Birders of all abilities and expertise are invited to Midland, Michigan for the inaugural Whiting Forest of Dow Gardens Birding Festival. During the three-day event, attendees will learn from more than 20 distinguished conservationists, researchers, photographers, and environmental educators. Over 30 dynamic sessions will be offered on topics such as Kirtland’s Warbler Conservation, raptor identification, and birding by ear. The capstone of the festival is keynote speaker, David Allen Sibley, presenting The Art of Identification. Sibley is the author and…

Join Sister Marie Kopin of the North American Mycological Association for a Saturday morning mushroom hunt in the fall woods of beautiful Hall's Lake Natural Area. Participants will explore the preserve in search of wild mushrooms. The event will culminate with an identification of each participant’s findings. Directions to the preserve: http://bit.ly/Halls-Lake-Natural-Area

Join us for a fall paddle down the Chippewa River. Late October is a great time to be on the river! The crowds of summer are gone. The air is cool but the water is still (relatively) warm. Water levels have gone up from their summer lows. The best part? Fall Colors! Color in the trees, in the vegetation along the banks, reflected in the water, in ribbons of leaves floating in the current... You get the idea! We'll meet…