River Raisin Institute

Only 2 weeks away! 🐢

Join us on Thursday, October 1st, from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM at the IHM Motherhouse for a special presentation on Michigan's native reptiles and amphibians with expert David Mifsud, owner of H**petological Resource & Management!

Learn about our local reptiles and amphibians, the conservation challenges they face, and actionable steps you can take to protect their habitats.

When: Thursday, October 1st | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Where: IHM Motherhouse, 610 W. Elm Avenue, Monroe, MI 48162

Cost: FREE (Suggested $5 donation)

Who: All ages welcome!

Advanced registration is required. Register now to secure your spot for this FREE event: https://forms.gle/CsmKBgDaUv45Z4yT6

Learn the art of seed harvesting!

Looking to save seeds from this year’s blooms for next season? Hidden Lake Gardens is hosting a Seed Harvesting workshop this Saturday, September 5!

Learn about harvesting seeds, annuals and perennials, storage techniques, and ways to increase your odds of successful germination and take some seeds home for next spring! 🌼

📅 Saturday, September 5
⏰ 10 AM–Noon
📍 Hidden Lake Gardens | Tipton, MI

Register and learn more at their event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EUCv8U6f7/

Join the River Raisin Watershed Council for our next Nature Narratives Book Club as we read and discuss Aldo Leopold’s beloved conservation classic, A Sand County Almanac.

Through thoughtful observations of wildlife, landscapes, and the changing seasons, Leopold explores our relationship with the natural world and what it means to care for the land around us. 🌱

📅 Thursday, September 10, 2026
⏰ 6:00–7:00 PM
📍 Musgrove + Company
135 E. Chicago Blvd., Tecumseh, MI

Learn more and register:
www.riverraisin.org/bookclub

Come read, connect, and talk nature with us! 🍂📖

Curious about green burial? Roselawn Memorial Park plans an open house featuring tours, information sheets, refreshments and special discounts. See link below ⬇️

📸 Monroe News

Michigan’s Hidden Heroes: The Conservation of Michigan’s Amphibians & Reptiles
Did you know amphibians and reptiles play a critical role in keeping Michigan's ecosystems healthy? From controlling pests to bio-monitoring our water quality, these native species do so much behind the scenes!

Join us for a FREE educational presentation featuring David Mifsud, owner of H**petological Resource & Management (HRM). With over 30 years of field research and wildlife management experience, David will share insights into local species, habitat protection, and exciting community science initiatives like the Michigan H**p Atlas.

🗓 Date: Thursday, October 1st

⏰ Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

📍 Location: IHM Motherhouse (Maxis Community Room), 610 W. Elm Avenue, Monroe, MI 48162

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Audience: All ages welcome!

💚 Cost: FREE ($5 suggested donation appreciated)

⚠️ Advanced registration is required! Reserve your spot here: https://forms.gle/CsmKBqDaUv45Z4yT6

For questions, contact us at [email protected] or visit www.rriearth.org.

Day 4 of Budding Naturalists Camp – Bugs, Rocks & Celebration

What an incredible way to end an unforgettable week! Campers searched for bugs, created nature-inspired crafts, explored the fascinating world of rocks, and celebrated all they had discovered together. We hope this week sparked a lifelong love of exploring the natural world. 🌿🪲🪨

Thank you to Julie Vieira, the River Raisin Watershed Councill, the IHM Sisters, and all of our dedicated volunteers for bringing today to life.

Help us continue creating experiences like this by supporting Budding Naturalists Camp: https://givebutter.com/RiverRaisinInstitute

Unfortunately, Day 2 of Budding Naturalists Camp was canceled due to the weather, but today we were thrilled to welcome everyone back for an unforgettable Day 3: Snakes & Songs! 🐍🎶

The day was filled with curiosity, laughter, and hands-on discovery. Campers met a special snake ambassador, enjoyed parachute games, shared music, created snake-inspired crafts, and learned that even the most misunderstood creatures play an important role in our natural world.

A heartfelt thank you to OSU Stone Laboratory, Sue Bixler, the IHM Sisters, Bob Bransky, the River Raisin Watershed Council, and all of our incredible volunteers for sharing your time, talents, and passion. You helped make today a memorable experience for every camper!

Want to help inspire the next generation of nature lovers? Your support makes experiences like this possible.

💚 Donate Here: https://givebutter.com/RiverRaisinInstitute

Our Budding Naturalists Camp is off to a wonderful start! Today our young explorers met new friends, practiced nature-inspired yoga, learned all about turtles, created turtle crafts, and enjoyed a story together. We can't wait to see what the rest of the week has in store! 🐢🌳

Thank you to the River Raisin Watershed Council and IHM Sisters for volunteering with us!

If you would like to support the Budding Naturalists camp and others like it please donate here: https://givebutter.com/RiverRaisinInstitute

🚨 Budding Naturalists Camp Registration is FULL!

We are thrilled by the overwhelming response to our Budding Naturalists Camp at IHM, July 20–23. All camp spots have now been filled.

If you were hoping to register your child, we are currently accepting names for our waitlist. Should a spot become available, families on the waitlist will be contacted in the order they were added.

Thank you for your enthusiasm and support! We look forward to welcoming our young explorers as they discover the wonders of nature through hands-on activities, games, crafts, and outdoor adventures in the IHM gardens, ponds, prairies, and woods.

Join the waitlist here: https://forms.gle/4bXzBtJrU4cNNan1A

We can't wait to learn, explore, and make memories with your young naturalists!

We are so grateful for the student volunteers from St. Mary Catholic Central!