Message from the CEO
What an outstanding summer we all had at the Howell Nature Center! I want to thank all the parents and kids who joined us this summer for Camp Wonder’s Day Camp and Alexandria’s Overnight Nature Camp. We had perfect weather, an amazing staff, an exciting new waterfront, record enrollments and together we partnered with parents in making a profound impact on the lives of thousands of children.  
 
Speaking of records, our Wildlife Clinic saw unprecedented intakes of injured and/or orphaned baby animals. We anticipate serving over 4,000 wildlife in 2018. With so many great moments of animal releases and lasting memories with friends, our staff are still beaming with a sense of pride as they witnessed firsthand a true connection with nature and an environment full of compassion and care.  
 
Furthermore, a huge shout out to the families who joined us at our recent Open House for the launch of our new Membership Program. At the Open House, we highlighted exciting new membership-based programs offering our community opportunities to spend quality time together in the vast beauty and wonder of the Howell Nature Center. Our vision includes an array of unique wildlife encounters combined with outdoor adventures galore! For more information on membership, click here!
John “JC” Carlson, CEO
SEPTEMBER 2018 EVENTS
September 11, 2018 | 10:00 am and 11:30 am
Little Critters: Rocky the Peregrine Falcon
A special program for nature lovers ages 3-5. Children will enjoy nature-themed craft activities, stories, songs and playtime, plus a LIVE animal appearance! Join us in September to find out how and why Peregrine Falcons and other fast animals have a need for speed. $6 per child, children must be accompanied by an adult. Limit of 4 children per adult.
September 15 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm 
Our moderately challenging outdoor course winds through 230 acres of wooded nature trails and access roads. All proceeds benefit the Howell Nature Center Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education programs, including the 4,000+ injured and orphaned animals helped each year.
September 15 | 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm
Zip Line & Climbing Tower Combo
Dress like your favorite super hero and test your super human strength on our 60-ft Climbing Tower and both 500-ft Zip Lines! $30 per person or 2 for $50. Pre-registration required.
OCTOBER SNEAK PEEK
October 13 | 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Award-winning wildlife photographer Steve Gettle will guide you through using these various elements in your photography to effectively communicate your chosen message. You will have the opportunity to explore multiple natural setting wildlife stations. This workshop includes a special presentation by Steve, lunch, and 3 hours of photographing time. $79 per photographer, plus $5 for optional Wild Wonders Wildlife Park tour. Pre-registration is required.
October 14 | 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Take a journey through the four seasons with award-winning nature photographer Steve Gettle beginning in a meadow at sunrise on a summer’s morning and takes the viewer through a visual feast of the four seasons. You will have the opportunity to explore multiple natural setting wildlife stations. This workshop includes a special presentation by Steve, lunch, and 3 hours of photographing time. $79 per photographer, plus $5 for optional Wild Wonders Wildlife Park tour. Pre-registration is required.
October 20 & 21 | 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Howl-O-Ween
Dress up your little critter and join us for a HOWLing good time! This merry-not-so-scary event features trick-or-treating through the Wild Wonders Wildlife Park, children’s crafts, hayrides, cider and donuts, and more. Members price $5 per adult and $10 per child; General Ticket: $7 per adult and $12 per child. Pre-registration is required.  Registration coming soon.
“Tails” from the Clinic
In celebration of National Wildlife Day, we are trying to raise $5,000 for our clinic to get us through the end of the year. Up to 70% of the animals we’ve seen have suffered at the hands of humans, including cat and dog attacks, fishing lines, car accidents and more. Please help us as our resources are stretched thin and we are funded only by donations. With YOUR help, we can give these animals a second chance at a FREE and HEALTHY life in the wild.
Membership Corner
At the Howell Nature Center (HNC), we rely on the generosity of the community to help ensure that our education, wildlife and camp programs continue to thrive. Show your support by becoming an official member of the HNC family. Membership levels vary but all include:

  • Year-round admission to HNC facilities
  • Advanced registration for events and programs
  • Discounts on gift shop and public events
  • Free admission or discounts at 180+ other nature centers

Interested? Give us a call today at
(517) 546-0249, or purchase online here!
Volunteer Spotlight
Not many high schoolers would sacrifice some of their summer freedom to volunteer at a nonprofit. Logan Carlson, however, gave up about 20 full days of his summer vacation to accomplish projects across HNC. You may have seen him during the Membership Open House making s’mores, planting flowers with other volunteer groups, landscaping around the lodges, raising money to build a “Hammockville,” cleaning out all of the ponds and landscaping them near our lodges, in the Wild Wonders Wildlife Park working on various projects, serving as a Day Camp assistant throughout the summer giving sailboat rides on a sailboat that he got donated to the HNC … phew! If you know Logan, you know that he just loves being a part of the HNC family and helping make this place as good as it can be.

We are always in need of more generous and passionate volunteers, even if it’s just doing laundry! If you are interested in volunteering at the Howell Nature Center, please complete this volunteer application and e-mail it to us at volunteer@howellnaturecenter.org or mail it to/drop it off at: 1005 Triangle Lake Road, Howell, MI 48843.