NaturE-mail from Ottawa County Parks

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We are offering small group, outdoor Parks Programs! Registration is required for all programs and space is limited. Online and virtual nature programs are still available, scroll down to learn more.

Ottawa County Parks & Recreation is hiring

Seasonal Employment
We are currently searching for candidates interested in working outside next summer. The opportunities are perfect for students (18+) who are home on break, retirees who want to spend more time outside, or anyone interested in parks who would like to earn extra money during the summer months.

Opportunities exist at parks in Holland, Grand Haven, Ferrysburg, Spring Lake, West Olive, Jenison (near Allendale and Hudsonville), and Casnovia. Interested candidates should review open positions and apply online. Interviews will be conducted via Zoom.

To view our current open positions and to apply online click here.

Nature Center at Hemlock Crossing 

We are excited to announce the Ottawa County Parks Nature Center will have a soft re-opening on January 29, 2021. Much of the building will remain closed, but the restrooms will be open and snowshoe rental will be available. 

• Masks are required for entry
• Capacity will be limited inside the rental area; be prepared to wait outdoors
• Concessions will not be available
• Confirm whether snowshoe rental is available online: miottawa.org/trails

Snowshoe Rental

• Snowshoe rental for 3 hours: $8; $2 per additional hour
• Ages 6 and under are free with a paid adult rental
• Snowshoes are available for ages 4+

For more information, please visit: https://miottawa.org/Parks/winter-rec.htm

Pigeon Creek Lodge & Equipment Rental

Ski and snowshoe rental is available at the Pigeon Creek Lodge. Visitors should expect some adjustments to our operation this year:

Pigeon Creek Lodge Equipment Rental Hours:

• Monday-Friday: 12-7 pm (gear due back by 8:30 pm)
• Saturday-Sunday: 10 am-5 pm rental (gear due back by 6:30 pm)

Park hours are 7 am-10 pm daily

Important information:

**Don't forget when we open up for winter operations, the park closes to hikers, bikers, and pups. 

Intermediate Cross-Country Ski Class

February 6, 10:00 AM- 11:30 AM at Pigeon Creek Park Classes last about 1½ hours. - All children must be accompanied by an adult. - Please arrive 15 minutes early to check-in and 30 minutes early if you need to rent equipment. - Refine technique and ski more efficiently. For experienced adult skiers only. - Please dress in layers (warm hat and gloves are very important). - Please let us know if your plans change and you need to cancel. Registration required. *Ski classes will be canceled if there is not enough snow or if conditions are unsafe. If we know in advance that the class is canceled, you will be notified by phone or email. If conditions become unsatisfactory the day of the class, the instructor may cancel the class at the last minute. If conditions are questionable, you can check the ski conditions website at https://www.miottawa.org/TrailConditions/ If you have other questions, please call (616) 738-4810 (9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday).

Pineless & Poison Free

February 5, 10:00 AM- 10:30 AM at Hemlock Crossing Black birds, beverages, base ball, bugs and beyond- uncover the true stories behind Hemlock Crossing's namesake tree. This walk will be 30 minutes long with additional time for questions following. Registration required.

Five-needled and Fascinating!

February 5, 12:30 PM- 1:00 PM at Hemlock Crossing Sought as “cork,” driven by hogs, fuelers of fortunes and fires, eastern white pines are the main characters of Michigan’s forest story. All told, the story is…five-needled and fascinating!  This walk will be 30 minutes long with additional time for questions following. Registration required.

Water Flowing Underground

February 8, at Hemlock Crossing 10:00 AM- 10:30 AM 12:00 PM- 12:30 PM Water on the surface flows and shapes the landscape. Try training your eyes to look for signs of water shaping things from underground too. This walk will be 30 minutes long with additional time for questions following. This walk will be 30 minutes long with additional time for questions following. Registration required, to register for a specific time click on the individual timeslot listed above.

Suited for Swimming

February 10, 10:00 AM- 10:30 AM at Hemlock Crossing From webbed feet to swim goggles, beavers are uniquely suited to live in the water. How do these and other adaptations allow beavers to thrive in the habitats that they create? This walk will be 30 minutes long with additional time for questions following. Registration required.

Beavertecture

February 10, 12:30 PM- 1:00 PM at Hemlock Crossing Lodges and dams oh my! We can learn a lot from nature's best architect. Explore the work left behind by beavers and the impressively strategic reasons how and why they build their lodges and dams. This walk will be 30 minutes long with additional time for questions following. Registration required.

Seeing Life in a Snag

February 10:00 AM- 10:30 AM at Hemlock Crossing One dying tree can translate to new life and new opportunities for a host of living things. Join a naturalist to explore one of nature's best kept secrets teeming with life...snags. This walk will be 30 minutes long with additional time for questions following. Registration required.

Click this image to view the CwB Information Page where the Livestream event is embedded

Coffee with the Birds 

February 13, 9:30 AM- 11:00 AM - Virtual Event

Event Schedule: 9:30 - 10:30 am:

Coffee with the Birds - Feeder Watching

Session 10:30 – 11 am: Birding Tidbits - Bite-sized presentations on anything bird-related.

Enjoy a hot cup of coffee and some baked goodies from the comfort and safety of your own home. You can watch the birds at the Nature Center feeders LIVE on your computer with a naturalist as your viewing guide. Pre-submitted birding topic questions, curiosities and stories will be shared and discussed. 

Click here to view the program, submit your question and to find more information on Coffee with the Birds, the Mug Club and more.

Join the birding update email for current information by clicking here. 

Parker Solar Probe- Virtual Webinar

February 13, 7:00 PM- 8:00 PM   Launched in August 2018, the Parker Solar Probe is the first mission to ever "touch" the Sun. Learn all about the spacecraft and how it will study the outer corona by travelling directly into the atmosphere of the Sun. Register by clicking here.

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