Join us for a social hiking experience. Bring a friend, or make a new one! 

Trails will have rocks, uneven terrain, mud, and great views! There are only a few hikes left this season, so register today!

Free (please register online)

Friday, September 19

Friday, November 14

Learn about science through the power of books! Join Hastings Public Library’s youth librarian and Institute employees as they share their favorite books, activities, and crafts with little learners. These programs will take place outdoors as weather permits. Please dress for the weather and the season!

FREE (no registration required)

Test your skills or learn from local chess players. Whether you have played for years or have never played at all, players in middle school and older are welcome to play chess in the Play Space. This is a self-guided chess club. We will have regular chess sets and the giant chess set available for players to use. This club is weather-dependent and will be canceled in the event of bad weather.

The Club will be located behind the Education Building at the giant chess set by The Playspace.

FREE

(Ages 15+, under 18 with an adult)

4th Thursday of the Month 
6:30 – 8 pm 

September 25 (Sunset program)  

Join Certified Forest Therapy Guide Katie Venechuk as she introduces the practice of Shinrin-Yoku  (also known as “forest bathing”)! This restorative series will help you experience nature in a new way—encouraging you to slow down, notice new things in the world around you, and enjoy the peace of nature. At the beginning of each program, you’ll learn about the history of forest bathing, the science behind the health benefits, and how it differs from a hike in the forest. Then, you’ll experience guided forest bathing firsthand! Each program in this three-part series is different. Participants can register for one or all three sessions to deepen their practice and personal connection to nature over time. The Institute has partnered with In Your Element Wellness to offer a special, discounted rate for this series.  

Member $18 | Non-Member $23 (per session)  

Register for all three program dates and receive 15% off your total!  

Programs will include a small snack. Please list any allergies when registering.

Test your skills or learn from local chess players. Whether you have played for years or have never played at all, players in middle school and older are welcome to play chess in the Play Space. This is a self-guided chess club. We will have regular chess sets and the giant chess set available for players to use. This club is weather-dependent and will be canceled in the event of bad weather.

The Club will be located behind the Education Building at the giant chess set by The Playspace.

FREE

What if growing healthier food could also heal our land, strengthen our community, and create more opportunity for the next generation?

In this talk, Virginia Bolshakova, Barry County native and Executive Director of Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, shares her personal story from a local family farm to a career in agroecology, and how regenerative agriculture offers real hope for rural communities. Learn how simple practices like cover cropping, composting, and school/community gardens connect to the health of our soil, our families, and our future.

Whether you’re a gardener, a parent, a farmer, or just curious about where our food is headed, you’ll leave with new ideas and practical ways to get involved…right here at home.

FREE

9 – 10 am Recap of Past Year’s Program

10 am – Noon Water Quality Concerns and Threats to Lake Health

Join us in learning about lake health and water quality issues in Barry County. In 2025, Pierce Cedar Creek Institute worked with a group of volunteers and the statewide Michigan Clean Water Corps’ Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP) to monitor lake health. We will recap the past year’s findings and discuss the program’s accomplishments, challenges, and future opportunities. Then, we will learn from experts about water quality issues facing Barry County lakes, such as a watchlist of invasive aquatic species, major health concerns, and aquatic plant management.

Free (please register online)

Second Monday of the Month NEW TIME! 8:30 – 10:30 am

October 13

Join Pierce Cedar Creek Institute and the Barry County Bird Club for a social birding morning. Enjoy a beverage and chat with new and experienced birders. Then, hit the trails to look for some of Barry County’s very best birds! Please be prepared to hike up to one mile on uneven trails. We will have a limited number of binoculars to borrow. This program will occur rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather, we will offer a short informational session on birding topics.

Free (please register online)

Test your skills or learn from local chess players. Whether you have played for years or have never played at all, players in middle school and older are welcome to play chess in the Play Space. This is a self-guided chess club. We will have regular chess sets and the giant chess set available for players to use. This club is weather-dependent and will be canceled in the event of bad weather.

The Club will be located behind the Education Building at the giant chess set by The Playspace.

FREE

Wednesday, October 15    
Thursday, October 16      
2 – 4 pm
Want to be immersed in and enjoy Michigan’s beautiful fall colors but not quite up to hiking the Institute’s trails? This is the “tour” for you! Explore the Institute’s property in our motorized, all-terrain vehicle with seatbelts, stopping along the way to observe and learn about Michigan’s forests and their fall colors. Please register for one date as the tour is the same each day. This tour is extremely limited, so reserve your spot today!
Members $7 | Non-Members $10

Join us for a special night under the stars!  Certified Forest Therapy Guide Katie Venechuk will introduce us to the practice of Shinrin-yoku (also known as “forest bathing”) as we explore the tranquility of the forests and meadows of Pierce Cedar Creek at night. Slow down and bask in the lanternlight as you cozy up with a blanket for this special nature experience!  The Institute has partnered with In Your Element Wellness to offer a special, discounted rate for this program. This program will include a small snack. Please list any allergies when registering.
Member $22 | Non-Member $28

Test your skills or learn from local chess players. Whether you have played for years or have never played at all, players in middle school and older are welcome to play chess in the Play Space. This is a self-guided chess club. We will have regular chess sets and the giant chess set available for players to use. This club is weather-dependent and will be canceled in the event of bad weather.

The Club will be located behind the Education Building at the giant chess set by The Playspace.

FREE

Farm-to-Table Dinner Series (Ages 18+)

Wednesday, October 22 – Robin Mather, local author of “The Feast Nearby”
Wednesday, November 19 – Growing Our Local Food Community

Dinner 6 pm | $50

Program 7:15 – 8 pm | Free
Dessert and Conversation 8 – 8:30 pm | Free

Celebrate the flavors, farms, and food stories of Barry County! Enjoy a locally sourced farm-to-table dinner, followed by a free community program and dessert exploring why local food matters—for our economy, our environment, and our future. A true feast for both body and mind.

(Dinner reservations close two weeks before each program date—October 8 and November 5) 

Dress up and join us for nature-inspired, Halloween fun on candlelit trails. Trick or treat along a short, quarter-mile trail. Afterwards, join us for snacks, warm drinks, games, and crafts in the Visitor Center.

Saturday, October 25       6 – 8:30 pm (last entry to the trail at 7:50 pm)

Members $5 | Non-Members $8
Family $25 (please indicate the number of people in a family)

Test your skills or learn from local chess players. Whether you have played for years or have never played at all, players in middle school and older are welcome to play chess in the Play Space. This is a self-guided chess club. We will have regular chess sets and the giant chess set available for players to use. This club is weather-dependent and will be canceled in the event of bad weather.

The Club will be located behind the Education Building at the giant chess set by The Playspace.

FREE