Guided Walks, Workbees & Other Events
Guided Hikes
Attending one of our Docent-led guided walks is a sure way to get the most out of one of our Natural Areas. Our knowledgeable volunteers will share everything they know about these beautiful places. Please, so that we may plan for the best possible experience, do register in advance by emailing info@leelanauconservancy.org or calling our office (231-256-9665). In some cases, space is limited. You’ll find directions to our Natural Areas on each web page, but if you have questions, don’t hesitate to call!
Most of our hikes last 1.5 to 2 hours and start by meeting at the trail head. If you are coming along for an evening hike, such as a sunset hike at Whaleback, please bring a flashlight along in case you need it for the walk back down the trail. Do dress according to the weather and potential weather.
Workbees
Workbees are fun and a great way to get exercise and fresh air and meet new people. Workbee activities vary but include trail maintenance, invasive species removal, and structure repair (such as footbridges and stairs). As they are scheduled, workbee locations and tasks will appear in the chronological listing of events below. Summer 2013 will focus on building new trails at Swanson Preserve and DeYoung Natural Area.
If you have questions about the planned work or want to learn more about upcoming stewardship volunteer opportunities, e-mail Sarah Cook at scook@leelanauconservancy.org or call 231-256-9665. Please bring a water bottle, sunscreen and bug spray along to the workbee – as well as your favorite pair of work gloves if you have them. All other tools will be provided.
Directions and a Google Map to all of our Natural Areas and Preserves may be found under each property. Click here to see all our Natural Areas and Preserves.
Dog Policy at Natural Areas and Preserves
You and your dog are welcome to explore our Conservancy trails but please do NOT bring dogs to a scheduled docent-led hike. This will keep your dog safe at home during Conservancy scheduled hikes, and keep hike attendees and wildlife safe too. Our hikes aim to show attendees bird and wildlife that are often scared off by the scent and sounds of dogs. (Service dogs are welcome at any time.) We occasionally offer a special hike that includes pets; when those opportunities are offered, or if you visit on your own, please keep your pet on a leash and pick up waste.
Upcoming Hikes & Events
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Tour the Historic DeYoung Farm and Meet the Farmer Thursday May 23
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our the Historic DeYoung Farm and meet the farmerJoin us at 2pm for a tour with of the restoration projects that are in progress this week at the DeYoung Natural Area. Eastern Michigan University professors and graduate students are at work onsite and ready to tour you through the buildings. In addition, come meet the farmer, Samantha Graves and her chickens and ducks too!! -
Wildflower Rescue Plant Sale–Friday, May 24th and Saturday, May 25th
The 20th Annual Plant Sale on the Village Green in Leland is on tap for Memorial Day Weekend! Now is your chance to purchase native ferns, trillium, and more along with a selection of native trees and shrubs provided by locally owned Four Season Nursery, who will be on hand to answer questions about going native.Sale runs Friday, May 24th and Saturday May 25th; hours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. All proceeds help maintain the Village Green and assist with other Conservancy projects. The Wildflower Rescue Committee continually seeks new sites on which to dig. If you are building a home, driveway, addition, or know of someone who is, please contact the WRC so they may have a chance to remove these precious wildflowers before the excavators arrive! Contact Patty Shea: 256-9249 or Joanie Woods: 256-7154.
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Spring at Houdek Dunes Natural Area — Sunday, May 26 at 2:00 pm
Join Conservancy docents Ann McInnis, Joanne Gerben, and Holly Pharmer on a guided walk through the Houdek Dunes Natural Area. We’ll make many nature discoveries while we explore, seeing masses of gorgeous moccasin flower orchids in bloom amid myriad other species of plants and animal species in this special natural area—over 300 acres—filled with diverse wildlife communities. -
Birdfest Walk at Lighthouse West Natural Area — Thursday, May 30 at 8:00 am
Join birders for a walk through Lighthouse West Natural Area and Leelanau Sate Park! For more information on the Leelanau County Birding Festival and to register, visit the Birdfest website. -
BirdFest Walk at Teichner Preserve — Thursday, May 30 at 9:00 am
Join birders for a walk through Teichner Preserve along beautiful Lime Lake! For more information on the Leelanau County Birding Festival and to register, visit the Birdfest website. -
Workbee at Swanson Preserve — Thursday, May 30 at 10:00 am
Come experience the beauty of spring at the Swanson preserve on Little Traverse Lake. We will wind our way through the woods, wildflowers, and wetlands, over the creek, and down to the lake while pruning, building boardwalks, and laying woodchips. If you would like to be part of this amazing project, learn about the preserve, and build trails, sign up below or contact Sarah Cook for more information atscook@leelanauconservancy.org. Please bring work gloves and a water bottle and park in the field off the gravel driveway approximately 300 feet south of the farmstand. See directions to Swanson Preserve here. -
BirdFest: Cedar River Preserve by Boat — Friday, May 31 at 8:00 am
Join birders for an exploration of the Cedar River Preserve by boat! A kayak or canoe ride through the Cedar River twists dramatically through four ecosystems and many micro-habitats–a rich collection of rare wetland plants and animals. For more information on the Leelanau County Birding Festival and to register, visit the Birdfest website. -
BirdFest: Cedar River Preserve by Boat — Saturday, June 1 at 8:00 am
Join birders for an exploration of the Cedar River Preserve by boat! A kayak or canoe ride through the Cedar River twists dramatically through four ecosystems and many micro-habitats–a rich collection of rare wetland plants and animals. For more information on the Leelanau County Birding Festival and to register, visit the Birdfest website. -
Explore the Crystal River on Foot — Saturday, June 1 at 10:00 am
Have you ever walked along the Crystal River? Have you explored the dune and swale ecology of this beautiful place? Did you know the Leelanau Conservancy played a key part in preserving the natural beauty of the river through a “transfer and assist program”? Join Conservancy docents JoAnne Gerben and Sharon Oriel to visit the Crystal River on foot. You will see dunes that are only one foot high and trees in the swale that are small in diameter and old in age. There are no trails where we will be walking so rugged footwear is recommended. Bug spray is also suggested. To join the walk, turn off M-22 near Glen Arbor onto CR-675. Go a very short distance after you have crossed the Crystal River. Park on the shoulder just passed the Tree Song Private Drive. If you see the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore sign, you have gone too far. -
Volunteer Invasive Species Training — Saturday, June 1 at 10:00 am
Come participate in a hands-on training at one of our natural areas to learn about new invasive species in Leelanau County. We will teach field identification and some removal methods. This is a great opportunity for coastal monitors, trail stewards, landowners, and workbee participants. We will meet at the Conservancy Office. Please register in advance by calling 231-256-9665, emailing Sarah Cook at scook@leelanauconservancy.org, or clicking the link below. -
BirdFest: Inland Seas trip to Gull Island — Sunday June 2, at 9:30 am
Join birders for ride on the Inland Seas schooner and view Gull Island by boat! Lunch included. Leaders – Dr. William Scharf and Jenee Rowe. Meet at boat at 9:30 AM. For more information on the Leelanau County Birding Festival and to register, visit the Birdfest website. -
Volunteer Invasive Species Training — Thursday, June 6 at 10:00 am
Come participate in a hands-on training at one of our natural areas to learn about new invasive species in Leelanau County. We will teach field identification and some removal methods. This is a great opportunity for coastal monitors, trail stewards, landowners, and workbee participants. We will meet at the Conservancy Office. Please register in advance by calling 231-256-9665, emailing Sarah Cook at scook@leelanauconservancy.org, or clicking the link below. -
Discover Kehl Lake Natural Area — Saturday, June 8 at 9:00 am
The Kehl Lake Natural Area offers a wide variety of habitats to explore, including areas that have had minimal human impact. Join docents Ed Ketterer, Ann McInnis, and Holly Pharmer to experience and learn about the many natural communities in this Natural Area. We’ll also be on the lookout for birds that are nesting on the property and late-blooming spring wildflowers. Bring binoculars and a hand lens, if you have them. This hike will give participants a sense of what biodiversity is all about! -
Discover Lamont Preserve — Sunday, June 9 at 10:00 am
Join Conservancy docents Peter Wolcott, Mary Smart, and Marsha Buehler on this short gem of a hike through the Lamont Preserve, featuring a cedar swamp and hardwood forest with a large variety of wildflowers, mushrooms, and trees. The Pink Lady slippers should be in bloom as well as the Marsh Marigolds. Nesting warblers and vireos will serenade us as Mergansers fly above from Lake to tree-top nest. -
Bird Habitat Restoration Bus Tour–Tuesday, June 11, All Day
Bird Habitat Restoration Bus Tour: Get on Board! Join Leelanau Conservancy Executive Director Brian Price and Kay Charter, founder of Saving Birds Thru Habitat, for an all-day bus trip on Tuesday, June 11. This trip will focus on various stages of habitat restoration at Lighthouse West and DeYoung Natural Areas and Charter Sanctuary. Clay Cliffs, where restoration has not yet begun, is included in the trip. We will explore what habitat improvements are underway at each site, and what those changes mean for birds and other wildlife that use those sites. We will travel in a comfortable 23-passenger By the Bay Bus and lunch will be provided. The bus will depart from North Park in Suttons Bay (at the base of M-204 and M-22) at 8:30 and return at around 4 p.m. Lunch will be provided. The cost is $50 per person (covers the cost of the all-day bus rental and lunch) and you must register as there are only 21 seats available. Please call Kay Charter at SBTH at 231-271-3738 to register. -
Plein Air Class — Tuesday, June 11 and Wednesday, June 12 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Come enjoy a two-day introductory workshop on Plein Air Painting at Cherry Basket Farm in Omena with Frank Speyers, artist and art professor at Calvin College! The class was a huge hit last year. All levels of artistry are welcome! Coffee and lunch will be provided on site. The cost of the two-day workshop is $200. Space is limited; please email Carolyn Faught to register: cfaught@leelanauconservancy.org. Learn more about Frank Speyers, Plein Air painter and instructor, here. -
Workbee at Swanson Preserve: Trail Building — Thursday, June 13 at 10:00 am
Come experience the beauty of spring at the Swanson preserve on Little Traverse Lake. We will wind our way through the woods, wildflowers, and wetlands, over the creek, and down to the lake while pruning, building boardwalks, and laying woodchips. If you would like to be part of this amazing project, learn about the preserve, and build trails, sign up below or contact Sarah Cook for more information atscook@leelanauconservancy.org. Please bring work gloves and a water bottle and park in the field off the gravel driveway approximately 300 feet south of the farmstand. See directions to Swanson Preserve here. -
Explore Houdek Dunes Natural Area — Saturday, June 15 at 10:00 am
Join Conservancy docents Ann McInnis and Janet Ward in an interpretive walk through the variety of different habitats at Houdek Dunes Natural Area. In this in Natural Area many wildlife species that predate human use (bears, cougars, bobcats, coyotes, deer etc.) currently live. How does such a diversity of many species contribute to healthy environments such as that in evidence at Houdek Dunes? -
Wildflower Walk at Chippewa Run Natural Area — Saturday, June 22 at 1:00 pm
Join Conservancy docents Lou Ricord and Ann Mason as we wander this southern county natural area in search of spring wildflowers. Within its preserved 110-acres, Chippewa Run has wetlands, streams and ponds, old fields, red pine and spruce/fir stands, hardwoods, and an old apple orchard–making this an excellent area for wildflowers. Also, there will be many birds to spot and identify so you might want to bring a set of binoculars. -
Walk through Time at DeYoung Natural Area — Sunday, June 23 at 1:00 pm
Join docents Dave Amos and Judy Smart on a walk through time. The DeYoung hike offers a gentle walk around the DeYoung property and a tour of the 1860 farm house and lower barn. The property is a reflection of the changing times from the inception of Traverse City to present day and provides a rare opportunity to see inside those buildings we pass when using the Leelanau trail. Come and enjoy an interesting part of our local history. New for the walk is a greater discussion of the plants on the property and discussion of the new trail. -
Workbee at Swanson Preserve: Trail Building — Thursday, June 28 at 10:00 am
Come experience the beauty of spring at the Swanson preserve on Little Traverse Lake. We will wind our way through the woods, wildflowers, and wetlands, over the creek, and down to the lake while pruning, building boardwalks, and laying woodchips. If you would like to be part of this amazing project, learn about the preserve, and build trails, sign up below or contact Sarah Cook for more information atscook@leelanauconservancy.org. Please bring work gloves and a water bottle and park in the field off the gravel driveway approximately 300 feet south of the farmstand. See directions to Swanson Preserve here. -
Hike Whaleback Natural Area — Sunday, June 30 at 2:00 pm
What wildlife uses this glacial moraine impact feature overlooking Lake Michigan and the Manitou Islands? This is a very pretty hike with a gradual ascent through hardwoods. Explore beautiful Whaleback Natural Area with an enjoyable walk to the overlook for a spectacular view while engaging in nature discoveries with docents Ann McInnis, Candy Gardner, and Sharon Oriel.
25 Years: Celebrating Our Living Legacy