Name: Preschool Explorers
Start: 2026-04-28
End: 2026-04-28
Location: Kalamazoo Nature Center

Calendar of Events

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.

KNC Members receive discounts on programs all year! Learn more about Membership here >

Financial assistance is available; please email Register@NatureCenter.org for details

March events at KNC — View & Print the March Calendar of Events

Calendar Key:

Pre-Registration Required

Pre-Register or Drop In

Program included with regular KNC admission

Free Program includes free KNC admission

Holiday/Special Hours

April

May 2026

June

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28 Preschool Explorers Preschool Explorers 10:00 am - 11:00 am 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 ch , ...
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2 Tai Chi With Ed Kehoe Tai Chi With Ed Kehoe 10:00 am - 11:00 am Saturday, May 2, 10-11 am Audience: Adults Meet: Glen Vista Gallery Start your morning with a relaxing Tai Chi program ideal for participants of all skill levels. Tai Chi is a great way to relax, recenter, and connect yourself with your body. Bring clothes for gentle movement! Fee: Members $12, Non-Members $15 Please , ... Nature Journaling Nature Journaling 10:00 am - 11:30 am 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 , ... Life in the Kalamazoo River Life in the Kalamazoo River 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Saturday, May 2, 2-3 pm Audience: All Ages Meet: Visitor Center Lobby The Kalamazoo river is a huge part of our ecosystem, shaping the land while providing valuable habitat to our native wildlife. We’ll hike out to take a closer look in the water, and learn about the history and inhabitants of our watershed. Fee: , ...

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5 Preschool Explorers Preschool Explorers 10:00 am - 11:00 am 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 ch , ...
6 Birding the Kleinstuck Preserve Birding the Kleinstuck Preserve 8:00 am Wednesdays, May 6 & May 13, 8 am Meet: Maple Street YMCA parking area next to tennis courts, walk to Kleinstuck Preserve Audience: Teens & Adults Join KNC research staff John Brenneman as he performs his survey for spring migratory birds. Limited supply of Binoculars will be available to borrow. This program , ...
7 Virtual Butterfly Monitor Training Virtual Butterfly Monitor Training 11:00 am - 1:00 pm KNC’s Michigan Butterfly Network (MiBN) welcomes you for a virtual butterfly monitor training. Butterflies are indicators of the quality and health of entire ecosystems, and monitoring their abundance is critical for informing conservation work. Anyone with an interest in butterflies can contribute to MiBN monitoring a , ... Silver Maples: Keep Moving with Dr. Spitsbergen Silver Maples: Keep Moving with Dr. Spitsbergen 11:00 am - 1:00 pm Thursday, May 7, 11 am – 1 pm Audience: Geared for Adults 50+, but all are welcome Our nervous systems are complex and dynamic, changing over our lifetimes as we grow and move. Dr. Spitsbergen is a WMU scientist, and is part of a lab that studies the ways that movement and exercise have tangible effects on our nervo , ... Homeschool: Explorations Homeschool: Explorations 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm 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 , ...
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9 Birding with the Pros Birding with the Pros 8:00 am - 9:30 am Saturday, May 9 & Tuesday, May 12, 8-9:30 am Audience: Adults Meet: Sundial, Visitor Center Parking Lot Join an expert birder for a guided morning hike. Listen and watch for spring migrants returning to Michigan and learn techniques to be a better birder.  All skill levels are welcome.  Bring your own binoculars o , ... Story Corner Story Corner 10:00 am - 11:00 am Story Corner Saturdays, February 14, March 14, April 11, & May 9, 10-11 am Join us once a month for a picture book story time featuring a selection of nature-themed books perfect for little explorers. We’ll follow our book with a gentle hike if weather permits, so be sure to bundle up! February 14- Moon Song, Mic , ... Salamander Walk Salamander Walk 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Saturday, May 9, 2-3 pm Audience: All Ages Meet: Visitor Center Lobby Have you ever wondered what our slimy friends get up to in the leaf litter? Come learn about the salamanders and newts of Michigan, and take a look at some of the habitats these enigmatic critters call home. Fee: Included in regular KNC admissio , ...

10 Family Wildflower Walk & Workshop Family Wildflower Walk & Workshop 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Family Wildflower Walk & Workshop Sunday, May 10, 10 am – 1 pm Spend time bonding with your loved ones, and celebrate the spring blossoming around us. We’ll take a walk through our Emma Pritcher Prairie to observe the blossoming wildflowers of spring, and take time after to create our own pressed-flower cand , ... Partner Program: Walking Through Grief Partner Program: Walking Through Grief 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Walking Through Grief Sunday, March 8, April 12, & May 10, 2-3:30 pm Fee: Free, drop in program Meet: Main KNC Parking Lot Partner program with Centrica Care: Walkers of all fitness levels are invited to make connections with others and grow through grief at this monthly social support walking group. Learn more a , ...
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12 Birding with the Pros Birding with the Pros 8:00 am - 9:30 am Saturday, May 9 & Tuesday, May 12, 8-9:30 am Audience: Adults Meet: Sundial, Visitor Center Parking Lot Join an expert birder for a guided morning hike. Listen and watch for spring migrants returning to Michigan and learn techniques to be a better birder.  All skill levels are welcome.  Bring your own binoculars o , ... Preschool Explorers Preschool Explorers 10:00 am - 11:00 am 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 ch , ...
13 Birding the Kleinstuck Preserve Birding the Kleinstuck Preserve 8:00 am Wednesdays, May 6 & May 13, 8 am Meet: Maple Street YMCA parking area next to tennis courts, walk to Kleinstuck Preserve Audience: Teens & Adults Join KNC research staff John Brenneman as he performs his survey for spring migratory birds. Limited supply of Binoculars will be available to borrow. This program , ...
14 Foraging the Edible Wilderness Foraging the Edible Wilderness 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm Foraging the Edible Wilderness Thursday 5/14 5:00-6:30pm; Saturday 5/16 10:00-11:30am Meet: Visitor Center Main Parking Lot Sundial Join KNC staff to learn some foraging basics of spring. Grab your basket and enjoy finding the edible treasures around us on a guided hike. Dress for the weather as this program will be , ...
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16 The Poetry of Steve Brown The Poetry of Steve Brown 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Saturday, May 16, 10 am – Noon Meet: Auditorium Steve Brown of Kalamazoo is a poet who writes with “the eye of a reporter, the touch of a painter and the heart of a storyteller.” Steve will be reading from his latest book, News of Need (2025), capturing more than 40 portraits of people and natural lands , ... Foraging the Edible Wilderness Foraging the Edible Wilderness 10:00 am - 11:30 am Foraging the Edible Wilderness Thursday 5/14 5:00-6:30pm; Saturday 5/16 10:00-11:30am Meet: Visitor Center Main Parking Lot Sundial Join KNC staff to learn some foraging basics of spring. Grab your basket and enjoy finding the edible treasures around us on a guided hike. Dress for the weather as this program will be , ... Science Speaks: Science and Art Collaborations to Foster Environmental Engagement Science Speaks: Science and Art Collaborations to Foster Environmental Engagement 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Saturday, May 16, 2-3 pm Meet: Auditorium Join WMU professors Jacklyn Brickman and Sharon Gill for a discussion of the ways that art and science overlap and strengthen one another. We’ll talk about ecology, expression, and the ways we can use art to connect with our ecosystems. Fee: Included in regular KNC admission , ...

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19 Preschool Explorers Preschool Explorers 10:00 am - 11:00 am 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 ch , ...
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21 Homeschool: Wander and Wonder Homeschool: Wander and Wonder 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm Thursdays, March 19, April 16, & May 21, 1:30-3:30 pm Homeschool students will dive into a new theme through guided hikes, engaging storytelling, hands-on nature observation, and creative journaling. With a blend of writing and artwork, students will sharpen their observation skills while building a deeper connect , ...
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23 SOLD OUT: Soap Making Workshop SOLD OUT: Soap Making Workshop 10:00 am - 12:00 pm THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT Saturday, May 23, 10 am – Noon Meet: Classroom Audience: Adults Fan favorite Molly Appeldoorn is back with a beginner’s lesson on crafting simple soaps from raw ingredients. Learn the traditional ways of soapmaking and get expert advice on how to tune your soap to your needs. Fee: Membe , ... Discover KNC Guided Hike Discover KNC Guided Hike 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Discover KNC Guided Hikes Saturdays, February 28, April 25 and May 23, 2-3 pm Fee: Included in regular KNC admission; KNC Members free! Drop-in program. Audience: All Ages Explore KNC on a guided hike through some of our favorite areas. Each month will feature a different trail, taking you through our greatest hits , ...

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26 Preschool Explorers Preschool Explorers 10:00 am - 11:00 am 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 ch , ...
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28 Certified Pesticide Applicators – Continuing Education Workshop Certified Pesticide Applicators – Continuing Education Workshop 8:00 am - 5:00 pm 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 p , ...
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30 Kalamazoo River Guardians Kalamazoo River Guardians 9:00 am - 2:00 pm 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 , ... Music Mornings w/ Sara Music Mornings w/ Sara 10:00 am - 11:00 pm 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. Plea , ... Wetland Wonders Wetland Wonders 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm 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 , ...

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4 Homeschool: Explorations Homeschool: Explorations 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm 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 , ... Summer Exploration Series Summer Exploration Series 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm 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-bloo , ...
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6 Partner Program: Turtle Graduation Party Partner Program: Turtle Graduation Party 9:00 am - 12:00 pm 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 lear , ... Nature Journaling Nature Journaling 10:00 am - 11:30 am 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 , ... Prairie Wildflower Walk Prairie Wildflower Walk 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm 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: Satur , ...