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Visit the Ottawa County Parks Program and Events Calendar for details and registration. Call the Nature Education Center for more information: 616-786-4847.
 Join us for a sneak peek & dedication of Ottawa County’s newest park property Stearns Creek Park! Event details:
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June 27 | 4-6 pm -- Ceremony from 4-4:30 pm
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*Please note that the park is not open to the public until this event. We are working on marking trails and prepping it for visitors. Please hold off on a visit until this event or after.
Exciting news!
Our new Parks Director has been selected. Jason Shamblin will begin with Ottawa County on June 24. Welcome to the team, Jason!
Read more about him here.
Ottawa County Parks & Recreation Adventure Camps are now open for registration!
Cruisin' the Pigeon River
July 18 from 9:00 AM- 2:00 PM at Hemlock Crossing
Hike, Bike, Paddle
July 23, 9:00 AM- 4:00 PM at Pine Bend
July 30, 9:00 AM- 4:30 PM at Connor Bayou
Outdoor Survival Camp
July 8-10, 9:00 AM- 4:30 PM at Pigeon Creek Park
August 6-8, 9:00 AM- 4:30 PM at Pigeon Creek Park
Jr. Naturalist Day Camp - various dates, times and locations
All the Adventure Camps are designed for ages 11-14. Call the Nature Center at 616-786-4847 for details and to register. Registration required.
 Call to register: 616-786-4847
Come out for a great day of education, fun, and paddleboarding at the Careerline Tech Center and Ottawa County Parks Stand-Up to Invasive Species event.
Learn about the negative impact aquatic invasive species (AIS) have on our waterways from CTC Natural Resources and Outdoor Studies (NROS) program students and how you can help.
To learn more click here.
Are you interested in birding but don't know where to start? Would you like to know about the birds in your backyard and around Michigan? Join us in discovering the beautiful sights and sounds of birding. At this introduction you will learn how to use a binocular, identify birds, and then put this new information to use on a birding walk. Binoculars and field guides provided. Recommended for adults and kids ages 10 and up.
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Earth Encounters: How Glaciers Shaped Michigan
Michigan's landscape is amazing and varied; made of hills and plains, dotted with lakes, and continually shaped by flowing streams. We will look at how geologists read the landscape for clues to the processes that created this land we call Michigan.
Hands-on activities and a hike will follow a presentation. Appropriate for ages 6 to 106!
Registration required.
*3 spots left!
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Beginner Bird Walk
Are you new to birding? Would you like to gain some basic skills to help you enjoy this wonderful pastime? This bird walk will introduce you to binocular use, bird identification and field guides and, of course, to the common birds in our parks!
Binoculars and field guides provided. Recommended for adults and kids ages 10 and up.
No registration required.
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Whistle of the Whip-poor-will
Introduce yourselves to this summer whistler of the moonlit woods! A short presentation at the Nature Center will be followed by a moonlit field trip to a few of its local haunts to experience this bird first-hand!
Adults and children 12+, registration required.
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Astronomy at the Nature Center
Public telescope observing after sunset. Weather permitting. Dress appropriately and a bring lawn chair, bug spray, and cover your flashlight with a red lens.
No registration required.
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Pigeon River Kayaking Trip
Enjoy the sights and sounds of spring along the Pigeon River by kayak as you paddle the 3.5 mile stretch to and from Pine Bend.
Each trip includes a basic kayaking lesson. No experience is needed. The fee is $8 per person with an additional $26 fee for kayak & equipment rental. A detailed letter will be sent prior to the trip.
Registration required.
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Outdoor East Summer Camp - Food Chain Frenzy
June 13, 9:30 AM- 11:30 AM at Hager Park
Investigating food chains and who is part of them, from bugs & birds to fish & flowers!
Registration required, please call the Nature Center at 616-786-4847 to register.
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Young Red-bellied Woodpecker, photo by@cst_snapshots
We want to see your park photos. Connect with us on Instagram by tagging your park photos @OttawaCountyParks or #OttawaCountyParks
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