Ottawa County Parks Foundation - November Newsletter

Parks provide youth with access to the natural world

Your support ensures that children have access to nature and green space to connect with now, and for generations to come.

85% of GRPS fifth graders have never seen Lake Michigan

Parks are places where you can weave the joy of nature into your life. Whether you’re near home or travelling, parks are places to make memories. The first step to falling in love with the natural world is simply having access to nature.

A surprising number of children in Ottawa and neighboring counties do not experience that access to nature. In fact, approximately 85% of fifth graders in the Grand Rapids Public School system have never seen Lake Michigan.

Teachers throughout Ottawa County report that their students just don’t get enough time outside. Many children who live right here in Ottawa County have never seen the variety of natural resources enjoyed by our regular park visitors.

The Ottawa County Parks Foundation supports special projects that can’t be accomplished within the County Parks budget, like building trail connections, adding land, and upgrading facilities. Our County Parks host many programs to help connect children to nature, through place-based education and school partnerships. Every year, hundreds of students get to delight in the discovering our stunning dune systems, rivers, wetlands, and diverse forest ecosystems.

Ways to get involved this holiday season

1 - Join us for an event Bring the family out and meet Santa and Mrs.Claus at the Nature Education Center on Sunday, December 2 from 1 to 4 PM. There will be craft activities in the classroom, things to explore in the Wildlife Den, as well as cookies and hot cocoa. This event is hosted by Friends of Ottawa County Parks. 2 - Smile more Make the most of your holiday dollars and make your Amazon purchases using AmazonSmile. For eligible purchases the Ottawa County Parks Foundation will receive 0.5% of the purchase price from the AmazonSmile Foundation. 3 - Host a table Learn more about opportunities to host a table or sponsor an upcoming event in 2019. Contact our Foundation Manager to learn more. 4 - Give a gift Make a one time or recurring donation to the Ottawa County Parks Foundation to ensure access to nature and green space.