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Nature Awaits: Michigan's fourth grade state park field trip

Nature Awaits | Michigan's 4th grade state park field trip

Nature Awaits: Michigan's fourth grade state park field trip

Fourth grade classes can explore Michigan's state parks for free

We believe that every child deserves the chance to explore nature. That's why every fourth grade class in Michigan is invited to take part in a hands-on field trip to select Michigan state parks.

Guided by environmental literacy best practices, Nature Awaits aims to make sure Michigan’s kids learn that our state parks are for everyone, and that a lifetime of spending time outdoors is good for our physical and mental health.

Register for a field trip

  • Sign up for a winter Nature Awaits field trip

    Winter field trips run between Jan. 11 and Feb. 26, 2027. Follow these steps to register for a winter 2027 Nature Awaits field trip:

    1. Complete the Nature Awaits winter 2027 registration form. 
    2. Read the directions on the form to select the region (park), date, start time, end time and how many classes will be attending. Note that we can only accommodate one or two classes per day at a site.
    3. After you submit the form, a Nature Awaits educator will contact you to schedule your field trip.

      Starting with spring 2027 field trips, teachers will need to apply for a Wheels to Water grant to have their transportation to the state park reimbursed. We will follow up with additional information about how to apply for this grant opportunity once you have registered.

  • Find a field trip at a specific park

    Follow these steps to register:

    1. Select your park on the map below or from the list below it. 
    2. Registration is through CivicRec and you will need to set up a free account with your school email and cell phone. (Do not use the Organization option).
    3. Read the directions on the page to select and checkout for the sessions you would like to attend. 1 “participant” = 1 classroom.
    4. Sessions state 8:30-11 or 11:30-3. These just block out staff time. You will tell us when you can actually arrive, start your program and leave. You do not have to stay the full session time, you pick your 90-minute window that works for you.
    5. If you are registering for more than two classrooms, add the first 2 sessions to your cart. Then, when the checkout window pops up, click the word “close” instead, and go back and add more class sessions.
    6. Following checkout, you will get an email with:      
      1. Your receipt with important details for your field trip day – instructor contact info, where to park, picnic area info, bathrooms, etc. 

    Having trouble registering? Call 1-833-660-6300.

    Young State Park Van Riper State Park Van Buren State Park Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery and Visitor Center Wells State Park Waterloo State Recreation Area Warren Dunes State Park Tawas Point State Park Tahquamenon Falls State Park William C. Sterling State Park Sleepy Hollow State Park Seven Lakes State Park Proud Lake State Park Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park Oden State Fish Hatchery and Visitor Center Muskegon State Park Mitchell State Park McClain State Park Maybury State Park Interlochen State Park Holland State Park P.J. Hoffmaster State Park North Higgins Lake State Park Hayes State Park Fort Custer Recreation Area State Park in Flint Duck Lake State Park Brighton Recreation Area Belle Isle State Park Bay City State Park Bald Mountain State Recreation Area Western UP Region Central UP Region Eastern UP Region Northern Lower Region Bay Region Grand Region Southwest Region Central Region Metro Region 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
    1. Western UP Region

      McLain State Park | Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park

    2. Central UP Region

      Van Riper State Park | Wells State Park

    3. Eastern UP Region

      Tahquamenon Falls State Park

    4. Northern Lower Region

      Interlochen State Park | Mitchell State Park | North Higgins Lake State Park | Young State Park | Oden State Fish Hatchery

    5. Bay Region

      Bay City State Park | State Park in Flint | Sleepy Hollow State Park | Tawas Point State Park

    6. Grand Region

      Duck Lake State Park | PJ Hoffmaster State Park | Holland State Park | Muskegon State Park

    7. Southwest Region

      Van Buren State Park | Warren Dunes State Park | Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery | Fort Custer Recreation Area

    8. Central Region

      Brighton Recreation Area | Hayes State Park | Waterloo State Recreation Area

    9. Metro Region

      Bald Mountain Recreation Area | Belle Isle State Park | Maybury State Park | Proud Lake State Park | Seven Lakes State Parks | William C Sterling State Park

  • Find a field trip by region of the state

    Follow these steps to register:

    1. Select your region on the map below. 
    2. Registration is through CivicRec and you will need to set up a free account with your school email and cell phone. (Do not use the Organization option).
    3. Use the filters on the left to narrow down your options. Under "activity tags" you can select a single park.
    4. Read the directions on the page to select and checkout for the sessions you would like to attend. 1 “participant” = 1 classroom.
    5. Sessions state 8:30-11 or 11:30-3. These just block out staff time. You will tell us when you can actually arrive, start your program and leave. You do not have to stay the full session time, you pick your 90-minute window that works for you.
    6. If you are registering for more than two classrooms, add the first 2 sessions to your cart. Then, when the checkout window pops up, click the word “close” instead, and go back and add more class sessions.
    7. Following checkout, you will get an email with:      
      1. Your receipt with important details for your field trip day – instructor contact info, where to park, picnic area info, bathrooms, etc. 
       
      Having trouble registering? Call 1-833-660-6300.
    Western UP Region Central UP Region Eastern UP Region Northern Lower Region Bay Region Grand Region Southwest Region Central Region Metro Region Western UP Region Western UPRegion Central UP RegionCentral UPRegion Eastern UP RegionEastern UPRegion Northern Lower RegionNorthernLowerRegion Bay RegionBayRegion Grand RegionGrandRegion Southwest RegionSouthwestRegion Central RegionCentralRegion Metro RegionMetroRegion

  • Sign up for a Nature Awaits educator to visit your classroom

    You can sign up for a Nature Awaits educator to virtually visit your fourth-grade classroom this winter!

    Classroom visits will last approximately one hour and introduce your students to some of the learning objectives from their field trip to a state park. Please fill out this form if you are interested in having a Department of Natural Resources Nature Awaits educator visit your fourth-grade classroom virtually.

     

    Sign up for a classroom visit ››

  • Who

    Any fourth grade class in Michigan with 15 or more students is welcome to join the program. Our spring 2027 session runs from April through June, while our fall session is open in September.

  • What

    Every fourth grade classroom in Michigan is invited to enjoy a free, 90-minute educational adventure at a Michigan state park through Nature Awaits. Teachers are encouraged to apply for a Wheels to Water Transportation Grant to cover bussing costs up to $1,000. 

    Once at the park, your students will dive into a hands-on learning experience led by our trained park educators. Our program is designed around Michigan’s academic learning standards, with activities that will spark curiosity, encourage exploration and connect what your students learn in class to the natural world around them.

    During their visit, your students will:

    • Discover how people impact natural landscapes.
    • Explore Michigan’s native and invasive plants and animals.
    • Learn that our state parks belong to everyone in Michigan.
    • Build observation and discussion skills through inquiry-based learning.
    • …and so much more!

    Topics on the field trip will connect to science, social studies, physical education, and language arts, with pre- and post-trip activities and curriculum standards available as a downloadable PDF for educators.

    Every student will leave the field trip as an official junior ranger, complete with a badge. They will also receive an activity book and a free voucher to bring their family back to any state park for another visit. The voucher can also be used at Detroit’s Outdoor Adventure Center or Lansing’s Michigan History Center for another day of learning!

     

  • Why

    Spending time in nature isn't just for fun — it helps kids learn better and thrive. Extensive research shows outdoor experiences can boost academic performance by improving focus and behavior. Studies also highlight the many physical and mental benefits of being outside. Simply put, kids who spend time in nature are happier, healthier and more engaged learners.

    We can’t wait to welcome you and your students to our state parks for an unforgettable day of learning and adventure!

Additional information

State education standards

  • Science

    • 4-ESS3-1 Obtain and combine information to describe that energy and fuels are derived from natural resources and their uses affect the environment.
    • 4-ESS3-2 Generate and compare multiple solutions to reduce the impacts of natural Earth processes on humans.
    • 4-LS1-1 Construct an argument that plants, and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.
    • 4-LS1-2 Use a model to describe that animals receive different types of information through their senses, process the information in their brain, and respond to the information in different ways.

  • Social studies

    • 4-H3.0.7 Describe past and current threats to Michigan’s natural resources and describe how state government, tribal and local governments, schools, organizations, and individuals worked in the past and continue to work today to protect its natural resources.
    • 4-G5.0.1 Assess the positive and negative consequences of human activities on the physical environment of the United States and identify the causes of those activities.
    • 4-P3.1.1 Identify public issues in the United States that influence the daily lives of its citizens.

  • Language arts

    • Interpret information presented visually, orally, or quantitatively (e.g., in charts, graphs, diagrams, timelines, animations, or interactive elements on Web pages) and explain how the information contributes to an understanding of the text in which it appears.
    • Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions, following agreed upon rules for discussions and carry out assigned roles. Review the key ideas expressed and explain their own ideas and understanding in light of the discussion.
    • Identify the reasons and evidence a speaker provides to support particular points.

  • Physical education

    • S5.1.4 Examines the health benefits of participating in physical activity.
    • S5.3.4 Rank the enjoyment of participating in different physical activities.