Maple Syrup Day Returns! - Chippewa Nature Center

Sponsors: 

Maple Syrup Day Returns! 

by Kyle Bagnall, Manager of Historical Programs 

The woods and sugarhouse come to 

life in March as we celebrate the 40th 

anniversary of making of making maple 

syrup at CNC! You’re invited to enjoy this 

special time of year at the Maple Syrup 

Day festival, March 19 from 10 am–4 pm. 

Event admission is free to CNC members, 

children and students under 18. Admission 

is $4 for non-members 18 and up. 

Visitors to the festival may also eat a 

pancake breakfast from 9 am–2 pm for $7 

(ages 13+); $5 (ages 3-12); free to children 

under age 3. Members will receive the 

reduced rates of $6 (ages 13+) and 

$5 (ages 3-12) the entire day. No preregistration 

required! 

Starting at 10am, kids will love playing 

maple games, making a 40-to-1 beaded 

bracelet and a paper mokuk, a copy 

of the bark container used by Native 

Americans for gathering maple sap. You 

can also see maple candy being made 

and watch the Homestead Quilters and 

Midland Woodcarvers create their artisan 

projects. 

Be sure to stop at the Nature Preschool 

open house to visit the classrooms and 

March/April 2011 • No. 246 

learn about the energy-efficient features 

of CNC’s newest building. 

At the wigwam, join CNC staff to learn 

how Native Americans lived along the 

Pine River many years ago. Then take a 

wagon ride to the Log Sugarhouse to see 

how we boil sap into pure maple syrup 

at CNC. There will also be an 1870s sap 

boiling demonstration, Sugarbush tours 

and a tree-tapping activity. 

In the Schoolhouse, you’ll find the Maple 

Music Matinee, a live music program 

featuring Dennis Pilaske, which will take 

place several times throughout the day. 

You’ll find yourself singing along and 

tapping your toes to original 

songs dedicated to this Sponsors: 

exciting time of year! 

Also in the schoolhouse, 

you can catch a maple 

puppet play several 

times throughout the day. 

Nearby in the Log Cabin, 

volunteers will be using 

tasty maple recipes 

from days-gone-by 

as they cook on the 

woodstove. 

Inside... 

Director’s Take.... ........................................2 

Nature Notes: Tent Caterpillars.............3 

Volunteer Spotlight ........................................4 

Boggy Ponderings ......................................5 

Making Maple Syrup at Home ............6 

Registered Programs ................................7 

Walk-in Programs .....................................9 

Inspiring people and institutions to protect the natural world

Director’s Take 

Dick Touvell 

Executive Director 

Now Renting: “The Picture Perfect” Spot! 

Looking for the picture perfect wedding site? 

Or how about spectacular ambience for an anniversary 

party, shower or other special occasion? How about a 

unique venue for your next meeting? Enjoy the praise of 

your guests for hosting your event surrounded by nature 

– right here at Chippewa Nature Center! 

The River Overlook, one of many available rental venues at CNC. 

Beautiful outdoor wedding settings 

B r e a t h t a k i n g 

views of the Pine and 

Chippewa Rivers and an 

ever changing panorama of 

trees, flowers and animals 

are the perfect backdrop 

for a wedding or meeting. 

Access to the hands-on 

Ecosystem Gallery and 

Wildlife Viewing Area are 

included with any indoor 

rental and any outdoor 

rental during regular 

business hours. 

Now that the 

Visitor Center has reopened, 

we are able to 

concentrate on what we 

2 Chippewa Nature Center www.chippewanaturecenter.org 

Peeper’s Pond offers a stunning backdrop for your event. 

do best: connecting people to the natural world. This 

includes working with children and providing naturalistled 

field trips, hikes and paddling trips. Maple Syrup Day, 

Fall Harvest Festival, Nature Day Camp and Nature 

Preschool will continue to connect people with nature. 

Renting CNC’s facilities is another way of connecting 

people to the natural world, while providing CNC with 

revenue to support our programs. 

View of the Pine River from the River Overlook 

Friendly and helpful staff will walk you through 

the rental process, from booking the perfect space 

to set-up to making sure everything runs smoothly 

the day of your event. Contact Deana Beckham at 

rentals@chippewanaturecenter.org or 989.631.0830 or visit 

www.chippewanaturecenter.org/rentals.htm to explore 

the possibilities!

If beauty really is in the eye 

of the beholder, then you 

might not believe me when 

I tell you that the Eastern 

Tent Caterpillar is a beautiful 

creature! But don’t let your 

bias fool you. If some bird 

showed up in your yard 

wearing bright blue feathers 

liberally sprinkled with orange 

and black markings and 

sporting a bright white line 

down its back – admit it, you 

would think it was beautiful! 

Nature Notes 

Janea Little 

Senior Naturalist 

Ok, if you can’t bring 

Eastern Tent Caterpillars with tent 

yourself to believe it is a 

beauty, at least admire the tent caterpillar for its audacity 

– precious few insects emerge as early in the year as this 

feisty critter, and even fewer dare to feast on cyanide! 

Although “tents” can eat all members of the rose family, 

including apple and hawthorn, they seem to specialize 

on cherry leaves. That is quite a feat, because not many 

animals can break down the cyanide molecule to get to 

the valuable nitrogen bound up in it. 

Tents don’t digest all of the cyanide. Just as the Monarch 

caterpillar uses glycosides from milkweed to make its body 

poisonous, so tent caterpillars wield a weapon of cyanide. 

Not many predators will eat more than one or two tent 

caterpillars, and many who do promptly regurgitate 

it! Notable exceptions include European Starlings, 

Baltimore Orioles and both the Black-billed and Yellowbilled 

Cuckoos. Cuckoos are so committed to eating 

tent caterpillars, in fact, that 

they produce more offspring 

in years when they can feast 

on high numbers of their 

favorite toxic snack. Many 

other bird species, including 

all vireos, goldfinches and 

several warblers, don’t eat the 

caterpillars, but they do use 

the sticky tent to strengthen 

their nests. 

The tent itself serves the 

caterpillars well. Not only is it 

protection from the elements 

(a critical survival strategy for 

an insect in a cold Michigan 

spring!) and somewhat from predators, but the tent 

acts like a greenhouse, retaining heat and keeping the 

caterpillars from freezing on cold nights. 

If you just can’t bear that much ‘beauty’ in your yard, 

please at least consider the feasting birds -- physically 

remove the caterpillars (by cutting off the branch with 

the tent nest, but only in the evening or early morning, 

when the caterpillars are ‘home’), rather than spraying 

them with a pesticide that is likely to sicken the birds! 

facebook.com/cncmidland March/April 2011 3

Volunteer 

Spotlight 

Cathy Devendorf 

Director of Volunteers & 

Outreach 

CNC offers a variety of volunteer opportunities from 

one-day special events and stewardship activities to helping 

on a regular basis in our gardens at the homestead during the 

summer. Along with these opportunities, teens can volunteer 

as CITs (Counselors-in-Training) for Nature Day Camp. If 

you would like to learn more about volunteer opportunities 

with CNC, contact me by phone at 989.631.0830 

or e-mail at cdevendorf@chippewanaturecenter.org. 

Volunteers preparing maple candy at Maple Syrup Day, 2009 

I always look forward to the Kid’s Day at the Mall. It’s 

a great opportunity to see families enjoying a day of free, 

kid-friendly activities, and it marks the start of another year 

of volunteer opportunities with CNC. A special thank you 

to Deborah Berry, Doug Dean, Samantha Lazarowicz and 

Karol Walker for helping with crafts at our booth during 

the 2011 Kid’s Day at the Mall. 

Last month, I recognized some of the many volunteers 

that help the Land and Facilities Department throughout 

the year. Thanks also to Michael Anibal, Sean Cannady, Clif 

Holsinger, Zach Houseal, Chase SanMiguel, Erin Moser, Kara 

Moser, Trevor Moser, Philip Meister, Ernie Perry, Billy Poulas 

and Jacob Poliskey for their help with a diversity of projects 

around CNC in 2010. 

A special thank you to Todd Pyle who comes to CNC every 

Tuesday morning to help with a vareity of projects including 

preparing craft supplies for many community events. Thank 

you to Linda Berry and Cathie Nemeth for their help with 

recording 2010 volunteer hours, to George Klumb for his 

on-going volunteer support in the Department of Finance 


and Operations and to Joan Vaydik for organizing the 2010 

CNC newspaper articles into scrapbooks. 

It’s not to late to volunteer for Maple Syrup Day! By the 

time you receive your newsletter, most of the volunteer 

opportunities for Maple Syrup Day on March 19 will be filled, 

but not all of them. I traditionally have a few last minute 

openings that occur due to illness, a family emergency and 

school related activities. If you are available to volunteer 

for this event, call me at 631-0830 or e-mail me at 

cdevendorf@chippewanaturecenter.org. 

Walk 100 Miles at CNC! 

Register at the Visitor Center to walk 100 miles on 

Chippewa Nature Center trails in 2011 and you will 

receive a logbook in which to keep track of the dates 

and mileage you have traveled. To achieve your goal, 

travel along any of the nature center trails by walking, 

skiing or snowshoeing. Take in the beautiful views along 

the Pine and Chippewa Rivers, investigate the fields, 

forests and wetlands, see how things change throughout 

the seasons, look for and enjoy the bountiful wildlife 

and join the many guided hikes throughout the year. 

Travel 100, 200 or 500 miles in 2011 and receive a 

t-shirt to mark your achievement! Three additional 

prizes will be awarded to the three people who have 

logged the most miles. 

Look Who Walked 

100+ Miles at CNC! 

From a brisk walk on a winter day to a casual summer 

bird walk with Janea, ”Walk 100 Mile” participants 

enjoyed the beauty of CNC year-round. 

Adding over 600 miles to each of their pedometers 

were our top three walkers: Marijean Fitzgerald 

with 817.8 miles, Jill Lauer with 651 miles and John 

Guettler with 608 miles. Completing 319.5 miles was 

Maxine Guettler. Completing over 100 miles were 

Tim Mott with 196.5 miles, Jim Finzel with 137.3 miles, 

Sally Finzel with 137.3 miles and Laurie Hepinstall 

with 132.4 miles. Congratulations!

Boggy 

Ponderings 

Phil Stephens 

Senior Naturalist 

Want to step back 8,800 years? Hop 

onto the Nature Center’s Wetlands 

Trail, trek to the southeast corner of 

the Wetlands Area and ponder the 

history of one of our more unusual 

ecosystems an ancient, 8-acre boggy 

wetland complex. 

The shallow depression you find 

there formed when wind sculpted 

an oval-shaped dune (with a hollow 

interior), its sand originating from the 

barren lakebed or meltwater outwash 

of the last receding post-glacial lake. 

Based on ancient pollen grains and 

carbon-14 dating, Drs. Madsen and 

Payne found that when the shallow 

depression collected water around 

6800 B.C., a sparsely-wooded spruce 

parkland surrounded it (far from 

the Asians who were building some 

of the first permanent agricultural 

settlements). Change was in the wind 

by 6000 B.C. when the wetland’s 

environs had developed into a drier, 

perhaps thicker forest favoring pines, 

which were often swept by fires. 

By 5700 B.C. (were Sumerians just 

inventing the wheel?), the weather 

became so dry that the wetland plants 

themselves burned, and the pond that 

had filled the depression became more 

of a peaty wet soil where Sphagnum 

moss began to grow. Around 3000 B.C. 

(500 years before Egyptians built the 

Great Pyramid), the climate became 

Round-leaved Sundew 

Barbara Madsen at Boggy Wetland 

more cool and wet, and pollen from newly-invading sugar 

maples and sycamores drifted into the wetland. 

Today, you can walk on the old dune bordering the south 

side of the boggy wetland, but miners stripped away the 

northern portion in the 1960s, allowing rainwater to leak 

out of the quagmire rather than drain into it. Although 

ditching in the 1970s further degraded this special site, it 

still retains some of its bogginess. 

Arnold Kolb 

James Payne 

Perched atop as much as three feet 

of very acidic (pH 3.9) organic muck 

and peat (which itself rests on sandy 

soil), the trail boardwalk bisects this 

ecosystem. It’s not needed so much to 

keep your feet dry (though in spring it 

helps on its wet northeast end), but to 

keep hiking boots from digging into the 

fragile soil, as cattle did earlier in the 

20th century. 

Sphagnum moss now concentrates 

within this wetland’s northeast corner, 

where you may also find tiny rosettes 

of round-leaved sundew, whose 

sticky leaves capture and then digest 

small insects. You may also find bog 

leatherleaf, early low blueberry, highbush 

blueberry, black chokeberry, 

black huckleberry and winterberry. 

Normally, fire rejuvenates boggy 

shrubs by removing intruding alder, 

birch, aspen, pine and now nonnative 

buckthorn, but since we currently 

suppress fire, we’re whacking down 

the invaders instead. 

What changes, I wonder, will this 

intriguing bit of land experience over 

the next 8,800 years? 


You don’t need a lot of fancy equipment to produce a 

small amount of syrup at home. In fact, the process is quite 

simple and it’s a great way to get outside and enjoy latewinter. 

In the Saginaw Valley “syrup season” usually starts in late- 

February and lasts through March. Trees need sunny and 

above freezing temperatures during the day with below 

freezing temperatures at night for sap to flow. Sugar and 

Black Maple trees, also known as “hard maples,” have the 

highest sugar content in their sap, averaging 2-4%. It takes 

40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of syrup. 

The “soft maples” (Red and Silver Maples) 

usually have less than 2% sugar content in 

their sap and can take 60-70 gallons of sap 

from the soft maples to make the same 

amount of syrup! 

The process starts with selecting the 

proper maple. Only tap trees that are 

more than 12 inches in diameter. If a tree 

is 18 inches and up in diameter, two taps 

may be used. To collect the tree’s sap, a 

hole, typically 7/16”, is drilled on a slightly 

upward slant into a maple tree to a depth 

of 2 inches, 2 to 4 feet off the ground. If 

the tree was tapped in the past, a new 

hole shouldn’t be placed closer than 6 

to 8 inches away from any previous year’s taps. Following 

these simple rules will ensure a healthy tree with no large 

scarred areas. The tree will heal old tap holes on its own - 

just remember to remove all spiles at the end of the season! 

Once a hole is drilled, 

a metal spile with a hook 

is tapped into that hole. 

Next, hang a bucket on 

the tree to catch the sap 

as it drips out of the spile. 

You can use a variety of 

containers to catch the 

sap; galvanized metal 

buckets, plastic 5-gallon 

buckets and washed out 

milk jugs are all suitable. 

To keep out debris like 

sticks and leaves a lid 

should be fitted to the 

top of the bucket. You 

will need to check your 

containers every day and 

Example of a properly tapped 

maple tree 

Making Maple 

Syrup at Home 

Dennis Pilaske 

Director of Interpretation 

empty buckets that are 

full. As sap is gathered it is 

“It takes 

40 gallons 

of sap 

to make 

1 gallon 

of syrup” 


necessary to keep it cool until you have enough to boil. One 

option is to sap in 5-gallon buckets with a tight lid and then 

pack them in snow out of the sun. In ideal conditions the 

sap will last about a week. You will know the sap is spoiled 

when it turns cloudy – you should not make syrup from 

cloudy sap. 

The process of turning sap into syrup is one of evaporation. 

Heat is used to concentrate the sugar in sap by boiling off 

the excess water. When enough sap has been concentrated, 

the pan is “finished off” to produce syrup of the correct 

density (finished syrup consists of 66% sugar). 

For home production it’s best to boil sap in a large shallow 

pan. Large kettles or stock pots can also be used; but aren’t as 

efficient. Because of the large volumes of steam produced in 

the process it’s highly recommend to do the boiling outside 

or in an area with a lot of ventilation. Options for boiling 

down the sap include a wood-fired hearth, wood stove, or 

one of the many gas-fired stoves on the market. Whatever 

you choose, be very careful around the heat 

source so you don’t burn yourself or spill 

gallons of boiling sap. 

To start, bring the sap to a boil, taking 

care not to burn or scorch it in the bottom 

of the pan. As sap evaporates, add more to 

the pan. Throughout the boiling process you 

may occasionally need to skim the surface 

of the boiling liquid to remove surface foam 

and other materials. 

Finished syrup is created when the 

temperature of the boiling sap is seven 

degrees above the boiling point of water, 

about 219° F. As the boiling sap approaches 

this temperature, you must carefully 

monitor the pan to prevent burning and overheating. It 

is best to use a candy thermometer calibrated to at least 

227°F to monitor the boiling sap. You can also purchase a 

maple syrup hydrometer that is designed to measure the 

specific gravity of the finished syrup – a sure-fire way to 

determine when the syrup is complete. 

Once you reach the finishing point of your batch, the syrup 

is ready for filtering and packaging. Syrup should be run 

through a wool filter when hot to remove any suspended 

particles, such as “sugar sand.” Canning is the best way 

to preserve the syrup. To can the syrup heat it to at least 

180°F to kill any bacteria that may cause it to spoil and then 

carefully pour it into a clean, sterilized canning jar and place 

a lid and ring on the jar to seal it. 

Maple season ends when spring nights are above freezing 

for consecutive days and the maple buds “pop”. “Buddy sap” 

looks cloudy and its syrup will taste bitter. Be sure to pull 

all taps, clean all equipment and store it for the following 

year. The tree will continue to drip sap for a few days, but 

it will eventually heal over at the spot of the hole and stop 

dripping. 

Eating maple syrup is a great way to enjoy the taste of 

spring throughout the year. The process of making the maple 

syrup is a fun and rewarding activity that can be enjoyed by 

almost anyone. Good luck!

If a program must be canceled, participants will be notified in 

advance and fees refunded. 

Advanced Fly Tying & Aquatic Biology for Fly 

Fishing 

Weds, 3/2, 3/9, 3/16, 3/23 • Register by 2/21 

Ages: 15+, under 18 w/adult 

No. Time Fee / CNC Member 

W11-02 7-9 pm $45 / $40 

If you’ve already taken our fly tying course in the past, you 

won’t want to miss this four-week advanced fly tying class 

taught by John Johnson, a veteran trout fisherman and a 

member of the Leon P. Martuch Chapter of Trout Unlimited. 

John will introduce you to the next level of fly tying and share 

his wealth of experience as a fly fisherman. All equipment 

and materials will be supplied. 

Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour 

Sat, 4/9, 7-10 pm • Ages: 12+, under 18 w/adult 


IP11-02 7-10 pm $12/ $10 

Each year in November, The Banff Centre hosts the Banff 

Mountain Film Festival, celebrating the spirit of adventure 

and mountains! The top films from that festival go on tour, 

and Chippewa Nature Center is proud to host one of the 

stops on the World Tour. See some of the best mountain 

films of 2010 featuring the people who live, play and enjoy 

those area through high adventure, humor and a love for the 

out-of-doors! 

Birding Saginaw Bay 

Sat, 4/16 • Register by 4/11 • Ages: 15+, under 18 w/adult 


F11-07 7 am-4 pm $45 / $35 

Field Trips & Workshops 

Spring is well underway by mid-April, so the marshes, shores 

and woods along the Saginaw Bay will be teeming with birds 

and other wildlife. Join CNC Senior Naturalist Janea Little 

and Educator Jeanne Henderson for this all-day birding trip 

to the western side of the Saginaw Bay. We’ll visit the Saginaw 

Bay Recreation Area (including Tobico Marsh), Nayanquing 

Point, Pinconning Park, and possibly other areas as well. 

Ducks, geese, hawks, herons and many other early spring 

migrants are to be expected as well as a few overwintering 

species that haven’t yet headed north. Participants should 

plan on bringing a sack lunch and beverage and dress for the 

brisk spring winds that come off the bay.. 

Making Hand Made Toys 

Sun, 4/17 • Register by 4/11 • Ages: 9+, under 18 w/adult 


W11-03 1-4 pm $22 / $15/ pair 

Step back to the days of simple toys with no batteries (or 

megabytes) required in this hands-on workshop with Kyle 

Bagnall, Manager of Historical Programs. Using wood, string, 

ribbon, glue and simple tools, participants will make fun and 

easy projects such as a Jacob’s ladder, cup and ball, moon 

winder, cat’s cradle, finger top, climbing bear and flip shooter. 

All materials and tools are included along with information 

about historic toys and games. This workshop is designed 

for pairs of adults and kids. 

Birds and Beauty of the Upper Peninsula 

Fri, 4/29-Sun 5/1 • Register by 4/20 • Ages: 15+, under 18 w/adult 


F11-08 8 am-8 pm $90/ $75 

The northeastern corner of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is a 

wonderful place to experience the wonders of Lake Superior 

Country. 

There you can watch the famous migration of birds at 

the blustery Whitefish Point Bird Observatory, hike into a 

northern wilderness or perch above thundering Tahquamenon 

Falls. Naturalists Phil Stephens and Janea Little can help you 

with bird ID (you can use the nature Center’s spotting scope), 

tell the story of the landscape, and lead you along backcountry 

trails and roads. To maximize your time with the naturalists, be 

prepared to spend most of each day outdoors, rain or shine, 

and travel before dawn and after dark. 

Lodging and meals are not included. Please contact Phil 

Stephens at 989.631.0830 for lodging details. 

Touring Isle Royale National Park 

Thurs, 9/1-Thurs 9/8 • Register by 6/24 • Ages: 14+, under 18 w/adult 


F11-27 All day $2475/ $2350 

Save the date for this trip of a lifetime! 

Isle Royale National Park features a north country island 

wilderness complete with loons, high rocky ridges and of 

course, Lake Superior itself. If you’ve wanted to tour there, 

but preferred to avoid backpacking, this trip is for you! 

Headquartered at the Island’s Rock Harbor Lodge, we will take 

day trips by hiking, canoeing or an inter-island boat tour. 


Y11-01 Spring Break Mini-Day Camp 

Tues, March 29 -Thurs, March 31 

9:30 am-3:30 pm 

Register by: 3/25 

Ages: 5-12 

Fee: $90 • CNC Member: $60 

Join us on this three day adventure filled with fun, 

exploration, and discovery. Each day we will hike, play 

games, be creative, 

sing songs, and 

have a great time 

at camp. Campers 

will be divided 

into smaller camp 

groups according 

to age. You won’t 

want to miss this 

year’s Spring Break 

Mini Camp! 

Calling All Kids! 


Y11-02 Nature’s Eggs Extravaganza 

Sat, April 23 

10 am-12 pm 

Register by: 4/20 

Ages: 3-12, under 18 w/adult 

Fee: $7 • CNC Member: $5 

What do reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects, spiders and 

fish all have in common? They lay eggs! Children will have 

a great time as they search the woods for eggs. At the 

conclusion of each egg hunt, participants will receive a 

goody bag with prizes to take home. Before and after the 

hunt, children and their families are invited to explore the 

indoor self-guided games, exhibits, and activities that really 

bring this program to life. There’s a little something for 

everyone at this eggs-tra special egg hunt. Pre-registration 

is required, so call to reserve a spot for your child today! 

When you call to register, be sure to specify your child’s 

age and hunt time. Hunt times are 10:00 am, 10:30 am, 

11:00 am, or 11:30 am.

Walk-in ProgramsFREE! 

Owl Prowl: A Natural History of Owls 

Tues, 3/1 • 7-8:30 pm • Ages: 5+, under 18 wadult 

Join Naturalist Tom Lenon for a program on owls. Starting 

inside, the natural history of local owls will be discussed. We 

will then head outside to see if we can call an owl in and 

observe areas where owls are often observed at the Nature 

Center. 

Introduction to Nature Photography 

Wed, 3/2 •7-8:30 pm • Ages: 12+, under 18 w/adult 

Have you ever grimaced helplessly while viewing pictures 

from an otherwise memorable vacation? Did your shots of 

mountains, daisies and elk differ from your memories? Don’t 

despair! You may not need lots of expensive equipment to 

improve your photos. In addition to basic techniques, nature 

photographer Phil Stephens will discuss photographing 

flowers, landscapes and wildlife and more during this 

presentation. 

Green Point Environmental Learning Center, 3010 Maple St, 

Saginaw. Free to Friends of Shiawassee Nat’l Wildlife Refuge or 

CNC members (w/card). 

Maple Sugarhouse 

Sat 3/5 & Sun 3/6 • 1:30-4:30 pm 

All Ages, under 18 w/adult 

Visit the Beech-Maple woods, where buckets “decorate” 

trees and where, on warm days, you can hear the sap dripping 

into buckets. Watch the steam rise off the evaporator pan 

in the sugarhouse as the sap is boiled down to make sweet 

maple syrup. An interpreter will be on hand to explain the 

whole process. 

Nature for Youth: The Giving Tree 

(Maple Syrup and more!) 

Sat, 3/5 • 1-2:30 pm • Ages: 5-9 w/adult 

This program is designed to help kids develop a connection 

to the natural world through fun, hands-on activities including 

experiment stations, games, crafts, and more. 

Winter Bird Walk 

Wed, 3/9 • 8-10 am • Ages: 12+, under 18 w/adult 

Winter birding can be challenging if your binoculars fog and 

your fingers freeze, but it is so worth it to get a view of 

a Northern Shrike, Rough-legged Hawk or other winter 

visitor! Join Senior Naturalist Janea Little for this guided bird 

walk. If there is a lot of snow, we’ll use CNC’s snowshoes 

(or bring your own); otherwise we’ll stick to boots. Loaner 

binoculars are available. 

Wee Stroll 

Fri, 3/11 • 9:30-10:30 am • Ages: 6 mos.-2 yrs. w/adult 

This program is designed for parents to take a guided walk 

with their child, learn about the outdoors and learn ways to 

introduce children to the natural world around them. 

Birds of Prey 

Sat, 3/12 • 7:30-9:30 pm • All Ages, under 18 w/adult 

Hawks, owls, falcons, vultures – Michigan has a wonderful 

variety of birds of prey, and tonight you will get to meet 

some of them up-close! The Wildlife Recovery Association 

rehabilitates dozens of these birds for release into the wild 

each year, but sadly, many have permanent injuries that 

prevent them from going back to the wild. Joe Rogers will 

show us several of these permanently-injured birds to help 

explain their natural history and the importance of their 

conservation. The program is co-sponsored by the Midland 

Nature Club. 


Sat 3/12 & Sun 3/13 • 1:30-4:30 pm 


Visit the Beech-Maple woods, where buckets “”decorate”” 






Maple Syrup Day 

Sat, 3/19 • 10 am-4 pm • Pancake Meal: 9 am-2 pm 


Join us as we celebrate our 40th year of maple syrup 

making at Chippewa Nature Center! Start your day with 

a Pancake Meal. Beginning at 10:00am, crafts, activities 

and demonstrations will take place at the Visitor Center, 

Homestead Farm, Log Schoolhouse, Sugarhouse and 

Sugarbush. In the Visitor Center, kids will love playing maple 

tree games, making a paper mokuk and a “sappy” bracelet 

to take home. The woodcarvers and quilters will also be 

demonstrating their amazing talents. Nearby at the wigwam 

learn about Native American life along the Pine River 

through traditional skills using all-natural materials. 

After that, take a haywagon ride to the Sugarhouse to see 

how we boil sap into pure maple syrup at CNC. You’ll also 

find an 1870s sap boiling demonstration, Sugarbush tours 

and a tree-tapping activity. To get the feel for settler life, visit 

the Log Cabin and chat with the cabin hostess, where you 

can see a woodstove cooking demonstration. In the Log 

Schoolhouse everyone can sing along to original songs in 

the ‘Maple Music Matinee” with Dennis Pilaske and watch a 

special puppet play about this sweet time of year! 

To volunteer for Maple Syrup Day, call Cathy Devendorf at 

989.631.0830. 



Sun 3/20 • 1:30-4:30 pm 








Sunset at the Sugarhouse 

Tues, 3/22 & Thurs, 3/24 • 6-8 pm 


We’re in heart of maple syrup season and you won’t want 

to miss the chance of visiting the sugarhouse at night. Watch 

steam rise off the evaporator pan as pure sap is boiled down 

to make sweet maple syrup. In the Beech-Maple woods 

buckets “”decorate”” trees and, on warm days, you can hear 

sap dripping into buckets. An interpreter will be on hand 

to explain the whole process and guide you through the 

sugarbush. 


Sat 3/26 & Sun 3/27 • 1:30-4:30 pm 



trees and where, on warm days, you can hear the sap 

dripping into buckets. Watch the steam rise off the 

evaporator pan in the sugarhouse as the sap is boiled down 

to make sweet maple syrup. An interpreter will be on hand 

to explain the whole process. 

Spring Exploration Days 

Sat, 3/26-Sun, 4/3 • M-F, 8 am-5 pm, Sat, 9 am-5 pm, 

Sun, 1-5 pm • All Ages, under 18 w/adult 

Enjoy your break from school while exploring the wonders 

of nature in Michigan! This indoor program includes a variety 

of self-guided, hands-on exploration stations. Experiments, 

fun facts, crafts, and scavenger hunts are just a few of the 

activities you’ll find. Each day is the same, but feel free to 

come back again and again. 

Oxbow Speaker Series: Pioneer Farmers of Pleasant Valley 

Wed, 3/30 • 7-8 pm • Ages: 15+, under 18 w/adult 

Tim Bennett will present on the historical, genealogical, 

and archaeological research of the 170 year old homestead 

of his ancestors located in Brighton Township, MI. This 

sesquicentennial farm was started by the Warner family, 

pioneers who arrived from Livingston County, New York 

in 1837. The site has yielded over a dozen features and 

thousands of mid-19th century artifacts. 

Early Bird Walk 

Thurs, 4/7 • 8-10 am • All Ages, under 18 w/adult 

Spring is nearly three weeks old, so bring on the birds! Enjoy 

a guided bird walk with Senior Naturalist Janea Little, as we 

enjoy the last views of winter birds such as juncos and tree 


Preschool Story Hour 

Thurs, 3/3 & Sat 3/5 • M is for Mud 

Thurs, 3/17 • Can You See the Wind? 

Thurs, 4/7 • Jump, Frog, Jump! 

Thurs, 4/21 • Carrots Grow from Carrot Seeds 

9:30–10:30 am • Ages: 3-5 w/adult 

Come spend an hour learning about nature! The hour 

will include a story and may include songs, art, rhymes 

and other age-appropriate activities. 

sparrows, and the first views of early spring phoebes, whitethroated 

sparrows, etc. Loaner binoculars are available. 

Wee Stroll 

Fri, 4/8 • 9:30-10:30 am • Ages: 6 mos.-2 yrs. w/adult 

This program is designed for parents to take a guided walk 

with their child, learn about the outdoors and learn ways to 

introduce children to the natural world around them. 

In Search of Woodcock and Snipe 

Tues, 4/12 • 7:30-9:30 pm • Ages: 9+, under 18 w/adult 

Go on a hike with naturalist Tom Lenon to look for Woodcock 

and Snipe. Tom will not only show you the different habitats 

these birds use and discuss their mating behaviors, but will 

also attempt to find some of the birds as they go through 

their mating displays. Wear dark clothing to aid in getting us 

up close to the birds at night. 

Fishing Fun for Kids 

Sat, 4/16 • 2-4 pm • Ages: 5+, under 18 w/adult 

Registration deadline: 4/11 

Learn the basic skills of fishing. We will learn to tie a simple 

knot, practice casting, rigging the pole, placing a worm 

on a hook, and have time to fish. Parent or guardian must 

accompany the child. Limited space available so call ahead to 

reserve your spot.

Spring Exotic Plant Pull 

Sat, 4/16 • 9:30-11:30 am • Ages: 12+, under 18 w/adult 

Help control invasive exotic plants at the Nature Center. We 

will focus on pulling garlic mustard, a very aggressive plant 

invading our woodland understory that can crowd out spring 

beauty, Dutchman’s breeches and trillium. Our objective is to 

remove garlic mustard from especially sensitive areas before 

it completely takes over. Meet at the Visitor Center. Gloves 

will be provided. If weather conditions are unfavorable the 

cleanup will be canceled. Please call Phil Stephens at 631- 

0830 if you plan to come. 

Full Moon Stroll 

Sun, 4/17 • 8-10 pm • Ages: 9+, under 18 w/adult 

Join CNC Senior Naturalist Janea Little for this casual 

stroll on CNC’s trails, as we exercise our “night eyes” 

(no flashlights) and enjoy the view of the full moon. Our 

“night ears” will also get a workout, with the calls of spring 

frogs, owls and perhaps the courtship calls of the American 

woodcock. Participants should wear dark clothing and dress 

for a chilly evening. 

Trails at Twilight 

Wed, 4/20 • 7-9 pm • Ages: 9+, under 18 w/adult 

Evening is one of the best times of day to explore nature 

along our trails: predators prowl while other critters creep 

cautiously. Join Phil Stephens for a leisurely stroll. Shhh.... 

Besides looking, we’ll listen for owls and other creatures. 

You may borrow our binoculars. Dress for the weather, 

and include sturdy, comfortable shoes. The program will be 

canceled in the event of heavy rain. 

Waking up the Arboretum 

Fri, 4/22 • 6-8 pm • All Ages, under 18 w/adult 

Come out and celebrate Earth Day by taking a stroll with 

Naturalist Karen Breternitz through the Garrett Arboretum 

of Michigan Trees and Shrubs and look for signs of spring as 

the plants are gearing up for the growing season. Can we 

find evidence of winter activity left behind by voles, deer, and 

rabbits? Who else left clues about what they did all winter? 

Meet at the visitor Center. 

The World of Mosquito Hawks 

Sat, 4/23 • 7:30 pm • Ages: 12+, under 18 w/adult 

Denny Brooks will give us a glimpse at the curious world of 

Dragonflies and Damselflies. He will provide an overview 

of the aquatic nymph, the metamorphosis into adult, and 

the adult’s fast-moving life cycle. Dragons and Damsels are 

such unique creatures, and this program will help you learn 

about many of their most fascinating features. This program 

is sponsored by the Midland Nature Club. It will be held at 

CNC’s Visitor Center. 

Earth Day Hike 

Sat, 4/23• 2-4 pm • All Ages, under 18 w/adult 

Celebrate the 41st anniversary of Earth Day by getting 

out to the woods to take in the sights, sounds, and smells 

of spring. Educator Jeanne Henderson will talk about the 

trees and wildflowers getting ready for their busy season, 

and discuss some of the environmental milestones achieved 

because of Earth Day awareness. 

Woodland Wildflowers 

Wed, 4/27 • 10 am-12 pm • All Ages, under 18 w/ 

adult 

The display of wildflowers in the Beech Maple Woods has 

been getting better each year with carpets of Dutchman’s 

Breeches, Spring Beauties, Early Meadow Rue, even the 

Trillium, although not carpeting yet, are increasing in 

numbers. Join Naturalist Karen Breternitz on this hike to 

discover what is blooming, or in the case of fungi – fruiting! 

Meet at the pavilion at the end of the Homestead Road. 

In Search of Woodcock and Snipe 

Thurs, 4/28 • 7:30-9:30 pm • Ages: 9+, under 18 w/ 

adult 

Go on a hike with naturalist Tom Lenon to look for Woodcock 

and Snipe. Tom will not only show you the different habitats 

these birds use and discuss their mating behaviors, but will 

also attempt to find some of the birds as they go through 

their mating displays. Wear dark clothing to aid in getting us 

up close to the birds at night. 

Fishing Fun for Kids 

Sat, 4/30 • 2-4 pm • Ages: 5+, under 18 w/adult 

Registration deadline: 4/25 

Learn the basic skills of fishing. We will learn to tie a simple 

knot, practice casting, rigging the pole, placing a worm 

on a hook, and have time to fish. Parent or guardian must 

accompany the child. Limited space available so call ahead to 

reserve your spot. 

CNC Members...GO GREEN with paperless newsletters! 

Members can now opt to receive their CNC newsletter via e-mail, instead of a hard copy. Are 

you ready to go “e” and save a tree? E-mail info@chippewanaturecenter.org or call the Nature 

Center office at 989.631.0830 to sign up now! 


CNC Affiliate Group Meetings 

Homestead Quilters 

Wed, 3/23 • 9 am-2 pm • All ages 

Wed, 4/27 • 9 am-2 pm • All ages 

Pick up a needle and learn this beautiful craft with the Quilters 

at their regular monthly meeting. 

Jolly Hammers and Strings Dulcimer Club 

Sat, 3/26 • 1-4 pm • All ages, under 18 w/adult 

Sat, 4/30 • 1-4 pm • All ages, under 18 w/adult 

Stop in to enjoy the toe-tapping music of the Jolly Hammers 

& Strings Dulcimer Club. Or, if you play a folk instrument 

(guitar, banjo, fiddle, dulcimer, etc.), bring it along and join in! 

Midland Hiking Club 

Thurs, 4/7 • 7 pm • All ages 

Join the Midland Hiking Club to hike, meet new friends 

and learn about great places to go for your next outdoor 

Movie Schedule 

Sat, April 9 • 7-10 pm 

Bullock Creek HS Auditorium 

Into Darkness – 15 minutes 

Into Darkness is a short adventure essay about the experience 

of exploring the secret underworld of caves. Journey along 

with a group of cavers who push through impossibly small 

passages to access some of the final frontiers on earth. The 

images and sounds of spectacular and remote wilderness caves 

will reveal a fantastic world unlike anything we experience on 

the surface. 

Parking Garage: Beyond the Limit – 4 minutes 

Parking Garage: Beyond the Limit is a spoof of the Discovery 

Channel Show, Everest: Beyond the Limit. 

A Life Ascending – 57 minutes 

Best Film on Mountain Culture, Sponsored by Petzl & 

People's Choice Award, sponsored 

by Timex Expedition 

Living with his wife and two young 

daughters on a remote glacier in 

the Selkirk Mountains of British 

Columbia, Ruedi Beglinger has 

built a reputation as one of the 

top mountaineering guides in the 

world. A Life Ascending follows his 

family’s unique life in the mountains 

and their journey in the years 

following a massive avalanche that 

© A Life Ascending 


adventure. For more information, visit http://groups.yahoo. 

com/group/midlandhikingclub/ 

Mid-Michigan Rock Club (MMRC) 

Tues, 3/1 • 7 pm • All ages 

Tues, 4/5 • 7 pm • All ages 

Visitors are welcome to bring along any rock, mineral, gem, 

fossil, earth science or lapidary arts items which they might 

like to show to the group. To learn more about this group and 

their upcoming programs, visit www.midlandrockclub.com. 

Valley Herb Society 


Most Common Herb Garden Mistakes and 

Herb of the Year: Horseradish 


Natural Dyes for Easter Eggs 

For further program information, please contact Cathy 

Devendorf at 989.631.0830. 

killed seven people. The film ultimately explores the power 

of nature as both an unforgiving host and profound teacher. 

WildWater – 25 minutes 

When ordinary people 

share a singular passion, 

the extraordinary 

emerges. WildWater is 

a journey into the mind 

and soul of white-water 

and an exploration 

of places only river- 

© WildWater 

runners can go — places 

of discovery, solitude, and risk. It’s a visually stunning feast for 

the senses, and an expedition into new ideas. 

Still Motion – 5 minutes 

Compiled from the highlights of a whole year of wildlife 

research, still images from motion-triggered wildlife cameras 

create an intricately sequenced movie-like production of 

Alberta’s amazing wildlife. Playful fawns, stalking cougars, and 

curious elk take centre stage in Still Motion. The film asks an 

important question: Just who is looking at whom? 

The Swiss Machine – 20 minutes 

Ueli Steck may be the greatest 

speed alpinist the world has 

ever seen. In The Swiss Machine, 

Steck tells of his record-breaking 

ascents in the Alps, accompanied 

by stunning aerial footage that 

captures him racing up 2500-metre 

alpine faces. When he joins Alex 

Honnold in Yosemite, Steck sets 

his ultimate goal: to take his oneman 

alpine speed game to the 

largest, highest walls in the world. 

© The Swiss Machine

Nature Day Camp 

Welcome 

New Members! 

Dennis & Kim Butler 

Cindy Conlon 

Rebecca Currie 

Susan Dalgarn 

Roland & Cindy Davidson 

Ashley Elzerman & Matt Whaley 

Nancy Hill 

Lawrence Hood & Tina 

Killebrew 

Jack & Gerry Horner 

Judy K. Lange 

Joel McDonald & Melissa 

Wolf 

Sue Munger 

Nancy Royster 

Ann Marie Szok 

Annalea W. Van Slyck 

David Wassmann 

Don & Lenore Weikum 

Audrey Willis 


Donors 

December 2010-January 2011 

Lawrence & Mary Louise Adams 

Helen Anderson 

Kathleen Anderson 

Barbara Anderson & Norbert Maecker 

Chris & Sue Anderson 

Dorothy Doan Arbury 

A. S. Arbury, Jr. 

Jim Ardis 

Anonymous 

Wendy Baker 

Dr. Eugene & Deana Beckham 

In Memory of Gordon Richardson 

Ruth Ann & Stuart Bergstein 

Fred & Alice Blanchard 

Harold & Ruth Blumenstein 

Jeff & Betsy Boerma 

In Honor of Dick Touvell 

M Victoria Bowes 

Theron Brayman 

Shasta Breitkopf 

Dennis Brooks 

Norbert & Carol Sue Bufka 

Dale & Rose Burleson 

Richard & Karen Burow 

Carol Busick 

Ruth P. Caldwell 

Dottie & Hal Canfield 

Robert & Mary Cavanaugh 

Charles J. Strosacker Foundation 

Lead Donor 

Stuart & Mary Choate 

In Honor of Herm Gieseler 

Sandra Clark 

John & Joanne Clever 

Robert Connors & Jill Bowerman 

Robert & Wilma Lee Cook 

Richard Danville 

Dolores Daudt 

Martha Dawson 

Judith Dean 

Donna DeVinney 

In Honor of Kurt Drottar 

Reverend Frances A. Dew 

Henry & Merle Dishburger 

Ruth Dixon 

Anonymous 

The Dow Chemical Company 

Lead Donor 

Dow Corning Matching Gifts 

Todd & Mary Draves 

Geralyn Drymalski 

Albert & Irene Duncan 

Flo Dyste 

Darrel Eagle 

In Memory of Nancy Eagle 

Rita Egan 

Jim & Fran Falender 

Louis & Rita Filcek 

Jim & Sally Finzel 

Kirk & Sarah Fisher 

William & Marijean Fitzgerald 

Dr. David & Nina Frurip 

Melvin & Elaine Garrett 

Howard Garrett 

In Memory of Frederick W. Case, Jr. 

In Memory of Dr. Richard Nyquist 

In Memory of Ken Pearson 

Michael & Susan Gaul 

Glenn & Carol Gillespie 

Calvin & Marilyn Goeders 

Susan E. Goulette 

Tom & Nancy Gregory 

In Memory of Albert Szok 

Sheran Grudnicki 

Stephen & Laurie Grzesiak 

Jim & Sally Hahn 

Mark & Ann Hamburg 

Roland & Frances Hamburg 

Jim & Melissa Haswell 

Larry & Lisa Hatfield 

Mike & Debbie Hayes 

Paul & Clarissa Heil 

The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow 

Foundation 

Lead Donor 

Donna Herringshaw 

In Memory of Mary Herringshaw 

Jim & Tina Hop 

John Houvener 

In Memory of Eloise Houvener 

J. Michael & Tina Hoy 

Polly Hoy-Colton 

Richard & Pat Humburg 

Dennis & Barb Hurley 

Stacy Hutter 

Charles & Victoria Infante 

James & Carol Jaeger 

Steve & Anne Jenkins 

David & Alice Jensen 

Mark Jones & Erin O’Driscoll 

Charles Juers 

Mary & Bob Kasprzyk 

Dave & Jean Kellom 

David & Roberta Kennedy 

Sharon Kilgore 

Ingrid A. Kirn 

Margie Kozuch 

In Memory of Nick & Joel Horton 

Kim & Trevor Kubatzke 

William & Jane Kuhlman 

Randy Kursinsky 

Jon & Erin Lauderbach 

William & Linda Lauderbach 

Rose Mary Laur 

Janea Little 

Joseph Loeffler 

Tom & Tina Ludington 

Herbert Lueth 

Robert & Candace Markey 

Midland Area Community Foundation 

Clifford Miles 

Thomas & Judith Monto 

Dee Morelli 

Robert & Sharon Mortensen 


Larry & Gerry Moultine 

Mary Neely 

Duane & Audrey Nuechterlein 

Lyle Nye 

Paul & Cindy Orvosh 

Max & Jessie Oswald 

Norman & Nancy Ott 

Peter & Ellen Owen 

Al & Lori Paulsen 

Newell Pennell 

Darl & Marjorie Pochert 

John & Diane Popp 

Kenneth Randall 

Michael & Beverly Riggie 

In Memory of Louis Van Meter & Kriss 

Allen 

Jerold & Catharine Ring 

Roland M. Gerstacker Foundation 

Lead Donor 

Gene & Judy Rose 

Douglas & Suzanne Schoettinger 

Frederick & Paula Schroeder 

Debbie Schultz 

Paul & Gloria Schultz 

Tina Scott & Michael Harrington 

Mark & Dorothy Shaw 

Sandra Simmons 

Mr. & Mrs. Richard Skochdopole 

Patricia Smith 

Karel & Jitka Solc 

David & Carlene Spitnale 

Donald Stagg 

Carol Staples 

Edwin & Doris Steiner 

Jim & Carol Struthers 

Alan & Phyllis Syverud 

Beth & Graham Taylor 

Marjorie Towsley 

Mike & Joan Trojan 

June Turley 

In Memory of Sheldon Turley 

George & Virginia Ulmer 

Edward Valenzuela 

Annalea Van Slyck 

Julie Varshock 

Kurt & Robin Vatalaro 

James W. Venman 

Joan Walsh 

James G. Ward 

Mary S. White 

In Memory of Warren (Duke) White 

Ellen White 

Bill & Margaret Williams 

Ginger Yarch 

In Memory of Jack Babcock 

Dorothy Yates 

Duke Yost 

Scott & Leigh Young 

Gerald & Yoshie Ziarno 

Dorothy Florance Trust 

Endowment gift 

Life Membership 

Debbie Anderson & Elan Lipschitz 

Don & Lenore Weikum 

Dave & Jane Wirth

Donors - cont’d. 

Dec 2010-Jan 2011 

Mary & James Yeomans 

Meadow Society 

Karen Blatt 

Susan Campbell 

Tim & Karen Hueston 

Amy & Matthew Katz 

Janet Lanigan 

George & Emily Osborne 

Tina Van Dam 

Tim Wagner & Janelle Dombek 

Woodland Society 

Kenneth & Regina Pederson 

Visitor Center Renovation 

Chris & Sue Anderson 

Michael Eric Bishop & The Alma 

College Bird Observatory 

Marc Carter 

Craig & Cathy Devendorf 

Rachel Larimore 

Tim & Kerry Maloney 

Midland Area Community Foundation 

Dennis & Michelle Pilaske 

Dick & Jeanne Touvell 

Ken & Brenda Trethaway 

Dave & Jane Wirth 

Rent-a-Sap-Bucket 

Bruce & Pat Albrecht 

Cindy Brighton 

Edward & Nancy Carney 

Betty Chenoweth 

Heather & Jonathon Cleland-Host 

Ed Elliott 

Pauline Fischer 

Debbie & Mike Hayes 

Steve & Mary Kin 

Keith & Elizabeth Lumbert 

Deborah Miller 

Lauren Tonge 

Dick & Jeanne Touvell 

Chippewa Trail Maintenance 

Endowment Fund through 

Midland Area Community 

Foundation 

John & Marcia Blackson 

Roger and Neva Bohl 

Cedric & Betty Currin 

Dustin & Rachael England 

Joyce Halstead 

Bart & Lynn Heil 

John & Barbara Rothhaar 

Richard Stoessser 

Graham & Beth Taylor 

James & Lauren Tonge 

David & Jane Wirth 

Chippewa Nature Center Visitor 

Renovation Project Fund through 

the Midland Area Community 

Foundation 

Bruce & Judy Timmons 

Sally Albrecht, Educator 

CNC Board of Directors 

Chris Anderson, Director of Finance & 

Operations 

Sue Anderson, Administrative 

Assistant 

Kyle Bagnall, Manager of 

Historical Programs 

Deana Beckham, Office 

Coordinator 

Barb Blackhurst, Educator 

Karen Breternitz, Naturalist/ 

Technology Manager 

Barbara Bryden, Preschool Chef 

Ron Burk, Land & Facilities Assistant 

Logan Christian, Educator 

Jill Derry, Preschool Teacher 

Cathy Devendorf, Director of 

Volunteers & Outreach 

Sylvia Erskine, Housekeeper 

Michelle Fournier, Educator 

Katie Fox, Preschool Teacher 

Steve Frisbee, Lead Preschool Teacher 

Nature Day Camp Program Coor. 

Elizabeth Griffin, Preschool Teacher 

Sally Hahn, Interpreter 

Jeanne Henderson, Educator 

Jamie Hockstra, Director of Marketing 

& Communications 

Curt Holsinger, Land Maintenance 

Coordinator 

Jenifer Kusch, President 

Barb Anderson, 1st Vice President 

Anne Haines, 2nd Vice President 

Bill Lauderbach, Treasurer 

Marc Snyder, Secretary 

Adam Bruski Dale Laughner 

Judy Firenze 

Dr. Tracy Galarowicz 

Christopher Gaumer Lois Ann Reed 

*Please visit our website for an updated board listing in March. 

CNC Staff 

Janet Martineau 

Dr. Marianne McKelvy 

Patrick Huber, Facilities Coordinator 

Cindy Kacel, Office Professional 

Sherry Kacel, Educator 

Jackie Kelly, Educator 

Allison Kendall, Preschool Teacher 

Jenn Kirts, Educator/Nature Day Camp 

Director 

Susie Kruse, Program Scheduler 

Shannon Lamblin, Lead Preschool Teacher 

Eric Lang, Educator 

Thank you! 

Rachel Larimore, Director of Education 

Kristin Lehnerer, Preschool Teacher 

Tom Lenon, Director of Land & Facilities 

Janea Little, Senior Naturalist 

Kerry Maloney, Marketing Manager 

Jacque Molitor, Educator 

Vicki Morrison, Preschool Teacher 

Dennis Pilaske, Director of Interpretation 

Andrea Riehl, Educator 

Adam Schmidt, Educator 

Janeen Smith, Educator 

Erin Soper, Lead Preschool Teacher 

Phil Stephens, Senior Naturalist 

Ellen Theriault, Educator 

Dick Touvell, Executive Director 

Bruce Vaydik, Caretaker 

Joan Vaydik, Office Professional 

Grant Winchell, Educator 

Thank you for including CNC 

in your giving. 

It is your generosity that makes 

the difference in the programs and 

services we are able to offer to the 

community. 


Visitor Center Hours: 8–5 Monday–Friday, 9–5 Saturday, 1–5 Sundays & holidays 

15+ miles of trails open dawn to dark, 365 days a year 

The newsletter is published bi-monthly by Chippewa Nature 

Center, 400 South Badour Road, Midland, MI 48640. Articles may 

be reprinted with prior written permission and proper credit. 

Moosewood Hollow Infused Chai Maple Syrup, maple butter 

and more available at the 

Nature Center Store 

M-F 8 am-5 pm • Sat 9 am-5 pm • Sun 1-5 pm 

Printed on 30% recycled paper with 10% post consumer 

waste. Thank you for recycling your newsletter or passing it 

on to someone who shares a passion for the natural world. 

989.631.0830 | chippewanaturecenter.org | facebook.com/cncmidland

Maple Syrup Day Returns! - Chippewa Nature Center

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?