Nature Walks

There is at least one naturalist lead walk per month with additional ones added during the spring wildflower and fall color seasons. An emphasis is put on understanding the different forest types found in our parks. Further information is given on individual plant and animal species, geology and human history of the area.

"Winter Nature Walk” is being held at Tenhave Woods on Saturday, February 11th, 2012 beginning at 2:00 pm.  Park Lexington & Marais & meet at the Lexington entrance.  

“Owl Hoot” is being held on Wednesday, March 2nd, 2012 at 7:30 pm at Tenhave Woods.  Park & meet at the Lexington/Marais lot.  We will walk into Tenhave Woods and attempt to lure in or have screech & great horned owls answer tape recordings of their calls.  

“Almost Spring Walk” is being held on Sunday, March 18th, 2012, 2:00 pm at Tenhave Woods.  Park at the Lexington/Marais lot & meet at the Lexington entrance.  Join us on the first day of spring.  We will be looking for the first signs of the reawakening of the Tenhave plant community

“Owl Hoot” is being held on Wednesday, March 21st, 2012 at 7:30 pm at Tenhave Woods.  Park & meet at the Lexington/Marais lot.  We will walk into Tenhave Woods and attempt to lure in or have screech & great horned owls answer tape recordings of their calls.  

“Pond Life” is being held on Saturday, April 7th, 2012, 10:00 am at Tenhave Woods (park at Lexington/Marais lot & meet at Lexington entrance).  We will be sampling the vernal pond for what is living in it.  We will have viewing trays to examine what we find.  For those interested small aquarium nets will be available for you to catch your own pond life and have us identify.  Come and learn about the interesting aquatic wildlife of Dragonfly Pond.
 
“Early Spring Wildflower Walk” is being held on Saturday, April 7th, 2012 beginning 12 noon at Tenhave Woods (park at Lexington/Marais lot & meet at Lexington entrance).  The spring explosion is happening.  We will be looking for Spring Beauty, Trout Lily, Bloodroot, & Spicebush and more.  Come take a look at the dramatic changes that happens this time of year.  

“Spring Wildflower Walk” is being held on Sunday, April 15th, 2012, beginning 2:00 pm at Tenhave Woods (park at Lexington/Marais lot & meet at Lexington entrance).  We will be looking for trillium, blue & yellow violets, Spring Beauty, Wood Poppy,Jack-in-the-Pulpit, & Wood Anemone and more.  

“Spring Wildflower Walk” is being held on Saturday, April 28th, 2012 beginning 10:00 am at Tenhave Woods (park at Lexington/Marais lot & meet at Lexington entrance).  We will be looking for trillium, blue  & yellow violets, Spring Beauty, Wild Geranium, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Spice Bush, & Wood Anemone and more.  

The following scheduled programs & Open House are being held on Saturday, May 5th, 2012, at Tenhave Woods (park at Lexington/Marais lot & meet at Lexington entrance).  
9:00 am Migratory Bird Walk:  Join us for a look at Tenhave’s resident birds and some that are just passing through.

• 10:00 am & 1:45 pm Wildflower Walks:  This is a great time of the year to look for wildflowers.  We will be looking for Wild Geranium, Foamflower, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, trillium, Wood Poppy and others
• 11:30 am & 1 to 3 pm: Pond Life Study:  We will be sampling the vernal pond for all of the absolutely amazing abundance of life that now exists in the pond during the spring & summer!  There will be viewing trays available to examine what was found.  For those interested, small aquarium nets will be available for you to catch your own pond life that we will help you identify.   
• 1:15 pm Animal Habitat For Young Children Walk:  The theme of this walk is habitat and it is designed to make children aware that all living things, no matter how big or small, require food, water, shelter and space to survive.  With Kristine Hill, a high school science teacher leading the way, the children will be looking for animals and evidence of their existence while walking through the woods.  Program is geared for children from 5 to 8 years old.
• 1:30 to 3 pm Nature Photography:   Pat & Ray Coleman, professional photographers, will show you how to photograph nature.  Be sure to bring your own camera & take pictures afterwards of the abundant wildflowers that carpet Tenhave Wood’s forest floor this time of year.    
• 1:30 pm Tree Walk:  Tenhave Woods has 43 species of trees.  Come and learn from Don Drife, Nature Society botanist, about some of the common tree species of southeastern Michigan.

“Pond Life” is being held on Sunday, May 20th, 2012, beginning 2:00 pm at Tenhave Woods (park at Lexington/Marais lot & meet at Lexington entrance).  We will be sampling the vernal pond for what is living in it.  We will have viewing trays to examine what we find.  For those interested small aquarium nets will be available for you to catch your own pond life and have us identify.  Come and learn about the interesting aquatic wildlife of Dragonfly Pond.

“Late Spring Nature Walk” is being held at Tenhave Woods on Saturday, June 9th, 2012, at 10:00 am.  Park at the Lexington/Marais lot & meet at the Lexington entrance.  Join us and see what is happening in the woods during the late spring and beginning of summer.