Community Calendar

Join Brad Von Blon for a meander through the Offield Family Working Forest Reserve to enjoy spring wildflowers.

For more information about upcoming Little Traverse Conservancy events, click here.

Join the Manistee Audubon chapter for a walk along the universally accessible boardwalk at the Arcadia Marsh Nature Preserve! Volunteer leader Brian Allen will highlight the many bird species–including songbirds, shorebirds, wading birds, and raptors–that can be viewed from the boardwalk at this time of the year.

Before the hike, feel free to check out our Arcadia Marsh Bird and Botanical Guide for a preview of the species we’ll be on the lookout for.

What should I bring?

Consider bringing your camera and/or binoculars—birds and wildflowers will be abundant!

Dress for the weather! Always check the forecast in advance.

Sunscreen and bug spray for your safety and comfort.

Because of sensitive wildlife, dogs are not allowed at this preserve.

Directions

We will meet at the M22 parking lot.

Registration is required, click here. Cancellations due to weather or any other reason will be communicated with registered participants via email.

Thank you for your interest in joining us! If you have any questions, please contact us at (231) 929-7911 or info@gtrlc.org.

Join Quinn Sommer, seasonal technician and avid birder, for a walk through a beloved LTC birding preserve, Waldron Fen Nature Preserve.

For more information about upcoming Little Traverse Conservancy events, click here.

Round up the family and head out to Coy Mountain, located at 9011 Valley St. in Alden, to enjoy a romp in the woods and reading a good book along the way.

A new story will be placed each month and covers about a 1/2-mile portion of the trail, and is open from dawn to dusk. The storybook for the month of May is “My Little Book of Wood Ducks” by Hope Irvin Marston.

Join us for a tour of the buildings and grounds at Mitchell Creek Meadows: The Don and Jerry Oleson Nature Preserve, led by our ambassadors Sally Proctor and Terrie Taylor.

Surrounded by schools and neighborhoods—and in the heart of a watershed critical to the quality of our drinking water—the Conservation Center is more than our office: it’s a place where people can join together to build a more resilient, engaged and proactive community. Visitors can explore the 243-acre preserve’s diverse habitats, including wetlands, meadows and forest areas, and learn about our ongoing restoration work, while traversing the universally accessible Looyenga Family Trail. From the trail, you can also watch our invasive-plant-eating goats enjoying their job with gusto!

This tour will include an inside look at the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy’s McMullen Family Conservation Center, Bob and Pauline Young Family Stewardship Workshop, and native plant greenhouse and goat barn.

We welcome guests to learn about our mission and how we can each play a role in caring for our critical lands and waters.

Registration is required. If the minimum registration isn’t met, a cancellation will be sent by email to registered participants. Thank you for your interest in joining us! If you have any questions, please contact us at (231) 929-7911 or info@gtrlc.org.

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

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

Join us at the Old Baldy Trailhead at Arcadia Dunes: The C.S. Mott Nature Preserve for our annual dune wildflower hike! Volunteer Paula Dreeszen will share her knowledge and passion for native dune plants with spectacular views of Lake Michigan as the backdrop.

The Basics

This is a 2.5 mile hike with gradual elevation change on mostly firm trails. There is one steep climb up to Old Baldy–a beloved perched dune with panoramic views of Lake Michigan. Wildflowers you may see along the trail include Wood Lily, Pitcher’s Thistle, Sand Coreopsis, Hairy Puccoon and Common Milkweed, which is essential for the monarch caterpillar.

Before the hike, feel free to check out our Dune Wildflowers Guide.

What should I bring?
-Sturdy, close-toed shoes recommended.
-Consider bringing your camera or binoculars, a reusable water bottle, and snacks.
-Dress for the weather! Always check the forecast in advance.
-Sunscreen and bug spray for your safety and comfort.

Registration is required. Cancellations due to weather or other reasons will be emailed to registered participants.

Thank you for your interest in joining us! If you have any questions, please contact us at (231) 929-7911 or info@gtrlc.org.

TART Trails and Up North Pride are hosting the annual Rainbow Run, a color fun run and fundraiser around the Boardman Lake Loop Trail.

On June 20, 2026, the event will celebrate the trail systems and the Northern Michigan 2SLGBTQ+ Community during Pride Month. Participants and spectators will be invited to Hull Park to enjoy music and refreshments before and after the run.

The run/walk route will take participants counterclockwise around the 4-mile Boardman Lake Loop Trail. There will be five distinct and separated stations along the route for participants to receive their colors.

Pre-Registration | $25 Student (17 and under) / $30 Adult (18+) | must register by May 30th to guarantee a t-shirt & early bird pricing

May 31st price increase | $30 Student (17 and under) / $35 Adult (18+)

Try a 204-mile trek from Au Gres on Lake Huron to Ludington on Lake Michigan or… a 100-mile loop that begins and ends at Stearns Park.