Community Calendar

Join the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy for a presentation followed by Q&A with Claire Herman, land protection specialist, and Matt Cowall, executive director of the Traverse City and Garfield Township Recreational Authority.

Have you ever wondered how the Conservancy decides which land to protect?

GTRLC land protection specialist Claire Herman will present our Priority Landscapes Atlas (PLA)--a sophisticated mapping tool we developed that allows us to take a data-driven approach to identifying and protecting priority lands.

FOr more information about this event, please click here.

This event is part of GTRLC's 2026 Priority Landscapes Learning Series.

Please note that food will not be served; we recommend that you plan to grab a bite before or after joining us.

Join us for “Conservation After Hours!” This partnership event with Greater Mackinaw City Chamber of Commerce, Little Traverse Conservancy, Mackinaw Area Historical Society, and Headlands International Dark Sky Park will begin at Heritage Village near the pavilion (ample parking is available).

A Conservancy guide will offer a hike along the Tip of the Mitt Trail to Little Traverse Conservancy’s Hathaway property, and back, where there will be snacks and refreshments at the Heritage Village Pavilion.

Afterward, at 8pm, participants are invited to continue for the Headlands Full Moon Hike, which the Headlands team will lead participants down the Frog Pond trail/Tip of the Mitt trail under the light of the full moon.

Address to Heritage Village: 1425 W Central Ave, Mackinaw City

For information about this and other events, please visit our website.

Join the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy for a panel discussion followed by Q&A with GTRLC's Chris Garrock, director of stewardship; Angie Bouma, senior conservation ecologist; and Steve Lagerquist, land steward: capital project management, recreation, and infrastructure; moderated by Vivian La, IPR’s climate solutions reporter.

Have you ever wondered how we decide what to do with a property once we’ve protected it?

From the moment a property is protected, there are important decisions to make: Which habitats and species need special consideration? Where should a trail guide people through the scenic landscape, and where should we limit access? And how do we respond when conditions at a preserve change?

Join us for a behind-the-scenes discussion with our land stewardship team about how we balance recreational access and wildlife protection, how we restore ecosystems, and how we adapt to challenges along the way.

For more information, pleaseclick here.

This event is part of GTRLC's 2026 Priority Landscapes Learning Series.

Please note that food will not be served; we recommend that you plan to grab a bite before or after joining the event.

Join us for a culminating hike that brings to life the themes of our 2026 Priority Landscape Learning Series, and be among the first to walk the newly-built trails before they open to the public in 2027.

At the newly-protected Ridge, a 312-acre property that was identified as one of the region’s highest-priority landscapes for protection, GTRLC’s experts will guide you through this stunning proposed nature preserve that will protect water quality, provide critical wildlife habitat and offer exceptional potential for recreation.

Nestled between Four and Five Mile Roads, The Ridge’s wetlands and creeks feed into the Mitchell Creek and East Bay Shoreline watersheds—filtering and protecting water that flows into East Grand Traverse Bay, a primary drinking water source for more than 40,000 residents and countless visitors. It hosts diverse habitats, including the rare perched rich conifer swamp, relic oak-pine savanna and wooded dune-swale complex, all providing essential food and shelter for wildlife that rely on this unique ecosystem. From the top, take in an unparalleled view of Traverse City and Grand Traverse Bay.

Parking is limited; please carpool when possible.

This event is part of our 2026 Priority Landscapes Learning Series.