SEVEN PONDS NATURE CENTER

Winter Programs for 2019-2020

Its time to enjoy the snowy landscape here at Seven Ponds. Put on your boots, zip up your parka, and come out to see us! The cost for most of the programs listed below is included in the admission fee unless otherwise specified (admission is free to members and children under 12 years of age).

DECEMBER

Lapeer County Christmas Bird Count

Saturday, December 14, 8:30 AM

If you would like to help count birds at Seven Ponds and Jonathan Woods for the 120th Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count, please contact the nature center to register for the event. Naturalist Cathy Wesley will be coordinating this year’s effort at Seven Ponds. Join her for an entire day or just a half day. Fee: no charge. Please register online.

 

Crafty Flakes

Sunday, December 15, 2:00 PM

Let’s make some snowflakes that last forever. We will make some string snowflakes with a board and nails that will get you excited for the real ones to start falling. Fee: $3 for members and $5 for non-members. Please register online.

 

Winter Bird Walk #1

Seven Ponds Nature Center

Wednesday, December 18, 8:00 AM

Even though the calendar says it’s still fall, winter’s icy chill may be firmly upon us. Regardless of the weather, the birds are still out there, being birds! Let’s go see what we can find! Winter visitors such as Dark-eyed Juncos and American Tree Sparrows have joined our year-round residents, and we may find some winter irruptive species as well. Of course, we can always count on our chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, jays, cardinals, and woodpeckers. We’ll start the morning by watching the feeders from indoors, enjoying hot beverages, then we’ll go out in search of other winter birds in the forests and fields around Seven Ponds. Bring your binoculars and field guide, and be sure to dress for the weather. Please register online.

 

Sunset Winter Walk

Sunday, December 22, 4:00 PM

The first day of winter is upon us and what better way to see the end of the day than by walking around the forest at sunset. Please register online.

 

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Monday and Tuesday, December 24 and 25

Nature center building closed. Happy Holidays!

 

Jonathan Woods Winter Wonderland

Saturday, December 28, 2:00 PM

Walking the trails at Jonathan Woods offers a different experience than at our main trials. Winter is a great time to explore the mature forest and find some hidden gems. Please register online.

 

JANUARY

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day

Monday and Tuesday, December 31 and January 1 the Nature Center building is closed, Happy New Year!

 

Snowshoe Walk

Saturday, January 4, 2:00 PM

Come explore the lands of Seven Ponds atop a set of snowshoes as we welcome in the beginning of a new year. Space is limited. Please register online.

 

Merit Badge Day- Environmental Science

Saturday, January 11, 10:00 AM

Calling all Boy Scouts, come and earn your environmental science merit badge. We will complete this badge through many hands-on activities and investigations. Please register online.

 

Winter Bird Walk #2

Fish Point & the Thumb area

Wednesday, January 15, 8:00 AM

We'll venture up into Michigan's tundra (a.k.a. the farmland of the Thumb) in search of winter birds. Avian prizes for the day may include Snowy Owl, Rough-legged Hawk, Snow Bunting, Northern Shrike, and others. This is a carpool road trip, so be sure to pack your lunch, a beverage, and a snack. Bring your binoculars and field guide, and be sure to dress for the weather. Please register online.

 

Rock Painting

Saturday, January 18, 2:00 PM

Learn how to find the animal within the rock. Paint a lovely nature themed rock for your garden or desk. Rocks will be provided or bring one of your own to paint. Class is for ages 14 and up. Fee: $8 per person. Please register online.

 

Chasing Tracks

Saturday, January 25, 2:00 PM

Join us for a fun afternoon of hunting for tracks. After we find some, we’ll identify the animal and try to figure out what it was doing and where it was going. Bring a light colored pillow case, shirt, blanket, or other such item we’ll print some of our own tracks on them after the walk. Please register online.

 

 

FEBRUARY

WinterFest

Saturday, February 1, 10:00 AM- 3:00 PM

Join us for our annual winter fun day. Included is a bonfire on the ice, ice cutting, snowshoe walks, cross country skiing, ice skating, and a snowman building competition.  Inside will be children's crafts. Programs on winter animals and ice cutting will also be offered. Includes a S’more bar, and hot chocolate too! Bring your own skates and cross-country skis or try out the center's snowshoes. In case of snow and/or ice shortage, alternate activities will be planned. Please sign in and get stamped upon arrival.

Fee: $3.00 per non-member and free for members. Groups are welcome with advance registration (by Jan. 24) by calling the nature center. Please register online.

 

Walkin’ on Water

Saturday, February 8, 2:00 PM

Take a stroll on the ice of our lakes to get a new perspective of Seven Ponds. If we are lucky maybe we can see something swimming under our feet. If ice is not safe to walk on we will hike around some of our trails. Please register online.

 

Winter Bird Walk #3

Port Huron area

Wednesday, February 12, 8:00 AM

Today we’ll head to the Port Huron area to look for waterfowl and gulls overwintering at on the southern end of Lake Huron and down the St. Clair River. Depending on the ice conditions on the Great Lakes, these areas can be teeming with huge rafts of diving ducks such as Long-tailed Duck, Redhead, Canvasback, Greater and Lesser scaup, and Common and Red-breasted mergansers. We’ll check all the gull flocks we see, searching for something unusual, such as Great Black-backed, Lesser Black-backed, Glaucous, or Iceland gulls. Be sure to dress for the weather conditions, as it is often very cold and windy near the water. We’ll plan on having lunch at a local restaurant before returning to the nature center, so please come prepared to purchase a lunch. This is a car pool trip. Minimum registration required to make this trip a "GO" so please register online.

 

Chestnut Trivia Night CANCELED!

Saturday, February 22, 5:00 PM

 

Sensory Nature - Winter

Saturday, February 29, 1:00 PM

This afternoon is for our "special" nature lovers, any child with a special need. This sensory based program will give our special friends hand-on activities to explore nature. For ages 5 - 12 years old. Please register online.

 

Painting at the Ponds

Saturday, February 29, 5:00 PM -7:00 PM

Learn how to paint an awesome nature scene with friends! Enjoy a lovely view with a glass of wine as we learn how to create a step by step painting with Naturalist Katie. All painting supplies will be  provided for you. This is a 21 and up class and is bring your own beverage. Register online by Jan 27th, space is limited. Fee: $25.00 (Members $20.00). Please register online.