Dahlem

Volunteer Training for spring school programs
2026-04-01 08:30 (America/Detroit) | Dahlem, Jackson’s Nature Place, 7117 S. Jackson Rd., Jackson, MI, 49201, United States
Volunteers needed for Spring School Programs

Volunteer Trail Leaders (new & returning) interested to lead Spring school field trips are invited to attend this informative half day training session on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 8:30 am to 11:45 am at The Dahlem Center, 7117 S. Jackson Rd., Jackson MI. Volunteering for school programs is a highly rewarding experience not to be missed. Come join the fun!
The five programs we will review include: Signs of Spring (preschool & kindergarten), Who Lives There? (kindergarten), Spring Birds (grades 1-3), Frogs & Toads (grades 1-4) and Aquatic Studies (grades 3-8). We will review lesson plans and teaching station equipment.
If you’re interested, please RSVP to naturalist educator Carrie Benham to reserve your seat by March 30, 2026. Please call 517-782-3453 ext. 106 or email cbenham@dahlemcenter.org. Please also complete the online Volunteer Form before attending the training session. Thank you!
This is a great opportunity for retirees, and any adults and college students interested to work with children and have a love for nature are welcome to become volunteer trail leaders. Training will take place both in/outdoors. Please dress for the weather.

American Woodcock Program & Night Walk (adult program) - April 9 SOLD OUT!
2026-04-09 19:00 - 21:00 | Dahlem, Jackson’s Nature Place, 7117 S. Jackson Rd., Jackson, MI, 49201, United States
THIS PROGRAM IS SOLD OUT!
The American Woodcock Program and Night Walk (adult program) will start at 7:00 pm with a short indoor presentation to learn about the woodcock that reside in Michigan, their adaptations, and then we’ll take a night walk to Dahlem’s quiet grasslands to watch and listen for American woodcocks performing their seasonal mating ritual. This is a fun night not to be missed. Make it a ‘date night’ without kids.
Fee: $6/per Dahlem member; $10/per non-member. Advanced registration is required. Limited to 24 adult participants. Complete the registration form below or call the office at 517-782-3453 ext. 101 to sign up and pay for your spot. Registration deadline is April 8th at 4:00 pm.
What to Bring: a small flashlight to carry in your coat pocket. Our goal is to use our night vision just as nocturnal wildlife do to venture through the night and let our other senses direct us on the trails.
Rain Date: if we have inclement weather, the postpone date TBD.
Cancellation Policy: we have a 24 hour cancellation policy. If you don’t call to cancel and don’t show, you will be charged the full amount.

Night of the Amphibians (family-friendly) - April 17 SOLD OUT!
2026-04-17 18:30 - 20:30 | Dahlem, Jackson’s Nature Place, 7117 S. Jackson Rd., Jackson, MI, 49201, United States
SOLD OUT — Registration is closed.
What better way to welcome spring than to wade in the waters of our glacial pond in search of the season’s first choristers: Spring Peepers, Chorus frogs and Wood frogs. Maybe we’ll find a Leopard frog or American toad! This is a great evening event for families to learn about, catch and release frogs! Bring your wading boots and dress for the weather. The trail walk to the Glacial Pond is approximately one mile round trip.
Fee: $6/per Dahlem member; $8/per non-member …. Member Family $20, and Non-member Family $25 (Family resides in the same household)
Advanced registration is required. Complete the registration form below or call the office at 517-782-3453 ext. 101 to sign up and pay for your spot. Registration deadline is April 16th at 4:00 pm.
What to Bring: a flashlight to carry in your coat pocket. Our goal is to use our night vision just as our nocturnal creatures do to venture through the night and let our other senses direct us on the trails.
Rain Date: if we have inclement weather or the temperature is too cold on April 17th, the postpone date is TBD
Cancellation Policy: we have a 24 hour cancellation policy. If you don’t call to cancel and don’t show, you will be charged the full amount.

Earth Day Celebration - April 26, 2026
2026-04-26 13:00 - 16:00
Earth Day Celebration is Sunday, April 26th from 1-4 pm, to promote environmental protection, encouraging people to keep a clean, healthy planet. Once again, Jackson County Conservation District (JCCD) is organizing a fun and educational afternoon to celebrate Earth Day 2026.
Come join us for JCCD’s Earth Day Celebration in the Park from 1-4 pm at Sparks Foundation County Park, by the urban fishing pond.
Local vendors will be on hand with kid-friendly activities to teach about the importance of Earth Day and conservation of our natural resources.
There will be free tree seedlings and plants, live animals, live music, face painting, kayaking (weather pending), and activities for all. A great day for family-fun!
Free event, open to the public. Additional Earth Day details available here.

Betty's Spring Workbee - May 2, 2026
2026-05-02 09:00 - 13:00
It is the perfect time of the year to address any maintenance that is necessary for spring and summer. This year’s Betty’s Spring Work Bee is on Saturday May 2nd, 2026 from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
Volunteers, please join us for a short meet and greet, then assignments are given out at the start of the day at 9:00 AM. After the work is done we will have a complimentary Thank You picnic lunch! The staff will provide a lite-lunch and refreshments for all volunteers participating this day!
** Please complete the form below so we know how many volunteers to anticipate and provide lunch for **

Betty's Spring Workbee 2026

"*" indicates required fields

Name*

First

Last

Phone*Email*

Number of Volunteers including yourself*What types of tasks are you interested in doing at the Workbee?*

What will I be doing at the Workbee?
Assignments are given out at the start of the day at 9:00 AM. If you have an interest in something particular, let us know! Our goal is to utilize a volunteer’s individual strengths as much as possible. Here are some areas we plan to tackle:

Clear out invasive plants along the trails
Pulling invasive garlic mustard plants (easy to pull by hand)
Place wood chips on the Natural Playscape and other areas of need
Weeding around the buildings and flower gardens
Wash windows, bird feeders, and outdoor signage
Wash Maple Sugaring equipment

We welcome you to bring your own personal equipment such as rakes, shovels, garden shears, loppers, and other tools that would help assist the process.
Remember to; dress for the weather, bring your work gloves and a bottle of water!

Feel free to contact the office at 517-782-3453 ext. 101 should you have questions or concerns. Thank you kindly!

Birds, Blooms & Butterflies Festival 2026
2026-08-08 09:00 - 15:00
Birds, Blooms & Butterflies Festival
Saturday, August 8, 2026
Save the date for Dahlem’s annual Birds, Blooms, and Butterflies Festival on Saturday, August 8, 2026.
This annual outdoor festival will include a wide variety of outdoor learning opportunities and activities for all ages including live animal exhibits, environmental education programs (birds, blooms, butterflies, honeybees and pollinators, etc.), nature walks, native plants, children’s crafts, live music, food vendors, and more.
Watch for more event details to be posted as summer approaches!
Vendors and presenters
If you are interested in being a vendor, hosting an activity, or presenting on an environmental topic at this year’s festival please contact Marissa at mpierce@dahlemcenter.org. See below for the vendor and booth registration form.
Please join us for this fantastic family-friendly event!
Sponsors
Festival sponsorship opportunities are available! Contact Hannah at hschauer@dahlemcenter.org or 517-782-3453 ext. 103 for sponsorship information.

Vendor Registration

2026 Birds Blooms and Butterflies Booth Registration
Complete this form to register and pay for your booth space at Dahlem's Birds, Blooms and Butterflies Festival, August 8, 2026!

This family-friendly festival provides an opportunity to connect with our community and strengthen appreciation for the natural world. There will be educational programs, presentations, activities, crafts, food, music, and much more!

We are glad you will be joining the fun!

Booth registration fee is $40 (Non-profit fee is $20); tables and chairs are provided. Limited tents are available.

Name(Required)

First

Last

Organization/Buisness(Required)Address(Required)

Street Address

Address Line 2

City

State / Province / Region

ZIP / Postal Code

Phone(Required)Email(Required)

My organization/business is (select the most applicable):(Required)a for-profit business, promoting/selling products or servicesa community resource or government agencya non-profit organizationBooth categories (check all that apply):(Required)

Selling product(s) and/or giving away product samples

Providing information/education or an activity

Other: please describe in the next section
Please describe your booth, product(s) you will be selling, and/or the display/activity you will have.(Required)Will you need table(s)?(Required)

1 table

2 tables

I would like to request additional tables

No tables
Will you need chair(s)?(Required)

1 Chair

2 Chairs

I would like to request additional chairs

No chairs
Will you need a tent?(Required)

I will bring my own tent

I do not need a tent

I would like to reserve a tent from Dahlem*
*NOTE: We have a limited supply of tents available for use. Tents are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. Total

Payment Method(Required)PayPal CheckoutCredit Card
American ExpressDiscoverMasterCardVisaSupported Credit Cards: American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Card Number

Expiration Date

Security Code

Cardholder Name

Goblin Walks 2026
2026-10-23 17:00 - 2026-10-24 21:00
Registration opens in early September 2026
Two Magical Nights!
> October 23, Friday 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
> October 24, Saturday 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Fee per person:
Pre-Registration required to attend our annual Goblin Walks event. Every 15 minutes a group of twenty five people head down the trail to enjoy an evening autumn color tour, a 1/2 mile trail walk meeting larger than life critters performing entertaining educational skits. The program is about one hour in length. Photo opportunities, refreshments (cider & donuts!), and visit the gift shop. Feel free to dress in costume and be ready for the weather! The event operates rain or shine. It’s great fun for the whole family!! This event does not handout candy.
REGISTRATION REQUIRED for Dahlem members and non-members, so don’t wait – choice slots fill fast. Please arrive 10 minutes before your tour walk to allow time to sign in.
Cancellation Policy: We have a 24 hour cancellation policy. If you don’t call to cancel and don’t show, you will be charged the full amount.
Thank You to our generous event sponsors

Jackson Glass Works Inc

Registration opens in early September 2026
[registration form]

Join our Boo Crew – Volunteers Make it Happen and We Need Your Assistance!
Registration opens in early September 2026
Volunteer opportunities for this great event are available. To volunteer, please complete the Goblin Walks Volunteer Application Form. If you have questions, please contact Carrie at 517-782-3453 ext. 106 or email cbenham@dahlemcenter.org.

Cast members are needed for the fun skits on Oct. 23 evening and Oct. 24 evening. We have the skits and costumes. Give it a try! It’s so much fun, you’ll be glad you joined the cast. Open to adults, teens (14-17 years), and children (10-13 years). Children must be supervised.
October 23 and/or October 24 (pick a task of your choice on the volunteer application form)
October 22 Thursday 9:00am-3:00pm — set up the pavilion and other areas, and decorate trails. Contact Carrie cbenham@dahlemcenter.org

Pumpkin Carving —
Registration opens in early September 2026
Please register online for event Volunteer to Carve Pumpkins. We supply the pumpkins, you provide the creativity and bring your carving tools.

Oct 22 Thursday 10:00am-3:00pm — pumpkin carving
Oct 23 Friday 10:00am-3:00pm — pumpkin carving and place carved pumpkins on the trail route
