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Heritage Harvest Days reminders

The 34th annual Heritage Harvest Days Festival is set for Saturday and Sunday, September 18 and 19, from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Join us for this weekend of heritage related activities, including crafts, games, demonstrations, music, food, and more. Many favorite attractions from previous years and lots of surprises await this year’s visitors. Admission for the event is $6.00 for adults and $2.00 for children, festival volunteers and exhibitors are admitted for free.

Please lend a hand in one or more of the following Heritage Harvest areas:
  • The Bread and Jam Table needs your freshly baked or frozen pies, cakes, cookies, breads, jams and jellies. These goodies can be brought out on the days of the event, or just before Heritage Harvest Days.
  • Select craft and antique items are needed for the Country Store and need to be brought to the center by September 14.
  • Used books, especially those with nature related titles, are needed for the Used Book Sale. Nature related magazines may also be brought in. These should also be dropped off by September 14.
  • The festival will again feature a Second-hand T-shirt Booth where visitors can pick up t-shirts from places around the country or around the world. If you have t-shirts which you have picked up during your travels and are still in good shape, please drop these off at Seven Ponds by September 14.

Many volunteers are still needed

There are never too many volunteers for Heritage Harvest. Volunteers from previous years will be contacted. New volunteers should call the center at 810-796-3200 so that we can work out an assignment for you. Volunteers are needed not only for Saturday and Sunday, but also for days before and after the event for set-up and tear-down. Anyone who would like to demonstrate an old-time craft, set up a booth with artwork, or display old machinery should also contact the center. Help us make this year’s edition of Heritage Harvest Days the best ever!

Holiday Auction reminder

Planning has already begun for our 19th annual Christmas Party and Holiday Auction. This year’s auction will be held on Saturday, December 4 at 6:30 p.m., and all Seven Ponds members are invited. Now is a good time to start thinking about a special dish for the food table, or gift items for the silent and voice auctions. Auction items might include artwork, antiques, holiday items, services, or gift certificates. Use your individual talents and resources to provide a unique item for the auction. This is a very important fundraising event for the nature center. Last year’s Holiday Auction was one of the most successful in the event’s history, and we need your help to make this year’s auction even better. Make a contribution and then join us for an entertaining evening. All proceeds help support environmental education activities at Seven Ponds!

Room rental at the Nature Center

For many years Seven Ponds has had provisions for room rental, but it was seldom practical as the large room also contained our reception area, gift shop, exhibits, bird observation windows, and visitor access to restrooms. To rent this space during regular open hours would have pretty much meant shutting down the area to members and other visitors. Now that we have a large multi-purpose room which is isolated from other building functions, we will be able to provide additional opportunities for room rentals. The new multi-purpose room could provide a wonderful setting for a variety of events, including business retreats, group luncheons, wedding and baby showers, retirement parties, weddings, and other private events. The room features windows overlooking the woodlands and lakes of Seven Ponds and has a small warming kitchen for handling light refreshments. The room will easily accommodate over one hundred people in auditorium style seating or smaller group sizes with table seating. Tables and chairs are available. Additional portions of the building may also be utilized in conjunction with the rental of the large room, in instances when the building is not open to the public. The guidelines for rental of the multi-purpose room are as follows:
  • Room rental is available to Seven Ponds Nature Center members only and must be approved by the Director.
  • Nature center programs and activities take precedence over room rentals.
  • Room rental activities must be compatible with nature center policies and activities. Other nature center visitors must be respected.
  • The Interpretive Building is a smoke free facility.
  • No pets are allowed.
  • Consumption of alcohol is not permitted during the nature center’s open hours, and afterwards only with the approval of the Director.
  • Nature center programs can be scheduled in conjunction with room rental for an additional fee.
  • The renter is responsible for any property damage.
  • Room rental rates vary with total rental time and time of day of the rental.
For additional information, contact the nature center at 810-796-3200.

Stinger’s Rummage Sale report

The Stingers annual Rummage Sale, held June 17-19, went very well. Toys, furniture, books, glassware, clothing, and more found new homes. In conjunction with the sale, the Stingers also held a Bake Sale with items cooked in their home kitchens. Together, the Rummage and Bake Sales raised nearly $1,900 to help fund projects around the center. Thanks to all of the Stingers who worked on set-up, baked goodies, or helped during the three days of the sale.
The Stingers are now selling tickets for their annual raffle. First prize is a beautiful queen-size quilt created by The Thimble Buddies Quilt Guild, second prize is a six-foot picnic table, and third prize is a certificate for Lenny Miller’s Restaurant in Dryden. Tickets may be purchased now at the center’s reception desk, or at the Stinger’s Table during Heritage Harvest Days. Drawing for the raffle will be held on the Sunday of Heritage Harvest (September 19).

2010 Spring Birdathon report

The 2010 Spring Birdathon held on May 15th went very well. The birdathon team enjoyed excellent weather from start to finish, and was able to find a variety of bird species. The birdathon team started at 4:30 a.m. and in a short time had heard or seen eastern screech owl and barred owl. By the time the team finished up in early evening, a total of 111 species of birds had been seen. This was the most species seen since the 2002 birdathon. As usual, the birdathon team visited many of Lapeer County’s best birding areas, and along the way found eighteen species of warblers, both black and yellow-billed cuckoos, a pair of Virginia rails, nine types of sparrows, and a pair of osprey. Birdathon team members collected pledges from friends and family members and raised nearly $3,000.00 for the center’s environmental education activities. Many thanks to this year’s enthusiastic team members: Kathy Pihlstrom, Terri Chapdelaine, Florence Hawarden, Nancy Kautz, Terri Martin, and Mike Champagne. Additional thanks go to all those who made pledges.

Wants and needs

The nature center is looking for the following items for our activities. Please contact us if you can help with any of these.
  • a metal extension ladder
  • plastic coffee can lids for a Heritage Harvest activity
  • canoe paddles
  • a new refrigerator
  • hand tools, including loppers
  • old dominoes for use in the Children’s Tent during Heritage Harvest
  • clear film canisters

Have you included Seven Ponds in your will?

Making a planned gift is a great way to help advance the mission of Seven Ponds. A planned gift can help the nature center take on a large project which has been in the planning stages for several years, or allow us to make a significant addition to the Endowment Fund. If you would like to receive a copy of our planned giving brochure, contact the nature center at 810-796-3200.