April 14
Weather Machine Shifts Gears Talk
Dave Barrons retired a few years back as the weatherman for television Channel 9 and 10.  His program will tell about weather change, the driving forces behind it, and what we can do about it.  As he explains, and we all know from the light winter and the premature spring in Michigan, weather patterns are increasingly topsy-turvy.  You will be entertained as well as educated, so please plan to join us.  The program will start after a short business meeting.  All attendees are eligible to win the doorprize.  Raffle ticket sales will support SAAS nature education activities.  After the program, refreshments will be served.

April 14
Plants as Air Purifiers and other Natural Household Cleaners Demonstration
All ages are welcome to this event.  The air-purifying qualities of certain species of houseplants will be presented so that you can reduce airborne toxins in your home.  Hands-on potting and propagation tips will be enjoyed, too.  Ann Gildner will also answer questions about any ailing houseplants you wish to bring.  The second half of the program by Rose Rynerson will present some basic science on how cleansers and disinfectants work so that you can reduce your usage of dangerous chemicals.  Making your own cleaners will be demonstrated, and cedar-scented vinegar will be taken home by all the guests.

April 15
Growing Healthy Foods Talk
Lynda and Don Tracey of Tracey Farm: Produce and Products will present this program on how you can grow more of your own food, and make it healthier.  You will learn the basics of organic gardening, or at least using less poison to grow your food.  Other ways of handling pests will be explained, so that your vegetables and fruits are healthier to eat.  What are the advantages of heritage varieties and how can one obtain them?  What plants grow well in short northern Michigan summers?  Come enjoy these popular speakers and experienced produce gardeners as they share some of their extensive knowledge and experience.  They will also tell about the role of the Farm Bureau and the new farmers' market opening this summer.  Refreshments will be provided after the program.

April 16
Bicycle the North Central State Trail Trip
Jim Conboy, volunteer with the Top of Michigan Trails Council, will lead a bicycle ride on the North Central State Trail.  Jim welcomes one and all, and any type of bicycle well do – the trail's surface will handle any type of tire.  Riders will be back to the Armory by noon.  For those not sure they want to do 2 hours, volunteers will head back with you whenever you want.  The ride is designed for those from age 10 to 90 who may not have ridden much of late, and maybe never on the trail.  The idea is fun; it is not a race, just a leisurely jaunt along Michigan's best rail trail.

April 16
Nature Hike, Lighthouse History, and Star Lore
Cheboygan State Park invites visitors to meet at the Poe Reef Cabin for a 1.75 mile guided nature hike from the cabin to lighthouse ruins.  Terry Pepper, executive director of the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association, will speak about the history of the ruins and other lighthouses.  Following the hike and dinner by the campfire, Mary Steward Adams, a researcher, writer and founder of Fairy Tale Moons, will present star-related activities for kids, to include searching for planets and constellations if the sky is clear.  The event and refreshments are free.  Bring your lawn chairs, flashlights, hiking shoes, and warm clothing.  All motor vehicles must display a 2010 Motor Vehicle Permit, available for purchase at the entrance.  Cost for Michigan residents is $24 annual and $6 daily.

April 16
Creative Ways to Save Energy in Your Home – Indian River Area Library
Creative, economical, and even no-cost, ways to reduce home energy costs will be discussed by Laren Corie, a professional Solar and energy efficient home designer, consultant with decades of experience, and current projects in several states, and Canada. The discussion will include no-pain strategies for reducing electrical usage, window insulation, converting existing porches into Solar "sunspaces" and how to build simple, low cost, Solar air heaters, as well as super-insulation remodeling, and cold/cloudy climate Solar heating strategies, for new construction and additions. There will be time for questions. Bring along a picture of the south wall of your house, for a Solar heating evaluation and recommendations.  This program will be presented twice during EarthWeek Cheboygan County 2010. However, each will vary, in that they will have unique question and answer periods, after the initial presentation.

April 17
Cheboygan County's Canyon Hike

April 17
Bluebird Nestbox Trail Hike
Walk a bluebird trail in the highlands of southern Cheboygan County with Dale Giddings.  Prepare nest boxes for the coming season.  Install new nest boxes.  Enjoy the scenery while learning more about Eastern bluebirds and helping them with new homes.

April 17
All About Bees Demonstration
Dale Giddings, hobby beekeeper, will discuss bees, basic beekeeping, and current problems with bees.  Weather permitting, we will look inside a hive.  Protective suits are available for both adults and children.

April 17
Hows and Whys of Recycling at Ken's
Drop by Ken's Village Market, Indian River, to learn more about Cheboygan County's popular and successful hazardous wastes and recycling program.  Volunteers from the Inland Lakes High School's Students Going Green class and the Friends of Cheboygan County Recycling will be on hand to show you some surprising things, and premiere the new recycling bins with the program's logo.  Two times larger than the apartment-sized bins, these are offered at cost for the same affordable amount.  They can be purchased every Wednesday from 1 to 3 at the Hazardous Wastes Dropoff at the Cheboygan Fairgrounds.

April 17
From Worms to Flowers: Composting, Gardening & Natural Landscaping Open House
Come view Jeanette Mateer's existing vermiculture set up, composting, and incorporating shade gardening into a wooded area with no grass and a natural lake shore.

April 17
Wonders of Nature Walk for Young Wonderers
Join Anne Fleming of the Little Traverse Conservancy on this spring exploration of one of the Conservancy's newer nature preserves, including its beavers.  Geared towards school-aged children, everyone is welcome.  For more information, please call 231-347-0991.

April 17
Growing Healthy Foods Farm Tour and Open House
Lynda and Don Tracey of Tracey Farms will share their farm and property with people who want to learn more about going organic.  This open house welcomes people to come anytime between 3 and 5 p.m.  You will see the greenhouse where they grow and sell lettuce all winter and start garden plants early.  You will learn about the role of the Farm Bureau, the new farmers' market opening this summer, and where to buy local, healthier produce that you don't have in your own garden.  Childrens' activities and refreshments will be available.  

April 18
Sunrise Ceremony, Honor Song and Talking Circle
Mullett Township Hall and Park

April 18
Hows and Why of Recycling at Glen's
Drop by Glen's Grocery Store, Cheboygan, to learn more about Cheboygan County's popular and successful hazardous wastes and recycling program.  Volunteers from the Cheboygan High School's Green Dinosaurs and the Friends of Cheboygan County Recycling will be on hand to show you some surprising things, and premiere the new recycling bins with the program's logo.  Two times larger than the apartment-sized bins, these are offered at cost for the same affordable amount.  They can be purchased every Wednesday from 1 to 3 at the Hazardous Wastes Dropoff at the Cheboygan Fairgrounds.  The Green Dinosaurs will also offer handy re-usable bags for your grocery shopping.

April 18
Saving Energy and Money: Solar and Other Home Energy Savings Open House
Richard Riker will open his Mackinaw City house to show interested citizens his hot air and photovoltaic solar panels, the bidirectional meter, and the inverter with its display.  People will see part of the hot air heat exchanger and the data Richard has collected on energy savings through these investments.  Solar home designer and home energy consultant Laren Corie will be on hand to answer questions from participants about solar heating, natural cooling, building design, and other home energy subjects.  He will bring along an electric bicycle to demonstrate.  You may visit Laren's website, www.thermallattic.com.  The company Full Circle will describe its products as well.

April 18
North Central Michigan Trail Cleanup
This "Rail Trail Cleanup" by the Mullett Lake Village Association covers the section through the woods from Polish Line Rd. on the south to US-27 on the North. We need volunteers, with light weight trimming tools/hand saws, rakes to walk the trail and pick up any trash, trim overhanging tree limbs and clear brush along the sides. We do not do any lifting and hauling of the brush, only any light trash removal by cart. This is a chance for you walkers, hikers, bikers and snowmobilers to improve and beautify your experience on your trail. Please meet at the Cheboygan Bowling Center on US-27 between 12:30 and 1PM. Questions? Call Marshall Beck @ 248-613-2850......Thanks in advance for your participation!

April 18
Backyard Nature and Art Tour
Pat Esther-Schmidt welcomes people to drop by Pat's Posey Patch anytime between 2 and 4 p.m.  You will see how she grows foliage, flowers, and shrubbery for sale as well as backyard bird habitat, interspersing homemade art to liven up the setting.

April 18
Energy-Efficient Harbor Tour
This Department of Natural Resources and Environment event will showcase the new sustainable harbor in Mackinaw City.  Information will be available on the wind turbines, rain gardens, and other green aspects of the harbor.  For more details, contact the Cheboygan Field Office at 231-627-9011.  All motor vehicles must display a 2010 Motor Vehicle Permit, available for purchase at the entrance.  Cost for Michigan residents is $24 annual and $6 daily.

April 18
Birds at Your Feeder Open House
Maureen and Bob Conklin are hosting this event at their home on the Black River.  Straits Area Audubon Society Field Trip Manager Steve Baker will explain back-yard bird feeding and identification, with interesting tidbits about commonly-seen birds.  Children will enjoy making bird-design cut-out cookies; other treats and refreshments will also be available.

April 18
Garden Party with Earth-Friendly Pet Care
The dedicated volunteers and staff of the Cheboygan County Humane Society are hosting this garden-themed dinner event. Many area businesses have provided excellent products for a Chinese Auction (interested bidders enter a drawing for the item).  This event is fun!  Dinner is hot, delicious, plentiful and served from 2:00 until 6:00.  A special display of REDUCE--RETRIEVE--RECYCLE earth-friendly pet care recommendations can be viewed inside the vestibule of the Cheboygan Armory during this event. It outlines the current local options for reducing carbon-pawprints of pets' health, feeding, cleaning and waste disposal methods (dog, cat, bird, horse and exotic).

April 19
Building and Monitoring a Bluebird Trail
Students of the Cheboygan Youth Center will lead this tour of the bluebird boxes they recently built and erected in Cheboygan.  They will describe the project and tell about what they have learned about Eastern bluebirds in the process.  Refreshments, tested springwater, and prizes will be available.

April 19
Saving and Savoring Starlight
This event will start inside the Mullett Township hall with the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. and an extra pledge of allegiance to the planet.  Participants will identify springtime stars and constellations, with emphasis on circumpolar constellations to the north, including the Dragon, Great Bear and Little Dipper.  We will watch the rising of the eastern constellations such as the Herdsman and delicate Northern Crown.  People will also learn about night lighting options that improve safety and also protect the sky from light pollution.  As much time as possible will be spent outdoors at the park on Mullett Lake.  In inclement weather, indoor activities for both children and adults will replace the stargazing.

April 20
Hike Grass Bay for Spring Wildflowers Hike
The Nature Conservancy chapter of Michigan protects this unique parcel along Lake Michigan, which  boasts every conifer tree in the state of Michigan.  Straits Area Audubon Society naturalists Roy MacFarland and Rose Rynerson will lead the search for them as well as beautiful spring wildflowers and the predatory Pitcher plants.  Wear hiking boots and clothes appropriate for the weather, for a moderately strenuous hike down two hills to the lake and back.  Snacks and fresh, tested springwater to fill your empty water bottles will be provided.

April 20

April 20
Cooking with Local Foods (Students Only) Hands-on Demonstration
Jeanette Mateer will show Cheboygan Middle School students some cooking techniques and easy to make recipes using local foods.  This hands-on demonstration is sure to be a lot of fun, including eating the creations and take-home prizes for the participants.

April 20
Cooking with Local Foods Demonstration and Potluck
Join renowned chef Ken Willoughby at 4:30 p.m. at the Cheboygan Area Public Library for a cooking class featuring local foods.  Besides showing people how to prepare a favorite recipe or two, Ken will demonstrate the basics of food preparation and how to find and evaluate the best ingredients.  Besides being the chef at the University of Michigan Biological Station, Ken and his family recently established a farm garden near Pellston where they raise chickens for eggs and meat.  Ken recently applied for a patent on a chicken enclosure that ensures that buyers get free-range meat products.  The class will be followed by a dinner of the prepared dishes, augmented by a potluck by participants.

April 21
Creative Ways to Save Energy in Your Home at Cheboygan Area Public Library
Creative, economical, and even no-cost, ways to reduce home energy costs will be discussed by Laren Corie, a professional Solar and energy efficient home designer, consultant with decades of experience, and current projects in several states, and Canada. The discussion will include no-pain strategies for reducing electrical usage, window insulation, converting existing porches into Solar "sunspaces" and how to build simple, low cost, Solar air heaters, as well as super-insulation remodeling, and cold/cloudy climate Solar heating strategies, for new construction and additions. There will be time for questions. Bring along a picture of the south wall of your house, for a Solar heating evaluation and recommendations.  This program will be presented twice during EarthWeek Cheboygan County 2010. However, each will vary, in that they will have unique question and answer periods, after the initial presentation.

April 22
Lighting Awards Luncheon, Outdoor Lighting Forum
Join the 7th annual Lighting Design Awards luncheon to recognize improvements in night-sky friendly lighting in Northern Michigan.  This year's nominations include Faith Baptist Church of Cheboygan.  A limited-selection menu will be offered at the City Park Grill, 432 E. Lake St. in Petoskey.  Before the presentation of the Gary R. Williams Outdoor Lighting Awards, astrosopher Mary Stewart Adams and astronomer Patrick Stonehouse will speak on the mythology, science, and art of the Perseid section of the night sky.  Beacon Light Products has been invited to share the practicality of using LED lights in business and municipal settings.  The Outdoor Lighting Forum is active in Charlevoix, Emmet, Cheboygan, and Antrim Counties.  It educates designers, architects, planners, and the public about outdoor lighting and how to preserve the dark night sky.  For more information, contact Mary Lou Tanton at 231-347-4511.

April 22
Indian River Community Pride Day Cleanup Open House
Spring is in the air!  Get outdoors and do your part to make Indian River clean and beautiful!
Indian River will be holding its 4th Annual Community Pride Day.  Volunteers are needed to help with sweeping the sidewalks and picking up trash.  Please bring brooms and shovels with you to the Indian River Chamber of Commerce.  The street sweeper will be coming through town at 6:00 p.m.  Refreshments will be provided at the Indian River Chamber of Commerce.   If you are interested in volunteering or would like more information – please contact Karen Wegner at the Indian River Chamber of Commerce – 238-9325 or kwegner@irchamber.com.

April 22
Earth Day Celebration
From 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Tuscarora Township Hall meeting room and Public Library, finish up Earth Week with munchies provided by Indian River Womens' Club.  Hear Green Music by singers/songwriters Laren Corie and Donna Klein, Dan Hall, who enjoys earth-themed songs for children, and Ron Fowler, banjo picker and children's librarian in Petoskey.  Ann and Will Rowland, who have performed for Earth Week events since 1991, also will share their music.  Inbetween, attendees will enjoy seeing the primary grade Earth Week sculptures and high school art posters.  Fernelius Motors will demonstrate a hybrid car.  The evening also features an Earth Week wrapup.