Community Calendar

Two person teams will fly fish for bluegill, bass, pike and carp at your favorite lake. Entry is $100 per Team.

Awards will be presented at about 4pm, June 6th, 2026 at Earthen Ales in The Commons for: largest and smallest fish, best Team Name and Best Team Costume as well as a Silent Auction for products and services provided by local businesses.

For more information or to sign up your team click here or stop into The Northern Angler in Traverse City. Have a fun day of fly fishing to support a worthy local organization.

All proceeds go to Child & Family Services NW MI to benefit local young people.

About This Event
Help us restore and protect the incredible ecosystems at the Misty Acres Farm by aiding in invasive plant removal! Native wildflowers, mushrooms, trees, and shrubs that rely on this healthy habitat are currently under threat of being displaced by populations of invasive garlic mustard.

The Basics:

GTRLC supplies all tools necessary for the work being done. We will teach you everything you need to know about tool use, safety, and the importance of the work you will be doing. No experience necessary - just come ready to learn something new! This activity is moderately strenuous, with volunteers often bending over to pull plants. This task will require hiking around 1 mile to reach our worksite. There is no access to restrooms or drinking water at this site.

What should I bring?
-Dress for the weather! Always check the forecast in advance
-Sturdy, closed-toe shoes that can handle some mud
-A reusable water bottle and some snacks
-Sunscreen and bug spray for your safety and comfort
-Your favorite pair of work gloves, if preferred

Join ISEA for our Weeding Wednesday series! We are gathering at the Leo Creek Preserve native garden to get our flower beds ready for a beautiful season of growth.

This is a fantastic weekly opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, learn about native plants, and meet fellow community members who share a passion for local ecology.

Each week, we will focus on light weeding and general gardening tasks within the native garden area. Whether you are an experienced gardener or a beginner looking to pick up some new skills, these sessions are designed to be relaxed, educational, and social.

This is a drop-in event! Whether you’ve been volunteering with ISEA for years or want an excuse to play in the dirt, all are welcome!

Please click here for more information.

This is a guided hike to the only wildflower sanctuary in the National Forest System.

Contribute to science and help document local biodiversity at our community bioblitz at Brown Bridge Quiet Area. Join GTCD staff and volunteers as we identify and record plant, animal, and fungi species using the iNaturalist app, creating valuable data that supports conservation and land management efforts.

Whether you are an experienced naturalist or simply curious about the outdoors, this event is open to all skill levels. GTCD staff will provide guidance on species identification and using iNaturalist. Bring your smartphone, dress for the weather, and discover the incredible diversity in our community.

Limited parking is available; carpooling is encouraged. Parking details will be communicated to registrants prior to the event date.

For more information on upcoming events, please click here.

Join the Manistee Conservation District, the Invasive Species Network and Plant It Wild at Black Cap Farm to immerse yourself in all things native.

Celebrate the start of summer with a family-friendly day of exploration and connection along the Boardman–Ottaway River. Families are encouraged to spend the day enjoying a mix of guided and self-guided activities, including a guided hike to the Great Lakes Incubator Farm, hands-on river discovery with aquatic macroinvertebrate sampling, and opportunities to contribute to the GTCD community BioBlitz. Activities are designed to be flexible, allowing families to explore at their own pace and choose what works best for them.

As the day winds down, families are invited to stay for three special evening opportunities. Meet our Nature Day Camp staff and sign up for the Traverse Area District Library's Summer Reading Club when the Bookmobile rolls in—kids can register for the Jurassic-sized “Unearth a Story” program, grab a free t-shirt, and check out a book. Then gather around for the kickoff of our Fireside Chat series, featuring campfire stories and songs led by Jen Strauss—a cozy, family-friendly way to wrap up a full day outdoors.

Attend one activity or stay for the day—pre-registration is required using the link below.

A presentation presented by Jeanie Ransom

You’ll learn...
- What makes these birds so special
- Why they are threatened
- What’s being done to protect them
- How YOU can help

Event hosted at the Leelanau State Park Pavillion

When contacting us, please use our number: (231) 386-7195

The Leelanau Conservancy manages two old-growth forest sites in Michigan -- which may surprise some who think “old-growth forests” are a thing of the past. On June 13 Becky Hill, director of natural areas and preserves with the Leelanau Conservancy, talks about the Conservancy’s program to protect the diverse ecosystems and critical habitat in which these ancients live. The program takes place at the Glen Arbor Arts Center, 1 pm, in conjunction with the GAAC’s exhibit American Tree. The program is free.

Palmer Woods Forest Reserve is a 1,000+ acre area. It was the first Leelanau Conservancy property to be recognized by the national nonprofit Old-Growth Forest Network [OGFN]. In 2025, the Conservancy added the Kehl Lake Natural Area, and it, too, was certified by the OGFN. Hill will talk about the characteristics of old-growth forests, and the vigorous community of botanical and animal life that make up these forests. The Old-Growth Forest Network is the only national network in the U.S. of protected, old-growth, native forests. It was established in 2012.

For more information about the American Tree exhibit, go to GlenArborArt.org/EXHIBITS. American Tree runs through August 13 in the GAAC Main Gallery.

Join Carolyn Thayer and learn about all the benefits that landscaping with Michigan native plants can bring to your surroundings. Carolyn is a professional landscape designer, owns Designs in Bloom in Frankfort and is one of the founders of Plant It Wild.

For a Zoom link, join PIW mailing list. Go to Plantitwild.net.