Hugs for Ollie the Otter from Nature Day Campers

This year's Nature Day Camp at the Boardman River Nature Center is in full swing.  From 4 to 12 years old and from "Pond Detectives" to "Fossils Frenzy", there have been fun and unique programs for kids of all ages and interests.  One camper declared "this is the most fun I've ever had" as he counted out 16 leeches from a tub of pond water he collected from Sabin Pond.  While counting leeches may not be your idea of fun, it illustrates how the simple things in nature can stir up such joy in children.  "These kids have a very basic, natural sense of wonder," says Cindy Retherford, GTCD Education Specialist "and it's great to see such enthusiasm about going into nature." 

It's not too late to sign your child up!  Next week's (Aug 9-13) "Pond Detectives" Nature Day Camp for ages 4-6 is full, but there are a handful of spots left for the August 16-20, "Woodland Wonders" program for ages 6-8.  Call 231-941-0960 or click here for more details and how to sign up.

Jon Stefanciw, summer AmeriCorps member at the GTCD, talks to Joe Rathbum from the MDRNE as he collects stream morphology data at Jack's Creek.

Kids Creek is a major tributary to the Boardman River, emptying into GT Bay near the Holiday Inn and is the most urbanized of the Boardman River watershed.  Unfortunately it is on a list we would rather it not be.  It is on the State of Michigan's "Impaired Waters" list because of it's poor biological condition due to excessive sedimentation.  In response, the Watershed Center GT Bay and the GTCD are teaming up with the City of TC, Garfield Township and the Michigan Dept of Natural Resources (MDNRE) to develop an action plan for the Kids Creek Watershed.  The action plan will take a holistic approach and look at the existing hydrology and land uses impacting the Creek as well as stormwater inputs and other sources of pollution from the entire watershed drainage area. Read more