raises funds to help support the nature center's operating budget. Activities include bake sales, book sales, the Annual Rummage Sale, the Resale Shop, and assistance with the Holiday Auction. The group meets at noon on the first Monday of the month from April through October. Some like to meet earlier to enjoy lunch together prior to the meeting.
The Friends of Herbs
The Friends of Herbs meets at 10:00 AM on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, May through September, and the second Wednesday of the month October through April, except December when there is no meeting. The usual schedule is to work in the herb garden, eat lunch, and enjoy a short program or prepare herbs for sale. During months when there is no work to be done in the garden, the meetings typically consist of informational programs about a selected herb or other topic. For more information about The Friends of Herbs, contact Jeanette Farley at 810-798-8771 or Kelly Poole at 810-245-3939.
Butterfly Gardeners
The Butterfly Gardeners maintain the nature center's Butterfly Garden located near the interpretive building. Volunteers gather Wednesdays, 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM, from May through October to maintain the garden for butterflies and other pollinators. All are welcome to join. For additional information, contact chief gardener Ron Schank at 810-688-4659.
