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Ottawa County Parks & Recreation offers programming and volunteer opportunities year-round! Visit the Program and Events Calendar for details and registration. Call our Nature Center at Hemlock Crossing Park for more information: 616-786-4847.
 January
Scroll down to find information about ways to get outside this fall, as well as upcoming programs, events, and much more. Thank you for reading!
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REMINDER: The lower Grand Ravines (North) parking lots will be closed January-February. The parking lots before the hill will still be open.
 OTTAWA COUNTY, MI — Ottawa County Parks is collaborating with Herrick District Library to provide StoryWalks and snowshoeing opportunities! On Saturday, January 21, if conditions are favorable for snowshoeing, Ottawa County Parks will provide snowshoes for families to try on from 10 am - 12 pm at Riley Trails. There is no cost, and it is for ages 5+.
Check miOttawa.org/trails on Friday evening for a snow report. Snowshoe events are ONLY happening if there is adequate snow. Families can still come walk and read the StoryWalk if the conditions aren't favorable.
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI - Are you worried about the impacts of invasive Hemlock Woolly Adelgid? Join Ottawa Conservation District for their second installment of Conservation on Tap on January 18 to learn more about how HWA can affect your Hemlocks and what actions you can take to treat and protect them.
Ottawa Conservation District is working in collaboration with local breweries for a casual learning and networking experience. At each event date, a local expert will present on the topic for that day and there will be opportunities afterwards for folks to stick around and ask questions! Natalie Bekins, the West Michigan CISMA Coordinator will present on the topic of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid.
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Attendance is limited to 45 people per event. Please register in advance by pushing the button!
 Our summer camps are now LIVE and ready for sign up! Registration is required and camps are $7/person.
Choose a program below to be taken to the registration page!
Details & sign up: miottawa.org/OCPevents
Early Sprouts – Ages 4-5 (w/ Caregiver) - 9:30-11 am
Activities in this camp will engage caregiver and child interactions in the outdoors. Caregivers will play an active role during camp.
(Not so) Creepy Crawlies Jun 28 Hemlock Crossing
Hooray for Herpetology Jul 12 Hemlock Crossing
Dealing with Decomposers Jul 19 Hemlock Crossing
Animals in Action Jul 26 Hager Park
Things with Wings Aug 2 Hager Park
Puzzling Plants Aug 9 Hager Park
Nature Buds – Ages 6-8 – 9:30-11:30 am
Explore and engage with nature! Activities may include using dip nets in our wetland, scooping up butterflies in insect nets, and searching for salamanders.
(Not so) Creepy Crawlies Jun 28 Hemlock Crossing
Hooray for Herpetology Jul 12 Hemlock Crossing
Dealing with Decomposers Jul 19 Hemlock Crossing
Animals in Action Jul 26 Hager Park
Things with Wings Aug 2 Hager Park
Puzzling Plants Aug 9 Hager Park
*Lessons will only take place if weather/conditions allow.
Head to miottawa.org/OCPevents to register for a cross-country or skate ski lesson!
1. Click Adult
2. Select Ski class
3. Choose lesson to sign up for
OR scroll to the bottom and choose a lesson to be taken to the registration page!
Macatawa River Greenway
Thanks to a generous donation by Yanfeng through their iCare program, Paw Paw Park finally has its namesake tree. Pawpaws are tropical-looking understory trees that grow naturally along rivers in Southwest Michigan. Although there were only a couple of recently planted pawpaws at the park, prior to European settlement, there were likely more. Therefore, OCPR staff were grateful when Yanfeng (YF) offered to purchase and plant 65 pawpaw plants to establish Paw Paw Park as a destination to learn about this unique species. Yanfeng’s iCare program supports the community through project-based grants that are nominated by Yanfeng employees.
“Even though this is our first year doing an iCare project with the Ottawa County Parks, our team has been volunteering annually for the last eight years or so. Most of our work has been at Riley Trails through the Adopt-a-Park program. We were excited to work at Paw Paw Park and give back.”
-Darby Goodemoot
Darby Goodemoot is a Senior Manager of Costing from Yanfeng who submitted the project to the company’s grant program. Thank you!
REMINDER: Although pawpaws are edible, please refrain from picking the fruit within Ottawa County Parks. The seeds within the pawpaws are needed to continue the spread of this species within our parks!
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Click on a program date to be redirected to our registration page for that program!
Kids & Family
NEW - Nature Buds Winter Camp: Above and Below the Snow
Registration required, ages 6-9, $7/person
Let's learn about animals in winter! Have you ever heard of a secret kingdom for animals? How about a swim under the ice or a muddy sleeping bag? We will investigate these mysteries and more at our first winter Nature Buds.
Wildlife Encounters - KIDS! Beaver: Busy Builders
Registration required, $5/person
Beavers are well-known as industrious tree cutting, water controlling creatures. But why do they do what they do? How do they do what they do? In this program, you'll dive into the world of beavers and discover some new and amazing things about these familiar fur balls of wetlands and forests.
Tuned into Nature
Registration required, $5/person
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. Children must be accompanied with an adult.
Fireside Story Hour
Snuggle up by the fire with your kids for a relaxing time of seasonally-themed stories and a mug of hot chocolate! Don’t forget a comfy pillow and blanket! An optional walk will be offered afterward. Recommended for ages 3 - 8, accompanied by an adult
StoryWalk
Pages from a featured book will be posted along a path at one of the parks listed below for your family to read together. Stories are available during park hours. Registration is not required.
Recreation
Introduction to Nature Journaling
Registration required, $5/person
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.
Fireside Yoga
Registration required, $5/person
Come practice yoga fireside at the Nature Center! All levels of experience are welcome. *Yoga mats not provided.
Nature Journal Club: Frozen Wonders
Registration required, $5/person, ages 10+
Calling all nature lovers! Gather each month to learn new drawing and writing techniques specific to the theme and enjoy community connection with fellow journalers. The Nature Journal Club compliments an Introduction to Nature Journaling, however taking the class prior is not required. *Journals are not provided
Natural Resources
Moonlight Night Hike
Registration required, $5/person
Experience your favorite parks in a whole new way as you explore by moonlight! There is an option to use snowshoes when conditions are favorable. Please be sure to complete the snowshoe questionnaire when registering.
Winter Walk
Registration not required but appreciated
Join an outdoor educator for a winter walk on the trails. You never know what you will discover along the way. Snowshoeing may be an option if conditions allow!
Themed Walks
Registration not required but appreciated
Take a deeper dive into a topic that may focus on natural features of a park, tell the story of cultural connections, or weave both elements together.
*All themed walks will be held at Hemlock Crossing
Astronomy: Women in Astronomy
Registration not required but appreciated
Prior to the nineteenth-century, little is written of women's contributions in astronomy. Behind every celebrated discovery from a male astronomer, you will find many women doing the meticulous and time-consuming research that supported such discoveries. Our speaker will introduce you to these Ladies of the Stars. After the presentation, the Shoreline Amateur Astronomical Association (SAAA) will have the observatory open and telescopes available for night sky observing (weather permitting).
Coffee with the Birds
Registration not required but appreciated
Enjoy coffee and baked goodies as you watch the birds at the feeders. Bring your bird questions, curiosities, and stories, and don't forget your favorite mug!
Registration required, $8/person (not incl. rental fee)
Beginner Sessions
Intermediate Sessions
Skate Ski Sessions
***Lessons will only take place if weather allows. Check miOttawa.org/trails before visiting.
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