Coming Up Next

Whether it’s an annual event like Maple Sugar Festival, a special exhibit at the Visitor Center, or a hike with the Preschool Explorers, there’s something for everyone at KNC. You may register in advance or at the KNC Visitor Center or Welcome Station when you arrive for a number of programs. In some cases, such as workshops like Returning & Reskilling, registration is required so we can plan for materials.

Monthly Weekly Daily List
May 2026
young children walking in forest on a nature program

Preschool Explorers

Come dressed to explore the outdoors while developing early childhood readiness skills. Each week participants will enjoy a nature inspired program based on a monthly theme with a story, a movement activity and a craft. Learn more about this popular program and register here > Fee: $8/Member child, $10/Non-Member child, 1 adult included in price.…
26 May
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Kalamazoo Nature Center
Kalamazoo Nature Center
Pesticide training garlic mustard kalamazoo nature center

CANCELLED: Certified Pesticide Applicators – Continuing Education Workshop

THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN CANCELLED   Thursday, May 28, 8:00am-5:00pm in-person (8:30am-12:30pm virtual option)  Audience: This workshop is intended for private and commercial licensed pesticide applicators in need of continuing education credits (MDARD Pesticide CEU)  Meet: Cooper’s Glen Auditorium and MS Teams Virtual option (morning only)  Join KNC’s professional licensed pesticide applicators to review topics related to the MDARD…
28 May
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Kalamazoo Nature Center
Kalamazoo Nature Center
River Guardians

FULL: Kalamazoo River Guardians

THIS EVENT IS AT CAPACITY Are you looking for an opportunity to better understand your local watershed? Become a Kalamazoo River Guardian! Working with a team of experts, participants will help sample parts of the Kalamazoo River watershed and its local tributaries for macroinvertebrates (water bugs). Samples will be brought back to the lab to…
30 May
9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Merrill Park
5845 Comstock Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49048
Music mornings Kalamazoo nature center

Music Mornings with Sara

Saturday, May 30 10-11 am  Audience: All Ages  Connect your family with nature through music! Opera singer Sara Emerson will lead a whimsical sing along, perfect for young ears and voices. After our musical journey, we’ll go on a brief walk and say hello to nature!    Fee: Member Family $12, Non-Member Family $15. Please register >  
30 May
10:00 am - 11:00 pm
Kalamazoo Nature Center
Kalamazoo Nature Center
Wetland Wonders kalamazoo nature center michigan

Wetland Wonders 

Saturday, May 30, Noon-3 pm Audience: All Ages Meet: Cooper’s Glen Auditorium  Swamps, bogs, marshes, fens… we love these marvels of our local ecology, but how well do you know your neighborhood wetlands? Learn about the wetlands here at KNC and take part in some exciting citizen science to sample and identify some of our wetland inhabitants.  Fee: Included in…
30 May
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Kalamazoo Nature Center
Kalamazoo Nature Center
June 2026
young children walking in forest on a nature program

Preschool Explorers

Come dressed to explore the outdoors while developing early childhood readiness skills. Each week participants will enjoy a nature inspired program based on a monthly theme with a story, a movement activity and a craft. Learn more about this popular program and register here > Fee: $8/Member child, $10/Non-Member child, 1 adult included in price.…
02 Jun
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Kalamazoo Nature Center
Kalamazoo Nature Center

Homeschool: Explorations 

Homeschool families—come join the fun at the Kalamazoo Nature Center! Homeschool students can experience the excitement of a school field trip, complete with hands-on exploration and outdoor adventures.  This drop-off program is designed just for ages 5–9 and brings learning to life through nature-based activities. One month you might dig into our gravel pit while uncovering Michigan’s natural…
04 Jun
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Kalamazoo Nature Center
Kalamazoo Nature Center
Summer Exploration Kalamazoo Nature Center

Summer Exploration Series

Looking for ways to keep your brain going all summer long? The Summer Exploration series is a great way for elementary and middle school scientists to get involved in ecology alongside their grown-ups.   Register for June 4– Slime and Scales: Learn about salamanders, snakes, turtles, and all things cold-blooded  Register for June 18– Feathered Friends: The…
04 Jun
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Kalamazoo Nature Center
Kalamazoo Nature Center
turtle graduation party kalamazoo nature center

Partner Program: Turtle Graduation Party

This is a partner program with the Michigan Amphibian and Reptile Sanctuary All winter long, rescued baby turtles have been growing strong at the Michigan Amphibian and Reptile Sanctuary, but it’s finally time to graduate and be released into the wild!   Come meet this year’s graduating class of native turtles and learn more about the incredible work being done…
06 Jun
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Kalamazoo Nature Center
Kalamazoo Nature Center
nature journaling kalamazoo nature center

Nature Journaling

Immerse yourself in the art of slowing down, looking closely, and connecting more deeply with the natural world. These nature journaling workshops are designed for anyone—who wants to cultivate a mindful, creative practice that blends observation, writing, and sketching.  These workshops invite you to step outdoors (or view nature from a window) and tune in…
06 Jun
10:00 am - 11:30 am
Kalamazoo Nature Center
Kalamazoo Nature Center
Prairie Wildflower Walk kalamazoo nature center

Prairie Wildflower Walk

Travel our Emma Pitcher Prairie to learn about Michigan’s beautiful native prairie flowers and leave with a better understanding of the beautiful ecosystems that once covered our continent.     Meet: Visitor Center front desk Fee: Included in regular KNC admission; KNC Members free! Audience: All ages Date: Saturday, June 6 from 2:00 – 3:00PM
06 Jun
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Kalamazoo Nature Center
Kalamazoo Nature Center
Plein air art group kalamazoo nature center

Plein Air Art Group

Looking to relax and unwind with some outdoor art? Stop by for an informal plein air painting and sketching group to sketch the beautiful landscapes of the nature center. We’ll hike from the visitor center together, and learn a little about our ecosystems as we capture them on canvas.  Please bring your own art supplies.   June 7, 2026- Emma Pitcher Prairie…
07 Jun
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Kalamazoo Nature Center
Kalamazoo Nature Center
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Registration is now open for:

kid running in fall

Raptor Run 5K & Kids Run

Saturday, October 18, 2025
Registration required

Learn More >

Tricks & Trails

Friday, October 31, 2025

Learn More >

Sponsor an Event!

Whether your business operates locally, nationally, or globally, a sponsorship places you in front of our 5,600+ membership base and the greater Kalamazoo community. Read more >

Save the date for these annual events:

Raptor Run 5K & Kids Run

October 18, 2025
Learn More >

Tricks & Trails

Friday, October 31, 2025

Learn More >

Buy Local Art & Gift Fair

Buy Local Art & Gift Fair

December 6, 2025

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Maple Sugaring

Maple Sugar Festival

Saturday, March 7, 2026

Learn More >

Earth Day Celebration

Saturday, April 18, 2026

Learn More >

firefly

Firefly Night Hike

June 27, 2026
Learn More >

Terry Todd International Speaker Series

Terry Todd was an avid nature lover and longtime supporter of the Kalamazoo Nature Center and many other community organizations. She was an advocate for education and believed that people of all ages should never stop learning. The Terry Todd International Speaker Series was created by her family as a memorial to her and in recognition of her commitment to these ideals. This endowment fund invites dynamic individuals in the fields of nature and the environment to Kalamazoo to share their knowledge and passion with the community Terry loved.

Read more about upcoming and past Series events >