Outdoor Activities

Poem: The Peace of Wild Things - Wendell Berry

Join Hands Day

You can help KEEP KIMBALL BEAUTIFUL!

Join neighbors, NOHLC members, and volunteers of all ages from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. It’s Join Hands Day at the wooded 41 acre Kimball Preserve in Clarkston on Saturday, May 3, 2008, 9:00- 12:30. Tree planting, install signage, restore paths, remove invasive plants. Please visit this website in April for details.

Join Hands Day coordinator, Heidi Quitmeyer, organizes North Oakland Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans volunteers at 2007 JOIN HANDS DAY. Nearly 100 volunteers helped at the Kimball Sanctuary.

Volunteers ready to install birdhouses in hopes of attracting more birds to the Kimball Sanctuary.

Kimball Sanctuary in Clarkston

Spring '08 Outdoor Activities

April 12, 1 pm—Capturing Spring in Clarkston

All your senses come alive as Spring fills the air. We will take a family friendly trip through the Nels Kimball Preserve to see the evidence of animals and plants returning to life in this floodplain setting. We’ll have nets on hand for dipping into the stream, nets for capturing a close up look at the pond life and tools to pry into other hiding places. Register in advance for this free adventure and get directions to the Preserve by calling the NOHLC office at 248-846-6547 or visiting www.nohlc.org

April 26, 1pm—Earth Day Photo Shoot

Children and parents are invited to learn photo tips for capturing the best of the outdoors. The free outdoor workshop will begin at the Holly Township Nature Center, 5140 East Holly Road at 1pm on Saturday, April 26. Disposable cameras are provided to children who don’t have one, but families are urged to bring their own film and cameras with which they are familiar. There will be surprise opportunities to capture some wild birds up close. Call our partner organization for more information: Holly Township Nature Center, 248-634-1758.

May 3, 9 am—Join Hands Day in Clarkston

Join Hands Day is sponsored by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans in caring stewardship of our natural resources. All children and adults will have an opportunity to roll up their sleeves and work in our premier Nels Kimball Preserve at the north edge of Clarkston. We will be opening the property for continuous public enjoyment by wood chipping the pathways, removing thorny invasive plants, installing signage, planting trees, and creating additional habitat for animals. Come in boots and work clothes, bring gloves and be prepared to work alongside dozens of other people who are engaged in this mission. Your helping hands will help turn this into a year-round showplace along the headwaters of the Clinton River. Visit www.nohlc.org or call 248-846-6547 for details.

May 10, 6 am--The Magnificent Magee Marsh Bird Watching Trip

Magee Marsh may be the best place to observe migrating birds in the Great Lakes Region.

NOHLC is sponsoring an excursion to this Lake Erie location on May 10th at the height of the return of our songbirds. We will meet in the parking lot of our office at 12000 Davisburg Road in Springfield Township at 6 am and caravan to the site along Route 2 in Ohio.

Bring your binoculars and bird books and be prepared for the amazing sight of birds congregating within feet of the famous boardwalk among the trees. There is no fee for this trip—it’s just a collection of friends traveling together to this remarkable destination. For Reservations, please call the office at 248-846-6547. Trip Details:

	You must provide your own transportation.
	Carpooling is encouraged, but please give us advance notice if you would appreciate a carpooling contact. We will make every attempt to help.
	No meals or drinks provided, but will stop east of Toledo for a rest stop and purchase of food if you wish.
	Expect to return home before dark.
	Sorry we are unable to hold up departure for latecomers. We will leave promptly at 6 a.m.
	Recommended book: Birds of the Great Lakes Region

May 18, 1pm—Pleasure Paddle on the Shiawassee

The Shiawassee River headwaters flows westward out of Oakland County and ends up in Saginaw Bay. Maintaining the pristine nature of the river and its watershed is a critical part of NOHLC’s mission. You can view the river up close by canoe or kayak on May 18^th as we partner with Headwaters Trails to offer a safe and comfortable introduction to the twisting, wild section between Holly and Fenton. Canoes can be reserved ahead of time from Heavner Canoes at 248-685-2379 if you do not have your own. Please register and seek more information from our partner at the Headwaters Trails website www.headwaterstrailsinc.org. Along the journey you will pass one preserved property, one wetland easement, and two anticipated easements, part of our exciting focus on river corridor preservation.

Outdoor Activities - How You Can Help!

Stewardship Committee

	Take action - Improve the habitat of your yard & plant trees. Join The National Arbor day Foundation
	Participate in the Audubon 10th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count

Other Event Calendars

Other organizations that have requested we link to their event calendars follow:

Clinton River Watershed Council