Programs

Notice: The City of Troy is in the process of repairing the boardwalk on the Blackbird Loop. Trails will remain open and there will be signs marking the areas closed to walkers during construction.

Click here to view the program calendar

Pre-registration is required for all programs (including free programs).

Photo Walks by TNS Photo Club

Saturdays, Mar 2, Apr 6, May 4, Jun 1, 8-10 am

Ages: All

TNS Member: Free, Non-Member: $2

Guided hikes through the SNC. Meet in the parking lot by 8 am. Bring your camera. Dress for the weather.

Click here to register for Mar 2

Click here to register for Apr 6

Click here to register for May 4

Click here to register for Jun 1

Little Acorns

Ages: 2-4

Wed, Mar 20, 11 am – 12 pm

Sat, May 4, 11 am – 12 pm

TNS Member: $4, Non-Member: $6

Let your child explore the sights and sounds of nature through outdoor activities. This program will take place outside, except in the event of inclement weather. You may choose to bring children in strollers or sleds that are sturdy enough for a wood chipped trail. The adult partner is free and must accompany the child throughout the program.

Click here to register for Wed, Mar 20

Click here to register for Sat, May 4

Knee-high Naturalists

10-11:30 am

Ages: 2-4

TNS Member: $11.50, Non-Member: $14.50

Children with a free adult partner, can attend one or more of the following programs. Each session includes a nature story, hike, activities, craft, and a snack. 

Bird Beaks – discover the amazing things birds do with their beaks. 

Click here to register for Thur, Mar 7

Click here to register for Fri, Mar 8

Sensing Spring – learn about our senses by searching for signs of spring like flowers, new leaves and animals waking up from their winter sleep. 

Click here to register for Thur, Apr 11

Click here to register for Fri, Apr 12

Froggy Adventure – come wearing sturdy boots as we will be searching for frogs, fish, and other creatures in the water.

Click here to register for Thur, May 16

Click here to register for Fri, May 17

Nature Explorers

Spring Scavenger Hunt – Sat, May 11, 1:30 – 3 pm

Ages: All (best for 5 & up)

TNS Member: $5, Non-Member: $7

Enjoy some screen-free time while exploring the natural world! Together we will participate in hands-on, outdoor experiences to investigate different nature-related topics. Adults must register and remain with their children.

Click here to register

Walk with a Naturalist

Sat, Apr 20, 2 – 3 pm

Ages: 3-Adult

Fee: $3 (No refunds for this program)

Take a relaxing walk on the SNC trails through various natural communities. Get answers to your nature questions. Pre-register online. Adults should remain with their children. Each person participating should enroll and pay the fee. Join us to celebrate Earth Day by participating on this date!

Click here to register

Scout It Out: Cub Scouts

Fee: $11/scout

Scouts: come and complete your nature-related badge or adventure! All or most requirements are met; however, the badge itself is not included. Register as an individual scout, den, pack, or troop. Please dress for the weather. Leaders or chaperones are free and need to remain with their scouts. No refunds for these programs. Contact us for other scout programs that we can offer for your group. 

CANCELLED Wolf: Digging in the Past on Sat, Dec 16, 9:30 am-12 pm

Click here to register for Tiger Cub: My Tiger Jungle on Sat, Apr 13, 10 am-12 pm

Scout It Out : Girl Scouts

Junior GS: Get Moving Journey

(includes Journey Award, Leaders and chaperones are free)

Sat, Jan 13, 9 am-4 pm

Fee: $35/scout 

Junior Girl Scouts will have the opportunity to complete the Get Moving Journey in a day-long program. They will learn all about energy, how it is used and ways to conserve it. They will participate in investigations, observe animals and brainstorm ways to help their community use energy wisely. Bring a sack lunch; beverages and an afternoon snack will be provided. Each troop should have leaders or chaperones with the group as per GSA policy; an adult is not needed for each scout. A scout attending on her own should have an adult partner.

Click here to register

Daisy GS: Clover Petal

Sat, Apr 27, 10 am-12 pm

Fee: $11/scout 

Click here to register

Brownie: Bugs

Sat, May 11, 9:30 am-12 pm

Fee: $11/scout

Click here to register

Homeschool Nature Classes

Ages: 5-10

10 am-12 pm

TNS Member: $7/child, Non-Member: $9/child

For homeschool children and a free parent partner. Participants should dress for the weather.

Maple Syrup, Tues, Mar 12 – Follow the path from summer sunshine to sweet syrup and discover how nature’s food factories (leaves) produce sugar through photosynthesis. Students will also participate in several trail side demonstrations while learning about the basics of sugar bush operation and forest ecology.

Click here to register

Senses, Thurs, Apr 18 – Explore the world of nature using all five senses. We will use magnifiers to discover tiny natural objects, listen for sounds along the nature trails, taste sweet maple syrup on a salty pretzel and participate in other sensory activities.

Click here to register

Animal Forensics, Thurs, May 23 – Solve engaging mysteries with dastardly animal culprits in this interactive forensic exercise! Students will piece together unique clues to nab the furry (or feathered) perpetrator, and gain a better understanding of the behavior, appearance, and complexity of animals along the way.

Click here to register

Houseplant Swap at Stage

Sunday, April 28th, 2-4pm

Join us for a good old-fashioned houseplant swap hosted by Plant Influencers on social media Instragram Julie @Detroitcityplants, founder of the Michigan Plant Swap, and Robin @houseofplants_tours, longtime experience with house and garden plants. Bring cuttings, rooted plants, and/or plants that you want to rehome. All plants and cuttings should be disease and pest free. Indoor plants only. Label your cuttings and plants with the name of the plant, your name and your Instagram handle (if you have one).

Tickets are $10.00 per person, proceeds benefit Stage Nature Center. Pre-registration highly recommended, limited spaces available. No pets allowed at the nature center.

Sunday, April 28th from 2-4pm at Stage Nature Center, 6685 Coolidge Hwy., Troy, MI 48098. Limited parking, carpooling suggested. Free raffle drawings, must be present to win. Contact Michelle Goyette, mgoyette@troynaturesociety.org, Special Events Coordinator, for questions or more information.

Additional Information:

General plant swap etiquette for the newcomers:

  • Do offer trades that are comparable in desirability and/or value
  • Don’t take anything from anyone’s station without their consent
  • Do stay respectful and kind with your fellow swappers
  • Don’t get offended or pushy when someone says “no”
  • Don’t feel bad if someone you traded with re-swaps your plant with someone else
  • Do bring a new planter to swap if you don’t have any clippings or plants.
  • Do bring only indoor houseplants, no outdoor plants.
  • Don’t bring pets, no pets allowed at the nature center.
  • Do have fun and build relationships with your local plant community.

Click here to register

Owl Encounters

Ages: 5-Adult

Fee: $5

Join us on one of these tours to visit the rehabilitated owls that call the Stage Nature Center home. This tour gives you a chance to learn more about the different owl species, reasons why they each live in captivity, explore their different personalities, and get your owl questions answered. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult. Space is limited. Registrations may fill before the day of the program.

Click here to register for Sat, Mar 23, 11 am-12 pm

Click here to register for Sat, Apr 13, 2-3 pm

Click here to register for Fri, May 10, 6-7 pm

Maple Syrup Time 

Saturdays, March 2, 9 and 16

Teens & Adults: $10

TNS & THS Members: $7

Children ages 4-12: $7

Children under 4: Free

Take a hike through the sugar bush of the Stage Nature Center! Discover how maple trees make sugar and people through the ages have harvested it. This outdoor, interactive program highlights natural and local history of our region. Learn how people processed maple sugar in the past and see similarities in the collecting, boiling, and drawing off maple syrup today. Small groups will be guided along the trail and participate in activities to learn more about maple syrup making. Visit a historic sugar camp. Stop for a short visit to the Sugar Shed to see our wood-stoked evaporator in action. There will be maple syrup and maple cream to sample and a “take-home” children’s craft. Shop for Michigan-made maple syrup, cream, and more sold by the Troy Historic Village.

Tours last approximately 1.25 hours and start every quarter hour between 9 am and 3 pm. Register in advance for a specific day and time at www.stagenaturecenter.org. Children under 4 years are free.

Click here to pick a time slot and register

Sugar Moon

Thurs, Mar 14, 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Ages 21 +

TNS Member Fee: $17, Non-Member Fee: $20

March was referred to as the Sugar Moon by some Ojibwe groups as that was often the time for making maple sugar. Join us for an adult evening of maple syrup making. Learn the history, folklore, and present-day practices of Michigan’s maple syrup industry. Take a short hike on the Sugar Maple Loop and discover how the trees were tapped to collect the sweet sap. Visit the Sugar Shed to see maple syrup being made over the wood-stoked evaporator. The program will conclude with a chance to sample several maple products, including maple wine, maple tea, maple cream, maple salsa, baked goods made with maple syrup, maple candy and maple syrup on ice cream. Product sampling will take place outside at the nature center pavilion.

Click here to register

Woodcock Walks

Sat, Apr 13, 7:30 – 9:30 pm

Fri, Apr 19, 7:30 – 9:30 pm

Ages 7-Adult

TNS Member: $5, Non-Member: $7

A sure sign of spring is the wonderful and slightly wacky courtship display of the American Woodcock. Join us for a sunset stroll to their display area at the SNC to marvel at the dance and bizarre flights of these amazing birds. Dress in layers for warmth and wear boots for wet and muddy trails. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Each participant must enroll and pay the fee.

Click here to register for Sat, Apr 13, 7:30 – 9:30 pm

Click here to register for Fri, Apr 19, 7:30 – 9:30 pm

Invasive Plant Removal & Spring Clean Up Days

Sat, Apr 20, 9 am-12 pm

Ages 14 – Adult

We are seeking volunteers (age 14-adult) to help us preserve our native flora by eradicating invasive non-native plants. We’ll also work to improve the nature trails and clean up the grounds. Work gloves, old clothes, and “old fashioned elbow grease” are recommended. Bring a kneeling pad, if desired. Help us observe Earth Day by participating on this date!

Click here to register

Spring Bird Festival

Sat, May 18

8-10 am: Spring Bird Hike
Ages: All
Fee: $5
Spring migration is in its peak and brings with it a spectacular opportunity to see several amazing birds. Some of the birds will be summer residents; others will be just passing through on their trip north. Join us as we hike the trails and look for our migrating feathered friends. Bring binoculars or borrow ours. All experience levels welcome. Pre-registration required.

Click here to register

11 am-12 pm: Peregrine Falcon Conservation and the Art of Falconry
Ages: 14 – Adult
Fee: $5
Peregrine
falcons have gone from the edge of extinction to conquering concrete jungles. During this program, we will dive into the history of the world’s fastest animal. Follow along and learn about this amazing raptor’s journey to recovery and how falconry, the sport of kings, played a pivotal role. Pre-registration required.

Click here to register

1-2 pm: Owl Pellet Exploration & Meet a Live Owl!
Ages 5 – Adult
Fee: $8
Join us to learn about owls and their adaptations for predation while meeting a live owl! We will get up close and personal with their feeding habits by dissecting owl pellets to discover which animals they eat. Each person will dissect an owl pellet and have the opportunity to take home the bones found in them. Pre-registration required.

Click here to register

10 am-2 pm: Visit with vendors & participate in fun bird activities

Native Plant Sale

Sat, June 1, 9 am-12 pm

Plan to help support a healthy ecosystem by planting natives! Brendan Nolan of Plants for Ecology, www.plantsforecology.com, a producer of locally sourced native plants, will have a wide variety of trees, shrubs, and plants available for purchase.

2024 Run for Nature Fundraiser – Sun, June 9 at Troy Farm

Click here for details

SUMMER CAMP: Summer Ecology Days

Fee: $190, TNS Member Fee: $175

Give your child a special opportunity to explore the science of ecology – the study of the interrelationships between living things and their environment. Every adventure filled day will include fun interactive games, activities, and crafts. Children will sweep for insects in the meadow, explore the forest, experience the darkness of the underground, look for signs of wildlife along the trail and much more! Camp is held rain or shine. Bring a sack lunch each day. We will provide beverages and an afternoon snack.

Ages 6-8: Tues-Fri, June 18 – 21, 9 am-4 pm

Click here to register

Ages 9-11: Tues-Fri, June 25 – 28, 9 am-4 pm

Click here to register

SUMMER CAMP: Nature Adventure Camp

Fee: $98, TNS Member Fee: $88

Children will explore animals, including insects, wildflowers, and other wonders of nature. Catching and observing insects, hiking the trails, watching birds and other animals, playing simple nature games, and making crafts with a nature theme are some of the activities that will take place. Each child will take home a “bug” box and an insect net. Camp is held rain or shine.

Ages 4-5: Tues-Fri, July 16-19, 9:30-11:30 am

Click here to register

SUMMER CAMP: Stirring Up Science Camp

Fee: $190, TNS Member Fee: $175

Captivate your child’s creativity this summer with our camps full of science surprises! Children will dive-in “hands first” to amazing science projects that incorporate STEM educational practices. They will learn the secret formulas to mixtures like slime, putty, moon sand, and more. Children will explore the sun and the energy it gives to the earth. Do not miss out on the chance to discover simple yet startling science phenomena – sign up now! Camp is held rain or shine. Bring a sack lunch each day. Beverages and an afternoon snack will be provided.

Ages 6-8: Tues-Fri, Aug 13-16, 9 am-4 pm

Click here to register

Ages 9-11: Tues-Fri, Aug 13-16, 9 am-4 pm

Click here to register

 

WATCH THIS SPACE – MORE NATURE EDUCATION PROGRAMS COMING SOON!

Stage Nature Center is operated by the Troy Nature Society, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in Troy, MI. Please consider donating today!