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Come enjoy God’s amazing creation.
The Ecosystem Preserve & Native Gardens offers boundless opportunities to connect with nature. Grab your hiking boots, your binoculars, your sketch pad, your camera, or your journal, and find inspiration and restoration among the trees, ponds, grasses, flowers, and abundance of living creatures.
100+
acres of forest, wetlands and a native plant garden
174
species of native plants, giving the preserve an FQI score of 45
179
species of birds spotted in the preserve
6,000
average number of visitors who enjoy our trails annually
Grow, appreciate and understand.
All year long, we offer transformational educational programs for all ages. Our enthusiastic teachers and experts will share their love of nature by providing rewarding and immersive experiences. Whether you join us for a discovery hike, a creative game, an art project, a story, or an up-close look at our local wildlife, you’ll leave with a greater understanding of creation—and a greater passion for caring for it.
A PROGRAM JUST FOR YOU
Critters & Company
Each season, we offer a four week series of programs designed for children aged 3–6 (the critters), and their caregivers (the company), to explore nature together. Participants explore a new topic each week.
Learn more about:
Early childhood programs
College programs
Career Panels: Gain insight into your future environmental career as you hear panelists speak about the journey to his/her current position.
Environmental Education Certification: Earn your certificate to teach national, award-winning, environmental curriculum used by educators working with students in grades pre-K through 12.
Learn more about:
College programs
Wetlands & Woodlands Summer Camp
A fun, hands-on learning adventure where campers become immersed in the outdoors, and develop a greater understanding of God's creation.
Learn more about:
Wetlands & Woodlands Summer Camp
Family programs
First Saturdays: Programs are held on the first Saturday of October, November, December, February, March, and April. Explore a new topic each month.
Spring break: Activities are held every day during Grand Rapids Public School system's spring break. Enjoy your "staycation" at the Preserve.
Learn more about:
Family programs
Discovery Field Packs
Create your own adventure with our free, self-guided Discovery Field Packs. All ages will enjoy exploring the Preserve with these themed backpacks containing easy-to-understand guides and activities.
Learn more about:
Discovery Field Packs
Adult programs
Preserving our natural habitats through ongoing ecological education. Branch out, stimulate your senses, and engage your mind at our presentations and workshops.
Learn more about:
Adult programs
Elementary school groups
Curriculum-based, outdoor learning experiences for your budding scientists. Our leaders will engage your students with a close-up, hands-on view of nature.
Learn more about:
Elementary school groups
Native Plant Sale
The Native Plant Sale features more than 80 rare, unusual, and favorite varieties of native wildflowers, shrubs, and grasses for all growing conditions, including drought-tolerant, rain garden, and shade species.
Learn more about:
Native Plant Sale
Our mission
The Ecosystem Preserve & Native Gardens conserves, restores and interprets native ecosystems to inspire people to value and protect the wonder of creation.
Our story
The Ecosystem Preserve & Native Gardens was established in 1985 to restore and maintain this example of a West Michigan ecosystem. It occupies the northern half of Calvin University's east campus.
Conservation and research
The data gained from research projects at the Preserve has greatly enhanced our knowledge about the preserve lands as a whole, as well as the species that live in each habitat.
Volunteers help us thrive.
Volunteers of all ages from the Grand Rapids area are one of our greatest natural resources. If you’d like to make a tangible difference, we need your passion and your talent. In return, you’ll find a welcoming, supportive, and appreciative environment. Opportunities are available for a variety of ages and groups.
Your generosity matters.
Your gift of any amount will help sustain the Preserve and all the important work we do here—not just today, but for decades to come. Your investment helps improve our present and preserve our future.
Stay in touch with us.
Have questions? Feel free to contact us any time. We’d love to hear from you! For the latest info about upcoming programs and events, activities for exploring nature, volunteer opportunities and more, subscribe to our mailing list below (or browse past newsletters):