In this hands-on workshop, Meg Gower will teach basic survival skills.   Learn how to navigate, make fire without matches, create shelter, signal, and more.  Program geared to ages 10 to adult. 

Cost: $2/person or $5/family. Eddy Discovery Center

Program limited to 30 participants.  Call to reserve a space at 734-475-3170. Include your name, phone, and number of people attending.

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

Local crane enthusiast Bill Wells will present this program at the Discovery Center with a short discussion of Sandhill Cranes and their fascinating behaviors.  We will also view a short documentary on Sandhill Cranes.  Afterwards, a map of Sandhill Crane viewing areas will be provided for a self-guided driving tour to view cranes in the fields around the Waterloo Recreation Area.  Visitors can expect to see some of these magnificent birds at close range.  Bring binoculars and cameras.

Cost: $2/person or $5/family. Eddy Discovery Center

Please register in advance at 734-475-3170. Include your name, phone, and number of people attending.

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

Together with a naturalist from the Leslie Science Center you will construct a live food chain as you meet different, live animals up close. Along the way you’ll discuss how these animals' lives are connected and learn about the delicate balance that allows them to survive both individually and together as wildlife who share a habitat.

Cost: $2/person or $5/family. Eddy Discovery Center

Program limited to 50 participants.  Call to reserve a space at 734-475-3170. Include your name, phone, and number of people attending.

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

What’s so appealing about North America’s largest swallow?  Their populations have declined 24% since 1970.  Join Doug Jackson, Michigan Master Naturalist, to learn how humans have been both helping and hurting conservation efforts.   He’ll discuss how & why you can (& should) help with Purple Martin, and other birds, conservation.  Program geared to ages 10 to adult

Cost: $2/person or $5/family. Eddy Discovery Center

Program limited to 30 participants.  Call to reserve a space at 734-475-3170. Include your name, phone, and number of people attending.

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

Come search the woods to find and collect fall mushrooms!  Afterwards, mushroom experts Phil Tedeschi and Kirk Coppernoll will look at your collection and identify those that are edible and those that are poisonous.  Bring a basket or paper bag and waxed paper for collecting.

Cost: $2/person or $5/family. Eddy Discovery Center

Program limited to 35 participants.  Call to reserve a space at 734-475-3170. Include your name, phone, and number of people attending.

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

Francie Krawcke of Michigan Avian Experience will bring several raptors including hawks, a turkey vulture & an eagle, and discuss how & why they migrate. 

Cost: $2/person or $5/family. Eddy Discovery Center

Please register in advance at 734-475-3170. Include your name, phone, and number of people attending.

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

Join naturalist Robert Ayotte for an investigation of fall flora in the vicinity of the Eddy Discovery Center. We’ll look at asters, goldenrods, sunflowers, spotted coralroot orchids, and discuss just about anything that is blooming or fruiting at this time of year. Be prepared for about a 2.5 mile of easy walking along the trails. Bring a loupe (hand lens) or borrow one from the Eddy Discovery Center. 

Cost: $2/person or $5/family. Eddy Discovery Center

Program limited to 16 participants.  Call to reserve a space at 734-475-3170. Include your name, phone, and number of people attending.

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

It’s not often that you encounter a sloth, an armadillo, or a hedgehog in Michigan!  Join us for an afternoon of hands-on interactions with these and other unusual animals brought to you by the Creature Conservancy.  Learn about their habits, characteristics, and how they survive in their native land. 

Cost: $2/person or $5/family. Eddy Discovery Center

Seating limited, so please register in advance at 734-475-3170. Include your name, phone, and number of people attending.

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

Waterloo's chestnut oaks have remained a mystery for over 50 years.  Enjoy a leisurely nature hike with Michigan Master Naturalist Doug Jackson to learn about these rare trees and how he began and completed his quest to find them.  We will meet at the Discovery Center for a brief presentation and then carpool to the site where we will begin our hike. 

Cost: $2/person or $5/family. Eddy Discovery Center

Program limited to 20 participants.  Call to reserve a space at 734-475-3170. Include your name, phone, and number of people attending.

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

Join us for an entertaining, hands-on program presented by Brendan Finerty from Jackson’s Wild World Adventure.  You will get a close-up look at a wide variety of live animals from around the globe – from the hottest desert to the deepest jungles to the highest mountains.

Cost: $2/person or $5/family. Eddy Discovery Center

Seating limited, so please register in advance at 734-475-3170. Include your name, phone, and number of people attending.

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

Here is your opportunity to learn about the wildflowers popping up in our local forests right now.  After a short program indoors where you will find out why these plants produce flowers in the spring, Robert Ayotte will lead a walk along the Discovery Center trails to see what is budding and blooming.  Hand lenses will be useful.

Cost: $2/person or $5/family. Eddy Discovery Center

Program limited to 20 participants. Call to reserve a space at 734-475-3170. Include your name, phone, and number of people attending.

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

Do you know how to tell if that buzzing insect flying around your head or nesting in your house is a bee, wasp, or fly?  Join Becky Green, Beekeeper and Certified Pollinator Champion to learn how to spot the difference, and then try your hand at doing so with the Bee or Wanna Bee challenge.  You will also learn to identify the most common bees that you might find taking up residence in or close to your home, to help you know when to call your local honey bee expert for help!  Becky will also have some of her local honey available for sale.

Cost: $2/person or $5/family. Eddy Discovery Center

Please register by calling 734-475-3170. Include your name, phone, and number of people attending.

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

Come and meet many of the fascinating and little-known creatures that live in our spring ponds – from delicate fairy shrimp to ferocious diving beetles.  No boots required, as we will be viewing these in our special “pour-a-ponds” outside on the deck. Wildlife educator Megan Lotz will provide magnifying glasses and help you identify these tiny animals. 

Cost: $2/person or $5/family. Eddy Discovery Center

Please register by calling 734-475-3170. Include your name, phone, and number of people attending.

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

Join us for an entertaining and educational wildlife program as Randy Baker from Naturalist Endeavors brings you a variety of live animals from North, South and Central America.  Learn about their life cycles, adaptations for survival, habitats, and how they fit in with the plants and animals around them.

Cost: $2/person or $5/family. Eddy Discovery Center

Seating limited, so please register in advance at 734-475-3170. Include your name, phone, and number of people attending.

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

Join naturalist Carol Strahler this evening for a lively presentation featuring frogs, salamanders, and quivering masses of eggs from local ponds.   Find out how you can recognize frogs by their calls.  The program will be followed by a walk to a nearby pond to see and hear frogs singing in the night.  Bring a flashlight and dress for the weather. 

Cost: $2/person or $5/family. Eddy Discovery Center

Please register by calling 734-475-3170. Include your name, phone, and number of people attending.

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

Who wants to come home after a wonderful day outside to find a tick attached to them or their furry companion? NO ONE! Ticks unfortunately love the Michigan outdoors too, and the risk of tick-borne diseases is increasing. Come learn about these creatures and how to avoid them, so that you can continue to enjoy the great outdoors.

Cost: $2/person or $5/family. Eddy Discovery Center

Please register by calling 734-475-3170. Include your name, phone, and number of people attending.

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

TWO SHOWS: 1:30 and 3:00

Nature Discovery will present a fun and educational program about snakes and turtles that can be found in our state. Observe these intriguing creatures up close as you learn about their diverse life styles and survival skills. Following the program, you will have the opportunity to handlesome of these gentle reptiles.

Cost: $2/person or $5/family. Eddy Discovery Center

Please register by calling 734-475-3170. Include your name, phone, and number of people attending.

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

Saturday, March 9, 2024

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

It’s time for that traditional rite of spring – tapping maple trees.  Take a guided walk to see various methods of collecting sap, and learn how to boil it down to make syrup.  Antique equipment for making syrup will be on display from the Waterloo Farm Museum, and maple products will be available for purchase.  

Free admission.

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

Bring your child to the Discovery Center to paint a birdhouse for your garden. Steve Rogacki has donated wren houses for this event which were made in his woodshop. Paint and supplies will be provided. This workshop is appropriate for children ages seven and up and parents must attend with them. Dress for painting!

Cost: $4 supply fee per birdhouse. Limit 2 per family. Program fees apply for non members. Cost: $2/person or $5/family.

15 Birdhouses available. Please register in advance at waterloonha@gmail.com. Include your name, phone, and number of birdhouses you are requesting.

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

Naturalist Robert Ayotte will lead a walk along the Discovery Center trails to find out about life in the forest in winter. Learn how to recognize some of our native plants and how they are adapted to survive the frigid temperatures. We will search for signs of animals, including their tracks if there is snow on the ground. Dress for the weather, and be prepared for icy trails.

Cost: $2/person or $5/family. Eddy Discovery Center

Please register at waterloonha@gmail.com. Include your name, phone, and number of people attending.

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

From frozen frogs to floating fairies and fragile fingernail clams, Master Naturalist Doug Jackson shares the wonders of our enchanted woodland pools. Learn about the fascinating creatures that inhabit these pools and find out how you can participate in a statewide program collecting data about them. Your data will help to protect these often overlooked, yet delicate and important, ecosystems referred to as the coral reefs of the Midwest.

Free admission

Please register at waterloonha@gmail.com. Include your name, phone, and number of people attending.

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

Bring the family and challenge yourselves to an afternoon adventure in the forest with outdoor enthusiast Meg Gower. Winter is a great time of year for learning how to use a compass to find your way in the woods. This program is suitable for all ages and skill levels. Compasses will be provided or bring your own.

Cost: $2/person or $5/family. Eddy Discovery Center

Please register at waterloonha@gmail.com. Include your name, phone, and number of people attending.

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

Our annual member meeting is back after an extended hiatus. Mark your calendars for a WNHA Dessert Party on Sunday, November 12 at 2:00PM!

The Annual Membership Meeting is an opportunity for us to thank you, our members, for your support throughout the year, as well as getting a little board business done such as voting on board members and officers. The meeting will include an exclusive animal program available only to members and their guests. Bill and Terri Neill from Science Alive have promised to bring some of their coolest animals to entertain us for a unique program designed just for us. Cookies and beverages will be provided!

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

Local crane enthusiast Bill Wells will begin this program at the Discovery Center with a short discussion of Sandhill Cranes and their fascinating behaviors. Afterwards, he will lead a driving tour to view cranes in the fields around the Waterloo Recreation Area. Visitors can expect to see some of these magnificent birds at close range. Bring binoculars and cameras.

Cost: $2/person or $5/family. Eddy Discovery Center

Please register in advance at 734-475-3170.

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

Join Rachel Mifsud from Will Forage for Food on a walk through the woods to discover what Mother Nature has to offer this fall.  You will learn about edible, medicinal, and otherwise useful plants and mushrooms that can be found in the Waterloo area. 

Cost: $2/person or $5/family. Eddy Discovery Center

Please register in advance at 734-475-3170.

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

Here is an opportunity to learn how to capture great images, whether you are using your cellphone or a DSLR camera. Photographer Thomas Nighswander, who specializes in State and National Parks photography, will begin this workshop indoors followed by a walk on the trails for hands-on practice with your camera. The focus will be on what creates a great photograph, how to see with a creative eye, and how your camera can best capture those special moments. Bring your own camera or cell phone.

Cost: $2/person or $5/family. Eddy Discovery Center

Program limited to 25 people.  Call to reserve a space at 734-475-3170. 

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

Survival at its finest!  Francie Krawcke of Michigan Avian Experience will bring live raptors to demonstrate their remarkable survival adaptations and behaviors.  Enjoy a close-up look at these magnificent birds.

Cost: $2/person or $5/family. Eddy Discovery Center

Please register in advance at 734-475-3170.

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

In this hands-on workshop, Meg Gower will show you traditional ways to navigate, as well as basic survival skills.   Learn how to make fire without matches, build a shelter, locate water, signal, and more.  Program geared to ages 10 to adult.

Cost: $2/person or $5/family. Eddy Discovery Center

Program limited to 30 people. Call to reserve a space at 734-475-3170.

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI

Come search the woods to find and collect fall mushrooms! Afterwards, mushroom experts Phil Tedeschi and Kirk Coppernoll will look at your collection and identify those that are edible and those that are poisonous. Bring a basket or paper bag and waxed paper for collecting.

Cost: $2/person or $5/family. Eddy Discovery Center

Program limited to 35 people. Call to reserve a space at 734-475-3170.

All events held at the Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea, MI