“Target Harmony in the Metroparks” provides free concerts July 18-19, 24-25, 2008

Marking 20 years of free concerts at the Huron-Clinton Metroparks, beautiful music will fill the air at “Target Harmony in the Metroparks” this summer, when the Detroit Symphony Orchestra appears at four Huron-Clinton Metroparks. Presented by Target, these family-friendly outdoor DSO concerts are free with a vehicle entry permit.

Kent Lake of Kensington Metropark, Lake St. Clair of Metro Beach Metropark, Stony Creek Lake of Stony Creek Metropark, and the woods and waters of Willow Metropark will provide the surroundings for the classic sounds. The concerts will be held on Friday, July 18 at Kensington Metropark, near Milford/Brighton; Saturday, July 19 at Stony Creek Metropark, near Rochester, Thursday, July 24 at Willow Metropark, near New Boston and Friday, July 25 at Metro Beach Metropark, near Mt. Clemens. All performances begin at 8 p.m.

DSO Resident Conductor Thomas Wilkins will lead the orchestra in a variety of light classical and Pops music centered on a dance theme including Slavonic Dance, Op. 46, No. 1 by Antonín Dvorak, “Habañera” from Carmen Suite No. 2 by Georges Bizet, March from El Capitán by John Philip Sousa, as well as Overture to Die Fledermaus, Thunder and Lightning Polka, and Emperor Waltzes all by Johann Strauss, Jr.

Concertgoers should arrive early for the best seating and should bring a chair or blanket. Picnic baskets are allowed, but no glass containers. Food will also be available at the parks’ concession areas.

A vehicle entry permit is required to enter any Metropark and is only $20 annually for regular admission, $12 annually for seniors or $4 daily. General information can be found at www.metroparks.com or by calling 1-800-47-PARKS. For more information, contact Kensington Metropark at 248-685-1561 or 1-800-477-3178, Stony Creek Metropark at 586-781-4242 or 1-800-477-7756, Metro Beach Metropark at 586-463-4581 or 1-800-477-3172 or Willow Metropark at 734-697-9181 or 1-800-477-3182.

Located along the Huron and Clinton rivers, the Metroparks provide a natural oasis from urban and suburban life as well as year-round recreational activities and events. The Metroparks consist of 13 beautiful parks covering nearly 24,000 acres, ten spectacular public golf courses and two marinas on Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair, respectively. The parks also offer scenic nature trails, breathtaking beaches, educational activities and exciting winter sports.

Learn how to reduce and balance your carbon footprint.

Earth Day Events & Activities at Flint Children’s Museum. Loads of different activites from April 9 – 30, 2008.

For Earth Day 2008, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency challenges residents and communities around the Great Lakes to collect and recycle electronic waste and
to properly dispose of unwanted medicines.
http://www.epa.gov/greatlakes/earthday2008/events.html

EnvironmentalHealthNews

• Thursday, March 20, 2008, 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Home School Students: Exploring For-Mar’s Sugar Bush. Learn about the history of making maple syrup and take a hike to our sugar shack. This program includes tasting maple syrup! *Note: This time of year our trails tend to be very muddy. Cost: $4.00 per student. Pre-registration required by 03/18/08.
• Thursday, April 17, 2008, 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. – Home School Students: Wacky Weather. Learn about Michigan’s extreme weather, take weather measurements outside, and make a windsock to take home. Cost: $4.00 per student. Pre-registration required by 04/15/08.
• Thursday, May 15, 2008, 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. – Home School Students: Spring Splendors. Learn to identify some Michigan wildflowers, learn why they grow when they do, and plant a flower to take home. Cost: $4.00 per student. Pre-registration required by 05/13/08.
• Thursday, June 19, 2008, 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. – Home School Students: Hiking Safety. Learn about the importance of hiking safety including: what to wear on a hike, what to take with you, and what to do if you get lost. Program includes a hike and an item to add to your hiking gear collection. Cost: $4.00 per student. Pre-registration required by 06/17/08.
• Thursday, July 17, 2008. 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. – Home School Students: Incredible Insects. Students will learn basic insect identification skills and go exploring for insects out on the trails. We will take an insect survey and learn how to graph our results. Cost: $4.00 per student. Pre-registration required by 07/15/08.
• Thursday, August 14, 2008, 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. – Home School Students: Birding 101. Learn some key ways to identify birds in your backyard. Students will go on a hike and look for birds on their way to study the Foote Bird Museum in our Dewaters Education Center. Cost: $4.00 per student. Pre-registration required by 08/12/08.
• Thursday, September 18, 2008, 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. – Home School Students: Dead or Alive?. Are trees really dead once they fall down in the forest? We will go on a hike and study some “dead” trees up close. This program includes making a nurse tree bingo card. Everyone’s a winner! Cost: $4.00 per student. Pre-registration required by 09/16/08.

• April 2, 2008, 11:00am Homeschool – Eggstravaganza. $
• April 9, 2008, 11:00am Homeschool – Monster Moths. $
• April 16, 2008, 11:00am Homeschool – Hikers. $
• April 23, 2008, 11:00am Homeschool – Go Fly a Kite. $
• April 30, 2008, 11:00am Homeschool – Wonders of the Wetlands. $

• March 13, 2008, 1:00pm, Just for Homeschoolers – Scavenger Hunt. From vultures to beetles, we need our clean-up crew. Let’s find out why. (Yes, we will go on a hunt!)
• March 27, 2008, 1:00pm, Just for Homeschoolers – Lambing Season. Spring is the time for new life. So we’re going to explore the diversity of animal offspring. (Bring your baby pictures.)
• April 10, 2008, 1:00pm Just for Homeschoolers – Besides Earth. Let’s celebrate being earthlings by taking a look at our neighbors.
• April 24, 2008, 1:00pm Just for Homeschoolers – Tree Hugging. Is a big bear hug enough thanks for all they do? Find out during this National Arbor Day program.
• May 8, 2008, 1:00pm Just for Homeschoolers – Thanks Mom (and Dad). Raising a baby is no easy job… for anyone. But Nature has come up with a lot of ways to do it. Let’s see how.
• May 22, 2008, 1:00pm Just for Homeschoolers – Move It! You’re going places… but how? Let’s explore the system that moves us- and other animals, too.

Directions to Belle Isle Nature Zoo