 April
Scroll down to find information about ways to get outside this spring, as well as upcoming programs, events, and much more. Thank you for reading!
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We are hiring!
Join our team! We’re hiring for seasonal positions, including:
Register for Summer Camp Now
Weekly sessions available from June 9 to August 22
Registration is now open for our full-day, week-long summer camps! Don’t miss out on a summer of fun and adventure. Secure your spot today!
There are two groups to choose from:
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Greenway Explorers (Ages 6-8) – Campers will explore Hager Park, a 104-acre family park known for its scenic nature trails and multiple playgrounds, providing the perfect setting for outdoor exploration and adventure
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Greenway Voyageurs (Ages 9-13)- Campers will embark on an immersive journey through Grand River Park, 162-acre gem featuring five distinct ecosystems and scenic views along the Grand River.
Step it Up with us this Spring!
The Step it Up! program is a free, 8-week initiative designed to help participants of all fitness levels stay active while exploring Ottawa County Parks. Open to individuals and families alike, this program offers easy-to-use tools for goal setting and activity tracking. Whether you're beginning your fitness journey or simply looking to stay motivated, Step It Up! is the perfect way to get moving—one step at a time.
This program is supported by the Ottawa County Parks Foundation and made possible by Health & Wellness Sponsor AAA Storage.
West Michigan City Nature Challenge
April 25-April 28, 2025
Join the City Nature Challenge! We’re partnering with John Ball Zoo for this exciting global bio-blitz, created by iNaturalist. With over 500 cities participating worldwide, it’s one of the largest community science events. You don’t need to be an expert! The app connects you with naturalists who can help identify the organisms you discover.
How do I get involved?
- Download the iNaturalist app. Not sure how to use iNaturalist? Click here to learn more.
- Using iNaturalist, take and submit photos of plants, animals, and fungi in Allegan, Barry, Kent, and Ottawa counties from April 25-April 28, 2025.
- Tell 3 people in your life about the City Nature Challenge and invite them to participate!
- Join us for a program! Keep scrolling to find opportunities to get involved.
Visit Every Park Challenge
Prizes are now available for pickup!
Have you taken on the challenge to visit each of the county's parks and open spaces? With over 40 unique properties, more than 7,400 acres of natural beauty, and 150+ miles of trails waiting to be explored, the “Visit Every Park Challenge” is the perfect way to embrace the great outdoors while working towards your personal goals.
Make sure to use #ottawacountyparks or tag us in your photos @ottawacountyparks!
This challenge is supported by the Ottawa County Parks Foundation.
 Mushroom Blitz!
April 11 • 2-5 PM • Hemlock Crossing
CALLING ALL MYCOPHILES (aka Mushroom lovers)! Join Midwestern American Mycological Information (MAMI) for a Mushroom Blitz at Hemlock Crossing County Park. We will explore what fungi are present in the park and submit samples for DNA testing as part of the state's natural resource inventory. The event is free to the public and no registration is required.
Family Nature Day: Earth Day!
April 26 • 10 am - 4 pm • Pigeon Creek
Come celebrate Earth Day at Pigeon Creek Park. There will be activities related to doing positive things for the Earth along with opportunities for your family to do so!
Art for the Parks
Apr 26 • 5-8 PM • Hemlock Crossing
Join the Ottawa County Parks Foundation at Hemlock Crossing County Park as the Lakeshore Visual Arts Collective transforms the Nature Education Center into a pop-up art venue for one night only! The event brings regional artists, art patrons, and nature lovers together in a collaboration that benefits both nature and the arts.
Live music by Jack Leaver, cash bar, and Parliament Pizza food truck add to the fun.
A $10 suggested donation at the door and 10% of all art sold benefit the Ottawa County Parks Foundation. Register early and skip the line!
National Astronomy Day with the Shoreline Amateur Astronomical Association
May 3 • 12 PM • Hemlock Crossing
Join the Shoreline Amateur Astronomical Association for Astronomy Day at Hemlock Crossing! Enjoy a day filled with engaging activities for all ages. In case of poor weather, events will be held indoors at the Nature Center.
RAFFLE - All children will receive one raffle ticket and three telescopes will be awarded at the end of the lecture. No need to be present to win. Winning numbers will be posted at www.holland-saaa.org
Ottawa Conservation District Spring Native Plant Sale
May 17 • 9 AM - 12 PM • Hemlock Crossing
The browse-and-buy native plant sale offers a wide assortment of Michigan-grown native flowering plants, shrubs, garden kits, and grasses. The funds from the native plant sale provide important operational funding for the Ottawa Conservation District. For questions, please reach out to ottawacd@macd.org or call the office at 616-842-5852 Ext. 5.
Grand Explorers' Trail Race
June 21, 2025 @ 8:00 AM - Grand River Park to Grand Ravines
The Ottawa County Parks Foundation and Ottawa County Parks are excited to host this fun, family-friendly run/walk and celebrate the recently completed Idema Explorers Trail that connects Grand River Park to Grand Ravines Park. Come and enjoy nature, community, and some post-race treats. #2parks1race
 Volunteer with us every third Saturday of the month!
Service Saturday: Earth Day Edition
April 19 • 10 am-12 pm • Various Locations
Celebrate Earth Day by volunteering in our parks! Bring your friends and family, and join us to remove litter and invasive species. Participants are welcome to come and go any time during the event. Please bring work gloves if you have them (there will be a limited number of gloves for participants to borrow). Trash bags and instructions will be provided!
Workdays will be held at Tunnel Park, Hager Park, and Riverside Park.
Service Saturday: Drop-in Garlic Mustard Workshop
April 26 • 10 am-4 pm • Various Locations
It's Family Nature Day at Pigeon Creek Park! While you're enjoying all that Pigeon has to offer, check out this drop-in volunteer opportunity. No registration required.
Visit the table in the main parking lot to learn about invasive garlic mustard identification tips and removal techniques. Then, put that knowledge to work! Garlic mustard removal supplies (gloves and bags) will be available to anyone who would like to help. Feel free to stay and volunteer as long as you'd like.
Vernal Pool Opportunities
We have several opportunities to learn more about vernal pools this spring!
Vernal Pool Patrol In-person Training - This Vernal Pool Patrol field training will provide hands-on experience at a vernal pool to learn how to identify plants and animals and collect and submit data for the Michigan Vernal Pool Database.
This field training is for volunteers who have participated in or watched the recording of a Vernal Pool Patrol Virtual Training Series (March 4th, 11th, 18th 6-8pm EST or past years). In addition, participants should be registered with an MNFI Community account to gain access to the Vernal Pool Field Survey (Survey123 app) to submit data.
Awareness, Art & Action: Blue-spotted Salamander - Gain a deeper appreciation for ephemeral wetlands as we examine the life cycle of a native salamander. We’ll be hiking, nature journaling and taking a survey of one of the vernal pools found in our park. Registration is required.
To keep oak trees healthy, delay pruning until mid-July
To stop the spread of oak wilt, a fungal disease that can kill red oak trees within weeks, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is urging homeowners not to prune any oak trees from April 15 to July 15
What is Oak Wilt?
Oak wilt is a fungal disease that can kill oak trees, particularly red oak species. The fungus spores are carried by small beetles that feed on sap from fresh tree wounds resulting from storm damage, pruning cuts, or other injuries. After the beetles feed and introduce the fungus into the tree’s water-carrying tissues, the tree responds by attempting to contain the disease. This response leads to the rapid wilting of branches. The infection can also spread through root connections between similar tree species or through the movement of infected logs and firewood.
Enroll and train for the MiCorps Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program
The Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps), a network of volunteer monitoring programs that collect and share surface water quality data statewide, is accepting enrollments for the 2025 Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP) season. Trainings in 2025 will be offered in‑person in Muskegon and online via Zoom.
Interested volunteers are encouraged to enroll early, as some program options have early spring enrollment deadlines. Other options allow enrollment into May and into the summer. Details can be found on the CLMP Enrollment webpage.
- In person in Muskegon on April 25-26, 2025.
- Online on April 30, 2025.
 April
Click on a program date to be redirected to our registration page for that program!
Into Nature
Bird Walks
Registration appreciated • FREE • Ages 12+
Whether you are an avid birder or just desire to experience birds beyond your backyard, join us and immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of bird migration. Trail conditions vary depending on the park. Be prepared for muddy and wet trails.
Naturally Speaking: "Growing Native" in County Parks
Registration encouraged • FREE • Ages 12+
Learn how Ottawa County Parks is "growing native" in our Parks. The processes of habitat restoration and enhancement is a lot of work, but the outcome is worth the effort for generations to come. Learn about the techniques used and the effort involved in planting and maintaining native plant species in our parks.
Astronomy: Spring & Summer Sky
Registration encouraged • FREE • Ages 12+
This presentation will cover the major constellations available for viewing in the nighttime sky during the Spring and Summer months, along with additional objects such as the visible planets, the Moon and other deep space objects.
Sunday Stroll
Registration required • FREE • All Ages
Take a guided stroll every Sunday at Hemlock Crossing!
Nature Saturday: Frogs & Salamanders
Registration encouraged • FREE • All Ages
Interested in "herpetology"? Come join others to search for frogs and salamanders and learn about which ones are found locally in our parks.
Nature Saturday is scheduled on the 2nd Saturday of each month. Each date will feature a different nature-focused topic/activity you can engage in at Ottawa County Parks. This is an opportunity to either introduce yourself to a new activity or gather with others who enjoy an activity you already engage in, all in an effort to build community!
Awareness, Art, & Action: Blue-spotted Salamander
Registration required • Resident-$10 / Non-Resident-$15 • Ages 12+
Gain a deeper appreciation for ephemeral wetlands as we examine the life cycle of a native salamander. We’ll be hiking, nature journaling and taking a survey of one of the vernal pools found in our park.
Spring Wildflower Walk
Registration encouraged • FREE • Ages 12+
Woodland flowers, called spring ephemerals, bloom before the trees leaf out. Join a parks naturalist to look for these spring beauties blooming in our parks.
Nature Photography Hike: Spring Flowers
Registration required • Resident-$5 / Non-Resident-$6 • Ages 18+
Grab your phone or favorite camera and join a group at the park to explore seasonal plants, animals, and insects, capturing nature’s beauty through an artistic lens.
Bald Eagle Walk
Registration required • Resident-$5 / Non-Resident-$6 • Ages 10+
Bald Eagles frequent areas along the Grand River and have nested at Grand Ravines for many years. Join us on this hike to learn the story of the park's resident eagles and get a special private view into their nesting activities.
Recreation Saturday: Trail Hiking
Registration encouraged • FREE • All Ages
We’ll be hiking for 2 hours and will go to Pine Bend and back. This should be 3-4 miles total on dirt trails, boardwalk and some paved trails. Bring water, snack, hiking stick, and a sense of adventure!
Trailside First Aid
Registration required • Resident-$17 / Non-Resident-$22 • Ages 18+
Join Parks Recreation and Wellness Lead, Tabitha, RN, for wilderness medicine response tips. Learn how to handle unexpected trail emergencies while awaiting professional help. Please bring your usual trail pack, water, a journal, and a pen. Weather permitting, the session will be held outdoors.
Nature Journal Club
Registration required • Resident-$5 / Non-Resident-$6 • Ages 18+
Gather each month to explore our natural neighbors using drawing, writing, and other journaling techniques to record what you learn while enjoying community connection with other nature journalers.
Introduction to Nature Journaling
Registration required • Resident-$5 / Non-Resident-$6 • Ages 18+
Many of us seek ways to better connect with nature. We want to learn its patterns and secrets, help protect its inhabitants, and gain an understanding of our place within it. Nature journaling helps us do this and you do not need to know anything about nature, drawing, or writing to begin! Learn how to start a nature journal, a few drawing basics, and some simple tricks to help you be successful.
Sauna at the Parks
Registration required • Resident-$45 / Non-Resident-$50 • Ages 18+
Enjoy a unique and rejuvenating mobile wood-burning Finnish sauna with Alisa Cardenas of Howl at the Moon Sauna Co. and Mike Jensen with Saunaty. Bring with you a bottle of water, a bathrobe, slip on shoes, a towel, and an extra set of clothing. Ensure you are well hydrated and dressed appropriately in a swimsuit or light cotton clothing if desired.
Twilight Hike
Registration required • Resident-$5 / Non-Resident-$6 • Ages 10+
In spring, as light of day turns to dark of night, wildlife springs to life! Come experience your favorite parks in a whole new way as you explore them by the light of fading day.
Kids & Families
Tuned into Nature
Registration required • Resident-$5 / Non-Resident-$6 • Ages 2-4
Kids ages 2-4 can bring their favorite grown up to sing songs, dance, and learn about nature together. We'll spend time making and moving to music based on a nature theme and go outside for a walk to explore it outdoors.
Family Nature Day: Earth Day!
Registration appreciated • FREE • Ages 3-9
Come celebrate Earth Day at Pigeon Creek Park. There will be activities related to doing positive things for the Earth along with opportunities for your family to do so!
StoryWalks
Registration appreciated • FREE • All Ages
Take a StoryWalk®! Pages from a featured book will be posted on signs along the path for your family to read together. Stories are available to read during park hours. Thank you to our local libraries, Loutit District Library and Herrick District Library, for making StoryWalks possible!
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April 7-27 at Tunnel Park: If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson
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April 7-27 at Paw Paw Park East: What’s New, Daniel? by Micha Archer
The observatory is open to the public on Friday evenings throughout the year whenever viewing conditions allow. These events are weather dependent and will be cancelled if overcast.
Before heading to the park, make sure to check the calendar for cancellations on this page: holland-saaa.org
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