Nature Immersion

Nature Immersion Welcome to Nature Immersion! Events of 2020 have proven that when there are limited options, people will head outdoors.

a natural education service designed to give people a way to take those first baby steps into a relationship with the natural world. But I don't want going outdoors to be a last ditch effort when we're desperate for something different to do. Having a connection with nature and fostering it on a daily basis is good for the mind, body, and spirit. A relationship with the natural world has been proven to reduce stress, improve memory, and promote general wellbeing. I created Nature Immersion as a way to continue the natural education I love in a time when I couldn't do it in person; and it is growing into something bigger. Nature Immersion is designed to provide classes, school programming for schools all across southeast Michigan, and other resources to build a greater interest in the natural world for all ages without people feeling like they have to jump straight into the deep end.

08/04/2025

Standing on the edge of this incredible prairie restoration. One of the most beautiful Michigan prairies I've ever seen.

Prairies one covered an estimated 2.35 million acres across Southern Michigan, with oak savannas making up a large portion of that. But agricultural destruction, an overabundance of invasive species, and a lack of the necessary wildfires that helped prairies flourish, have whittled our prairies down to less than 1% of what they were.

Prairies are one of the most diverse habitats in the state and provide crucial habitat for numerous important native pollinators, other insects, and birds. Not to mention the wide variety of plant life a prairie supports. Prairies are also an incredibly important ecosystem, as native prairie plants, with their deep root systems, help prevent erosion and improve the water quality of the groundwater and runoff.

This place was so amazing. Dozens of different species of butterflies, including monarchs, several different species of swallowtails, cabbage whites, and others, along with bumblebees of different species, grasshoppers, crickets, and other insects that feed on the prairie plants, attract a variety of insect eating birds, as evident by the numerous butterfuly and other insect wings scattered along the trail. Field sparrows were heard in abundance, as were wood peewees and chickadees. I'm sure if the day hadn't been so hot there would have been more bird activity but *shrug* it is August in Michigan.

Protecting what is left of Michigan's prairies is crucial to the biodiversity of our state. Losing prairies doesn't just mean losing countless native plants, but also losing the insects, birds, and larger predators that eat the birds.

Some day, God willing, I hope to be in a position to purchase old agrictural fields and vacant lots destines to be bulldozed for the next apartment complex or random commercial whatever, and work to restore even just small portions of Michigan's prairies and grasslands. Even creating protected green spaces within an urban setting can help to reverse the effects we humans have had on our natural ecosystems.

May is upon us, and that means spring migration is in full swing! It's the perfect time to try out birding. Trust me. I ...
05/06/2025

May is upon us, and that means spring migration is in full swing! It's the perfect time to try out birding. Trust me. I know. It's like one day you're young and care free and the next you're like "holy crap it's an orange crowned warbler! Gotta add that to my lifer list."

But don't let birding age you! It's not just an activity for retirees. Although the amount of free time they have for it turns me a little green. Birding is something anyone can enjoy. It's a great way to introduce kids and your nonoutdoorsy friends and family to nature and build their appreciation for the really cool birds we take for granted as they sing winter out the door.

Join me on May 17th at Holland's Kouw Park at 1pm for an introduction to birding. Learn some tips and tricks for bird identification on the fly, familiarize yourself with different bird books, learn how to make the most out of your binoculars, tune your ear to who's singing, and try some neat methods of getting a good photo.

The best part? It's free! It's a BYOBinoculars shindig, but you'll get to start your very own birding journal to use on all your future birding adventures!

Spring is (hopefully) finally popping. Which means so are the spring ephemerals. Violets, dandelions, and more are impor...
04/22/2025

Spring is (hopefully) finally popping. Which means so are the spring ephemerals. Violets, dandelions, and more are important first foods for emerging pollinators.

Our walk today produced the above mentioned common first flowers along with the yellow trout lily, cut leaved toothwort, and may apple, which hasn't flowered yet but the little umbrella like plants are starting to unfold.

Remember, unless harvesting wild edibles or for medicinal purposes, just about all wildflowers are protected throughout the state, so practice good stewardship and do not pick the pretty flowers. They are important where they are, as they help maintain biodiversity and provide food for early insects. A picture lasts longer anyway and can be enjoyed year round.

03/21/2025

Start 'em on that life young! Nothing more fun that poking around in a vernal pond. Can't wait to come back and see what's in there when it get warmer. Plenty of frogs in the background so hopefully soon we'll be seeing some tadpoles swimming around.

03/13/2025

It's been a while, hasn't it. Life has been, a lot recently, and u just haven't had the motivation or energy for nature shenanigans.

But I can't ignore the nice weather we've had recently. Tonight was a prefect early spring evening, so we headed to the playground. As the sun set over the playground, this funny little noise in the background, barely audible over the stands of delight as the small human went down the slide, kept snagging my attention. I'd heard it before, but never in the wild, and the nagging though as I went round and round the play structure of "I know what makes this sound but I can't think of it" drove me crazy.

So, when Hubby took the kiddo to see if the drinking fountains worked, I wandered off with Merlin at the ready to see if I could ID the sound. And boy was I delighted to see American Woodcock pop up. I've always wanted to hear this birds "peenting" call as it circles and projects its adorable sound in all directions in hopes of attracting a female. And while I couldn't see his little spiral flight, I could hear it. Unfortunately I wasn't quick enough to the record button to capture it and there was so much road traffic at that moment yall probably wouldn't have been able to hear it anyway.

But I did get some pretty good "peenting". So, I hope you enjoy the dightful, unique song of the American Woodcock on what was a quintessential spring evening in Michigan.

Need a journal to chronicle your adventures in nature? Thought about starting a nature journal but couldn't find the rig...
03/10/2025

Need a journal to chronicle your adventures in nature? Thought about starting a nature journal but couldn't find the right journal to start it in? Need a another 50 pages to expand your bird or plant list?

Well, I've got journals in need of good homes.

Each 6x6, simple leather journal has 50 blank pages ready to take on any project. They are small enough to toss in a backpack, sizable purse, or shoulder bag.

20$ each plus shipping.

If you're interested in adopting a journal send me a DM!

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Holland, MI

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