Learn about the rich history, native ecosystems and wildlife of Southeastern Michigan at the Huron-Clinton Metroparks. Whether you’re intrigued about a plant or animal, looking for something fun to do with friends or family, or studying a specific topic as part of a group, there are a variety of interpretive programs to help you learn more about our natural, historical and cultural resources.   With 10 full-service interpretive centers and one part-time center, the Huron-Clinton Metroparks provides one of the largest, most diversified educational programs in the country. The park covers more than 24, 000 acres in Livingston, Oakland, Wayne, Macomb, Washtenaw and Wayne counties and serves as a “natural classroom.” Unique educational experiences at Metropark Interpretive Centers include:

 

Programs are available for all grade levels and many meet the Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations (GLCEs). Interpreters can also assist educators in designing programs that are relevant to the needs of the student. 

 

 

 

Enjoy one of the fabulous educational programs at the Huron-Clinton Metroparks. Individual, family and group programs require advance registration by calling the Metropark Interpretive Center you plan to visit.  Outreach programs are conducted offsite on a limited basis by most centers. The Metroparks Mobile Learning Center offers educational, offsite programs throughout the year.  Teachers and group leaders may request a nature-oriented topic of their choice or have a general program that highlights the nature events of the season.
 

View exhibits on local plant and wildlife and get to know the natural world at the Huron-Clinton Metropark Nature Centers. Many feature live exhibits of indigenous fish, reptiles and amphibians. In addition to nature-related exhibits, the Marshlands Museum and Nature Center located at Lake Erie Metropark  focuses on the golden age of waterfowling through artifacts and photos and covers all phases of waterfowl hunting. All centers offer family programs and walks on a variety of topics including birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and trees, shrubs and wildflowers. Many craft and Scout badge programs are conducted, as well.  Contact individual Metropark Nature Center locations for more information.

 

Meet farm animals and get a glimpse of rural life at the Farm Centers at Kensington Metropark and Wolcott Mill Metroparks. Explore extraordinary programs on our agricultural heritage and where some of our food comes from, and see live farm animals like chickens, sheep, cattle and draft horses. At Kensington Metropark, tour a 150-year old restored barn and poultry house, and take a short walk to the Kids’ Cottage, a one-of-a kind “green” building made from trees, rocks, soil and plants found primarily at the park. Each March, Kensington staff tap trees and boil the sap to make maple syrup. At Wolcott Mill Metropark, visit a 250-acre working farm and meet “Mighty Mitt,” Michigan’s famous steer. An herb garden, field crops and old-fashioned farm equipment are also on display. Wolcott Mill features a modern dairy operation, with the cows milked daily at 10 a.m. April through October and at 5 p.m., November through March. For more information contact Kensington Metropark Farm Center at (248) 684-8632 or Wolcott Mill Metropark Farm Center at (586) 752-5932

 

Take a trip down memory lane with a visit to the Historic Center at Wolcott Mill Metropark. From 1847 to 1967, the grist and feed mill operated and the barn served as stable, and later, a sales area. Today, the historic buildings and surrounding land offer you a rare glimpse of the past. Machinery in the mill is all original, left in place when it shut down in 1967. The equipment dates from all periods of operation, and many have been reconditioned to demonstrate the mill workings. The barn now acts as a museum featuring the history of American barns, an antique buggy, farming equipment and tools. A gazebo provides a focal point for events, or weddings, or a quiet place for conversation or photographs. Interpreters give tours by appointment, and conduct programs on most weekends throughout the year. For additional information, please call (586)-749-5997 or (800) 477-3175 .

 

The Huron-Clinton Metroparks are ready to bring nature to you. A 48-foot Mobile Learning Center trailer filled with natural and cultural history exhibits is a vital part of the interpretive department's outreach program serving the counties of Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw and Livingston. It is offered primarily to communities, schools and related groups that may not have the opportunity or means to visit the metroparks. Interpreters conduct a number of themed programs with an emphasis on natural or cultural history, such as weather or voyageurs of the Great Lakes. Interpreters encourage hands-on activities along with group participation and interactive discussions to enhance the effectiveness of the programs. Groups should call well in advance of their desired dates for programs as this unit is very popular and the appointment schedule fills quickly. Contact (248) 685-1561 for more information.
 

The Hudson Mills Metropark Activity Center provides you with an opportunity to observe wildlife and plants in their natural habitats. Discover exhibits on butterflies, American Indians, and tree identification. Meander through nature trails surrounding the activity center, teeming with plants and wildlife. In early spring you may see blue-spotted and four-toed salamanders migrating around the wetlands. Contact (734) 426-8211 for more information.
 

Get to know Michigan’s native ecosystems with a trip to The Environmental Discovery Center at Indian Springs Metropark. The EDC is located on more than 60 acres of restored and created native ecosystems including ponds, wetlands and prairies. Capture a below-the-water view of pond life in an underwater viewing room, including native Michigan fish and plants. A 20, 000 square foot building with classrooms, a biology lab, a 200-person event room and exhibit areas provide ample opportunities for observation and learning. Call (248) 625-6640 for information.

 

Explore the natural and cultural history of Southeastern Michigan at Marshlands Museum and Nature Center. Get up close to a 1,300-gallon aquarium showcasing regional fish species and the Marshland Symphony display which invites you to “play” a symphony of bird & frog calls. An impressive exhibit of old decoys, boats and other hunting artifacts call to mind the traditions of Downriver waterfowling. Our resident bald eagle, Luc, is on hand year-round to greet visitors and highlights the inhabitant population of these great birds. Continue your educational experience by exploring nature trails near the building, past dense hawthorn thickets and cattail marshes. Interactive school and weekend family programs offer many, wonderful opportunities to get close to nature. Some current displays include examining live turtles, frogs and snakes, collecting aquatic critters and investigating them under a microscope, staring into the eyes of a wild sharp-shinned hawk, try your hand at decoy carving, travel back to the War of 1812, or make a cattail doll. School and group educational programs are available by appointment. Meeting room available for local organizations. School season hours: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends. Summer hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Phone (734) 379-5020 or 1-800-477-3189.