July 13, 2005
Kids abuzz over hikes
Creepy Crawlies topic of latest Discovery Hike
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Getting up close and personal with a bugs, 15 area explorers young and old joined Dr. Duke Elsner Tuesday morning for a Creepy Crawlies hike.
Held in the Grand Traverse Nature Education Reserve, the hike was part of the ongoing Discovery Hikes for Kids series, offered year round by the Grand Traverse Conservation District. This summer's program includes 11 hikes for children on Tuesday and Thursday mornings as well as six adult and family hikes offered on Saturday mornings.
Attendees at the Creepy Crawlies hike first explored the bugs captured in an ultra-violet light trap that Elsner had left out overnight. As he dumped the collection can, beetles, moths and other bugs spilled out, much to the delight of the kids. They pounced, wielding nets and scooped up specimens to deposit in their collection jars.
"A lot of insects that you don't see during the day come out at night," noted Elsner, who is an agricultural extension agent for Grand Traverse County.
Elsner then led everyone along trails that wind through the Education Reserve, stopping to point out bugs who made their home in a range of trees or bushes. He described how they make their home, what they eat, any damage they do and their life cycle.
"We have a lot of insects in this area that we don't see but you can tell them by what they do," Elsner said.
Todd Neibauer joined his two sons, Kyle, 8, and Evan, 6, on the hike and appreciated Elsner's knowledge and engaging style of passing it on to attendees.
"There's a lot of expertise in the extension office and to come out and share it with the kids in this environment is really neat," Neibauer said.
The Conservation District has sponsored 15 hikes so far this summer, with more than 500 children attending. The Discovery Hikes for Kids series is geared to children ages 5-12 but often younger siblings join the mix as well.
"They come and swing a net, too, and are happy even if they don't catch a butterfly," said Cindy Retherford, education specialist with the Grand Traverse Conservation District.
Nature provides a good vehicle for family members to share both education and fun. The district provides the venue and the experts, allowing parents who might not know much about nature to learn and explore with their children.
"So many kids don't get a chance to get out in nature and they love to do it," Retherford said. "A lot of parents come on the hikes, even thought they are geared to kids, and they learn as much as the kids do."
Future Discovery Hikes for Kids are listed below. All hikes begin at 9 a.m. and last between 1-2 hours. Unless otherwise noted, they begin at the Pavilion/Picnic Area on the east side of Cass Road two miles south of South Airport Road.
- A River Runs Through It, Thursday, July 14, Sabin Pond Trailhead
- Chew on This, Tuesday, July 19
- Nature is Crafty, Thursday, July 21
- Animal Tracking, Tuesday, July 26, Sabin Pond Trailhead
- TC Rocks, Thursday, July 28
- Wee Wonders, Tuesday, August 2
Reservations for the hikes are requested. For more information on these hikes or to make a reservation, contact the Conservation District at 941-0960. For more information about these hikes, this summer's Adults and Family Hikes and other programs, see the district's website at www.gtcd.org