Blandford Nature Center is an Incredible Outdoors Experience - In Every Season

Blandford’s Dedication to Nature & Wildlife Education Can’t Be Beat

Blandford Nature Center is a major asset for Grand Rapids nature enthusiasts.

It hosts popular community events, beautiful trails, summer camps, wildlife education and even a CSA.

This 264 acre place is way more than just an extensive trails system. (Even though that’s worthy of visiting on its own.)

This is the place to explore and learn about Michigan’s wildlife system, where you can see animals up close, and get hands on through many events and tours.

Here are some of the best things to do at Blandford Nature Center.

Experience Native Habitats Through 8 Miles of Trails

A good place to start when hiking Blandford Nature Center is their trail map. The trails cover eight miles, with one mile of accessible trails.

Blandford’s trails span several native habitats, giving visitors the chance to see many kinds of wildlife, including an array of wildflowers. Find meadows, wetlands and woods.

Younger hikers will appreciate the two open playscapes and mud kitchens. These are located on The Meadow and Blandford Loop trails. The Wildlife Trail is also a favorite for kids.

If you’re visiting Blandford Nature Center in the spring after the snow has melted, a chorus of frogs will greet you as you walk up to the nature center.

Spring is the season to take a walk around the Wetland areas near the parking lot and see who you can spot peeking out from the water.

Around this time of year, you can also see the lovely wildflowers. Blandford is packed with some of Michigan’s most prominent and beautiful wildflowers. The Trout Lily is a favorite of mine!

And of course, fall at Blandford is simply beautiful!

Take an afternoon and enjoy the fall colors in cooler temps. There is a short hike that will lead you from the main parking area over to the school and farm–autumn is a great time to check both of those out!

Meadow Pond Blandford Nature Center — *Meadow Pond*

Meet Animal Ambassadors and Book a Wildlife Experience to get up Close

Did you know that Blandford Nature Center has over 40 wildlife ambassadors?

These rehabilitated animals cannot survive in the wild, so Blandford gives them a safe home and welcomes them into their education program.

Many animals are found in the Visitor Center, while others are in habitats on the grounds. These include owls, hawks, porcupines, turtles and a bobcat.

We saw Quillber the porcupine outside on our last visit. Currently the outdoor birds are not viewable, as they are indoors to avoid the avian flu that’s going around.

You can also book a Wildlife Experience at Blandford. Sign up for a storytime, or go behind the scenes to see what it’s like to care for these wildlife and help staff with feeding and cleaning.

Popular Community Events at Blandford

Blandford knows how to host a good event! These are yearly traditions for many families. You can track upcoming events on their calendar.

Their most popular events include

Sugarbush Festival
Spring/Fall Nature Makers Markets
Harvest Fest
Halloween Hunt
Snowshoe With Your Sweetie

Mini Maple (Sugarbush) Festival

held in March

This is a great outside-in-the-spring outing for families. There is food, music, horses, hands-on activities and more.

Try your hand at tapping for syrup, sit on a horse and learn all about Native American life.

There are fun presentations galore as you travel paths around Blandford. Some are given by adults, and others by the middle school students at Blandford Nature Center. It’s fun to see them so excited about what they’re learning.

Stop at the barn where they’re making maple syrup and try some maple cotton candy. And if you’re still hungry (which you will be), head over to the open area past the barn and try maple beer, Native American fry bread, white pine tea and sap dogs (hot dog cooked in sweet sap.)

Blandford Nature Center maple buckets Hunt Sugarbush

Harvest Festival

held in October

Experience autumn during simpler times at this festival.

There’s the iconic fall treat apple cider and horse-drawn wagon rides. Face painting, candle making, scarecrow assembly and other hands-on ideas will keep the kids entertained, in addition to food trucks.

After you’ve had your fill of treats, you must hike the trails. Fall is the most beautiful time of year for a hike, and the woods at Blandford will not disappoint.

Blandford Nature Center Harvest Fest Shaffer

Halloween Hunt

held in late October

Each year near October 31, Blandford hosts a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt.

Pick up a map and clues, and hit the trails to pick up spooky facts and creepy tales of Michigan nature.

Costumes are encouraged, and prizes are given out.

Explore Blandford’s 2.5 acre farm with a CSA

Just west of the visitor center is the farm.

Here you’ll find a nature-themed playscape, a children’s garden to explore, and of course, animals! Say hi to sheep, goats and chickens at this 2.5 acre farm.

This farm is also a CSA program! Buy a share and get a summer-ful of organic, locally grown veggies and flowers. They’ve been growing over 200 varieties of vegetables here.

Blandford is dedicated to educating families about local agriculture, so they hold lots of interactive programs at the farm.

Summer Camps at Blandford Nature Center

Blandford’s Summer Camps are a big hit with kids.

They have a wide variety of camp offerings for children ages 4-12.

These camps get kids outside and hands on. Choose from half day or full day options. (And they even have after care!)

Things kids could do at summer camp:

Feed Quillber the porcupine as a Wildlife Helper
Learn what critters creep through the marsh during Marsh Madness
Create potions and spells at Wild Wizarding Wonders
Become an entrepreneur and farm produce expert with Blandford’s Farm Stand
Allow your inner artist to shine at Nature Art

Teens can volunteer at the camp aide program (ages 13-18) to earn community service hours, develop leadership skills, and sometimes even earn a stipend.

And while the weather is working in your favor, you may as well hike around a little after you drop off your child for the day. Blandford is a whole other experience without kids in tow.

Girl with Chicken at Blandford Nature Center farm

Tips for your Visit to Blandford Nature Center

Always dress for the outdoors at Blandford. This means knowing the forecast, and dressing in layers.

Do not try to push that jogging stroller all over the trials–use a or baby carrier, backpack, or wrap; everyone will be happier.

There are restrooms in the Visitor Center–stop before you hit the trails.

If the mosquitoes are out, bug spray is a must.

Though the trails are mostly shady, still wear sunscreen in the spring and summer.

Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy after you’ve finished exploring.

Become a Member and Get Discounts and Reciprocal Admission to Other Nature Centers

Members can visit Blandford for free, over and over again.

It also gets you discounted and early registration for popular programs like summer camps and the CSA. (This may mean all the difference between your kid getting into the camp they want.)

Oh, and discounts on the wildlife care experiences, free snowshoe rentals and more.

Members also get free or discounted admission to over 125 nature centers across the U.S. through the ANCA nature centers program. (A great idea when you’re on vacation in a new place and are looking for something to do.)

Individual memberships are only $45; family memberships are $70.

About Blandford Nature Center

The Visitors Center is open from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday through Saturday (closed on Sunday).

Trails are open dawn to dusk.

Admission is free for members, and $3/person for non-members.