Branching Out - OCT 2023

Letter from the Staff

Events

Hello!


We just wrapped up our two-week, two-hour, too fun "Plant-it" program with Birmingham second grade. The term "plant party" was often used for hype and the tasty plants on site offered much excitement. "Diners" feasted on wild grape leaves and berries, wood sorrel (which pairs well with fish and is an excellent salad topper), crabapple, mint, and jewelweed while investigating leaves, flowers, fruits, and roots. We will welcome BHS first grade for "Plant-it" beginning Wednesday, October 4th.   


We recently announced on social media that the Johnson Nature Center can now be found in the Michigan State Extension Master Gardener Volunteer database so those searching for volunteer hours can easily locate us in the system. Projects include invasive species removal, native planting, garden bed and trail maintenance, and sugar bush restoration. Complete your remaining master gardening hours for the season at the Johnson Nature Center!


Our Forest to Table event can be summed up well by these photos. Planning efforts and talents presented day of did not go unnoticed. Friends of the Johnson Nature Center and the nature center staff know how to throw a party! Deep gratitude for all of our sponsors and attendees for making the food, fun, and friend-filled evening a truly memorable one.  


Yours in green,

The Johnson Nature Center Staff

Trail Rally

Sat., Oct. 21
5:00p - 7:00p

Join your friends for a fun evening of trail exploration, puzzle-solving, and pizza! Four person team limit.


Adults 18+  |  $80/team of up to four    

Trail Rally Registration

You, Me, and the Trees

Fridays, Sep 15 - Oct 20
10a - 11:30a

Parents and guardians are invited to join their toddlers, ages 2-3, in outdoor exploration to witness the numerous ways in which nature can facilitate learning.


Ages 2-3  |  $12/child & guardian

You, Me, and the Trees

DIA 2023 Inside | Out Installations

Thurs., June 1 - Tues., Oct. 31

8a - dusk

The Detroit Institute of Arts 2023 Inside | Out installations have been set up along the trails of Johnson Nature Center. Take a stroll and check out the ten installations on display for visitors until October.

Night Hike

Sat., Oct. 28

Join us as we hike through the trails, exploring the night sky and observing nocturnal animals during the partial lunar eclipse.


Ages 7+ |  $8/person

Hike Registration

"

"We can no longer have hidden figures. We must uncover them because we need their genius and their narratives to make us all better." Gholdy Muhammad, Unearthing Joy

Forest to Table

Thank you to all of our guests and sponsors who attended and supported Forest to Table. The Friends Committee wanted to share photos taken at the event. Feel free to download and save the images. LINK TO PHOTOS.

JNC Portrait Session Fundraiser

Marla Michele Must from Enchanted Photography has graciously offered to host a fundraiser in support of the Johnson Nature Center, ending in October. With her longstanding dedication to JNC, Marla aims "to benefit a place that is both magical and dear to [her] heart."

Portrait Session Info

Birthday Parties at JNC

Celebrate this special day at the Johnson Nature Center! 


Let us help you party in the great outdoors year-round! Our party program themes are designed to inspire and excite children ages 3-12.

BIRTHDAY PARTY INFO.

TreeSchool

Registration is open for the 2023 Fall and 2024 Winter semesters! Register HERE.

You, Me, and the Trees

On Fridays beginning September 15th - October 20th, parents and guardians are invited to join their toddlers, ages 2-3, in outdoor exploration to witness the numerous ways in which nature can facilitate learning. LEARN MORE and REGISTER.

Small Group and Scout Programs

Something for everyone! Scouts can earn a badge, and all groups get the chance to explore a focused topic in a hands-on environment

LEARN MORE HERE.

Friends of Johnson Nature Center

About Us

Our Vision:We envision a place where all people experience connectedness with nature in a healthy native Michigan ecosystem and are inspired to respectfully care for our planet.


Our Mission: Support the mission of the Johnson Nature Center through ecological conservation, community outreach, volunteerism, and fundraising.

Why Become A Member

As a core part of furthering the Nature Center's mission, you'll enjoy an enhanced experience while helping the property stay vibrant for generations to come.

  • member-only invitations, including early access for special events, camps, and programs

  • admission to other nature centers nationwide through the ANCA reciprocal program

  • complimentary use of equipment rental such as snowshoes, hiking poles, and interpretive bags

  • subscription to the Johnson Nature Center monthly electronic newsletter

BECOME A MEMBER TODAY!

Friends In Action

Ecological Conservation

Community Outreach

Volunteerism

Bowers School Farm

In addition to the wonderful community events hosted at the nature center, we invite you to visit Bowers School Farm for more opportunities to learn, grow, and explore. Register early to ensure availability of the following community classes:


Open Barn (all ages)*

Scout & Small Group Programs

Cooking Classes (adults only)


*with parent/guardian


Please visit BOWERS SCHOOL FARM for more information.

Fall Festival

Join us for a fun-filled weekend of farm activities and games, live music, pumpkins, and much more! NEW THIS YEAR: food trucks, axe throwing, cornhole contest, straw tower, and more! October 14 - 15, 10a - 4p. More information HERE.

Bourbon, Barns & Brews

Sample 75 + craft beers, bourbons, cocktails, and wine along with live entertainment. Game it with axe-throwing and a cornhole tournament. Food trucks and concessions are available for purchase. Adults 21+ only. October 14, 7p - 10p (6p VIP). PURCHASE TICKETS HERE.

Terrain of Thought

Naturalist Notes

Fall Colors. Taylor Swift knows why all the trees change in the fall, but do you? Read this month's Naturalist Notes and have the "best day" knowing this too. Enjoy the color show!

Creature Feature

Legs, Legs Everywhere. The more legs it has does not mean the scarier it is. Centipedes and millipedes are our friends, so maybe stick around long enough to say hi.

Plant Rant

Oak Wilt. Only you can prevent fungal disease. Really though, stop pruning your oaks in the summer and watch these beloved trees thrive...just watch for falling acorns. 


A Birmingham second grade student observes a slug during "Plant-it."



Bowers School Farm and Johnson Nature Center sit on Land that was made by warm shallow seas and slow-moving glacial formations, with the most recent glaciers receding 14,000 years ago. This is the ancestral Land, Anishinaabewaki, of the Indigenous Peoples of the Ojibway/Ojibwa/Ojibwe, Odawa/Ottawa, and Potawatomi/Bodéwadmi, the Anishinabek. This Land remains the contemporary dwelling of the Anishinabek.


Symbol writing for the Anishinabek county, Anishinaabewaki.


The Johnson Nature Center sits on a forty-acre site and offers visitors a myriad of visual pleasures and learning opportunities. The Visitor Center is open 10a - 4p on Saturdays and trails are open every day from 8a until dusk.

Johnson Nature Center | 3325 Franklin Road, Bloomfield Twp, MI 48302

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