Upcoming Events
Listing of Upcoming Events
You, Me & the Trees (ages 2-3)
You, Me & the Trees
Parents and caregivers are invited to explore the outdoors with their toddlers and observe the many ways nature can help us learn. Children 2-3 years old will have the opportunity to embrace the wonders of nature through their senses and engage in unique learning experiences. While we follow a laid back, flexible and child-led routine, you can expect a typical class to have the following flow:
Invitations to Play (first ~30 min): Open play in our Outdoor Classroom with a variety of hands-on materials set out by staff.
Gathering Circle: Storytime and music
Hike for the remainder of class. Hikes may include an experience/activity or be a general exploration of the forest.
Class Details:
Class Schedule: Fridays form 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Cost: $20 per child & parent/guardian pair for one-day registration. You may register for as many weeks as you would like.
You must register at least 2 days in advance to ensure the program runs.
Girls Scouts Fall Badge-A-Palooza
Girls Scouts of Southeastern Michigan - Fall Badge-A-Palooza
Join us for a fun-filled day outdoors earning badges and exploring nature! Scouts will engage in hands-on adventures designed to connect them with the environment and build outdoor skills.
🌿 Badge & Mini Patch Options:
Daisy: Eco Learner, Trail Adventure, Shapes in Nature
Brownie: Bugs, Trail Adventure, Shapes in Nature
Junior: Animal Habitats, Trail Adventure, Fishing
Cadette: Animal Helpers, Eco Trekker, Fishing
Discover, explore, and celebrate the great outdoors — all while completing steps toward your next Girl Scout badge!
You, Me & the Trees (ages 2-3)
You, Me & the Trees
Parents and caregivers are invited to explore the outdoors with their toddlers and observe the many ways nature can help us learn. Children 2-3 years old will have the opportunity to embrace the wonders of nature through their senses and engage in unique learning experiences. While we follow a laid back, flexible and child-led routine, you can expect a typical class to have the following flow:
Invitations to Play (first ~30 min): Open play in our Outdoor Classroom with a variety of hands-on materials set out by staff.
Gathering Circle: Storytime and music
Hike for the remainder of class. Hikes may include an experience/activity or be a general exploration of the forest.
Class Details:
Class Schedule: Fridays form 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Cost: $20 per child & parent/guardian pair for one-day registration. You may register for as many weeks as you would like.
You must register at least 2 days in advance to ensure the program runs.
Diverse Learners Day
Diverse Learners Day
Come explore late fall at the nature center~ we'll explore the forest, investigate seasonal changes and look for signs that fall is ending and winter is coming!
Diverse Learners is designed to meet children with diverse learning challenges where they are with extra time, patience, and supports. Each child will need a supportive adult with them and can also bring another family member.
Prairie Seed Collecting
Prairie Seed Collecting
November is the perfect time to give back to nature! Join us in gathering prairie seeds that will help bring our school programs to life. As you collect these precious seeds, you'll also have the chance to take some home, giving you the opportunity to cultivate beautiful, native plants in your own yard. It's a fun, hands-on way to support our environment while creating your own mini prairie at home!
Ages 7yr - Adult
$5 per person
You, Me & the Trees (ages 2-3)
You, Me & the Trees
Parents and caregivers are invited to explore the outdoors with their toddlers and observe the many ways nature can help us learn. Children 2-3 years old will have the opportunity to embrace the wonders of nature through their senses and engage in unique learning experiences. While we follow a laid back, flexible and child-led routine, you can expect a typical class to have the following flow:
Invitations to Play (first ~30 min): Open play in our Outdoor Classroom with a variety of hands-on materials set out by staff.
Gathering Circle: Storytime and music
Hike for the remainder of class. Hikes may include an experience/activity or be a general exploration of the forest.
Class Details:
Class Schedule: Fridays form 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Cost: $20 per child & parent/guardian pair for one-day registration. You may register for as many weeks as you would like.
You must register at least 2 days in advance to ensure the program runs.
You, Me & the Trees (ages 2-3)
You, Me & the Trees
Parents and caregivers are invited to explore the outdoors with their toddlers and observe the many ways nature can help us learn. Children 2-3 years old will have the opportunity to embrace the wonders of nature through their senses and engage in unique learning experiences. While we follow a laid back, flexible and child-led routine, you can expect a typical class to have the following flow:
Invitations to Play (first ~30 min): Open play in our Outdoor Classroom with a variety of hands-on materials set out by staff.
Gathering Circle: Storytime and music
Hike for the remainder of class. Hikes may include an experience/activity or be a general exploration of the forest.
Class Details:
Class Schedule: Fridays form 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Cost: $20 per child & parent/guardian pair for one-day registration. You may register for as many weeks as you would like.
You must register at least 2 days in advance to ensure the program runs.
Night Hike: Coyotes
Night Hike: Coyotes
Step into the night and discover the secretive world of coyotes! Join our naturalist for a guided hike as we explore coyote behavior, communication, and their important role in local ecosystems. Together, we’ll listen for night sounds, look for signs of wildlife, and learn how these clever canines thrive alongside us.
Time: 7p-8p
Ages 7 year through adult
Cost: $8 per person
You, Me & the Trees (ages 2-3)
You, Me & the Trees
Parents and caregivers are invited to explore the outdoors with their toddlers and observe the many ways nature can help us learn. Children 2-3 years old will have the opportunity to embrace the wonders of nature through their senses and engage in unique learning experiences. While we follow a laid back, flexible and child-led routine, you can expect a typical class to have the following flow:
Invitations to Play (first ~30 min): Open play in our Outdoor Classroom with a variety of hands-on materials set out by staff.
Gathering Circle: Storytime and music
Hike for the remainder of class. Hikes may include an experience/activity or be a general exploration of the forest.
Class Details:
Class Schedule: Fridays form 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Cost: $20 per child & parent/guardian pair for one-day registration. You may register for as many weeks as you would like.
You must register at least 2 days in advance to ensure the program runs.
Family Friendly Fishing
Join us on select Saturday or Sunday mornings to discover what lies below the surface of our pond! Participants have the option of bringing their own equipment, or borrowing from what the Nature Center has to offer.
Up to 15 families/groups per day with up to 5 people per family/group. If you have more people than 5, select 2 groups. you can register up to 2 groups at at time here.
$10 per person.
All ages.
Sunday Stroll
Sunday Stoll Series
Whether you saunter or stroll, join a naturalist on the trails.
Time: 3:00p-4:30p
Ages: all ages
Cost: Free - though donations are appreciated to continue supporting programs and the welfare of the nature center.
Registration: Registration is not required to attend. However, we appreciate your pre-registration to help in us plan and it allows for your optional donation.
Family Friendly Fishing
Join us on select Saturday or Sunday mornings to discover what lies below the surface of our pond! Participants have the option of bringing their own equipment, or borrowing from what the Nature Center has to offer.
Up to 15 families/groups per day with up to 5 people per family/group. If you have more people than 5, select 2 groups. you can register up to 2 groups at at time here.
$10 per person.
All ages.
Outdoor Education Teacher Workshop
Outdoor Education Teacher Workshop
Join Us for Hands-On, Outdoor Learning!
Discover engaging, interdisciplinary ways to connect students with nature through our Project Learning Tree and Project WILD teacher workshop. Designed for K-12 educators, this hands-on professional development experience provides practical activities and resources that align with science, math, and literacy standards.
► Explore the outdoors with innovative lessons.
► Engage students in critical thinking about nature and conservation.
► Inspire curiosity and environmental stewardship.
Cost: $66 — Includes two resource books packed with hands-on activities for immediate classroom use.
SCECHs: Earn 6 (six) State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs).
When: Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at 9:00a-3:30p
Where: Johnson Nature Center, 3325 Franklin Road, Bloomfield Hills
Family Friendly Fishing
Join us on select Saturday or Sunday mornings to discover what lies below the surface of our pond! Participants have the option of bringing their own equipment, or borrowing from what the Nature Center has to offer.
Up to 15 families/groups per day with up to 5 people per family/group. If you have more people than 5, select 2 groups. you can register up to 2 groups at at time here.
$10 per person.
All ages.
Sunday Stroll
Sunday Stoll Series
Whether you saunter or stroll, join a naturalist on the trails.
Time: 3:00p-4:30p
Ages: all ages
Cost: Free - though donations are appreciated to continue supporting programs and the welfare of the nature center.
Registration: Registration is not required to attend. However, we appreciate your pre-registration to help in us plan and it allows for your optional donation.
Family Friendly Fishing
Join us on select Saturday or Sunday mornings to discover what lies below the surface of our pond! Participants have the option of bringing their own equipment, or borrowing from what the Nature Center has to offer.
Up to 15 families/groups per day with up to 5 people per family/group. If you have more people than 5, select 2 groups. you can register up to 2 groups at at time here.
$10 per person.
All ages.
Family Friendly Fishing
Join us on select Saturday or Sunday mornings to discover what lies below the surface of our pond! Participants have the option of bringing their own equipment, or borrowing from what the Nature Center has to offer.
Up to 15 families/groups per day with up to 5 people per family/group. If you have more people than 5, select 2 groups. you can register up to 2 groups at at time here.
$10 per person.
All ages.
Sunday Stroll
Sunday Stoll Series
Whether you saunter or stroll, join a naturalist on the trails.
Time: 3:00p-4:30p
Ages: all ages
Cost: Free - though donations are appreciated to continue supporting programs and the welfare of the nature center.
Registration: Registration is not required to attend. However, we appreciate your pre-registration to help in us plan and it allows for your optional donation.
Craft Series: Create a Critter
Craft Series: Create a Critter
Construct and design an animal or critter of your imagination using materials found in nature! Glue, twine and other materials will be provided to assist in construction.
Time: 1p - 3p
Ages: age 5 yr through adult
Cost: $15 per person (plus processing fees)
Register HERE
Frog Walk
Frog Walk
Explore the wetlands on a daytime frog hike, where we’ll search for these slippery amphibians basking in the sun and learn how their habitats thrive under the light of day. From spotting tadpoles to identifying adult frogs, it’s a perfect adventure for nature lovers of all ages!
Cost: $8 pp (all ages welcome)
Register HERE
Sunday Stroll
Sunday Stoll Series
Whether you saunter or stroll, join a naturalist on the trails.
Time: 3:00p-4:30p
Ages: all ages
Cost: Free - though donations are appreciated to continue supporting programs and the welfare of the nature center.
Registration: Registration is not required to attend. However, we appreciate your pre-registration to help in us plan and it allows for your optional donation.
Whimsical Woodlands event
Join us in our Forest Fairy Village for a day of Whimsy! Enjoy a magical day in the forest filled with crafts, storytelling, adventurous activities, face painting, vendors, and fairy-approved treats!
Enter the world of fairies and gnomes!
Follow the trails as you head down the streets of our Fairy Village, discovering magic around every corner! Who knows what whimsical creature you may meet next?
No Registration ~ Free Event
VOLUNTEER DAY as land steward or at event
VOLUNTEER WITH US on April 27
We are looking for volunteers to:
Work with the land as a steward volunteer
Banish the Mischievous Invaders! Join our enchanted crew in restoring balance to the forest by clearing out pesky invasive plants from a designated spot in the Johnson Nature Center.
Spruce Up the Enchanted Gateway! Help tidy the Nature Center’s front spaces by clearing weeds, protecting native plants, and removing litter!
Help create enchanted pathways by laying soft wood chips along trails, tidying up any stray litter, and adding fresh chips to key spots around the property. Every scoop brings more charm to the Land!
Volunteer at the Whimsical Woodlands event
Lend a Hand, Spark Some Magic! Help keep the enchantment alive by guiding guests, supporting vendors, bringing whimsy to our activity tables and trails, and ensuring a smooth clean-up as the magic winds down. Your time makes the magic happen!
Craft Series: Rain Sticks
Craft Series: Rain Sticks
Get crafty and create your own rain stick! Learn about this traditional instrument and bring the soothing sound of rain to life with your handmade masterpiece.
Diverse Learners Day at the Nature Center
Diverse Learners Day at the Nature Center!
We will go on a spring hike and discover insects.
This specialized program is designed for children with special needs and 2 family members. It provides a more accessible, supported experience for the child and their family that might otherwise be challenging due to complex learning needs or challenges (i.e. sensory needs, language impairments, emotional, behavioral, or cognitive learning challenges, physical needs, etc.). Each session will provide families with various interactive activities for engagement.
This collaborative program has an experienced guide who works directly with the children (4:1 ratio) to provide specialized support and accommodation to experience the farm and nature center. The guide also provides support to family members to highlight ways to support their child in these environments for future visits. The family is provided with a digital social story to read with their child before the program and will leave with a set of visuals to support engagement on future visits.
Pre-Registration required.
Sliding Scale $45-55
Ages 2-16
*Each child must have at least one adult with them and can have up to two family members accompany them (two adults or one adult and one sibling).
*This is not designed as a drop-off program.
Cost: sliding scale based on what you can pay per child/parent(x2) pair. (What is a sliding scale? Look here)
Option 1: Lowest Cost: $45
Option 2: Sustaining Cost: $50
Option 3: Pay it Forward Cost: $55
Sunday Stroll
Sunday Stoll Series
Whether you saunter or stroll, join a naturalist on the trails.
Coffee & warm drinks are available at 3p.
Time: 3:00p-4:30p
Ages: all ages
Cost: Free - though donations are appreciated to continue supporting programs and the welfare of the nature center.
Registration: Registration is not required to attend. However, we appreciate your pre-registration to help in us plan and it allows for your optional donation.
CANCELLED - Maple Sugaring
Maple Sugaring CANCELLED due to weather
Due to unpredictable weather and wind speeds above our safety threshold, we must cancel Sap Happy tomorrow, as our primary concern is staff and visitor safety.
Maple Sugaring
Maple Sugaring - Sap Happy Event
Join us this maple sugaring season for a tour of our Sugarbush! Discover how to identify and tap the perfect sugar maple tree and enjoy the sights, smells, and tastes of the sweet syrup-making process in our Sugar Shack and Log Cabin. Self-guided tours begin every half hour from 9:30a - 2:30p with numerous activities available at your own pace. Explore the log cabin, experience tree tapping, work on your tree identification skills, and much more with our staff and volunteers there to engage you in the joys of the season along the way.
Maple Sugaring
Maple Sugaring - Sap Happy Event
Join us this maple sugaring season for a tour of our Sugarbush! Discover how to identify and tap the perfect sugar maple tree and enjoy the sights, smells, and tastes of the sweet syrup-making process in our Sugar Shack and Log Cabin. Self-guided tours begin every half hour from 9:30a - 2:30p with numerous activities available at your own pace. Explore the log cabin, experience tree tapping, work on your tree identification skills, and much more with our staff and volunteers there to engage you in the joys of the season along the way.
Craft Series: DIY Sundial
Craft Series: DIY Sundial
Join us in this exciting craft series, where you'll discover the magic of timekeeping and create a stunning masterpiece that connects you with nature.
Date: February 22
Time: 1p - 3p
Cost: $15 per person
Winter Survival Day Camp
Winter Survival Day Camp
Ever wonder how animals survive the icy grip of winter? Join us for a thrilling day of outdoor exploration and winter survival skills! Learn how to build a cozy shelter, start a fire without matches, and find signs of life in the snowy wilderness. Whether you're building snow forts, tracking animals, or discovering nature's hidden food sources, this hands-on adventure will keep you warm and ready for winter’s wildest challenges. Dress for the weather and bring your curiosity—survival awaits!
Bring lunch and 2 snacks
Ages 7-14
Cost: $84