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
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

Camp Open House

Kick off a great summer at the Camp Open House! Is this your child’s first time at camp, or are they moving into a new age group? Come to Camp Open House! Tour the campgrounds, meet our friendly staff, and get a glimpse of what a day at camp is like. Kids can enjoy fun…
04 Jun
5:00 pm - 6:00 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
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.…
09 Jun
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Kalamazoo Nature Center
Kalamazoo Nature Center

Sprouts Summer Session Begins

With the start of summer just around the corner, we’re ready for another season of discovery! Our Sprouts program is perfect for young children aged 3 and under, with their caregivers to get outside and explore. Sprouts will meet at Stryker Nature Preserve, 2315 Angling Road in Kalamazoo. On Wednesdays for 6 weeks; we will gather to explore, climb, get…
10 Jun
10:00 am - 11:30 am
Stryker Nature Preserve
Silver maples delano farm

Silver Maples: Welcome to DeLano Farm

Summer is here on the farm! Come take a tour of the farm at KNC’s historic homestead, and learn about what lets an organic farm like ours stay growing year after year. After, we’ll enjoy some of this year’s harvest together!  Date: June 11, 11:00AM – 1:00PM Audience: This program is geared for adults 50 and up, but all ages are…
11 Jun
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
DeLano Homestead
DeLano Homestead
kalamazoo nature center river

Forest to Shore Lecture Series

KNC is proud to partner with the Michigan Maritime Museum for a series of exciting lectures about our Great Lakes!  Please click on each date to register: Thursday, June 11, 2026– Commercial Fishing on Lake Michigan – From Gill Nets to Grog explores the rich, often gritty history of one of the Great Lakes’ most important…
11 Jun
6:30 pm - 7:30 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

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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
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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

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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 >