September, October, and November - Art Exhibit by Norma Blair: Weedfull Things
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute’s featured local artist, for this season, is Norma Blair. A native of Barry County, she is a self taught artist who uses natural materials to create nature themed note cards and original prints. Weedfull Things are sketched on Bristol board, under paint, usually with acrylics, and then natural materials are applied to create the image. Many natural objects can trigger a piece of art; a leaf, a flower petal, a piece of bark, potato flakes, or even multi colored threads from buttons. A joyful part of Norma’s art is keeping an eye open for pretty flowers to press or unusual looking leaves, seed heads, ferns or anything nature has to offer.
There will be an artist reception for Norma on Sunday, September 14 from 11 am – 3 pm. Norma will be available to talk with guests and answer questions about her unusual work of art. Don’t miss Norma’s display of various nature prints including her beautiful butterfly prints and note cards. Admission to the reception is free. If you would like to attend brunch on that day, please call to make reservations.
Time: Monday - Friday 9 am - 5 pm
Cost: Free
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Saturday, September 6 – Native Shrub and Tree Presentation
Mary Ann Menck, a local native plant producer, will lead a presentation about how to create wildlife habitat in your backyard using native trees and shrubs. The informational workshop will begin at 10 am and will last about an hour, followed by a native shrub and tree sale.
Mary Ann will be available after the workshop to answer questions and to assist you in choosing native trees and shrubs appropriate for your property and management goals. Pre-registration for the workshop is required as workshop size is limited. The native tree and shrub sale following the workshop is open to the public and is free of charge. Mary Ann is generously donating $1 to the Institute for each tree and shrub that is pre-ordered.
An online list (PDF) of trees and shrubs is available.
Pre-orders must be made by Wednesday, September 3.
Time: 10 am - Noon
Cost: Members $5; Non-Members: $8
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Sunday, September 7 - The Art of the Soup and the Sauce
Join Chef Richard Centala for this workshop of soups and sauces. Participants will learn the secrets to creating delicious sauces, such as béarnaise, for their favorite pastas and meats as well as soups, such as Austrian cream cheese with leeks and ham, to warm up to on those crisp fall days. Workshop size is limited.
Time: 3 - 5 pm
Cost: Members $12; Non-Members $15
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Saturday, September 13 - Leave No Trace Awareness Workshop
This awareness workshop is designed for participants to learn about Leave No Trace outdoor ethics. Leave No Trace is an national and international program designed to assist outdoor enthusiasts with their decisions about how to reduce their impacts when they hike, camp, picnic, snowshoe, run, bike, hunt, paddle, ride horses, fish, ski or climb. The program strives to educate all those who enjoy the outdoors about the nature of their recreational impacts as well as techniques to prevent and minimize such impacts. Leave No Trace is best understood as an educational and ethical program, not as a set of rules and regulations.
Participants will become familiar with the seven principles of Leave No Trace and learn techniques that can be applied to their everyday lives. The workshop will begin with an educational indoor presentation followed by a hike to discuss and practice the newly acquired skills of minimum impact recreation.
Participants need to be prepared for walking on unimproved trails and be dressed properly for the weather. Workshop size is limited.
Time: 10 am - Noon
Cost: Members $5; Non-Members $8
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Sunday, September 14 – Sunday Brunch - Vegetarians Day Out
Choose from delicious menu selections and enjoy the beautiful view of the natural surroundings from the dining room. Pre-registration and payment are required. An informative program will take place at 12:15 pm.
Menu: Waffles,
Polenta Cakes,
Blueberry Grits,
Omelets to Order,
Mixed Field Greens salad with toppings,
Prune and Fennel Salad,
Cucumber and Lavender Salad,
Gorgonzola Potatoes with Julian Sugar Snap Peas,
Egg Plant Stuffed and with a Roasted Garlic Sauce,
Sea Shells Stuffed with Spinach and Ricotta Cheese White Sauce,
White Vegetable Lasagna,
Bread with Whipped Butter,
Cherry and Cheese Pudding,
Strawberry and Chocolate Cobbler,
Basil Lemon Cake
Brunch Program -The Cape Eleuthera Institute and The Island School
The presentation will detail how these schools were created in the Bahamas to promote sustainable living, alternative energy, and biological research, as well as their connection to West Michigan. Learn how local students can attend these schools to enhance their knowledge of sustainability.
Time: Brunch Seating at 11:30 am and 1 pm Program: 12:15 pm
Cost: Brunch:
Members: $12 for adults and $5 for children (ages 4-10) plus 6% sales tax Non-member: $14 adults and $6 children (ages 4-10) plus sales 6% sales tax. Program: Free
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Monday, September 15 - Harvest Moon Hike
What’s the story behind the harvest moon? What does it take to thrive as a creature of the night? Join Interpretive Naturalist Doug Wright on this guided night hike to learn moon lore and to look at the lives of our nocturnal creatures.
Time: 8 – 10 pm
Cost: Members $3; Non-Members $6
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Saturday, September 27 - Solar Panel Workshop
Are you interested in a simple and easy way to lower your carbon footprint, or provide some electricity to a backwoods site? Bob Kildea will lead you in building your own photovoltaic system (solar panel). All supplies for the system will be provided as part of the workshop. The portable solar system that you will build can provide enough energy to power a small TV, computer, power tools, or many other appliances that use no more than 400 watts. Please preregister as workshop size is limited.
Time: 9 am – 1 pm
Cost: Members: $305; Non-Members: $335
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Saturday, October 4 – Trees For Life
Thanks to the generous support of an anonymous donor, the Institute has been distributing oak saplings to parents of babies born at Pennock Hospital since 2003. Families that have had a child born at Pennock in the last year can pick up a free oak sapling. The goal of the program is to help commemorate the value of a new life, while also highlighting the importance of nature in a healthy, happy life. Families can enjoy the growth of their oak tree, along with the growth of their newborn, and make the connection to nature through every season.
If you are unable to pick your tree up then, you can come to the Institute the following week, October 6 - 10, from 8 am - 5 pm, as long as the saplings are available.
Time: Noon – 3 pm
Cost: Free. Please pre-register to ensure enough saplings are available.
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Saturday, October 4 – Michigan Sustainable Homes and Businesses Tour (Solar Home Tour)
Visit Pierce Cedar Creek Institute and many other sites on this annual national tour. The tour highlights homes and businesses that incorporate various solar and renewable energy technologies.
For the first time the Holly-Trolley will be taking participants on a tour of the Barry County sites. The trolley will be starting tours from the Hastings Public Library. Pierce Cedar Creek Institute will also be offering a light lunch, 11 am - 1 pm, for participants on the tour. For additional information on the tour visit www.cedarcreekinstitute.org. For more information on state-wide stops go to www.grlea.org.
Time: 10 am – 4 pm Tour
Cost: Free Lunch Cost: $5 Please call to RSVP for lunch.
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Thursday, October 9 - Tree Identification Hike
Learn to identify trees during this informative hike. This hike is designed as an introduction to the trees growing in SW Michigan. It is also a great opportunity for Middle School students and Scout groups to learn about trees needed for their leaf collection projects – be sure to bring a bag and pencil to collect and label leaves. Hike size is limited, please pre-register.
Time: 5 - 6:30 pm
Cost: Members and K - 12 students: 3; Non-Member Adults: $6
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Saturday, October 11 – Fall Photography
Join naturalist photographer, Mark Cassino, to learn about the tricks of the trade of autumn photography. The workshop will begin with an optional morning photography shoot; starting at 8 a.m. Around 10 a.m. the class will go indoors, to discuss the basic concepts of composition, exposure, and photographing landscapes and autumn details. After lunch, participants will go outdoors to test their newly learned skills. Participants are invited to come back for a follow up session on Saturday, October 18, at 9 am to share and critique work. Workshop size is limited.
Time: 8 am – 4 pm
Cost: Members $22; Non-Members $30 Lunch is included.
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Sunday, October 12 – Sunday Brunch
Choose from delicious menu selections and enjoy the beautiful view of the natural surroundings from the dining room. Pre-registration and payment are required. An informative program will take place at 12:15 pm.
Brunch Program - The Gibbs House for Environmental Research and Education
The Gibbs House for Environmental Research and Education is a program of Western Michigan University's Environmental Institute that focuses on undergraduate research and community engagement. The Gibbs House is also a place where community groups meet and hold events, WMU classes have hands-on lessons, and free workshops are hosted. Hear about their self-designed projects, including urban gardening, outdoor education, local environmental inequality research, water reduction research and the local Naked Seed skill-sharing group.
Oriental Express
Fried Egg with Corn, Cinnamon Fried Wontons, Baked Bread with Sweet Sauce, Made-to-Order Omelets – with Onion, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Eggplant, Tofu, Shrimp, and Soy Sauce. Boc Chow Salad with Walnuts, Hot Spinach Salad with Bean Sprouts, Stir Fried Rice with Green Peas and Curry, Green Beans in a Walnut Miso Dressing, Chicken Teriyaki with Oranges, Braised Pork with Cabbage, Vegetable Egg Rolls, Sweet Potato Cake, Sesame Sugar Cookies, Matcha Mousse, Red Velvet Cake.
Time: Brunch Seating at 11:30 am and 1 pm Program: 12:15 pm
Cost: Brunch:
Members: $12 for adults and $5 for children (ages 4-10) plus 6% sales tax Non-member: $14 adults and $6 children (ages 4-10) plus sales 6% sales tax. Program: Free
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Saturday, October 18 – Tree Identification Hike
Learn to identify trees during this informative hike. This hike is designed as an introduction to the trees growing in SW Michigan. It is also a great opportunity for Middle School students and Scout groups to learn about trees needed for their leaf collection projects – be sure to bring a bag and pencil to collect and label leaves. Hike size is limited, please pre-register.
Time: 9 – 11 am
Cost: Members and K - 12 students: 3; Non-Member Adults: $6
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Friday, October 24 – Owls On The Prowl
Wildlife Recovery Association’s Joe Rogers presents an exciting evening with these silent hunters of the night. Guests will have the opportunity to see many of Michigan’s owl species up close during this live animal presentation. Guests will learn what it takes to be an owl. From the shape of their eyes, position of their ears, to the design of their feathers, guests will find out how owls are adapted to be proficient hunters of the night.
This presentation will be followed by an optional night hike where Institute staff will guide guests into the night in search of screech owls, barred owls, and great horned owls. Hike leaders will use mimic calls to attract owls into vocal and visual responses. Please come prepared for trail hiking and weather. Please refrain from wearing shoes with lights and clothing that may be noisy while walking.
Time: 7 - 8:30 pm; Optional night hike to follow.
Cost: Member Adults $6; Children $4 Non-Member Adults $8; Children $6
Please pre-register to ensure ticket availability for this program.
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Saturday, November 1 – Teacher Workshop: Learning Through Schoolyard Exploration: Encouraging the Naturalist Intelligence
Some children learn best by being outside and having the opportunity to become explorers and investigators of the natural world. However, in a world of limited school budgets, opportunities for off-site field experiences are often not financially feasible. In this workshop participants will investigate the many teaching opportunities your schoolyard can offer. Attendees will look at the preparation needed for and implementation of an outdoor classroom, additionally there will be a discussion on how to involve students in their learning to avoid a “recess” mindset, as well as how to promote inquiry and interdisciplinary learning in a ten minute field trip. From a crack in the sidewalk to planting vegetable or native gardens, schoolyards hold an answer to the field trip dilemma.
Time: 9 am - 2 pm
Cost: Members $30; Non-Members $40 Lunch is included. Pre-registration is required.
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Saturday, November 8 – Going Green in Your Home – Energy Efficiency and Green Remodeling
Being “green” is more popular than ever before. Join us for a workshop that will help you explore the real benefits of a “green washing”. Bob Kildea, an energy auditor, and Thom Philips of Kalamazoo Habitat for Humanity will explain how homes work and various strategies to reduce energy requirements. John Kuiper of Standale Lumber will provide an introduction to evaluating green products. Please preregister as workshop size is limited.
Time: 10 am - 2 pm
Cost: Members: $18; Non-Members: $25 Lunch is included.
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Sunday, November 9 - Holiday Gift Show and Lunch
There is no better place to find personal, handcrafted gifts for your family and friends. Local artists and crafters will be featuring their works in pottery, nature photography, jewelry, wood carvings, walking sticks, woven rugs and much more. Items from our gift shop including nature guides, locally made bird houses Michigan inspired scented candles, woven baskets, stained glass sun catchers, children’s gifts will be showcased. Members of Pierce Cedar Creek Institute receive 10% off all gift shop purchases.
Take a break from shopping and enjoy a delicious soup and sandwich buffet prepared by Chef Richard Centala. Lunch includes appetizers, soup, sandwiches, desserts, and your choice of beverage. To better serve guests, there will be three seating times for lunch. Lunch tickets must be purchased in advance and may be picked up anytime during the Holiday Gift Show at the ticket table, located near the aquarium.
Holiday Gift Show Lunch
Austrian Cream Cheese with Leeks and Ham, Cream of Mushroom with Rosemary, Chicken Bell Pepper, Chunky Tomato Basil.
Appetizers: Pesto with Veggie Pitas, Marinara with Meat and Veggie Squares, Olive Oil with Feta and Veggies on bruschetta, Mini Rolls with Assorted Meats (Turkey, Ham, Beef).
Desserts: Cookies, Dessert bars, Brownies.
Gift Show Time: 11 am - 3 pm Gift Show Cost: Admission is Free
Lunch Seating Times: 11 am – Noon; 12:15 - 1:15 pm; and 1:30 - 2:30 pm Lunch Cost: Members Adults: $9; Children $4; Non-Members: Adults: $11; Children $5 Plus 6% sales tax (Children ages 4 - 10)
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