Name: Winter Camp: Cozy Critters
Start: 2025-12-30
End: 2025-12-30
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 for details

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

December

January 2026

February

SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
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30 Winter Camp: Cozy Critters Winter Camp: Cozy Critters 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Pre-K – Kindergarten (Ages 4-6): Half Day, 9 am – Noon Fee: $36 KNC members/$40 non-members Cozy Critters Tuesday, December 30, 9 am – Noon What do animals do when it gets cold outside? Some take a long nap, some move really slowly, and some keep playing in the snow! At camp, we’ll pretend to be winter animals, make co , ... Winter Camp: Winter Survival Winter Camp: Winter Survival 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Grades 1-5: Full Day, 9 am – 4 pm Fee: $54 KNC members/$60 non-members Winter Survival Tuesday, December 30, 9 am – 4 pm Have you ever wondered how animals survive the cold winter months? Some animals curl up for a long winter’s nap, some slow way down, and others stay active all season long! Join us as we explore the , ...
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1 Trails are Open w/Free Admission Trails are Open w/Free Admission 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Trails are open with FREE admission December 24, December 25, and January 1. The Visitor Center is closed. Please check the website and social media for weather updates on these days, as trails may be closed in inclement weather. The roads and lots will not be plowed during these days. Happy holidays from all of us at , ...
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3 Birds and Coffee Birds and Coffee 10:00 am - 12:30 pm Without the leaves on the trees, winter is an excellent time for birding. Come ring in the new year and warm up with a piping hot drink from Emergency Coffee Rescue at 10AM before hitting the trails on a guided bird walk Local partners will also be on-site with hands-on gear demos and expert advice. Stop by the tables , ... Getting Glacial Getting Glacial 2:00 pm - 2:00 pm Saturday, January 3 at 2 pm Audience: All Ages Meet: Visitor Center front desk Have you ever wondered about the striking topography found at KNC and across the Kalamazoo area? Come along for a hike through some of our most beautiful natural features and learn about the intense glacial forces that shaped this area into , ...

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6 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 centers, a story, a movement activity and a craft. Learn more about this popular program and register here > Fee: $8/Member child, $10/Non- , ...
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10 Story Corner Story Corner 10:00 am - 11:00 am Story Corner Saturdays, December 13, January 10, & February 14 at 10 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! December 13- Goodbye Autumn, H , ...

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13 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 centers, a story, a movement activity and a craft. Learn more about this popular program and register here > Fee: $8/Member child, $10/Non- , ...
14 Sprouts Winter Session Begins Sprouts Winter Session Begins 10:00 am - 11:30 am
15 Silver Maples: Sea Michigan with Mike Ricco Silver Maples: Sea Michigan with Mike Ricco 11:00 am - 1:00 pm Continual Motion, Observation, and Appreciation of Lake Michigan Shoreline Environments: Take a walk with Sea Michigan’s Mike Ricco This talk explores how Lake Michigan and its sand dunes were formed, the habitats they support, and why protecting this unique “Third Coast” is so important. Mike will also share stories , ...
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17 The Greens of Winter Walk The Greens of Winter Walk 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Saturday, January 17 at 2 pm Audience: All Ages Meet: Visitor Center front desk We might think of Winter as a season dominated by whites and browns, but our hardiest green photosynthetic life clings on all year round! Take a tour of the mosses and lichens of the woods and learn how these radically different organisms , ...

18 Yoga & Forest Bathing Yoga & Forest Bathing 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Sunday, January 18, 2-4 pm Audience: Adults Meet: Gallery in the visitor center Reconnect with yourself and with nature by joining us for a mindful session of yoga and shinrin yoku, the art and practice of forest bathing. Yoga will be gentle and perfect for all experience levels, followed by a guided meditative walk , ...
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20 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 centers, a story, a movement activity and a craft. Learn more about this popular program and register here > Fee: $8/Member child, $10/Non- , ...
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23 Tracks & Traces: Nature Day Camp Series Tracks & Traces: Nature Day Camp Series 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Join us for a fun fall day camp where we’ll put on our detective hats and get ready to explore! Campers will search for animal tracks and clues in the snow or mud to discover who’s been wandering through KNC. Make your track to take home and learn how animals leave behind signs that tell their stories. Who knows what s , ... Tracks & Traces: Nature Day Camp Series Tracks & Traces: Nature Day Camp Series 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Let’s be animal detectives! We’ll look for tracks and clues in the snow or mud to see which animals have been walking around KNC. Make your own animal track to take home and play games to move like your favorite creatures. Let’s see what animals we can find! Pre-K – Kindergarten (Ages 4-6): Half Day, 9 am – Noon Fee: $ , ...
24 Fire Cider Class SOLD OUT Fire Cider Class SOLD OUT 10:00 am - 11:30 am THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT Saturday, January 24, 10 –11:30 am Audience: Adults Meet: Visitor Center Classroom Join us to learn how to make fire cider, a popular herbal tonic often used to keep some pep in your step for the cold months of winter. We’ll learn about the history and purported benefits of fire cider, then mak , ... Discover KNC Guided Hike Discover KNC Guided Hike 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Saturdays, January 24 & February 28, 2 pm Audience: All Ages Meet: Visitor Center Front Desk Come 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 and best kept secrets. Dress appropriately for the weather and bring yo , ...

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27 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 centers, a story, a movement activity and a craft. Learn more about this popular program and register here > Fee: $8/Member child, $10/Non- , ...
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31 Behind the Scenes: Rabbits Behind the Scenes: Rabbits 12:30 pm - 1:15 pm Saturday, January 31, 12:30-1:15 pm Audience: All Ages Take a look behind the curtains of our animal care department and learn all about our softest animals: the rabbits! See how we maintain the highest standard of care for our animals and get a chance to ask our animal care manager your most burning critter question , ... Public Raptor Training Public Raptor Training 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Saturday, January 31, 2 pm Audience: All Ages Meet: Bird Enclosures in Arboretum Have you ever wondered how we train our birds of prey? Come to the bird mews in the arboretum for a special training session with some of our most charismatic residents and learn more about these majestic raptors and their care. We’ll be , ...