Event Type : Oakland County

Enjoy the Play at the Village exhibit at Troy Historic Village at night and learn about toys old and new with a 90-minute staff-led “Toy Tour” to discover the fun and fascinating history of play. Explore how toys have changed over time, from homemade dolls, puzzles, and wooden figures, to mass-produced train sets, plastic ponies, cars, stuffed animals, and more. Families can also examine the ways in which seemingly simple playthings actually speak to more complex ideas about social norms, gender, and representation. Registration required. Families not able to visit during the tour can schedule a self-guided tour during open hours.

Enjoy the Play at the Village exhibit at Troy Historic Village at night and learn about toys old and new with a 90-minute staff-led “Toy Tour” to discover the fun and fascinating history of play. Explore how toys have changed over time, from homemade dolls, puzzles, and wooden figures, to mass-produced train sets, plastic ponies, cars, stuffed animals, and more. Families can also examine the ways in which seemingly simple playthings actually speak to more complex ideas about social norms, gender, and representation. Registration required. Families not able to visit during the tour can schedule a self-guided tour during open hours.

Take a guided hike through the sugar bush of the Stage Nature Center to discover how maple trees make sugar and people through the ages have harvested it. This outdoor, interactive program highlights the natural and local history of the region. Learn how people processed maple sugar in the past and see similarities in the collecting, boiling and drawing of maple syrup today. New for 2021, to maintain social distancing and follow pandemic guidelines, small groups will be guided along the trail and participate in activities to learn more about maple syrup making. This will be an all-outdoor program and there will be maple syrup and maple cream to sample and a “take-home” children’s craft. Shop for Michigan-made maple syrup, cream, and more sold by the Troy Historic Village. Reservations required.

Take a guided hike through the sugar bush of the Stage Nature Center to discover how maple trees make sugar and people through the ages have harvested it. This outdoor, interactive program highlights the natural and local history of the region. Learn how people processed maple sugar in the past and see similarities in the collecting, boiling and drawing of maple syrup today. New for 2021, to maintain social distancing and follow pandemic guidelines, small groups will be guided along the trail and participate in activities to learn more about maple syrup making. This will be an all-outdoor program and there will be maple syrup and maple cream to sample and a “take-home” children’s craft. Shop for Michigan-made maple syrup, cream, and more sold by the Troy Historic Village. Reservations required.

Kids and families interested in starting a vegetable garden for the first time or looking to explore new ideas can try one or all classes from the HomeGrown series. All levels of experience are welcome at this new series designed to encourage and support home vegetable gardeners.

Event Schedule

Feb. 13 – Home Vegetable Gardening 101

March 13 – Seed-Starting for Everyone

April 10 – Vegetable Gardening in Small Spaces

May 8 – Growing Fun with Kids

June 12 – Taking Growing to New Heights

July 10 – Season Extension for the Home Garden

Aug. 14 – Companion Planting

Sept. 11 – Veggie Harvest and Storage

Interested bird watchers ages 12 and older can join the Belle Isle Nature Center staff, local Audubon chapter members and other birding experts for a virtual, five-part “Birdwatching for Beginners” course. Each session can be taken individually or combined with others to develop bird identification skills. The classes will cover everything from how to use field guides, apps, binoculars and spotting scopes; maintenance and enjoyment of your backyard bird feeders; and identifying common birds by sight and sound. Students 12-17 must be accompanied by a participating adult. No experience or equipment necessary.

Participants will be sent a Zoom link for the class ahead of each class session and will be encouraged to share their own bird images, audio, and questions. If and when the pandemic allows, there could be some optional, outdoors, in-person guided walks that adhere to current CDC and other health guidelines.

Event schedule

Feb. 14: Raptors & winter wanderers

March 14: Wonders of Waterfowl

April 11: Birding by Ear/Spring Songsters

May 9: Marvelous Migration

Enjoy the Play at the Village exhibit at Troy Historic Village at night and learn about toys old and new with a 90-minute staff-led “Toy Tour” to discover the fun and fascinating history of play. Explore how toys have changed over time, from homemade dolls, puzzles, and wooden figures, to mass-produced train sets, plastic ponies, cars, stuffed animals, and more. Families can also examine the ways in which seemingly simple playthings actually speak to more complex ideas about social norms, gender, and representation. Registration required. Families not able to visit during the tour can schedule a self-guided tour during open hours.

Enjoy the Play at the Village exhibit at Troy Historic Village at night and learn about toys old and new with a 90-minute staff-led “Toy Tour” to discover the fun and fascinating history of play. Explore how toys have changed over time, from homemade dolls, puzzles, and wooden figures, to mass-produced train sets, plastic ponies, cars, stuffed animals, and more. Families can also examine the ways in which seemingly simple playthings actually speak to more complex ideas about social norms, gender, and representation. Registration required. Families not able to visit during the tour can schedule a self-guided tour during open hours.

Kids and families interested in starting a vegetable garden for the first time or looking to explore new ideas can try one or all classes from the HomeGrown series. All levels of experience are welcome at this new series designed to encourage and support home vegetable gardeners.

Event Schedule

Feb. 13 – Home Vegetable Gardening 101

March 13 – Seed-Starting for Everyone

April 10 – Vegetable Gardening in Small Spaces

May 8 – Growing Fun with Kids

June 12 – Taking Growing to New Heights

July 10 – Season Extension for the Home Garden

Aug. 14 – Companion Planting

Sept. 11 – Veggie Harvest and Storage

Interested bird watchers ages 12 and older can join the Belle Isle Nature Center staff, local Audubon chapter members and other birding experts for a virtual, five-part “Birdwatching for Beginners” course. Each session can be taken individually or combined with others to develop bird identification skills. The classes will cover everything from how to use field guides, apps, binoculars and spotting scopes; maintenance and enjoyment of your backyard bird feeders; and identifying common birds by sight and sound. Students 12-17 must be accompanied by a participating adult. No experience or equipment necessary.

Participants will be sent a Zoom link for the class ahead of each class session and will be encouraged to share their own bird images, audio, and questions. If and when the pandemic allows, there could be some optional, outdoors, in-person guided walks that adhere to current CDC and other health guidelines.

Event schedule

Feb. 14: Raptors & winter wanderers

March 14: Wonders of Waterfowl

April 11: Birding by Ear/Spring Songsters

May 9: Marvelous Migration

Kids and families interested in starting a vegetable garden for the first time or looking to explore new ideas can try one or all classes from the HomeGrown series. All levels of experience are welcome at this new series designed to encourage and support home vegetable gardeners.

Event Schedule

Feb. 13 – Home Vegetable Gardening 101

March 13 – Seed-Starting for Everyone

April 10 – Vegetable Gardening in Small Spaces

May 8 – Growing Fun with Kids

June 12 – Taking Growing to New Heights

July 10 – Season Extension for the Home Garden

Aug. 14 – Companion Planting

Sept. 11 – Veggie Harvest and Storage

Interested bird watchers ages 12 and older can join the Belle Isle Nature Center staff, local Audubon chapter members and other birding experts for a virtual, five-part “Birdwatching for Beginners” course. Each session can be taken individually or combined with others to develop bird identification skills. The classes will cover everything from how to use field guides, apps, binoculars and spotting scopes; maintenance and enjoyment of your backyard bird feeders; and identifying common birds by sight and sound. Students 12-17 must be accompanied by a participating adult. No experience or equipment necessary.

Participants will be sent a Zoom link for the class ahead of each class session and will be encouraged to share their own bird images, audio, and questions. If and when the pandemic allows, there could be some optional, outdoors, in-person guided walks that adhere to current CDC and other health guidelines.

Event schedule

Feb. 14: Raptors & winter wanderers

March 14: Wonders of Waterfowl

April 11: Birding by Ear/Spring Songsters

May 9: Marvelous Migration

Canterbury Village will be transformed into the Mesozoic Era with prehistoric dinosaurs throughout. Guest will stroll through this outdoor dinosaur adventure and get up close and personal with almost 100 life-like creatures, reptiles and life-size dinosaurs, with most standing over 30 feet tall and spanning over 40 feet long, including T-Rex, Velociraptors and Stegosaurus, just to name a few. Dino Stroll will be the most realistic tour back into history with animatronic dinosaurs that are created with moving heads, necks, tails, wings, eyes blinking, mouths that open and close, breathing movements, synchronized sounds, spraying water and many more exquisite details that bring them to life. Guests will become paleontologists and be able study skeletons, fossils and dinosaur eggs, even while climbing inside of them for photo opportunities. There will be entertainment by the Dino Band, various roaming characters to encounter during the stroll, and much more. Dino Stroll will be a realistic and memorable experience of what it felt like when the world’s largest creatures roamed the earth.

Timed tickets are required.

Canterbury Village will be transformed into the Mesozoic Era with prehistoric dinosaurs throughout. Guest will stroll through this outdoor dinosaur adventure and get up close and personal with almost 100 life-like creatures, reptiles and life-size dinosaurs, with most standing over 30 feet tall and spanning over 40 feet long, including T-Rex, Velociraptors and Stegosaurus, just to name a few. Dino Stroll will be the most realistic tour back into history with animatronic dinosaurs that are created with moving heads, necks, tails, wings, eyes blinking, mouths that open and close, breathing movements, synchronized sounds, spraying water and many more exquisite details that bring them to life. Guests will become paleontologists and be able study skeletons, fossils and dinosaur eggs, even while climbing inside of them for photo opportunities. There will be entertainment by the Dino Band, various roaming characters to encounter during the stroll, and much more. Dino Stroll will be a realistic and memorable experience of what it felt like when the world’s largest creatures roamed the earth.

Timed tickets are required.

Canterbury Village will be transformed into the Mesozoic Era with prehistoric dinosaurs throughout. Guest will stroll through this outdoor dinosaur adventure and get up close and personal with almost 100 life-like creatures, reptiles and life-size dinosaurs, with most standing over 30 feet tall and spanning over 40 feet long, including T-Rex, Velociraptors and Stegosaurus, just to name a few. Dino Stroll will be the most realistic tour back into history with animatronic dinosaurs that are created with moving heads, necks, tails, wings, eyes blinking, mouths that open and close, breathing movements, synchronized sounds, spraying water and many more exquisite details that bring them to life. Guests will become paleontologists and be able study skeletons, fossils and dinosaur eggs, even while climbing inside of them for photo opportunities. There will be entertainment by the Dino Band, various roaming characters to encounter during the stroll, and much more. Dino Stroll will be a realistic and memorable experience of what it felt like when the world’s largest creatures roamed the earth.

Timed tickets are required.

Canterbury Village will be transformed into the Mesozoic Era with prehistoric dinosaurs throughout. Guest will stroll through this outdoor dinosaur adventure and get up close and personal with almost 100 life-like creatures, reptiles and life-size dinosaurs, with most standing over 30 feet tall and spanning over 40 feet long, including T-Rex, Velociraptors and Stegosaurus, just to name a few. Dino Stroll will be the most realistic tour back into history with animatronic dinosaurs that are created with moving heads, necks, tails, wings, eyes blinking, mouths that open and close, breathing movements, synchronized sounds, spraying water and many more exquisite details that bring them to life. Guests will become paleontologists and be able study skeletons, fossils and dinosaur eggs, even while climbing inside of them for photo opportunities. There will be entertainment by the Dino Band, various roaming characters to encounter during the stroll, and much more. Dino Stroll will be a realistic and memorable experience of what it felt like when the world’s largest creatures roamed the earth.

Timed tickets are required.

Canterbury Village will be transformed into the Mesozoic Era with prehistoric dinosaurs throughout. Guest will stroll through this outdoor dinosaur adventure and get up close and personal with almost 100 life-like creatures, reptiles and life-size dinosaurs, with most standing over 30 feet tall and spanning over 40 feet long, including T-Rex, Velociraptors and Stegosaurus, just to name a few. Dino Stroll will be the most realistic tour back into history with animatronic dinosaurs that are created with moving heads, necks, tails, wings, eyes blinking, mouths that open and close, breathing movements, synchronized sounds, spraying water and many more exquisite details that bring them to life. Guests will become paleontologists and be able study skeletons, fossils and dinosaur eggs, even while climbing inside of them for photo opportunities. There will be entertainment by the Dino Band, various roaming characters to encounter during the stroll, and much more. Dino Stroll will be a realistic and memorable experience of what it felt like when the world’s largest creatures roamed the earth.

Timed tickets are required.

Canterbury Village will be transformed into the Mesozoic Era with prehistoric dinosaurs throughout. Guest will stroll through this outdoor dinosaur adventure and get up close and personal with almost 100 life-like creatures, reptiles and life-size dinosaurs, with most standing over 30 feet tall and spanning over 40 feet long, including T-Rex, Velociraptors and Stegosaurus, just to name a few. Dino Stroll will be the most realistic tour back into history with animatronic dinosaurs that are created with moving heads, necks, tails, wings, eyes blinking, mouths that open and close, breathing movements, synchronized sounds, spraying water and many more exquisite details that bring them to life. Guests will become paleontologists and be able study skeletons, fossils and dinosaur eggs, even while climbing inside of them for photo opportunities. There will be entertainment by the Dino Band, various roaming characters to encounter during the stroll, and much more. Dino Stroll will be a realistic and memorable experience of what it felt like when the world’s largest creatures roamed the earth.

Timed tickets are required.

Kids and families interested in starting a vegetable garden for the first time or looking to explore new ideas can try one or all classes from the HomeGrown series. All levels of experience are welcome at this new series designed to encourage and support home vegetable gardeners.

Event Schedule

Feb. 13 – Home Vegetable Gardening 101

March 13 – Seed-Starting for Everyone

April 10 – Vegetable Gardening in Small Spaces

May 8 – Growing Fun with Kids

June 12 – Taking Growing to New Heights

July 10 – Season Extension for the Home Garden

Aug. 14 – Companion Planting

Sept. 11 – Veggie Harvest and Storage

Kids and families interested in starting a vegetable garden for the first time or looking to explore new ideas can try one or all classes from the HomeGrown series. All levels of experience are welcome at this new series designed to encourage and support home vegetable gardeners.

Event Schedule

Feb. 13 – Home Vegetable Gardening 101

March 13 – Seed-Starting for Everyone

April 10 – Vegetable Gardening in Small Spaces

May 8 – Growing Fun with Kids

June 12 – Taking Growing to New Heights

July 10 – Season Extension for the Home Garden

Aug. 14 – Companion Planting

Sept. 11 – Veggie Harvest and Storage