To Register Call (616) 355-1057
Tuesday - Friday 9 to 5,
Saturday 10-5 or
E-Mail: degraafnaturecenter@cityofholland.com
Please provide your phone number in your e-mail,
so we can call you if there is a cancellation or schedule change.
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September 11, Saturday, 10 to 4 p.m. Kayaking the Kalamazoo River. The nature center now owns a set of kayaks to use for explorations of our local waterways. Come prepared for a great 2-3 hour paddle. Bring water bottle, sunscreen, hat, bug repellent and sack lunch. Footwear that can get wet recommended. The Nature Center provides paddles, life jackets, kayaks and naturalist guide. Fee: $35/$25 for Friends of DeGraaf Nature Center. Call 616-355-1057 to reserve your boat.
September 16, October 14 and November 18, Thursdays, 10 – 11:30 a.m. Knee-high Naturalists. This special time is for pre-school age children, 3 to 4 years of age. Each month will have its own nature theme. Indoor and outdoor activities are planned. Parents may attend with their child if desired. Limited to 12 children each session. Fee: $20 for Holland City Residents and $30 for non-residents for three classes. Please call to register by September 10th.
September 17, October 15 and November 19, Fridays, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Knee-high Naturalists. See above for details.
September 18, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Heritage Harvest Day at VanRaalte Farm. Join DeGraaf Nature Center and the Holland Museum at the Historic VanRaalte Farm for a look at Michigan's heritage through live music, history of the VanRaalte Farm, demonstrations including: spinning, weaving, knitting, quilting, rug hooking, and basket making, games and activities, crafts, candle dipping, hay wagon rides, a bake sale, and more. Antique tractors on display as well. The admission for this event is only $1.00 per person. Activity tickets will be available for 50 cents each for crafts, candle dipping, wagon rides and bake sale items. For more information call 616-355-1057.
September 23, Thursday, 10-11:30 a.m. or 1 to 2:30 p.m. Volunteering at DeGraaf Nature Center. This time is set aside to introduce volunteers to the many ways you can help us out at the nature center throughout the year – from assisting with school groups to our popular events such as maple sugaring, Heritage Harvest Day, Halloween at the VanRaalte Farm, plant sales and more. We depend on volunteers to make our programs a success. No fee. Please call to register.
September 25, 2 p.m. The Mysterious World of Meat-eating Plants. We normally think of plants as the passive victims of voracious animal or insect appetites. However, there are many plants that seem to break the rules, having the ability to lure, capture, kill, and digest animals and insects. In this interactive, informative, and humorous presentation, lecturer and carnivorous plant hobbyist of 45 years Ron Dudek will demonstrate where these plants grow, and how they accomplish their amazing but sinister deeds. Fee: $3/Free for Friends of DeGraaf Nature Center. Please call to register.
October 2, Saturday, 2 p.m. Journey of the Cranes. Join naturalist Tom Hodgson (past director of the Dahlem Conservancy in Jackson, MI) as he fills us with vivid images that tell the story of the magnificent Sandhill Crane. Sandhill Cranes are growing in population in Michigan- having grown from only 54 birds in 1942 to over 24,000 today and even nest in our local marshes. They stand 4 feet tall and have 6 foot wingspans. This will be a great introduction for those who wish to attend CraneFest on October 9th with the nature center where over 5,000 cranes congregate on their migration south. Fee: $3/Free for Friends of DeGraaf Nature Center. Please call to register.
October 9, Saturday, 1 to 9 p.m. CRANEFEST We will car pool from the nature center to the Baker Sanctuary, just east of Battle Creek, MI. This is a Michigan Audubon Society event which includes local artists, various speakers, Audubon bookstore and live birds of prey. The highlight is the arrival of over 5000 Sandhill Cranes as they come into the sanctuary for the night. Fee: $10 per person. Reduced fee if driving yourself. Pack a sack supper or purchase one at the festival (vendor sells hotdogs, hamburger, chili dogs, fries, etc) Tractor pulled wagon rides, rope making and other activities for children too. For more information on the event go to: www.michiganaudubon.org/bakersanctuary/cranefest. Please call to register.
October 9, Saturday, 2 p.m. Monitor the Monarch Butterfly with Bob Trepa. Learn about butterflies in this program as Bob takes you through the process of Monarch Butterfly tagging and releasing. By tagging them we learn about migration routes, how far and fast they fly and more. Fee: $3/ Free for Friends of DeGraaf. For school age children to adults. Please call to register.
October 16, Saturday, 2 p.m. Digging into Dinosaurs. Join geologist, Kurt Van Appledorn with his ever-expanding collection of dinosaur claws, bones, teeth, tracks and more. Learn amazing things about these creatures that disappeared from our planet over 65 million years ago. For school age children to adults. Fee $3/Free for Friends of DeGraaf. Please call to register.
October 23, Saturday, 2 p.m. Build a Birdfeeder. Feeding birds near your home is a great way to see our wild bird friends. There are many kinds that stay the winter and enjoy eating seeds we provide for them. This program will have pre-cut covered tray-style feeders to assemble. Ideal program for younger children with an adult helper. Fee: $9/$7For Friends of DeGraaf Nature Center. Please call to register.
October 29, Friday, 5-7:30 p.m. Halloween at the VanRaalte Farm. Start your journey along the trails at the VanRaalte Farm anytime between 5 and 7:30 p.m. Volunteers and staff will be on hand to help you discover wild creatures and fun activities and treats along a wooded trail. Enjoy cider and cookies (included in your fee) at the end along with a campfire. Park in the 16th Street lot and walk up to the barns and trails next to the farmhouse on the hill. Fee: $2 per person. Bring a flashlight if you come after 7 p.m. No registration required. October 30, Saturday. No Program this day at the nature center. Come visit the building and trails.
November 6, 13 and 20, Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Snowshoe Making Class. There is no end to the fun when you head out to explore on snowshoes. Don’t sit inside and watch winter go by. This year we will create Ojibwa style snowshoes made from bent ash frames. Attending all three class times is necessary. Included in this class are instructions, materials and a high quality H-binding that is very easy to use and will last years. Varnishing is done at an additional expense. Participants may use our shop to apply the varnish. Cost is $145 per pair. Please specify whether you wish a pair for age 8 to 140 pounds or for a person weighing 130 to 240 pounds. A deposit of $25 is required to register by Friday, October 22rd. Class limited to 10 participants. Please call to register.
November 13, Saturday, 2 p.m. Attracting and Feeding our Winter Birds. The nature center has been feeding birds for years and has heard countless stories from the community about efforts to feed birds but not feed raccoons, squirrels, deer and more. Come for this program on feeding basics to learn about feeders, seeds, suet, nuts and other foods for the birds. Pointers on feeding only the animals you want to feed will also be featured. Fee: $3/ Free to Friends of DeGraaf Nature Center. Please call to register.
November 20, Saturday, 2 pm. Know Your Winter Birds. What kinds of birds are visiting your backyard and how do you identify them? Come to this program to look at the twenty top backyard birds. How to sort them out using popular field guides. Fee: $3/ Free for Friends of DeGraaf. Please call to register.
November 27, No Program. The building will be open for your visit.
December 11, Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Homestead Holiday. This is a “make it and take it” time for anyone interested in old-fashion Holiday crafts. Cornhusk dolls, hand-dipped and beeswax candles, potato prints, tree ornaments and more are all possible. Most crafts are 50 cents each. Also baked goods and cider will be available. Pioneer stories in the log cabin by the fireplace too. No registration required. Ticket sales for crafts ends at 2:30 p.m.