
July 10, 2026
Grant Area District Library
Fun with Fungi
(Unearth a Story Summer Library Program – Family Friendly)
Dig into the fascinating world of fungi—aboveground, belowground, and all around! From mushrooms to molds, explore their shapes, colors, and eco-superpowers through up-close observations and hands-on activities!
Grant Area District Library (free!)
July 10, 2026 · 10 am
Grant Area District Library, 122 S Elder Ave, Grant, MI 49327

July 16, 2026
Kalamazoo Nature Center
The Truth About Earthworms
Earthworms are more than garden helpers — they shape soil, ecosystems, and even forests in surprising ways. This talk uncovers their biology, origins, benefits, invasive counterparts, and their hidden impacts.
Kalamazoo Nature Center (please register)
July 16, 2026 · 11 am
Kalamazoo Nature Center, 7000 N Westnedge Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49009

July 22, 2026
Hastings Public Library
Journey Beneath Our Feet
(Adventure Awaits Summer Library Program – Family Friendly)
Dig, wiggle, and discover! Explore the wiggly world of earthworms and their eco-superpowers through up-close observations and hands-on activities. Perfect for curious kids who love nature and getting a little messy!
Hastings Public Library (free!)
July 22, 2026 · 2 pm

July 23, 2026
Delta Township District Library
Bread, Beer, and Blight: How Fungi Have Shaped Human History
Fungi have played a crucial yet often overlooked role in human history. From the ancient consumption of bread and beer to the devastating impact of fungal diseases, discover the surprising ways these organisms have shaped our past and continue to affect our lives today.
Delta Township District Library (free!)
July 23, 2026 · 6 pm
Delta Township District Library, 5130 Davenport Dr, Lansing, MI 48917

Sept. 16, 2026
Auburn Hills Public Library
The Final Flourish:
Michigan’s Asters and Goldenrods Walk and Talk
Asters and goldenrods are the grand finale of the blooming season, filling fields and forests with brilliant shades of yellow, pink, purple, blue, and white. Join me for a guided walk and talk to explore how to identify common species with up-close observations, discover where to find them and which might be best suited for your yard, and learn why they are so important to wildlife and us!
Auburn Hills Public Library (free!)
September 16, 2026 · 6:30 pm
Auburn Hills Public Library, 3400 E Seyburn Dr, Auburn Hills, MI 48326

Sept. 21, 2026
River City Wild Ones
The Final Flourish: Michigan’s Asters and Goldenrods
Goldenrod and aster flowers are the grand finale of the blooming season, with fields and forests flourishing with shades of yellow, pink, purple, blue, and white in the fall. Join me for a guided walk to learn the key characteristics of these plant species, where to find them, a few common species, and their importance to wildlife and us!
River City Wild Ones (public welcome, free event)
September 21, 2026 · 6 pm
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, 701 W. Cloverdale Road, Hastings, MI 49058

Sept. 28, 2026
Barry County Bird Club
The Hidden Life of Trees: Nature’s Unsolved Mysteries
Trees are silent witnesses to centuries of change, yet many of their most familiar behaviors remain mysteries. This talk explores some of the most surprising unanswered questions about trees, from the reasons behind autumn’s vibrant colors to why some trees just won’t drop their leaves, revealing ongoing wonder in the life of trees.
Barry County Bird Club (public welcome, free event)
September 28, 2026 · 5:30 pm

Oct. 6, 2026
Calhoun County Master Gardener Association
The Truth About Earthworms
Earthworms are more than garden helpers — they shape soil, ecosystems, and even forests in surprising ways. This talk uncovers their biology, origins, benefits, invasive counterparts, and their hidden impacts.
Calhoun County Master Gardener Association
October 6, 2026 · 6:30 pm
Program is free for Members of the Calhoun County Master Gardener Association. Non-Members are $5.00.
Horticulture Training Center at Leila Arboretum, 103 Limit St, Battle Creek, MI 49037

Oct. 20, 2026
Kent District Library, East Grand Rapids Branch
The Hidden Life of Trees: Nature’s Unsolved Mysteries
Trees are silent witnesses to centuries of change, yet many of their most familiar behaviors remain mysteries. This talk explores some of the most surprising unanswered questions about trees, from the reasons behind autumn’s vibrant colors to why some trees just won’t drop their leaves, revealing ongoing wonder in the life of trees.
Kent District Library, East Grand Rapids Branch (free!)
October 20, 2026 · 6:30 pm
KDL, East Grand Rapids Branch, 746 Lakeside Dr SE, East Grand Rapids, MI 49506

Oct. 21, 2026
Kent District Library, Cascade Township Branch
The Truth About Earthworms (Celebrate World Earthworm Day!)
Earthworms are more than garden helpers — they shape soil, ecosystems, and even forests in surprising ways. This talk uncovers their biology, origins, benefits, invasive counterparts, and their hidden impacts.
Kent District Library, Cascade Township Branch (free!)
October 21, 2026 · 6:30 pm
KDL, Cascade Township Branch, 2870 Jacksmith Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Nov. 4, 2026
Richland Community Library
The Hidden Life of Trees: Nature’s Unsolved Mysteries
Trees are silent witnesses to centuries of change, yet many of their most familiar behaviors remain mysteries. This talk explores some of the most surprising unanswered questions about trees, from the reasons behind autumn’s vibrant colors to why some trees just won’t drop their leaves, revealing ongoing wonder in the life of trees.
Richland Community Library (free!)
November 4, 2026 · 6 pm
Richland Community Library, 8951 Park St, Richland, MI 49083
Past Talks
Past Talks: See any topics you are interested in? Let me know!

May 16, 2026
Looking Glass Garden Club
The Truth About Earthworms
(Sprout & Spruce: A gardening gathering event)
Part of a Panel Discussion to learn from “local experts as they discuss native plants and sustainable gardening ideas.”
Earthworms are more than garden helpers — they shape soil, ecosystems, and even forests in surprising ways. This talk uncovers their biology, origins, benefits, invasive counterparts, and their hidden impacts.
Looking Glass Garden Club
May 16, 2026 · 10 am

May 5-8, 2026
National Association for Interpretation & Potter Park Zoo
Interpretative Guiding Course (CIG)
The nationally recognized Certificate of Interpretive Guiding (CIG) program is designed for anyone wanting to learn more about developing and leading interpretive programs through the National Association for Interpretation (NAI). This 32-hour course will introduce you to the history, definitions, and principles of interpretation. During the course, you will develop a program outline and deliver a 10-minute thematic presentation. You will learn how to make your programs purposeful, enjoyable, relevant, organized, and thematic, and leave ready to facilitate meaningful experiences that inspire engagement with the world around us.
National Association for Interpretation (Registration Required)
May 5-8, 2026
$600 Regular Registration (includes a one-year complimentary NAI membership)
$525 with NAI Member Discount
Potter Park Zoo, 1301 S Pennsylvania Avenue, Lansing, MI 48912

May 2, 2026
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
A Walk Through Wildflowers: Spring Wildflower Hike
Michigan has a beautiful collection of spring ephemerals – wildflowers that only briefly bloom. Discover the kaleidoscope of colors that these wildflowers bring to each spring, where to find them, and their unique relationships with different pollinators.
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute (Registration Required)
May 2, 2026 · 10 am
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, 701 W. Cloverdale Road, Hastings, MI 49058

April 13, 2026
Hastings Public Library
Morels and Other Spring Mushrooms
Explore spring’s most prized edible mushroom – morels – and the many other edible mushrooms you’re likely to encounter each spring. Learn how to spot these tasty treasures, avoid dangerous look-alikes, where and when to find them, and how to enjoy the thrill of foraging responsibly.
Hastings Public Library (free!)
April 13, 2026 · 6 pm

March 16, 2026
Kalamazoo Master Gardener Association
The Truth About Earthworms
Earthworms are more than garden helpers — they shape soil, ecosystems, and even forests in surprising ways. This talk uncovers their biology, origins, benefits, invasive counterparts, and their hidden impacts.
Kalamazoo Master Gardener Association
March 16, 2026 · 6:15 pm
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 1747 W Milham Ave, Portage, MI 49024

March 13, 2026
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
What’s in a Name? The Changing Language of Science
Names shape how we understand the natural world — but they’re not as fixed as they seem, as recently seen with changes to bird names. Discover how and why scientific names change, from long-standing traditions in taxonomy to modern efforts to rename species. Through stories of discovery, debate, and evolving language, we’ll see how renaming nature reveals not only new science but also a changing society.
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute (Registration required)
March 13, 2026 · 11 am
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, 701 W. Cloverdale Road, Hastings, MI 49058

March 3, 2026
Calhoun County Master Gardener Association
Spring’s Other Songs: Michigan’s Frogs and Toads
Every spring Michigan’s forests and wetlands echo with the calls of our many frog and toad species. Discover how to recognize Michigan’s 14 species, explore the best places and seasons to find them, and learn simple ways you can support their survival.
Calhoun County Master Gardener Association
March 3, 2026 · 6:30 pm
Program is free for Members of the Calhoun County Master Gardener Association. Non-Members are $5.00.
Horticulture Training Center at Leila Arboretum, 103 Limit St, Battle Creek, MI 49037

Feb. 15, 2026
Waterloo Natural History Association
Love on the Rocks: Discovering Lichens Hike
We’ve all heard about the “birds and the bees,” but have you met the fungi and the algae? Join us for a guided walk celebrating one of Mother Nature’s greatest examples of a long-term relationship – lichens! Explore how fungi and algae live and thrive together, the diversity of lichen shapes and colors, and the role they play in local ecosystems.
Waterloo Natural History Association
February 15, 2026 · 2 pm
Cost: $2/person or $5/family. Space is limited to 15 participants. Please register for this program by emailing [email protected] with your name, phone number and number of people attending.
Gerald E. Eddy Discovery Center, 17030 Bush Road, Chelsea, MI 48118
