MSU Extension of Midland County and cooperating parent educators sponsor the Parent’s Corner. Send submissions to Midland County MSU Extension Educator, Sheila Salo, 220 W. Ellsworth St., Midland, MI 48640 or salo@msu.edu
Homestead Sunday: Fun on the Farm. What kind of chores did they do on the farm? Stop by and help, 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7 at Chippewa Nature Center. The chickens need to be fed, the gardens tended and repairs made. From sunrise to sunset there is always tasks to complete! This event is free. www.chippewanaturecenter.org
Summer Wildflower Walk. Summer wildflowers put on a show with a variety of colors, flower structures, heights, and patterns. Join a CNC naturalist 9-10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9 to learn how to identify commonly found species and discuss their importance within an ecosystem.This event is free. www.chippewanaturecenter.org
Paddles and Pints. From 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10, spend an evening kayaking down the Chippewa River with a naturalist as you look for turtles, fish, eagles, and other wildlife. The trip will end at the Tridge in Downtown Midland where participants may take a short walk to WhichCraft Taproom for a refreshing drink. Cost is $40 and includes a $10 voucher. Meet at the Tridge where CNC staff will shuttle participants via 15-passenger van to CNC’s canoe/kayak launch. Register by Aug. 8 www.chippewanaturecenter.org
Walk Midland. Chippewa Nature Center is the Wednesday location for Walk Midland. The next event is set for 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10. Midland Parks and Recreation, in partnership with MyMichigan Health, Chippewa Nature Center, Greater Midland Corporate Wellness and Little Forks Conservancy, will host seven walking locations throughout the week through Wednesday, Aug. 31. Participants walk an approximately two-mile walking route. Drawings will be held at each walk for prizes. For each walk, participants will be registered for a grand prize Midland Staycation gift basket. This event is free. www.chippewanaturecenter.org
Preserving MI Harvest Series. Michigan State University Extension will be offering a series of food preservation classes online. These free classes will be offered at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Thursdays. The next topic will be Food Preservation Do's and Don'ts. A discussion on some of the outdated preservation processes (Don'ts) as well as the Do's to keep your home preserved foods safe to enjoy. These sessions will not be recorded, they will only be offered live. Supporting materials will be emailed to all participants after each broadcast. Join in the fun, sign up for one, some or all these educational sessions. There is time at the end of each program to ask questions. To register, visit events.anr.msu.edu/PreservingMIHarvest/
Kids Nature Art: Forest. Meet CNC staff at 2-3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11 at The Woods Nature Play area at Chippewa Nature Center for a blast of forest art. Stations with different projects will be set up to allow your artist to experience forest plants and animals through art. This self-paced experience will allow children to create many projects or work hard on a single masterpiece. This event is free. www.chippewanaturecenter.org
Full Moon Stroll. Join an Interpretive Naturalist for a hike to enjoy this month’s full moon, 8-9:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11. Learn how the tradition of naming moons began and what makes each month special. Please wear dark colors and bring a flashlight. This event is free. www.chippewanaturecenter.org
Wee Stroll. This free program, 10-11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 12 at Chippewa Nature Center, is designed for parents to take a guided walk with their child, learn about the outdoors and learn ways to introduce children to the natural world around them. www.chippewanaturecenter.org
Salamander Meander. Silent and secretive, salamanders are often a creature of mystery. Join Chippewa Nature Center staff 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 13 to hike and turn over logs to look for these shy amphibians. The group will meet at the Visitor Center, then caravan to the River Point property at the end of Hubert Road. This event is free. www.chippewanaturecenter.org
Homestead Sunday: Schoolhouse. What was it like to go to school in the 1870s? Visit Chippewa Nature Center's one room schoolhouse 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14 to find out. Guests will be able to practice their elocution, read from a McGuffey Reader and brush-up on history. Save some time for recess! Play a game of graces or tag and learn how to walk on stilts. This event is free.
Midland Prescription for Health. Midland County Prescription for Health is a program in collaboration with MyMichigan Medical Center, the Midland Area Farmers Market, and Michigan State University Extension. Sessions will be provided 10-11 a.m. Wednesdays, Aug. 17 through Sept. 21. Attend a free six-lesson workshop focused on nutrition and shopping at the farmers market. For every lesson you complete, participants will receive $10 in vouchers to be used at the Midland Area Farmers Market. Learn about the farmers, food and food assistance available at the Midland Area Farmers Market and build confidence in shopping there through a weekly guided tour. To register, call MSU Extension at 989-385-5144. These sessions are free. www.chippewanaturecenter.org
Safe Food = Healthy Kids. A free online workshop food safety workshop for child care providers is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30. Learn what the best practices are for food safety to help keep kids safe. To learn more and to register, visit events.anr.msu.edu/SFHKSummerFall22/ or call 1-877-643-9882.