calendar of events

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2

EMF Hazards Summit 2023: Electromagnetic Radiation Protection Event – Feb 2-5. A chance to learn everything there is to know about EMF radiation and get access to proven solutions for protecting our health and that of our loved ones. Free. Virtual. 714-436-1234. EMFHazards.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4

Pine, Spruce or Fir? Winter Conifer ID –1-2:30pm. Learn ID techniques using various keys, and then hike our trails to put your skills to the test. $10/person. Grass River Education Center, 6500 Alden Hwy, Bellaire. Register: GrassRiver.org.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9

Gluten-Free Meals – 6-7pm. Learn plenty of tips for transitioning away from gluten with Registered Dietitian Carol Bell. Get ideas and recipes for easy, delicious, gluten-free meals and snacks. $40. Oryana West, 3587 Marketplace Cir, Traverse City. Oryana.coop.

Virtual Factory Farming Problems & Solutions – 7-8:15pm. Lynn Henning is the field operations team director for the Socially Responsible Agricultural Project and winner of the 2010 Goldman Environmental Prize—the environmental equivalent of the Nobel Prize.VegMichigan.org.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11

Winterlochen – 11am-3:30pm. Head outside for a variety of wild and wacky winter activities such as human snow bowling, frozen fish toss, snow volleyball and more. Then, warm up with a selection of arts exploration and creative play events. Free. Interlochen Center for the Arts, 4000 J Maddy Pkwy, Interlochen. Interlochen.org.

WinterFest – 12-3pm. A fun-filled family event with outdoor and indoor activities, snowshoeing and x-country skiing weather permitting, crafts, games and s’mores. Free, donations welcome. Grass River Education Center, 6500 Alden Hwy, Bellaire. GrassRiver.org.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13

Winter Webinar Series: Understanding Forest Carbon Offsets – 6-7pm. Join Brittany VanderWall, Senior Forestry Manager for the Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP), for an introduction and overview of the FFCP and how carbon markets are structured. Free. Zoom. Register: NatureIsCalling.org.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16

Make, Take & Bake Apple Pie – 6pm. Taste and discuss different apple varieties, then choose own blend of apples, make and roll out your dough, and assemble your pie, which you will take home to bake. $40. Oryana West, 3587 Marketplace Cir, Traverse City. Oryana.coop.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17

Lantern-Lit Ski & Snowshoe – 6:30-8:30pm. Enjoy a self-guided evening ski on GRNA’s groomed ski trails or snowshoe the boardwalk to the river. $5/person; $5 rental fee or bring own. Grass River Education Center, 6500 Alden Hwy, Bellaire. Register: GrassRiver.org.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

Winter Guided Hike: Natural Education Reserve – 10am-12pm. Join staff on a short hiking tour of the Natural Education Reserve to learn about the parkland’s history, management, flora and fauna, and more. Free. 1450 Cass Rd, Traverse City. NatureIsCalling.org.

Daytime Owl Calling – 2-4pm. Learn about the calls and habits of local owls and then take a daytime hike to listen to what owls may be out and about during the day. $10/person. Grass River Education Center, 6500 Alden Hwy, Bellaire. Pre-register: GrassRiver.org.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19

Slow, Easy Hike: Swanson Preserve – 1pm. Take a winter walk to find out, looking closely at vegetation along the route, thinking about winter aesthetics, and talking about the importance of protecting watershed. More info & to register: Leelanau Conservancy.org.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24

The Michigan Girl MiGirl Winter Retreat – Feb 24-26. Hosted by Kandace Chapple, a writer and owner of Michigan Girl, LLC, featured activities include snowshoe outing at the Vasa, complimentary wine tastings, art projects fueled by laughs, a “girls’ night in” pizza party with wine, euchre showdowns and other games, a group breakfast with waffles and mandatory nap time. All inclusive. Spider Lake Retreat. Info: Kandace@MichiganGirlEvents.com. mi-girl.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25

Winter Harvest Hike: Kehl Lake Natural Area –10am. Let’s hit the trail to breathe in some super fresh Leelanau air and get our sap flowing again. More info & to register: LeelanauConservancy.org.

Winter Guided Hike: Brown Bridge Quiet Area – 10am-12pm. Join District staff on a hiking tour of Brown Bridge Quiet Area to learn about the parkland’s history, management, flora and fauna, and more. Free. 3408 Brown Bridge Rd, Kingsley. NatureIsCalling.org.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26

Virtual Book Club Q&A – 1-2:30pm. Joined by Emilia A. Leese, co-author of Think Like a Vegan: What Everyone Can Learn from Vegan Ethics . VegMichigan.org.

The Good, The Bad & The Bug-ly – 2-3:30pm. In this program with MSU Extension Entomologist and Horticulture Educator, Nate Walton, learn how to manage your green space for invasive insect prevention and pollinator conservation. The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park, 1490 Red Dr, Traverse City. TheBotanicGarden.org.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27

Winter Webinar Series: Understanding Conservation Easements – 6-7pm. Join Chase Heise, Conservation Easement Program Manager, at the Leelanau Conservancy for an in-depth look at conservation easements and what they mean for private landowners, agriculture, water quality and land protection. Free. Zoom. Register: NatureIsCalling.org.