Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve and Plum Creek Nature Center in Beecher are closed for preserve improvements.
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Plum Creek Nature Center is
situated in the 890-acre Goodenow Grove Nature
Preserve. Nestled among forests, fields, cattail marshes, and a
small pond, the Nature Center is the perfect place for discovering the
outdoors.
It offers something for children who like
to touch feathers and rocks, school children who marvel at animal
skulls, adults who wonder how to attract butterflies in their gardens,
and seniors who enjoy watching winter birds at the feeders.
Outdoor recreation opportunities as well as indoor
experiences make this a place for learning and exploration, all with no
admission fee!
Using nature to enlighten, Plum Creek Nature Center hosts
family programs on hummingbirds, bats, and bird-feeding, as well as
night hikes and book discussion groups.
A large
window provides an observation area for the bird feeding station.
Surrounding the bird feeders is a butterfly garden which demonstrates
plants that attract a variety of wildlife.
Campfire
programs during the summer provide families an opportunity to enjoy the
evening outdoors listening to songs, stories, and skits.
For school children and youth groups, Goodenow Grove
becomes a place of adventure. Programs focusing on nature-awareness are
offered to school groups in the spring and fall.
Picnicking, hiking, and camping await
those looking for summer fun at Goodenow Grove.
In
winter, enjoy cross-country skiing and ice skating. Stop by the Nature
Center to rent an inner tube, or bring your own sled and try sledding on
our 40-foot hill. Afterward, warm up in the Nature Center by the
crackling fire, enjoying a warm cup of coffee while viewing birds at the
bird feeding area.
Photographs Courtesy of Glenn P.
Knoblock
and Lorenzo
Pesce
Location
Plum Creek Nature Center is located at 27064 S. Dutton Road, 1.25 miles east of the intersection of Route 1 and Route 394 on Goodenow Road, in Crete Township.