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Northern Naturalist students have the opportunity to learn about and explore the beautiful northern Michigan environment. Students can earn a Northern Naturalist certificate after completing required coursework in animals, plants, water, geology, policy, and more!


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Northern Naturalist Certificate Enrollment 

ID:5354
Explore the natural environment — water, shorelines, woods, rolling landscapes, dunes, plentiful trees, birds, wildflowers, and wildlife are part of w ...  View More

Schedule : ; ; Class Skip Dates :Self-Paced

Cost: $25.00

Instructor : EES Instructor 

Please read: The Northern Naturalist Certificate Program ...More

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  Radar, Satellites, & Maps Oh My! 

ID:5789
New! Have you ever seen weather maps, radar, or satellite images and thought, "what in the world is that?" Then this is the class for you! Over two cl ...  View More

Schedule : Weekly - Fri 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM; 2 sessions; starting 2/20/2026, ending 2/27/2026

Cost: $99.00

Instructor : Tiffani Wilke 

Please read: This course qualifies toward the Naturalist ...More

Location: Health & Science Building Location : 
  Health & Science Building.

Please call (231) 995-1700 to register
 
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Agroforestry in Urban Settings 

ID:5785
Explore food production within a forest system and the multiple functions these systems serve in carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat creation, and ...  View More

Schedule : Weekly - Wed 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM; starting 2/25/2026, ending 2/25/2026

Cost: $49.00

Instructor : Multiple

Please read: THIS CLASS MEETS ONLINE VIA ZOOM. Link will ...More

Location: Livestream Location : 
  Livestream.

Please call (231) 995-1700 to register
 
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Composting 101: Food Scraps, Yard Waste & Wood — Oh My! (Option 1) 

ID:5792
Do you wish your trash bins weren’t so full of wet, stinky stuff? Learn about the processes and the magnificent organisms that turn your trash into va ...  View More

Schedule : Weekly - Thu 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM; starting 3/5/2026, ending 3/5/2026

Cost: $75.00

Instructor : Multiple

Please read: This course qualifies towards the Northern ...More

Location: Boardman Lake Campus Location : 
  Boardman Lake Campus.

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Talking Trash Part 1 

ID:5797
Much of what we throw in our trash cans is not necessarily waste - items can keep their value by being reused, recycled, or composted instead! With th ...  View More

Schedule : Weekly - Wed 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM; starting 3/11/2026, ending 3/11/2026

Cost: $65.00

Instructor : Multiple

Please read: This course qualifies toward the Naturalist ...More

Location: Historic Barns Park, Grand Traverse Commons Location : 
  Historic Barns Park, Grand Traverse Commons.

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Signs of River Otters & Other Elusive Animals 

ID:5444
River otters are active and healthy at Grass River Natural Area. Join a naturalist to learn the natural history of river otters and how to spot signs ...  View More

Schedule : Weekly - Fri 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM; starting 3/13/2026, ending 3/13/2026

Cost: $75.00

Instructor : Multiple

Please read: This class takes place at Grass River ...More

Location: Grass River Natural Area Location : 
  Grass River Natural Area.

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Sea Lamprey Exploration 

ID:5447
Get up close and personal with one of the most prolific invasive species in the Great Lakes — the sea lamprey. Through a guided dissection, you'll lea ...  View More

Schedule : Weekly - Wed 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM; starting 3/18/2026, ending 3/18/2026

Cost: $89.00

Instructor : Inland Seas Staff 

Please read: This course qualifies for the Northern ...More

Location: Inland Seas Location : 
  Inland Seas.

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  Where Land & Water Meet 

ID:5803
New! Michigan has a lot of shoreline and watersheds to protect. And as we know, rain events are getting more dramatic. Shorelines are always changing. ...  View More

Schedule : Weekly - Wed 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM; starting 4/1/2026, ending 4/1/2026

Cost: $65.00

Instructor : Multiple

Please read: This course qualifies for the Northern ...More

Location: Historic Barns Park, Grand Traverse Commons Location : 
  Historic Barns Park, Grand Traverse Commons.

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Talking Trash Part 2 

ID:5800
New! What are some of the root causes of our trash issues? From overconsumption to community disintegration, discuss the problems of trash that go bey ...  View More

Schedule : Weekly - Wed 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM; starting 4/8/2026, ending 4/8/2026

Cost: $65.00

Instructor : Multiple

Please read: This course qualifies toward the Naturalist ...More

Location: Historic Barns Park, Grand Traverse Commons Location : 
  Historic Barns Park, Grand Traverse Commons.

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  Watershed Watchers 

ID:5448
New! Connect with the Leo Creek watershed by identifying its boundary and evaluating its health as it flows into Suttons Bay. You'll collect macroinve ...  View More

Schedule : Weekly - Thu 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM; starting 4/9/2026, ending 4/9/2026

Cost: $89.00

Instructor : Inland Seas Staff 

Please read: This course qualifies for the Northern ...More

Location: Inland Seas Location : 
  Inland Seas.

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Vernal Pools 

ID:5445
New! Spring melts bring vernal pools, and vernal pools bring unique and specialized amphibians, insects, plants, and soils! Every year Grass River Nat ...  View More

Schedule : Weekly - Fri 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM; starting 4/10/2026, ending 4/10/2026

Cost: $75.00

Instructor : Multiple

Please read: This class meets at Grass River Education ...More

Location: Grass River Natural Area Location : 
  Grass River Natural Area.

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  Hop To It! Get Started on Project FrogWatch 

ID:5806
New! Nothing says spring like the sound of peepers, wood frogs, and other amphibian friends. Frogs and toads are a great reflection of the health of o ...  View More

Schedule : Weekly - Thu 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM; starting 4/23/2026, ending 4/23/2026

Cost: $65.00

Instructor : Multiple

Please read: This course qualifies toward the Naturalist ...More

Location: Historic Barns Park, Grand Traverse Commons Location : 
  Historic Barns Park, Grand Traverse Commons.

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