Here at the Howell Nature Center, our mission is that through mutual love and respect, we teach people to be faithful caretakers of one another and the world around us. With 230 acres, we offer numerous programs so you can find the activity that best suits you and your family to once again connect to nature.
CHOOSE YOUR PATH
Wildlife Rehabilitation
Saving Michigan’s Wildlife
Day & Overnight Camps
Connecting Kids
with Nature
Experiential Education
A Wild Adventure
On or Offsite
Community & Retreats
An Exploration of
Science & Self
UPCOMING EVENTS
STAY CONNECTED
Happy #sillysunday! To celebrate the warmer weather we've been having, can you come up with a funny caption for this video of Fraiser, the sandhill crane, taking a bath?![]()
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The best caption by 8:00pm tonight will win FOUR day passes to the Howell Nature Center. Good luck!![]()
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(📷: Jamie)
Can you spare $5 to help save baby animals and a tiny owl?![]()
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Our Wildlife Clinic’s patient intake numbers are soaring with all of the baby animals coming to us in need of help. And we recently received a special, teeny owl so small she looks like a baby even though she’s fully grown!![]()
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This northern saw whet owl came to us with a femur fracture, which will require surgical repair. We are working with the team of veterinarians who regularly help us out to schedule this surgery. We are hopeful she will be released back into the wild, where she can resume her secretive lifestyle. The northern saw whet is Michigan’s smallest owl and lives primarily in wooded areas, and this is a rare species in our Clinic. ![]()
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We are currently fundraising with a goal of $100,000 to cover operating costs and care of the 2,000+ babies we will see in the next few months and the 4,200 animals we will treat this year. Thanks to a generous donor, the first $25,000 will be matched! You can donate here: www.howellnaturecenter.org/donate/![]()
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Thank you for caring about wildlife!
Summer Camp is less than TWO MONTHS away! ☀️ Are YOUR children registered yet?![]()
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Camp Wonder at Howell Nature Center is the IDEAL place for kids to spend time in nature this summer, all while learning new skills and being surrounded by their peers.🌳![]()
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During summer 2021, we are offering:![]()
☀️CLASSIC DAY CAMP - 2, 3, and 5 day options![]()
🦅SPECIALTY DAY CAMP - 5 day option![]()
⛺️OVERNIGHT CAMP - 6 days long (we're also offering a 2-week teen leadership camp)![]()
🚴♀️EXCURSION CAMP - 6 days long![]()
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☀️What are you waiting for? Register today at: hnc.campbrainregistration.com/![]()
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☀️View our full 2021 camp brochure here: bit.ly/3jiOe1R
Are you passionate about the outdoors AND working with children?🌳🙋![]()
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If the answer is yes, then we want YOU on our Nature and Outdoor Adventure Education team! 😎 We're currently hiring, so apply today!![]()
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In this role, you will gain experience facilitating programs that connect people of all ages to nature. 🌿 Examples include pond study, zip lining, archery, rock climbing, nature hikes, team building, and SO MUCH MORE!![]()
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If this sounds like you, apply today at: bit.ly/HNCemployment
Here in Michigan, we know it's spring because one of our favorite members of nature's clean up crew is back. That's right, turkey vultures! When the silhouette of the turkey vulture once again graces our skies, we know warmer weather is on its way. So join us today as we bite into a little bit of what makes this scavenger so amazing.
❗️Don't miss out on your chance to SOAR through the sky at COMMUNITY ZIP LINING 🤩 happening THIS SATURDAY, April 10th❗️![]()
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Your price includes TWO RIDES down our 500 ft. long zip line, which stretches through the woods🌲 and across a beautiful pond!🦆![]()
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You're free to arrive anytime between 10am and 2pm, but keep in mind the last walk-ins are accepted at 1:30pm.![]()
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ADMISSION PER PERSON:![]()
General (registered) $18![]()
General (walk-in) $20![]()
Member (registered) $16![]()
Member (walk-in) $18![]()
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Secure your spot AND get a lower price by registering ahead of time at: conta.cc/3ur5Blr
Today’s featured Wildlife Ambassador is Lotka the gray fox! 🦊![]()
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Lotka came to our Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic as a young kit with her brother. They were approaching people in a parking lot, and their finder noticed a box with blankets and cat food nearby. It appears they were raised by someone then abandoned.![]()
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We had hoped to be able to release them back into the wild, but the damage from their upbringing was irreversible. They had lost the necessary fear/avoidance of people and would not survive in the wild. Luckily we were able to provide them permanent sanctuary in our Wildlife Park where they help teach guests about wildlife and living in harmony with wildlife. We are especially grateful that they are able to help guests see that foxes are not villains and play an important role in the ecosystem. As predators they balance prey populations and help keep rodent and insect numbers down. They also eat carrion and overripe produce, helping keep the environment clean.![]()
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Lotka makes us laugh with her antics. She is very intelligent and solves her enrichment puzzles with ease, and some days she’s extremely shy and others she’s quite bold. She’s very fond of peanuts, and she’s an expert climber.![]()
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How can you help foxes?![]()
🦊 Never keep foxes as pets! It is illegal, and it’s very difficult to meet their physical and mental needs. If you find a kit that you think needs help, call a licensed rehabber right away. ![]()
🦊 Don’t trap and relocate foxes. If you have unwanted foxes living on your property, give our Wildlife Helpline a call at (517)548-5530 for tips on how to better coexist. Simple things like eliminating food sources can be done. It’s also possible to humanely encourage a fox mother to move her kits out of an undesirable den location. Relocating mammals is never recommended; studies show they die within weeks because they don’t know how to find resources. ![]()
🦊 Don’t use rodenticide; predators like foxes become poisoned after eating poisoned rodents.![]()
🦊 If you see a fox that may have mange or distemper, call a licensed rehabber for help. These are common illnesses we see in foxes in our Clinic. ![]()
🦊 Educate yourself and others about foxes. Once you understand them, you will probably respect them if you don’t already. ❤️
This warmer weather has us SO excited to get outside! ☀️![]()
⬇️Check out this weekend's fun family events below⬇️![]()
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🔹Friday, April 9th🔹![]()
•FAMILY FUN DAYS: CREATURES OF THE NIGHT & TWILIGHT HIKE • 6:30pm - 8:30pm![]()
Meet the creatures that come out at night! 🦉 Learn about adaptations for living in the dark from our wildlife ambassadors, then head out for a night hike to search for these animals!![]()
Register HERE: conta.cc/2PJc8cx![]()
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🔹Saturday, April 10th🔹![]()
•DISCOVERY DAY • 12:00pm - 2:00pm![]()
Join a wildlife expert who will be leading a tour of our wildlife park, then giving an up-close-and-personal presentation with one of our amazing animal ambassadors! 🐾 What will you discover? (Included with admission)![]()
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•COMMUNITY ZIP LINING • 10:00am - 2:00pm![]()
Soar through the sky on our 500 ft. long zip line! You're welcome to arrive any time between 10am and 2pm, with the last walk-in being accepted at 1:30pm. Don't forget closed-toed shoes and a thrill-seeking attitude!🤩![]()
Register HERE: conta.cc/3ur5Blr![]()
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•SCOUT BADGE WORKSHOPS • 9:00am - 4:00pm![]()
Several nature-focused workshops are available throughout the day for Webelo, Wolf, and Bear scouts to earn their badges.🐾![]()
For more details and to register, visit: conta.cc/2OSEqMd![]()
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🔹Sunday, April 11th🔹![]()
•FAMILY FUN DAYS: ORIENTEERING CHALLENGE • 12:00pm - 2:00pm![]()
Families will solve a mystery by exploring nature using a map and a compass looking for clues!🗺![]()
Register HERE: conta.cc/3mlywEJ
Baby season is here in our Wildlife Clinic! 🐣![]()
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We already have baby squirrels and cottontails in care, but our Wildlife Helpline staff is working hard to ensure only those babies that are truly in need of help are removed from their parents and brought to us.![]()
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This past Sunday one of our staff members responded to a call about a great-horned owlet who had fallen from the nest. Before recommending re-nesting she wanted to be sure the owlet did not suffer injuries from falling onto concrete, so she made the hour drive to assess the situation. We don’t usually have the resources to go out into the field, but we were able to make it work in this situation.![]()
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We are happy to report the owlet did not have injuries, and our staff member was able to work with the homeowners to make and install an artificial nest. The owlet’s parents returned to care for it for a happy ending! Wildlife parents are always the best parents, and we were relieved this baby was able to stay with its family in the wild where it belongs. Thank you to the finders for going above and beyond for this little guy!![]()
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We are hoping to raise $100,000 this spring to help support the care of the 2,000+ baby animals that will be coming to our clinic in the next few months. Thanks to a generous donor, the first $25,000 will be matched! You can donate here: howellnaturecenter.org/donate/ 🐦![]()
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Thank you!
It’s spring cleaning week at the Howell Nature Center! 🌿![]()
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We'd like to give a HUGE thank you to Camo-Cans Dumpster Rentals for providing us with a donation of a 13-yard dumpster rental for the past week. 🙌 As we prepare for thousands of baby animals to arrive in our Wildlife Clinic this spring, the dumpster has helped us ensure that our facilities are cleaned, organized, and ready for the babies.🐦![]()
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To support this local business and find more information regarding all of your dumpster needs, visit www.camo-cans.com/
