- This event has passed.
Musseling in the Mackinaw- POSTPONED
August 12, 2023 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Our river event is back for another year! Join us at ParkLands’ Hayes Woods Preserve on Saturday, August 12th at 9:00 am for a hands-on learning opportunity about the Mackinaw River’s amazing aquatic diversity! The event will focus on mussels, but we’ll also look for unique fish, aquatic insects, and more. This is an event for all ages! Cost is $5 for ParkLands Foundation Members or $10 for non-members. Snacks will be provided.
What to expect
The River: Be prepared to get wet! Guests will wade into the river and comb their hands through the substrate (river bottom) where the mussels live. The water will be no deeper than waist high, but will require kneeling or sitting in the water with your arm submerged to near the shoulder. Hands-on at its finest!
Trained biologists will be onsite to give instruction, educate about the various forms of life in the river, and identify mussel species. Due to high water quality, the Mackinaw River is recognized for its mussel diversity – it is common for surveys to uncover a dozen or more mussel species.
The Hike: This location requires an approximately 1-mile roundtrip hike from the Hayes Woods parking lot, so please wear comfortable footwear for your hike. If you choose to walk to Hayes Woods from the Kenyon-Baller Woods parking area (read about parking below), then plan on an additional 0.5-mile walk each way. A porta potty will be available in the Hayes Woods parking lot, but no restrooms are available at the river.
What to wear and bring
You should wear clothes and shoes suitable for getting soaked and muddy. Old tennis work great, but so do water shoes or crocs . A towel is helpful to dry your feet off for the return hike. Please also bring a hat, water bottle, sunscreen, and bug spray. A backpack works great to carry your personal items to the river.
Parking
Due to limited parking at Hayes Woods, vehicles will park at ParkLands’ Kenyon-Baller Woods parking lot, which is about 0.5 miles from Hayes Woods. A shuttle will be available to bring guests to Hayes Woods, or guests may choose to walk. Please arrive at least 15 minutes early so we can begin out hike to the river at 9:00.
Directions to Kenyon-Baller Woods Parking
Sign up here!
https://parklandsfoundation.app.neoncrm.com/eventReg.jsp?event=1284&
