State parks around Michigan will host unique events this month, some just for fun and others offering a chance to learn more about nature and outdoor recreation.

Dune discovery

Explore the beauty and science of dunes on a guided, 90-minute dune interpretation walk at Muskegon State Park in Muskegon County, 9:30-11 a.m. Fridays, July 10 and 24. Learn how dunes and Lake Michigan were formed, discover the unique shoreline ecosystem and hear fascinating insights into local history. This engaging experience is perfect for adults and families, with a suggested minimum age of 7.

On the other side of the state, enjoy a mini wellness retreat at Port Crescent State Park in Huron County Wednesday, July 15, 9 a.m.-noon. Presented by Hike Yoga Sound, this event features a peaceful morning of mindful guided hiking through wooded trails forest bathing, meditation atop the dunes, and a gentle yoga flow on the beach ending with a sound-guided savasana along the tranquil shores of Lake Huron.

Pheasant Fridays

During Pheasant Fridays, join representatives from Pheasants Forever and learn about firearm safety and the organization's effort to restore habitat for these beautiful birds. Participants will have a chance to shoot a BB gun with expert instruction in a safe environment and enjoy hands-on education activities about grasslands and pollinators.

• Friday, July 10, 1-5 p.m. at Sleeper State Park in Huron County.
• Friday, July 17, 1-5 p.m. at Tawas Point State Park in Iosco County.
• Friday, July 24, 1-5 p.m. at North Higgins Lake State Park in Crawford County.

Adaptive recreation events

Interlochen State Park in Grand Traverse County presents DiversAbility Day – providing opportunities to experience adaptive outdoor recreation activities and equipment such as track chairs, pontoon boat rides, kayaking, cycling, e-bikes and fishing – Wednesday, July 15, 1-4 p.m. The park will also host a Lighthouse Adaptive Kayak Clinic, allowing those of all abilities to try kayaking with the use of adaptive equipment and modifications as needed, Wednesday, July 29, 4-6 p.m. All equipment is provided for both events.

Orienteering challenge

Maybury State Park in Wayne County will host a Southern Michigan Orienteering Club orienteering challenge Saturday, July 18, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Using a map and compass, navigate your way to checkpoints marked with flags. Choose your own route as you go – climb the hill or take the easier path around, cross the stream or find a log bridge. Whether you're racing for a fast finish or enjoying a leisurely afternoon hike, the adventure is yours to create.

Participants of all ages and experience levels are welcome. Lessons are available for beginners. Arrive early to learn the basics of orienteering, map reading and navigation before heading out on the course.

Horseshoe tournament

Join the annual horseshoe tournament at Algonac State Park in St. Clair County Saturday, July 18, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Christmas in July

Get in the holiday spirit in the heart of summer at Wells State Park in Menominee County during the park’s annual Christmas in July celebration, Friday and Saturday, July 24-25. Campers are invited to decorate their campsites with festive flair and join in the fun with a Christmas carol sing-along around the campfire. The event also features Christmas-themed crafts, family-friendly games, sweet holiday treats and a special appearance by Santa Claus himself.

The DNR’s Volunteer Stewardship Program provides year-round opportunities to protect and restore southern Michigan’s native ecosystems. Several state parks in southern Michigan will host volunteer stewardship workdays in July, with volunteers helping to remove invasive plants that threaten high-quality ecosystems in the parks. Find more details about each workday and register using the links below.

• Brighton Recreation Area (Livingston County): Friday, July 10, 9:30 a.m.-noon.
• Muskegon State Park (Muskegon County): Saturday, July 11, 10 a.m.-noon.
• Waterloo Recreation Area (Washtenaw County): Sunday, July 12, 9-11:30 a.m.
• Saugatuck Dunes State Park (Allegan County): Sunday, July 12, 10 a.m.-noon.
• Island Lake Recreation Area (Livingston County): Saturday, July 18, 9-11:30 a.m.
• P.J. Hoffmaster State Park (Muskegon County): Saturday, July 18, 10 a.m.-noon.
• Brighton Recreation Area (Livingston County): Sunday, July 19, 9-11:30 a.m.
• Ludington State Park (Mason County): Sunday, July 19, 10 a.m.-noon.
• Waterloo Recreation Area (Washtenaw County): Saturday, July 25, 9-11:30 a.m.
• Grand Mere State Park (Berrien County): Saturday, July 25, 10 a.m.-noon.
• Island Lake Recreation Area (Livingston County): Sunday, July 26, 9-11:30 a.m.
• Waterloo Recreation Area (Washtenaw County): Thursday, July 30, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

If you have an interest in trying something new in the outdoors, or brushing up on your skills, check out one of these July programs.

During the Outdoor Skills Academy’s wild mushroom clinic with experts from Great Lakes Treats – at Mitchell State Park in Wexford County Sunday, July 19, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. – pick up real-world skills in identifying, harvesting and preparing Michigan’s most sought-after edible mushrooms. The class will focus on seasonal favorites including morels, chanterelles, chicken of the woods, hen of the woods, oyster mushrooms and more, along with additional wild edibles that may be emerging.

Becoming an Outdoors Woman and the DNR Wildlife Division present the Beyond BOW Hike: Read a Good Forest Lately? at Gourdneck State Game Area in Kalamazoo County Wednesday, July 22, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Every ecosystem offers obscure clues revealing deep secrets. While the casual observer might miss these clues, participants will learn to "read" the state game area’s landscapes and historical features. Unpack mysteries hidden in plain sight and read the concealed pages of Gourdneck's story.

Gain the essential knowledge and hands-on skills for a successful and ethical bear hunt during the immersive Outdoor Skills Academy bear hunting clinic, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, July 26, at Mitchell State Park in Wexford County. Whether you're a seasoned hunter looking to sharpen your skills or a beginner eager to learn from the experts, this clinic will provide you with the tools, techniques and confidence you need for your next bear hunt.

If you spot turkeys, bats or gray foxes, we want to hear from you!

Now’s the time for Michigan's wild turkey brood survey: a community science effort that helps wildlife biologists understand how well turkeys are reproducing across the state and provides valuable information about the health of Michigan's turkey population. The DNR is asking residents to report sightings of wild turkeys and turkey broods, family units consisting of at least one adult hen and her young, July 1 through Aug. 31. Anyone can contribute – simply report any wild turkey sightings using the online survey form available on the turkey brood survey webpage.

Also taking place this summer is the DNR’s bat roost monitoring effort in partnership with the Michigan Natural Features Inventory. From tree cavities and trunks to bridges and barns, bats have variety of summer roosts – places where they rest and raise their young during the warmer months. You can help scientists better understand where these important mammals are living by sharing information about the bat activity you see around your home and community through the Michigan Bat Roost Monitoring Program. Bats typically use summer roosts through August or early September. Reports of summer roosts can be submitted at any time, even if the observation occurred earlier in the year. 

And if you’ve seen gray foxes – which recent research suggests may be harder to find than previously thought – the DNR is asking for your help in locating them. While the red fox is familiar to many Michiganders, the smaller, more elusive gray fox also calls our state home. To better understand their distribution across the state, wildlife researchers are launching a statewide effort to collect gray fox observations from the public. If you've seen a gray fox, whether recently or years ago, the DNR wants to hear from you. Photographs are especially valuable because they help researchers confirm sightings and gain more clarity on where gray foxes are living in Michigan today. You can submit gray fox observations through the DNR’s Eyes in the Field reporting system.

Many of the Michigan History Center’s 12 museums and historic sites offer fun and educational summer programs. The July calendar includes:

• Future Historians Program at Fort Wilkins in Keweenaw County, Tuesday-Friday, July 7-10 and July 27-29. Leave the present behind and join the historic site’s Future Historians youth as costumed interpreters from the summer of 1870!
• Sharing the Spirit of America at the Mann House in Jackson County, Wednesday, July 8, 5:30-7 p.m. Part of a nationwide, simultaneous reading of the Declaration of Independence on the 250th anniversary of its first public reading! This event on the Mann House lawn will include a formal reading of the Declaration of Independence at 6 p.m., performances by patriotic singers and complimentary ice cream and cake.
• Jacktown Ukes at Cambridge Junction Historic State Park in Jackson County, Thursday, July 9, 6-8 p.m. Enjoy the sounds of the Jacktown Ukes ukulele group on the park’s lawn.
• Read and Root Beer at the Mann House in Jackson County, Wednesday, July 15, 1-3 p.m. Bring a book from the Jackson District Library Concord Branch to read on the Mann House lawn and get a free root beer float!
• Battery D Civil War Artillery Encampment at Fort Wilkins in Keweenaw County, Friday-Sunday, July 31-Aug. 2. Join Battery D, 1st Michigan Light Artillery, a Civil War era living history group, as they interpret army life of the period. There will be artillery demonstrations, small arms drills, period cooking, soldiers’ pastimes and civilian impersonations.

Prescribed burns, timber harvests, tree planting and other activities are carefully planned to keep Michigan’s nearly 4 million acres of state forest thriving. Plans for these activities are currently being made for 2028, but public input is welcome now. Discover planned activities and how to offer your input at Michigan.gov/ForestInput.

You can submit online comments during designated 30-day periods or attend an open house or compartment review meeting, where plans are finalized. See all scheduled comment periods, open houses and compartment review meetings for the 2026 season.

The Outdoor Adventure Center in Detroit offers a July full of summer fun and learning with a Michigan natural resources twist. Here are a few highlights.

• Celebrate Our Great Lakes, Saturday, July 11, 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Do you love the Great Lakes? This is the day for you! Come share and test your knowledge about the lakes and take an up-close look at macroinvertebrates, our educational classroom lake sturgeon and all things Great Lakes.
• Birding Belle Isle, Sunday, July 19, 9-11 a.m. Join OAC staff for this monthly series observing and identifying the birds of Belle Isle Park. A limited number of binoculars are available for loan, and a spotting scope will be available for viewing when appropriate. All skill levels are welcome.
• Adventure with Pride: Fishing, Sunday, July 19, 9:30-11 a.m. This monthly program is open to LGBTQ+ community members and allies, for adults ages 18 or older. In July, join OAC educators to learn how to safely go fishing and identify some species that are commonly caught in the Detroit River. All fishing equipment is provided.
• LGBTQ+ Archery, Wednesday, July 22, 6:30-7:30 p.m. This is an inclusive archery experience for new and experienced archers looking to further their archery skills. Participants will learn to safely handle a bow, practice proper stance and experience shooting several rounds of arrows in a safe space for LGBTQ+ community members, families and allies. Participants must be age 8 or older.

See the OAC activity schedule for a full list of events.