justnorth posted on March 09, 2008 23:35 :: 1979 Views
The Michigan Forest Visitor Center at Hartwick Pines State Park near Grayling has scheduled programs this spring aimed at maple syrup making, trout fly-tying and Earth Day.
At 7 p.m. Thursday, March 20, the center will host the last installment in its Winter Lecture Series. The lecture, "River Drives and River Hogs," will be presented by Park Historian Rob Burg. Burg will explain the importance of Michigan rivers in the transportation of logs during the white pine lumbering era of Michigan from 1840-1910. He also will explain how the log drives adversely affected the rivers and marine life.
The park's annual Maple Syrup Day is scheduled for Saturday, March 22, with a host of activities planned from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tree tapping demonstrations will take place at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 and 2:30 p.m., and sap will be boiled all day. MSU Extension Office Forester Russell Kidd will be on hand to give tips and advice to anyone who wants to try their own hand at tapping trees and making maple syrup. Films will be presented throughout the day in the visitor center auditorium, children's activities will be held in the center's classrooms and Michigan maple syrup and maple sugar candy will be for sale in the center's bookstore.
A fly-tying workshop will be held from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 5, at the visitor center. This half-day workshop will be led by Maureen Jacobs, the interpreter at the Michigan Fisheries Visitor Center and Oden State Fish Hatchery near Petoskey. Jacobs will show participants how to tie a few basic trout flies just in time for the state's trout fishing opener on April 26. There is a $50 fee to participate in this workshop and the workshop is limited to eight participants. To have a registration form emailed to you, please email Rob Burg at burgr@michigan.gov. Registration deadline is March 31.
Hartwick Pines State Park will celebrate Earth Day on Tuesday, April 22. There will be activities for school groups at the visitor center on Tuesday. On Saturday, April 26, there will be an "Earth Day Celebration" for the public. Activities on Saturday include hikes along the Old Growth Trail, instructional programs on successful bird watching, birdhouse and bat house designs, and recycling.
For more information on any of these events, contact Park Interpreter Craig Kasmer or Park Historian Rob Burg at 989-348-2537.
With the exception of the fly-tying workshop on April 5, all programs are free. Vehicles entering Hartwick Pines State Park are required to have a valid 2008 State Park motor vehicle permit. Permits are available at the entrance for $6 for a daily and $24 for an annual for Michigan residents. Permits are $8 for a daily and $29 for an annual for out-of-state residents.
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