Sandhill crane season has arrived at Indian Springs Metropark! Join us for a guided hike into our prairie as we track one of our favorite seasonal visitors and learn about all the fantastic adaptations of our Sandhill cranes. Please dress for the weather, rain or shine. All ages. Please preregister, (248) 625-7280.

In this drop-off class we will go out and look at what is living in the ponds during the springtime and learn how to tell if water is healthy. We will collect water samples and use different scientific methods for water quality testing. We will make and then test hypotheses and see if science can tell us the answers to our questions. Parents are welcome to stay and assist their younger students. Dress for the weather, rain or shine. Please preregister, (248) 625-7280.

For a short time each spring, the forest floor erupts into a menagerie of color as the ephemeral wildflowers bloom. We will walk the Woodland Trail, looking for spring beauties, trilliums, trout lilies, wood anemone, early meadow rue and more! Wear sturdy walking shoes and dress for the weather. Expect to walk about one-mile, on level gravel paths. Please preregister, (248) 625-7280.

We’ll tune our “Frog Radio” to the eight-different species of frogs and toads found in the park, and then kids will make a frog lifecycle bandana to take home. While our painted bandanas dry, we’ll walk outdoors to look and listen for any active amphibians. Dress for the weather, rain or shine. All ages. Please preregister, (248) 625-7280.

Explore the origins of terrestrial life through a walking discussion of the Devonian period. We’ll cover early tetrapod evolution from lobe-finned fishes to Tiktaalik as we hike through our wetlands spotting modern day descendants. Dress for the weather, rain or shine. Ages 10 and up. Please preregister, (248) 625-7280.

Did you know that igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks can all be found right here at Indian Springs? We’ll see examples of each type and learn how the rock cycle works by following a “mock rock” through the rock cycle. Participants will also have a chance to do the geology scavenger hunt in our building to look for rocks and minerals used in everyday life. We’ll conclude with a walk outdoors to look for the three classes of rocks in nature. Dress for the weather, rain or shine. Ages 7-12. Please preregister, (248) 625-7280.

Treat Mom to a Mother’s Day Nature Walk and then a refreshing glass of lemonade! This guided hike will introduce you to some of the wildflowers and birds found along the Indian Springs Metropark nature trails. Wear sturdy walking shoes and plan to be outdoors for about an hour on a gravel trail. Once we return, families can enjoy a nice glass of lemonade and a cookie together! Dress for the weather, rain or shine. Please preregister, (248) 625-7280.

What better way to get in touch with nature than a camping trip? With all the gear and technology available though, it’s easy to get caught up with all the gadgets. In this program, we’ll cover some different styles of camping and what basics you’ll need for a successful trip for each one. To finish off, we’ll practice setting up a tent as a group and enjoy some s’mores together. All ages. Please preregister, (248) 625-7280.

Our ponds are home to a wide array of animals like dragonfly nymphs and snails, which can tell us a lot about the health of our waterways. You’ll have a chance to capture some of these critters with dip nets before we hike back to the lab to examine them under microscopes. Dress for the weather. Please preregister, (248) 625-7280.

Indian Springs Metropark is home to several different species of dragonflies, and this program will focus on helping you recognize the difference between them. We’ll start inside to learn a bit about the life cycle of a dragonfly before moving outside to see where they live and see how many species we can see up close. Dress for the weather. All ages. Please preregister, (248) 625-7280.

Beat the heat and have fun with the sun this summer. We’ll learn why the sun is so important in our lives and in the lives of plants and animals around us. Participate in hands-on demonstrations and experiments to illuminate the sun’s amazing qualities. Covering everything from solar energy to our resident ectotherms, you’ll walk away with a new respect for the summer sunshine. Ages 7 and up. Please preregister, (248) 625-7280.

Borrow a frog caller and hike through the wetlands with us in search of over a dozen different species of Michigan amphibians. Learn how to identify frogs by their calls and coloration, as well as the conservation methods we use to preserve this fragile part of our ecosystem. Dress for the weather. Please preregister, (248) 625-7280.

What lives beneath the surface of the pond? We’ll use dip nets and some tubs to carefully catch and release some of the smallest pond creatures, and see what they can tell us about how healthy the pond is. Come dressed to be outdoors for this hands-on activity. Ages 5 and up. Please preregister, (248) 625-7280.

Put on your sunscreen and hike down to the fen with us as we attempt to net some fish for an ecological pond survey. Learn about native fish, such as bluegill, yellow perch, and largemouth bass and the important roles they play in the Great Lakes area while seeing them up close. Ages 10 and up. Please preregister, (248) 625-7280.