Chippewa Nature Center Inc

Programs: Department of programs: since 1966, chippewa nature center's program staff has offered exciting and relevant programs that enable people of all ages to connect to the natural world. The 2017 year was cnc's first full year as a single department of programs, and the collaboration and support that has stemmed from that has been amazing. Cnc programs are designed to connect all people, in all stages of life, with nature in meaningful ways. We do this through a wide variety of program formats, locations and topics, and 2017 was another year of growth and connection. Drop-in experiences build connections cnc trails are open dawn-to-dark every day, and the visitor center is open seven days a week, with the exception of four holidays. While quantifying trail users is difficult, we welcomed a record number of 22,102 guests to the visitor center. Free drop-in programs continue to be the foundation of cnc's interpretive program offerings, and are attended by a mix of returning guests and first-time visitors. We welcomed 152 visitors to wee stroll, a program designed for our youngest visitors (6 months-2 years old) and their caregivers to connect with nature. Story hours are geared for the next older age group ranging from 2-5 years old, and had 995 participants in 2017. Beyond the drop-in preschool programs, over 250 adult and family programs were offered in 2017, serving nearly 5,100 people. Those programs covered topics including: bird walks, wildflower hikes, maple syrup programs, life on an 1870s farm, bird banding, native american life, full moon walks, archaeology, animals tracks, salamander searches, golf cart tours, snake programs and much, much more homestead sundays, a unique sunday afternoon drop-in program at the homestead farm, continues to be popular with 1,399 visitors in 2017. This was our first full season with the timber frame barn and livestock pen improvements, both of which enhanced the visitor experience. This year, under the leadership of seasonal staff, 12 dedicated volunteers donated more than 328 hours of their time leading tours and hands-on activities, conducting demonstrations and working in the garden. The homestead garden has continued to thrive and provide fresh produce to the midland county emergency food pantry network. Immersive programs develop a connection to nature for all ages many visitors choose to spend more time learning, growing and experiencing the natural world through registered programs that enhance and support their connection to nature. Field trips are immersive experiences that give visitors the opportunity to paddle local rivers, bird the saginaw bay, try voyageur canoeing, enjoy history tours by golf cart, kayak the moose country of the upper peninsula and snowshoe along the au sable river. Over 200 people participated in 28 field trips. Workshops provide hands-on opportunities to build connections by helping participants learn a new skill and also appreciate the resources of nature. Workshops were offered on a wide range of topics including nature photography, hand-spinning, aquatic biology, basket making, making maple syrup, soap making and decorative gourd making. The 6th annual nature preschool institute in june gave 16 early childhood education professionals a chance to explore cnc's nature-based program. Birthday parties provide a fun way for children to celebrate their special day in the most fun environment around - the natural world in 2017, 175 children attended birthday parties hosted by a cnc educator. School and scout programs provide a valuable opportunity for students to learn in a hands-on, inquiry-based atmosphere. We provide programs both at cnc and in classrooms. In 2017, 13,277 students were guided through more than 20 on-site programs and nine off-site options. Through four at home with nature 3-class series, 236 homeschool students had the opportunity to connect with nature in a variety of fun, educational programs. We welcomed 509 cub scouts and girl scouts for a variety of programs that support their connection to nature through the scouting advancement programs. Nature kindergarten and nature first grade continue to be a success story. The 2017-18 school year marked the 6th year of this partnership with bullock creek schools, with four sections of kindergarten at floyd elementary and one section at pine river elementary, in addition to three sections of nature first grade at floyd elementary. All of these classes are now nature-based with a cnc educator working closely with the teachers to develop curriculum. In addition to weekly visits to first grade, a cnc educator visits every classroom at floyd elementary on a monthly basis. Nature preschool has seen a lot of growth in recent years. During the 2016 -17 school year, nature preschool enrolled 136 children. Classes are held at the margaret (ranny) riecker nature preschool building and nature study building. We continue to operate with funding from the great start readiness grant from the michigan department of education for 21 at-risk 4 -year olds to attend nature preschool at no cost to the family. In addition, we have funding from the great start collaborative for at-risk 3 -year olds, and cnc offers scholarships to families that may not qualify for these funding sources, but have a financial need for tuition assistance. We are grateful to the charles j. Strosacker foundation and the dow chemical company for their financial support to keep this scholarship program running. This allows us to continue our mission to make nature preschool accessible to a great diversity of economic backgrounds. Nature day camp had a record year in 2017 - we served 1027 campers, the most ever, over 8 weeks of camp. Fifty-eight children participated in camp as part of a grant through bullock creek schools, and another 71 students received scholarships for a session of camp. For the first time, camp provided a before and after care program at the homestead farm serving 66 children and their families. For the second consecutive summer, we offered two sessions of leaders-in-training, which continues to support and encourage campers to transition into high-quality cnc teen volunteers and future staff members. Once again, we offered exploring nature together for typically developing children and their peers on the autism spectrum. This year's session has 8 campers. With a capacity of 1,150 spots, ndc was 90. 5% full. We had 195 kids on waitlists for various sessions, including preschool camps (nature tots and tiny trailblazers especially), camps for older on-site campers (especially adventure camp and survival village) and adventure trips (each session had a waitlist, but the south manitou and north manitou trips had the longest waitlists). Eighty- four teens participated in the counselor-in-training (cit) program, logging 5,806 service hours. Cits assist counselors with set-up and clean-up, play games and do crafts with the kids, lead lunchtime activates and act as role models throughout the day. New exhibits keep things fresh a new look to the entry-way of the homestead farm and arboretum was established in 2017. Through the diligent work of the land & facilities, marketing and programs departments, visitors to that area are now welcomed by a cnc-branded kiosk with information and maps of these two unique areas. A trip to the resource building will now give visitors the opportunity to learn more about land management at cnc. While stopping for a drink, visitors can learn about the invasive species we battle and the amazing results we see when they are controlled. Once again, this exhibit was developed through the coorperative effort of land & facilities, marketing and programs. Looking forward as we look toward the future, we are excited to continue to offer high quality, meaningful nature experiences for all of our visitors. Through new and expanding partnerships with local schools, connections with local businesses and the support of our community, chippewa nature center's mission is being fulfilled on a daily basis.

land and facilities: in 2017, chippewa nature center's land & facilities department continued to support and provide opportunities for engagement witht he natural world. The team worked to improve access to the nature center's rich natural areas and restore ecosystems through a variety of land management practices, while also maintaining state of the art facilities for the benefit of guests from around the region. Improving visitor experience at the wetlands area this summer, a two-story observation tower was installed at the wetlands area. The tower was gifted to cnc from the herbert h. And grace a. Dow foundation in preparation for the dow gardens whiting forest canopy walk and connectivity project. Additional funding to install the tower at cnc was provided by the herbert h. And grace a. Dow foundation, the harry a. And margaret d. Towsley foundation, and midland area community foundation and consumers energy foundation. The 33-foot tall observation tower will have a significant impact on cnc's diverse educational programming, as well as for everyday visitors. The lower level of the tower has universal access to those with limited mobility, with a ramp leading to a 21-foot by 24-foot viewing platform. Visitors can access the upper lever of the tower by stairs. Access to muskrat marsh improved with a new floating classroom dock, made possible through a grant from the michigan baseball foundation. 100-year flood in june the great lakes bay region was affected by historic flooding in june when 5 1/2" of rain fell in one night following a week of steady rains. Major impacts at cnc included the flooding of the nature study building, bent still-arms at the universal access dock, a portion of homestead road washed out, arboretum trees that died and debris that needed to be cleaned off cnc trails. Trails were back in order and the universal dock was repaired with a week and while we lost access to the nature study building for nature day camp, the building was ready for the first day of preschool on september 11. Improving access to nature: two new ramps were built on each side of the east chippewa trail bridge to correct significant frost heaving that has occurred over the last several years. The sugar bush trail at the east end of the six-island pond and a trail paralleling homestead road in the beech/maple forest were re-routed due to high numbers of ash trees affected by emeral ash borer. In order to improve trail access during wet seasons, additional reroutes were added in may. One was created in the oxbow to bypass a low muddy spot that often stays wet well into june. This trail work included the addition of a 20' boardwalk passing between the oxbow and a seasonally flooded maple forested area. A second reroute was completed in the beech/maple forest to bypass a wet area that is often wet until june. Other areas of cnc's trails have also been improved by adding culverts and gravel. The river trail should now be accessible year-round, with the exception of during major flooding. Dale johnson, an eagle scout, enhanced the spur trail between the chippewa trail and the wetlands area parking lot by reconstructing the boardwalk and adding gravel. Orientation signs were updated at major intersections of the river trail and new wayfinding signs were added to the chippewa trail in conjunction with a city of midland project to enhance signage for walking and biking paths throughout the city. Paddlers now have improved accedd to the chippewa river on homestead road thanks to the addition of a dock and landing area, made possible through the support of mike and laurie witt. A 32' gangway helps reduce erosion, and provide safer access to the dock and river. Land management improves the ecosystems control of invasive exotic plants to be a major focus in 2017. In total, 407 acres were treated to control the spread of these invaders. Cnc was able to treat all phragmites and most of the japanese knotweek found on the property through support from the saginaw bay cooperative invasive species management area. Additional brush hogging in the winter helped control shrubby invasive exotic plants in cnc's open areas and allowed the summer crew to focus on the wooded and shrubby areas that are high priority. In addition, a total of 46 deer were harvested on cnc property by five cnc-selected volunteers during the season. Itc transmission earned the grasslands project award for its native plant restoration work on the transmissio corridor crossing chippewa nature center. Four applications of native seed mixes enhanced the existing native plant diversity in the itc electricity transmission corridor at the nature center from 2012-2016. These native species provide larval host plants, nectar and pollen sources throughout the growing season and nesting and cover materials for native pollinators. Itc has conducted annual invasive species treatments within the chippewa nature center transmission corridor since 2010 through mowing, hand-pulling, seed head colling, foliar and cut-stump herbicide applications, and biological control to encourage the establishment of native forbs, graminoids and shrubs most beneficial to native pollinators. Cnc was excited to be awarded a michigan dnr wildlife grant for 2018-19. This grant will enable cnc to continue to enhance its open areas using prescribed burns and planting wildflowers. Work will start in 2018 to create openings in shrubby areas where invasive plants have taken hold, and allow for the planning of natie trees and shrubs to help restore the areas. Maple syrup season - due to warm weather early, sap collecting started on february 17 and ended on april 3. In total, 36 gallons of maple syrup was made. Arboretum - although 73 trees died (mostly as a result of the june flood), it was a good year in the arboretum. New trees and shrus were planted, the wildflower plantings from 2016 increased diversity in the area (even though they also were hit hard by the flood). There are now 79 species of trees and 26 species of shrubs represented in the arboretum. Also, 149 new specimen tree tags were ordered and they will be placed on trees by next spring. A new entrance sign built at the homestead trail highlights the homestead area and arboretum.

volunteers and outreach: outreach the department of volunteers and outreach continues to share cnc's mission to individuals and families in the great lakes bay region (glbr) through our involvement in various community events, career fairs and collaborative events with other organizations. In 2017, this department participated in 39 events, some of which include the mt. Pleasant discovery museum's day of play, dow bay area family ymca's healthy kids' day event, riverdays, parkapalooza, kids' day at the mall, clare family fun day, great lakes bay stem festival and several career fairs. Events provide us with the opportunity to promote the nature center throughout the glbr while providing simple, hands-on experiences to those visiting our booth. Volunteers for over 50 years, volunteers have played a significant role at cnc, from our founding board of directors to those individuals who spent endless hours removing barbwire and building the homestead buildings to the cits helping with nature day camp and many individuals that help make all of our special events a success. Volunteers of all ages assist cnc staff with a wide range of projects, festivals and activities. Chippewa nature center would like to express our sincere gratitude and a heartfelt "thank you" to the 891 volunteers that shared their time (a total of 13,709. 25 hours), talents and expertise at cnc during 2017. The names of the individuals that provided volunteer support throughout the center during 2017 are listed in this report. Again, a sincere thank you to all our volunteers throughout the years for your hard work and dedication to our programs, mission and vision. We couldn't do it without you