Appropriate for: All Ages

Join Brian Peterson-Roest, founder of the non-profit Bees in the D, for a virtual Honeybee hive tour at the DNR's Outdoor Adventure Center in Detroit. You will explore an active hive and learn about the parts of a Honeybee hive, cast of bees, behaviors of bees, the lifecycle of Honeybees, pollination--and maybe even see royalty!

Learn more about ABeeC's of Beekeeping

Appropriate for: All Ages

Blandford Nature Center is made up of 264 acres of forest, wetlands, prairie, meadows, and over 8 miles of marked trails. Our job and passion is to invite our community to enjoy, explore, and learn in nature. We make this happen by allowing our visitors to get their hands dirty—whether by standing knee-high in water to learn about stream ecology or planting squash seeds to start a garden. This is accomplished through an active outdoor environmental lab, a team of passionate, knowledgeable people, and a strong link from past to future promoting sustainability. Blandford offers a wide variety of experiences to support our mission and vision through dynamic partnerships and innovative programming for all ages.
Trails are open from dawn to dusk every day.
The Mary Jane Dockeray Visitor Center is open Monday-Saturday from 9am-5pm.
In honor of Earth month & in partnership with the MSU Science Festival, Blandford Nature Center will be admission-free to all visitors for the entire month of April.

Learn more about Blandford Nature Center - BioBlitz Featured Location

Appropriate for: All Ages

Help us learn about the biodiversity at the Corey Marsh Ecological Research Center by using citizen science apps to record the life found at CMERC!

MSU's Corey Marsh is 320 acres of open prairie and wetlands near Bath, MI. There is abundant wildlife and natural beauty that can be experienced along the over 3.5 miles of trails. The CMERC is part of the Michigan State Bird Observatory (along with the Burke Lake Banding Station), which promotes the protection and conservation of migratory birds and their habitats.

Learn more about Corey Marsh Ecological Research Center - BioBlitz Featured Location

Appropriate for: All Ages

At Indian Springs Metropark you can visit many ecosystems in an hour hike. These include restored prairie, marsh, vernal pond, fen, swamp, and forest, representing what Southeast Michigan looked like in the past. Each of these places are comprised of unique living and non-living parts. Take a hike and sharpen your skills by completing an observational ecosystem challenge at each place. The route is approximately one mile on gravel trails with some elevation change. Download the guide, then visit each stop and complete the observational challenge to learn about the plants, animals, and soil that make each ecosystem unique.

Learn more about Explore the Diversity of Southeast Michigan’s Ecosystems at Indian Springs Metropark: A Self-guided Hike

Appropriate for: All Ages

Geocaching and Adventure Labs are specifically designed to encourage exploration in the outdoors. Join the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Geocaching Organization as we teach you the basics of Geocaching and Adventure Labs. You will also learn about some unique opportunities to do both.

Learn more about Finding Adventure in the Outdoors Using Technology: Geocaching and Adventure Labs

Appropriate for: All Ages

Within the 525-acres of the Grand Traverse Natural Education Reserve, which adjoins Garfield Township’s Boardman Valley Nature Preserve to the north, are a marsh, swamp, level terrain, upland forest, pine forest, creek, and a river. The cover types of the area provide excellent habitat for beaver, otter, mink, fox, deer, and many other animals and birds. The Boardman River, the central feature of the Reserve, runs through the property. With 7 miles of trails, there is plenty to explore.

Based out of the Boardman River Nature Center in Traverse City, Michigan, the Grand Traverse Conservation District is a community-serving organization that cares for the people and places that make Northwest Michigan so special.

Learn more about Grand Traverse Natural Education Reserve - BioBlitz Featured Location

Appropriate for: All Ages

The Harris Nature Center is composed of 206 acres of wetlands and meadows, and deciduous and coniferous forests. It is on the banks of the Red Cedar River providing a migratory stop-over site, as well as an abundance of habitat for many Michigan Native Species of flora and fauna. The nature center has approximately 6 miles of well-marked trails, including a 1/2 mile long paved trail.

Learn more about Harris Nature Center - BioBlitz Featured Location

Appropriate for: All Ages

Visit a park within the Huron-Clinton MetroPark system and help identify as many living things as you can, using the app iNaturalist. Through our community's collective efforts, we can help identify the living things that use the parks as their home. From plants to fungi and birds to mammals, how many different species can we find together?

Learn more about Huron-Clinton Metroparks - BioBlitz Featured Location

Appropriate for: All Ages

The Little Forks Conservancy permanently protects and improves natural environments in mid-Michigan by leading and inspiring actions that conserve vital habitats and waterways for the benefit of our entire community.​ Since 1996, we’ve protected over 4,023 acres of land, 23 miles of shoreline, and 10 miles of trails.​

Participating locations:
The 70-acre Forestview Natural Area consists of several boardwalks and a bridge to help trail users navigate through the expansive wetlands leading through a red and white pine stand planted in the 1970's to a ridge of hemlocks. Forestview Natural Area has a 1.3-mile trail with an abundance of wildflowers and ferns on the forest floor. The trail offers a number of activity options, good for all skill levels, and is open year-round.
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/forestview-natural-area-little-forks-conservancy-2022-bioblitz

The 72-acre Averill Preserve located by the Tittabawassee River and the along the Pere Marquette Rail-Trail celebrates Michigan’s natural history. Once the site of the world’s largest timber banking grounds, the Averill Preserve is owned and managed by The Little Forks Conservancy has about 1.9 miles of hiking trail.
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/averill-preserve-little-forks-conservancy-2022-bioblitz

Riverview loop is a 4 mile loop trail located near Midland, Michigan that features beautiful spring flowers and is home to blue spotted salamanders. Good for all trail skills, the trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/riverview-natural-area-little-forks-conservancy-2022-bioblitz

Learn more about Little Forks Conservancy - BioBlitz Featured Locations

Appropriate for: All Ages

Dirty wrappers on the hiking trails, empty bottles near the slide... did melting snow reveal a trash-covered park near you? Take action! Join ExploreHope and Hope College's Office of Sustainability to learn more about eco-stewardship, both globally and locally. Hope Sustainability Student Advocates will share how to safely collect and analyze trash, and then upload your info to a geolocated map. Join environmental enthusiasts all across Michigan and start spring with a cleaner, more eco-friendly state.

Collection form https://sciencefestival.msu.edu/upload/2022/Map%20Your%20Trash!%20collection%20form.pdf
Link to Map Your Trash! Map: https://tinyurl.com/5cej895n

Learn more about Map Your Trash!

Appropriate for: All Ages

Not near one of our other featured locations, or even in Michigan, but want to be a part of our BioBlitz? You can! We want to see what you are observing in your backyard, a park near you, or any other natural area you have access to.

Learn more about Michigan and Beyond - BioBlitz Featured Location

Appropriate for: All Ages

Located on the banks of the Grand River in Delta Township near Lansing, this 63-acre property is an oasis of habitat in an expanding suburban area that attracts spring and fall migrating warblers. Walking paths lead through grasslands, shrub habitats, and along the Grand River. The sanctuary is adjacent to Hawk Meadow, a Delta Township park, whose land was also donated by Michigan Audubon benefactor, Carl Haussman.

Amenities: 1.8 miles of easy, mowed hiking trails. Parking is available at Hawk Meadow; walk across the street for the kiosk and main trailhead. Includes a demonstration native bird garden, and nest box trail.

The sanctuary is open from dawn until dusk year-round.

Learn more about Michigan Audubon Capital City Bird Sanctuary - BioBlitz Featured Location

Appropriate for: All Ages

Come visit any or all of the Michigan Nature Association Nature Sanctuaries during daylight hours to see what you can observe.

Timberland Swamp Nature Sanctuary (https://michigannature.iescentral.com/fileLibrary/Timberland%20Swamp%20Nature%20Sanctuary%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf)
Size: 245 acres; Habitat Types: hardwood swamp, second-growth forest; Special Feature: walking trail

Dowagiac Woods Nature Sanctuary (https://michigannature.iescentral.com/fileLibrary/Dowagiac%20Woods%20Nature%20Sanctuary%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf)
Size: 384 acres; Habitat Types: Southern mesic forest, floodplain forest; Special Feature: 1.5-mile trail loop

Lefglen Nature Sanctuary (https://michigannature.iescentral.com/fileLibrary/Lefglen%20Nature%20Sanctuary%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf)
Size: 208 acres; Habitat Types: wooded uplands, oak barrens, cattail marsh; Special Feature: two walking trails totaling 3.5 miles, Lake Nirvana, artesian well

Holly Nature Sanctuary (http://michigannature.iescentral.com/fileLibrary/Holly%20Nature%20Sanctuary%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf)
Size: 80 acres; Habitat Types: hardwood swamp, northern and dry mesic forest; Special Feature: Two hiking trail loops

Learn more about Michigan Nature Association - BioBlitz Featured Locations

Appropriate for: Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, Over 21 years only

STEM For All is bringing Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) out into the open. Enjoy the outdoors and inhale a bit of STEAM. Our Future Scientists (school students) will install many STEAM exhibits/displays at the sidewalks of local schools, in public parks, and in business lobbies. These exhibits cover a wide variety of STEAMing hot topics, including Mission to Mars, Launch America, scale model of the solar system, etc. You will also be rediscovering – on your own - some of what Galileo, Newton, and other scientists discovered.

Learn more about Open Air STEAM

Appropriate for: All Ages

Pierce Cedar Creek Institute is a nature center, environmental education center, and biological field station located on 849 acres with nine miles of hiking trails ten miles south of Hastings, Michigan. Visitors experience the beauty of a very diverse property including wetlands, forests, marshes, streams, lakes, and prairies. The hiking trails are open every day dawn to dusk.

Learn more about Pierce Cedar Creek Institute - BioBlitz Featured Location

Appropriate for: All Ages

The global community is actively working toward achieving the 17 U.N. Sustainable Development Goals that will help create a future that is equitable and sustainable for all. Supporting these global goals can happen at home, in your community, at MSU and beyond. Take part in this fun scavenger hunt to spot places, resources, and behaviors that reflect the global goals. Can you find them all? Register and complete your scavenger hunt for a chance to win sustainable prizes from MSU!

Learn more about Sustainability Scavenger Hunt: Spotting the Global Goals

Appropriate for: All Ages

Woldumar Nature Center sits on over 180 acres of woodland, prairie and wetland terrains, with over a mile of shoreline on the Grand River. Trails are open dawn to dusk, 365 days a year. Trail Maps are available at the Visitor Center and at the Trail Head.

Learn more about Woldumar Nature Center - BioBlitz Featured Location