Welcome to Pierce Cedar Creek Institute

Immerse Yourself in Nature

Pierce Cedar Creek Institute for Environmental Education

Set on 850 acres in rural Barry County, Michigan, Pierce Cedar Creek Institute serves as an environmental education center, biological field station, and nature preserve. PCCI offers visitors opportunities for education, recreation, research, and exposure to a variety of habitats, including wetlands, forests, prairies, and agriculture.

Native Plant Pre-Sale is "Live"~Order Now!

Join us on May 30, 2026, from 9am to 12pm, for an in-person sale native plant sale at the Institute! We will be offering both native garden mixes and native plants for sale. Staff and volunteers will help consult on plant selection and answer questions.

Pre-order plant mixes to guarantee availability!

Naturally Speaking Newsletter June - August 2026

The Institute’s newsletter is BACK!

As we celebrate our 25th anniversary year, we invite you to explore the latest edition filled with exciting updates, upcoming programs, and stories from across the Institute. You’ll also discover highlights from our history and the people, moments, and milestones that have shaped the Institute over the past 25 years.

We hope you enjoy looking back while celebrating all that’s still to come!

Students in the Field: The Story of the Biological Field Station

On a summer morning at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, the prairie hums with life. Students step into the field with sampling gear, notebooks, and sketchbooks in hand.

This is the quiet magic of a biological field station.
Students and faculty working side by side.
Science unfolding in real time.
Curiosity leading to discovery.

octOctober Storybook Hike: Those Darn Squirrels!Month Long Event (October)(GMT-04:00)

octBats of MichiganMonth Long Event (October)(GMT-04:00)

24oct6:00 pm8:30 pmTrick or Treat on the Trails6:00 pm - 8:30 pm(GMT-04:00) Register Here!

novNovember Storybook Hike: Mnoomin maan’gowing: The Gift of MnoominMonth Long Event (November)(GMT-04:00)

novWho Stole the Rose Hips?Month Long Event (November)(GMT-04:00)

05nov10:00 am11:00 amPlaydates in the Play Space10:00 am - 11:00 am(GMT-05:00) Free - Register Here!

08nov11:00 am3:00 pmHoliday Gift Show11:00 am - 3:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Vendor Registration Here!

10nov9:00 am10:00 amBird Hike with Anne & Doug Klein9:00 am - 10:00 am(GMT-05:00) Free - Register Here!

10nov4:00 pm5:00 pmSTEAM at the Library: Hastings Public Library4:00 pm - 5:00 pm(GMT-05:00)

12nov6:00 pm8:00 pm25th Anniversary Commemorative Friendsgiving6:00 pm - 8:00 pm(GMT-05:00)

13nov10:30 am11:15 amScience Storytime at Hastings Public Library10:30 am - 11:15 am(GMT-05:00)

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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.