CALENDAR
Marguerite Gahagan Nature Preserve has numerous events during the year. These include public education programs, environmental field trips for the area schools, nature presentations by noted speakers, AuSable River water quality monitoring field days and participation in other area events.
Events Calendar
The Preserve's calendar is dynamic. Be sure to check back for changes and updates or check our Twitter feed @gahagannature or our Facebook. Detailed information is just below the calendar. Several events are "to be determined" (TBD) and details will be available closer to their time.
Event Details
The Visiting Naturalist
Our environmental educator, comes to our area schools with special programs about life in our natural world. Teachers, watch for the sign up period starting in December. For 2017, the program is "Wolf Songs" - a story about the wovles and other "dog species" of North AMerica.
Gahagan Preserve and Cabin Clean-up
At the beginning of every spring, Gahagan opens up the cabin and calls on members and volunteers to help ready the preserve for school field trips. On Earth Day, from 9 AM to 1 PM, we will meet to clean up the cabin and trails. Windows, walls, floors, and furniture are scrubbed, the trails are cleared of brush, trail markers and maps are refurbished, the asphalt, decks, and roofs are swept, and the garage gets a good broom-out. Please consider joining in for a few minutes or a few hours. Snacks, lunch, and refreshments are provided! 9 AM at cabin
School Environmental Field Trips
Weekday environmental education programs for area school classes in both the spring and fall. We prepare unique lessons for every grade-level to ensure that students get a new educational experience with every visit to the preserve. These field trips can be tailored to meet the objectives of any particular classroom, as needed. Please contact Education Director Jalen Williams to reserve a day and time. Email adm@GahaganNature.org with your contact information.
Roscommon Business Expo
Visit our booth outside the CRAF Center to learn more about the preserve, join as a member or discuss volunteer possibilities. 3-7 PM at the CRAF Center
Kirtland Warbler Festival
Its back! With a new format. Watch for details this spring. Times To Be Determined. Events at Gahagan Preserve and Roscommon Area District Library.
Riverfest - AuSable River Festival
Celebrate the river! Our Enviromental Educators will have two different programs in two locations at the festival. Enjoy the displays - including our interesting, permanent display in the AuSable River Center about the river system and the water quality monitoring program Gahagan Preserve developed. View samples of the "bugs" we collected from the stream's bottom during data collection days.
Gahagan Summer Youth Nature Day-Camps - Members $10 for week; Non-Members $20 for week
For children age 7-11, each camp offers three mornings of fun with nature. Join Naturalists/Educators Tom Dale, Tracy Bosworth and Jalen Williams to make exciting discoveries at Gahagan! Nature Camp is all about interacting with the outdoors. We explore the far reaches of the preserve, investigate various ecosystems on the property, play games and work on a few craft projects along the way. Camp favorites include puppet shows, feeding Sammy (our five-foot black rat snake), catching frogs in the pond, and designing a nature-inspired t-shirt. The most important thing is developing new friendships! Each camp is limited to the first 24 children who register. You can register for the July or August session by calling Tracy Bosworth at (989) 390-0903 or by contacting Jalen Williams at jalen@umich.edu. 9 AM-Noon each day at cabin.
Family Night Feature - At the New Roscommon District Library or Gahagan Preserve
Keep posted! You can bet that there will be some critters or an exciting nature event that we will let you in on this spring. 7 PM Roscommon Area District Library or Gahagan Preserve.
AuSable River Water Quality Collection Day - A Gahagan Learn and Contribute Event
Help collect insect samples for the Upper AuSable Watershed Monitoring program. Meet at the Kirtland Community College Biology Lab at 2 pm for training and organizing before we head to the river. Bring your own waders or we will provide them. No experience necessary. You can help protect the river and learn a lot! Contact Tom Dale @ (989) 275-3217 or thdale@core.com. 10 AM at Gate's AuSable Lodge, 417 Stephan Bridge Rd., Grayling
The "ELF" Program
Project ELF, “Environmental Learning for the Future”, is an award-winning environmental education program offered to local schools. Gahagan trains parent volunteers and supplies them with the materials to deliver monthly ELF lessons in the classroom. The ELF program depends on its parent volunteers, so please volunteer today! Email our naturalist at for more information.
Gahagan Annual Open House & Membership Meeting
This Sunday afternoon will start with our annual membership meeting and conclude with a program and fellowship for members, friends and anyone interested. Beverages and finger food will be part of the show. 1-4 PM at the cabin.