Drayton Plaines Nature Center
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Location
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Dates/Times
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Cost
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2125 Denby Dr.
Drayton Plains 48330
248.674.2119
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Monday-Sunday
Nature Center:11-2 Mon-Fri; 10-4 Sat; 12-4 Sun
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Free
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Drayton Plaines Nature Center sits on the 137 acre site of an
old fish hatchery on the banks of the Clinton River. There are a
variety of hands-on exhibits in the nature center as well as
numerous displays. Children will also enjoy the log cabin on the
grounds. Grounds are open daily from 8am - 9pm
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E. L. Johnson Nature Center
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Location
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Dates/Times
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Cost
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3325 Franklin Rd.
Bloomfield Hills 48302
248.339.3497
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Daily
8am-Dusk M-F; 10-4 Sat/Sun
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Free
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32 acres of quiet trails with a stream and lots of wild
flowers.
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Belle Isle Nature Center
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Location
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Dates/Times
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Cost
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Belle Isle Park
Detroit 48207
313.267.7157
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Tuesdays - Sundays
10am - 4pm
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Free
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Inside are native live animals, displays, films and slide
programs to help children better understand their environment.Two
nature trails are maintained by the Nature Center.
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Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve & Den
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Location
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Dates/Times
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Cost
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333 N. Hill Circle
Rochester 48307
248.656.0999
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Mondays - Saturdays Summer
9am-3pm Tues-Thurs; 9am-5pm Fri; 10am-2pm Sat.; Trails - dawn to dusk
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Admission Free
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This is 16 heavily wooded acres full of trails and the
"Dinosaur Den" (No dinosaur bones here--a combination
nature center, classroom and gift shop). Families will find lots
of hands-on activities
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Howell Nature Center
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Location
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Dates/Times
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Cost
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1005 Triangle Lake Rd.
Howell 48843
517.546.0249
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Call to schedule visit
Call to schedule time
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Call for Details
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This is primarily a wildlife rehab center. Call to schedule a
group tour or visit the grounds. Special events are offered
including overnight group camping.
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Indian Springs Nature Center
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Location
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Dates/Times
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Cost
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5299 Indian Trail
Clarkston 48348
248.625.7280
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Year round
9am - 5pm
Open later afternoon for school groups
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Park Entrance Fee
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Nature center has many hands-on exhibits and many special
programs. Call for details
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Kensington Nature Center & Farm Center
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Location
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Dates/Times
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Cost
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2240 W. Buno Rd.
Milford 48380
248.685.0603
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Open daily
1-5pm Mon; 10am-5pm Tues-Sun
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Park entry fee $15/year, $2/day, $3 weekends
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This hands-on nature center also has a farm center for families
to enjoy. Hay rides are offered in the fall as well as special
programs.
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Metro Beach Nature Center
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Location
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Dates/Times
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Cost
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Metropolitan Parkway
Mt. Clemens 48043
800.477.3172
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Year-round
Park hours: 6am-10pm Office hours: 8am-4pm
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Vehicle Entry Fee
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This is considered one of the best 3 bird watching areas in the
state. The nature center provides a wide range of activities for
families.
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Stoney Creek Nature Center
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Location
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Dates/Times
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Cost
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4300 Main Park Rd.
Washington 48094
586.781.4621
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Open year-round
1-5pm Monday - Friday; 10am - 7pm on weekends.
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Park Fee
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Hands-on children's activities and guided nature walks are a
part of the nature center's program. Children will also enjoy the
Michigan wildlife found here.
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Independence Oaks Nature Center
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Location
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Dates/Times
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Cost
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9501 Sashabaw Rd.
Clarkston 48348
248.625.6473
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Memorial Day through Labor Day
Nature Center: 10am-5pm Park Hours: 8am-sundown
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Park entry fee $5/car
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Family classes and special programs are offered year round.
Inside the nature center, families can experience numerous
hands-on exhibits and life size dioramas. Large windows provide a
great setting for viewing wildlife.
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Lloyd A. Stage Outdoor Education Center
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Location
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Dates/Times
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Cost
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6685 Coolidge Highway
Troy 48098
248.524.3567
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Tuesday-Sunday
8:30-4:30 Tues-Sat; Noon-5pm Sun
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Free
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This is a 99 acre outdoor education center. The interpretive
center houses dioramas, exhibits, hand-on activities and a gift
shop. Year round classes for families are offered.
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Marshland Museum & Nature Center - Lake Erie
Metro Park
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Location
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Dates/Times
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Cost
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32481 W. Jefferson
Rockwood 48173
734.379.5020
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Open year-round
10am-5pm Mid June - Labor Day; 1-5pm rest of year.
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Free
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Many "please touch" exhibits are in the nature center
along with numerous other displays. Children's workshops and many
seasonal programs are also offered.
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Seven Ponds Nature Center
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Location
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Dates/Times
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Cost
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3854 Crawford Rd.
Dryden 48428
810.796.3419
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Tuesday - Sunday
9am - 5pm
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$3 - Adults; $1 - Children 12 and under
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Seven Ponds Nature Center encourages children to touch and feel
exhibits. An observational beehive is available for families to
inspect together.
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Sterling Heights Nature Center
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Location
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Dates/Times
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Cost
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42700 Utica Rd.
Sterling Heights 48314
586.739.6731
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June - August
10am-5pm Tues-Sat.; 1-5pm Sunday
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Free
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Families will enjoy this 7 acre site overlooking the Clinton
River while investigating the numerous hands-on exhibits. Family
nature movies are shown several nights a week - call for details.
Special nature classes are offered for the entire family.
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Lake Erie Marshlands Museum and Nature Center
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Location
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Dates/Times
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Cost
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32481 West Jefferson
Rockwood 48173
734.379.5020
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year-round.
General hours 6 a.m. - dusk, daily, School groups should call for
appointment. (1-800-47-PARKS)
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Vehicle permits $2 weekdays; Wednesdays are
free. $3 weekends
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Hands-on eshibits for children, live Michigan animals, nature
trails, and year round programs.
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The Nature Center at Friendship Woods
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Location
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Dates/Times
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Cost
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30300 Hales
Madison Heights 48071
248.585.0100
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Call for walks. Free guided walks 3 p.m. first
Saturday of each month.
Closed
Mondays Noon - 5 p.m. Tuesday.
10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Wednesday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Thursday and Friday
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Some classes charge a fee
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Children will feel at home at this cozy log cabin nature
center. There are furs, hides, skins, and other realia to touch
and feel, and aquariums filed with fish, turtles, and snakes.
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Dino Dig
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Location
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Dates/Times
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Cost
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Bloomer Park, Avon Road at John R
Rochester Hills 48307
248.656.4753
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daily, year-round
8 a.m. to dusk
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$5 vehicle entry
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Children unearth a sculpted 18-foot-long skeleton of
tyrannosaurus rex buried on its side in a sand pit with a variety
of plastic sand shovels and brushes.
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Ford Discovery Trail
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Location
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Dates/Times
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Cost
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4901 Evergreen
Dearborn 48128
313.593.5590
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Year-round
Mon-Sat 1:30pm only; Sun 1:30 and 4:30
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13 and older $8
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Use the map and fill in the treasure hunt sheets as you walk
along the 45-minute, self-guided walking loop. Children will enjoy
Henry Ford's root cellar, a 300 year old Oak, underground
boathouse, and miniature playhouse.
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For-Mar Nature Preserve and Aboretum and De
Waters Education Center
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Location
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Dates/Times
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Cost
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5360 East Potter Road
Burton 48509
810.789.8567
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Year-round
Education Center: call for an appointment. Nature Preserve and
Arboretum: 8am-5pm Mon-Sat; 9am-5pm Sun
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Free. Guided tours and walks minimal fee.
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For a first-hand look at nature, take a guided naturalist walk
through the nature preserve's 380 acres.
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Gerald E. Eddy Geology Center
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Location
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Dates/Times
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Cost
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Waterloo Recreation Area, McClure Road
Chelsea 48118
734.475.3170
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Year-round
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily
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Parking permits: $4 daily, $20 annual, $5
seniors annual
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While the emphasis is on rocks, the center also offer the
chance to see honey bee hives. There are 17 miles of walking
trails and 22 miles of hiking trails.
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Wolcott Mill Metropark Farm Learning Center
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Location
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Dates/Times
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Cost
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65775 Wolcott Road
Ray, MI 48096
586.752.5932
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Tours available for schools and other groups
Tuesday thru Fridays, year around.
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$1.00 per student, no charge for adults for
tours.
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Wolcott Mill Metropark Farm Learning Center is a modern working
farm. They have a herd of dairy cows that are milked at 10am
daily. They also have draft horses, goats, sheep, pigs,
chickens, ducks, turkeys, pheasants, rabbits, and more.
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