Welcome to Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
Immerse Yourself in Nature
What's New at the Institute?
Membership
Of all the many things that matter at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, members matter most! Without their dedication, participation, and generosity, the Institute would not be what it is today. Nor could it be what it aspires to be in the future!
Apply for the 2025 Season!
The Creative Retreats at Batts Cottage are now closed for the 2024 season. The Retreats will be available starting April 2025.
We are taking applications for the 2025 season.
2025 Holiday Gift Show Applications are Live!
Apply for the Institute's 2025 Holiday Gift Show!
Submit your application using this link.
News and Announcements
Pre-ordering is live! This year, we are selling mixes during the pre-order, with individual plants available during our in-person sale May 31. Purchase your plants by clicking this link.
Check Out our Spring Newsletter
Click the picture below to peak inside our newsletter and see the upcoming events at the Institute!
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, for Environmental Education
Set on 850 acres in rural Barry County, Michigan, Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, a mix between an environmental education center, nature center and biological field station, provides visitors opportunities for education, recreation, research and exposure to a blend of diverse habitats including wetlands, forests, marshes, streams, lakes, and prairies.
What's Happening at the Institute?
Event Details
Saturday, April 12 – Wednesday, October 1 Hike the trails to earn your stripes! Complete our 2025 trail blazers bingo card and
Event Details
Saturday, April 12 – Wednesday, October 1
Hike the trails to earn your stripes! Complete our 2025 trail blazers bingo card and collect your prize! All prizes will be available for pick-up at the visitor center front desk beginning Friday, August 1. Join the challenge and see if you have what it takes to be a Trail Master!
Free (self-guided on Pierce Cedar Creek Institute trails)
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Time
April 12, 2025 12:01 am - October 1, 2025 11:59 pm(GMT-04:00)
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
Event Details
(Ages 6 and under with adult) First Thursday of the Month 10 – 11 am Thursday, March 6 Bird Bonanza
Event Details
(Ages 6 and under with adult)
First Thursday of the Month 10 – 11 am
Thursday, March 6 Bird Bonanza
Thursday, April 3 Signs of Spring
Thursday, May 1 Monarch Migration
Every season is outdoor season! Bring your little ones to explore nature through free play, activities, books, and more. This program is designed for children and their accompanying caregivers. Please plan to attend and be engaged with your child for this program.
Free (please register online)
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Month Long Event (May)(GMT-04:00)
Event Details
May Storybook Walk: Diary of a Fly by Doreen Cronin; Illustrated by Harry BlissEach day is a new adventure for a fly! Follow fly’s
Event Details
May Storybook Walk: Diary of a Fly by Doreen Cronin; Illustrated by Harry Bliss
Each day is a new adventure for a fly! Follow fly’s journey through her first day of school, and all the things she learns about herself. Did you know flies eat regurgitated food? Follow along to watch fly learn how special she is! After your storybook adventure, stop by the Visitor Center to pick up an activity sheet.
Free (Self-guided on the Black Walnut trail)
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Month Long Event (May)(GMT-04:00)
Event Details
Michigan has many ephemeral (short-lived) wildflowers. Learn about many of these spring beauties and celebrate National Wildflower Week with this “wild” hike!Free (Self-guided on
Event Details
Michigan has many ephemeral (short-lived) wildflowers. Learn about many of these spring beauties and celebrate National Wildflower Week with this “wild” hike!
Free (Self-guided on the Lupine trail)
Time
Month Long Event (May)(GMT-04:00)
Event Details
Get Michigan native grasses, wildflowers, and plant mixes grown by theInstitute. Pre-orders are open! Pickup will be on May 31, with additional plants available
Event Details
Get Michigan native grasses, wildflowers, and plant mixes grown by the
Institute. Pre-orders are open! Pickup will be on May 31, with additional plants available for in-person purchases.
You can purchase your plants here: www.CedarCreekInstitutePlants.com
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Time
May 31, 2025 9:00 am - 12:00 pm(GMT-04:00)
31may10:00 am12:00 pmAl White Artist Reception10:00 am - 12:00 pm(GMT-04:00)
Event Details
Join us for this season’s talented artist reception showcasing stunning wildlife paintings and carvings by the talented and welcoming Al White! You’re invited to an
Event Details
Join us for this season’s talented artist reception showcasing stunning wildlife paintings and carvings by the talented and welcoming Al White! You’re invited to an Artist Reception for Al on Saturday, May 31, from 10 am—noon. Meet Al, explore his work, and celebrate the intersection of art and nature. The reception will be in the Visitor Center during our annual Native Plant Sale. Visit the Institute anytime Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm, to enjoy his beautiful work displayed throughout the Visitor Center.
30% of sales will be donated to the Institute to further our mission: To inspire appreciation and stewardship of our environment.
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Time
May 31, 2025 10:00 am - 12:00 pm(GMT-04:00)
Event Details
Lunch Noon – 1 pm Program 1 pm – 2 pmJoin Sr. Damien Marie Savino, Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist and scientist-engineer, as she
Event Details
Lunch Noon – 1 pm Program 1 pm – 2 pm
Join Sr. Damien Marie Savino, Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist and scientist-engineer, as she discusses the Pope’s encyclical on integral ecology. Discover how this important concept promotes solutions that benefit the health of our natural and human communities. This program will be in-person only. All registrants will receive a link to view a video recording of the program via email.
Program and Lunch: Members $15 | Non-Members $21
Program only: Members Free | Non-Members $8
Please register by Friday, May 23 to reserve a lunch
This event is brought to you in part by:
The Douglas and Margaret DeCamp Foundation
Hastings Insurance Company
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Time
May 31, 2025 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm(GMT-04:00)
Event Details
Saturday, April 12 – Wednesday, October 1 Hike the trails to earn your stripes! Complete our 2025 trail blazers bingo card and
Event Details
Saturday, April 12 – Wednesday, October 1
Hike the trails to earn your stripes! Complete our 2025 trail blazers bingo card and collect your prize! All prizes will be available for pick-up at the visitor center front desk beginning Friday, August 1. Join the challenge and see if you have what it takes to be a Trail Master!
Free (self-guided on Pierce Cedar Creek Institute trails)
more
Time
April 12, 2025 12:01 am - October 1, 2025 11:59 pm(GMT-04:00)
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
junNature Paintings Exhibit by Al WhiteMonth Long Event (June)(GMT-04:00)
Event Details
Al’s paintings will be on display and for sale in the Institute’s Visitor Center, Monday through Friday, 9 am – 5 pm, June 1 through September 30, 2025.
Event Details
Al’s paintings will be on display and for sale in the Institute’s Visitor Center, Monday through Friday, 9 am – 5 pm, June 1 through September 30, 2025.
30% of sales will be donated to the Institute to further our mission: To inspire appreciation and stewardship of our environment.
This season’s art exhibit showcases stunning wildlife paintings by the very talented Al White! Visit the Institute Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm, to enjoy his beautiful artwork displayed throughout the Visitor Center.
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Time
Month Long Event (June)(GMT-04:00)
Event Details
The Rainbow Huntersby Andrea Farotto; illustrated by Martina Tonello Join Bill and his friends as they look
Event Details
The Rainbow Hunters
by Andrea Farotto; illustrated by Martina Tonello
Join Bill and his friends as they look for a rainbow! This epic adventure leads them all over their neighborhood. Will they find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? Hike our trail to find out!
Free (self-guided on the purple and green trails)
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Month Long Event (June)(GMT-04:00)
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
02jun(jun 2)12:01 am30(jun 30)11:59 pmHike the News12:01 am - 11:59 pm (30)(GMT-04:00)
Event Details
Monday, June 2 – Monday, June 30 Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Hike and get the latest inside
Event Details
Monday, June 2 – Monday, June 30
Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Hike and get the latest inside news on insects. What is an insect, and why are they so important to us?
Free (self-guided on the green trail)
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Time
June 2, 2025 12:01 am - June 30, 2025 11:59 pm(GMT-04:00)
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
04jun10:00 am12:30 pmSummer Fern Hike10:00 am - 12:30 pm(GMT-04:00) Register Here!
Event Details
Ages 15+, under 18 with an adult. Wednesday, June 4 10 am – 12:30 pmJoin David Wendling of the Michigan
Event Details
Ages 15+, under 18 with an adult.
Wednesday, June 4
10 am – 12:30 pm
Join David Wendling of the Michigan Botanical Society for a 1.5-mile hike and get an up-close look at the fascinating world of ferns and mosses. Learn about their differences, vast diversity, identifying characteristics, and their variety of habitats. We will be using the book, Fern Finder by Anne and Barbara Hallowell. The Institute will have a few copies to borrow, but we strongly recommend purchasing it at the Institute’s gift shop or from online booksellers. Space is limited, so please register early.
Members Free | Non-Members $8 Limited to 10 participants
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Time
June 4, 2025 10:00 am - 12:30 pm(GMT-04:00)
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
Event Details
Wednesdays, June 4 – August 6 10 am – Noon Join the Stewardship staff in caring for plants,
Event Details
Wednesdays, June 4 – August 6
10 am – Noon
Join the Stewardship staff in caring for plants, seed spreading, or removing invasive plants. Participants will learn about plant identification, plant communities, and ecology. Please register online. Further details will be sent before the event.
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June 4, 2025 10:00 am - August 6, 2025 12:00 pm(GMT-04:00)
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
05jun10:00 am12:00 pmSocial Hikes10:00 am - 12:00 pm(GMT-04:00) Register Here!
Event Details
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!
Event Details
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! Each month, we offer a Thursday morning hike, a Thursday evening hike, and a Saturday hike. Check out the schedule, and register to hike with us!
All hikes are FREE. (Water is required to hike. This is a safety precaution to prevent dehydration on the trail.)
This is a 1.4 mile hike open to all.
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Time
June 5, 2025 10:00 am - 12:00 pm(GMT-04:00)
Event Details
Saturday, June 7 9 am – Noon Tyden Park in Hastings Join
Event Details
Saturday, June 7
9 am – Noon
Tyden Park in Hastings
Join us for a summer kick-off event! Visit with local organizations to learn about opportunities and resources for families in Barry County.
Free, no registration required
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Time
June 7, 2025 9:00 am - 12:00 pm(GMT-04:00)
Location
Tyden Park
Hastings Riverwalk, Hastings, MI 49058
Event Details
(Ages 15+, under 18 with an adult)Second Monday of the Month NEW TIME! 8:30 – 10:30 amMonday, June 9
Event Details
(Ages 15+, under 18 with an adult)
Second Monday of the Month NEW TIME! 8:30 – 10:30 am
Monday, June 9
Monday, July 14
No August Bird Club
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 shorter informational session on birding topics.
Free (please register online)
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Time
June 9, 2025 8:30 am - 10:30 am(GMT-04:00)
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
10jun10:00 am12:00 pmEastern Box Turtle Party10:00 am - 12:00 pm(GMT-04:00) Register Here!
Event Details
Family FriendlyTuesday, June 10 10 am – Noon In celebration of World Turtle Week, you are invited to dive into
Event Details
Family Friendly
Tuesday, June 10
10 am – Noon
In celebration of World Turtle Week, you are invited to dive into the world of our native Eastern box turtles. Find out what makes box turtles unique, visit their habitat with our turtle researchers, and discover how you can get involved in helping and protecting them. Explore their unique shell patterns with a creative painting activity led by Institute volunteer and artist Al White, and take home your very own box turtle artwork.
Members $7 | Non-members $10
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Time
June 10, 2025 10:00 am - 12:00 pm(GMT-04:00)
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
13jun10:00 pm12:00 pmFun Fridays10:00 pm - 12:00 pm(GMT-04:00) Register Here!
Event Details
Family FriendlyFridays during summer 10 am – NoonFriday, June 13Friday, June 20Friday, June 27Friday, July 11Friday, July 25Friday,
Event Details
Family Friendly
Fridays during summer 10 am – Noon
Friday, June 13
Friday, June 20
Friday, June 27
Friday, July 11
Friday, July 25
Friday, August 1
It’s a Fun Friday at the Institute! Join us for hands-on activities, special guests, games, and crafts centered around a new theme each week! This is a come-and-go event, and all caregivers must remain with their children during this event. Explore and play alongside your children. Fun Fridays at the Institute are fun for everyone!
Free (please register online)
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Time
June 13, 2025 10:00 pm - 12:00 pm(GMT-04:00)
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
14jun10:00 am12:00 pmSocial Hikes10:00 am - 12:00 pm(GMT-04:00) Register Here!
Event Details
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!
Event Details
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! Each month, we offer a Thursday morning hike, a Thursday evening hike, and a Saturday hike. Check out the schedule, and register to hike with us!
All hikes are FREE. (Water is required to hike. This is a safety precaution to prevent dehydration on the trail.)
This is a 1.4 mile hike open to all.
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Time
June 14, 2025 10:00 am - 12:00 pm(GMT-04:00)
17jun10:00 am12:00 pmCedar Creek Book Club10:00 am - 12:00 pm(GMT-04:00) Register Here!
Event Details
Third Tuesday of the Month 10 am – NoonTuesday, June 17 – The Light Eaters by Zoë SchlangerJuly and August – Summer break
Event Details
Third Tuesday of the Month 10 am – Noon
Tuesday, June 17 – The Light Eaters by Zoë Schlanger
July and August – Summer break
With a solid mix of fiction and non-fiction biographies, this book club is for readers who share an avid concern and interest in the natural world. There is no commitment other than to enjoy reading and sharing books about nature. Feel free to join us even if you have not read the book (and be inspired to read it). This club will be led by Institute staff and volunteers.
Free (Participants are required to obtain the books themselves. Many local libraries and bookstores carry these titles. If you can’t find a book, contact the institute for assistance!)
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Time
June 17, 2025 10:00 am - 12:00 pm(GMT-04:00)
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
19jun6:00 pm8:00 pmSocial Hikes6:00 pm - 8:00 pm(GMT-04:00) Register Here!
Event Details
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!
Event Details
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! Each month, we offer a Thursday morning hike, a Thursday evening hike, and a Saturday hike. Check out the schedule, and register to hike with us!
All hikes are FREE. (Water is required to hike. This is a safety precaution to prevent dehydration on the trail.)
This is a 1.4-mile hike open to all.
more
Time
June 19, 2025 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm(GMT-04:00)
20jun10:00 am12:00 pmFun Fridays10:00 am - 12:00 pm(GMT-04:00) Register Here!
Event Details
Family FriendlyFridays during summer 10 am – NoonFriday, June 20Friday, June 27Friday, July 11Friday, July 25Friday, August 1It’s
Event Details
Family Friendly
Fridays during summer 10 am – Noon
Friday, June 20
Friday, June 27
Friday, July 11
Friday, July 25
Friday, August 1
It’s a Fun Friday at the Institute! Join us for hands-on activities, special guests, games, and crafts centered around a new theme each week! This is a come-and-go event, and all caregivers must remain with their children during this event. Explore and play alongside your children. Fun Fridays at the Institute are fun for everyone!
Free (please register online)
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Time
June 20, 2025 10:00 am - 12:00 pm(GMT-04:00)
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
21jun9:00 am12:00 pmMUCC On-The-Ground9:00 am - 12:00 pm(GMT-04:00) Register Here!
Event Details
Saturday, June 21 9 am – Noon Join Michigan United Conservation Club (MUCC) at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute for a
Event Details
Saturday, June 21
9 am – Noon
Join Michigan United Conservation Club (MUCC) at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute for a morning of planting in a newly restored prairie. Participants will learn about prairie restoration and native plants. Lunch provided. Please register online, and further details will be sent before the event. Register at www.CedarCreekInstitute.org/Volunteer.
Free
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Time
June 21, 2025 9:00 am - 12:00 pm(GMT-04:00)
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
Event Details
(Ages 15+, under 18 with an adult)Thursday, June 26 Program 11 am – Noon Lunch Noon – 1 pmWe are excited
Event Details
(Ages 15+, under 18 with an adult)
Thursday, June 26
Program 11 am – Noon Lunch Noon – 1 pm
We are excited to welcome the Barry-Eaton County Health Department for an engaging hour on E. coli! This bacteria is the culprit of many closed beaches in Barry County, and is dangerous to the health of humans and our waterways. Join Environmental Health Supervisor David Cormeau as he discusses where this bacteria comes from, how the health department works to keep swimmers safe during the summer, and exciting developments in Microbial Source Tracking!
Program and Lunch: Members $15 | Non-Members $21
Program only: Members Free | Non-Members $8
Please register by Thursday, June 19, to reserve lunch.
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Time
June 26, 2025 11:00 am - 1:00 pm(GMT-04:00)
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
27jun10:00 am12:00 pmFun Fridays10:00 am - 12:00 pm(GMT-04:00) Register Here!
Event Details
Family FriendlyFridays during summer 10 am – NoonFriday, June 27Friday, July 11Friday, July 25Friday, August 1It’s a Fun Friday
Event Details
Family Friendly
Fridays during summer 10 am – Noon
Friday, June 27
Friday, July 11
Friday, July 25
Friday, August 1
It’s a Fun Friday at the Institute! Join us for hands-on activities, special guests, games, and crafts centered around a new theme each week! This is a come-and-go event, and all caregivers must remain with their children during this event. Explore and play alongside your children. Fun Fridays at the Institute are fun for everyone!
Free (please register online)
more
Time
June 27, 2025 10:00 am - 12:00 pm(GMT-04:00)
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
Environmental Education & Sustainable Land Management Initiatives
The Institute offers environmental education and sustainable land management programs to the community, instructing environmental stewards by communicating the core values of land conservancy, environmental responsibility and the pursuit of knowledge; provides scientific research grants and research partnerships with a consortium of area colleges and universities; and features over nine miles of hiking trails open to the public, free of charge, from dawn to dusk year-round.