Community Calendar

Our program partnerships are paid community member-run classes, skills shares, workshops, lectures, or make-and-takes that revolve around nature! These community partner programs focus on nature-related science, art, and appreciation, as well as special interests like health and wellness or sustainability. Previous program topics have included Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing), botanical ink drawing, herbalism, native plant gardening, outdoor yoga, culinary mushroom cultivation, and more.

If you have a special skill or interest that is centered around nature and you’d like to share a program at Blandford Nature Center, please fill out the following form. After submitting the form, our Community Programs Coordinator will reach out to discuss our ability to run your requested program. We keep all requests on file for future consideration, so there is no need to submit a request more than once unless you are submitting new ideas. Please note the following things before filling out the request form:

-We will contact you if we have the calendar availability to consider offering your program and the proposed program aligns with our mission and values.
-Contact from our team does not guarantee your event will be scheduled.
-The form has extra information regarding how these partner programs will run. Please read through this information before submitting.

The mission of Blandford is to engage and empower our community through enriching experiences in nature. Our vision is a thriving, diverse community that supports a healthy, natural world.

Our annual Nature Makers Markets are celebrations of quality craftsmanship and artisan-made goods, inspired by nature and/or made of natural materials. These one-day markets take place in May and November and feature approximately 30 Michigan artists. Items for sale may include art prints, textiles, jewelry, watercolor paintings, stationery, ceramics, glassworks, wool goods, stickers, pins, wood items, botanical skin care, succulent planters, dried flowers, resin crafts, and more.

Artists for the market are chosen by a jury of Blandford staff with the goal of exhibiting a variety of high-quality goods of differing materials and aesthetics. Preference is usually given to artists who have participated with us before. Therefore, we have very limited spots available to new artists at each market.

If you are interested in participating as an artist in one of our future markets, please email us at registrar@blandfordnaturecenter.org, describing your work, and we will send you an application form. If we have space available and our staff determines that your work would be a good fit for the market, we will contact you.

Please note: We do NOT communicate with artists via Facebook Messenger or Instagram, and we will never ask you to submit payment for a market electronically.

Cancellation Policy: Notice must be received at least 7 days before the scheduled program to receive a 75% refund. There will be no refunds issued after that time. Due to processing fees, full refunds are not available. All Community Programs will be held unless there is severe weather. Please come prepared for the elements as refunds are not available for weather-related conditions except in the case of severe weather. All Community Programs will have a registrant minimum. If the minimum is not met, you will be contacted by Blandford Nature Center and notified of your refund options.

COVID-19 Information: As of January 1, 2023, face coverings are not required while participating in programs indoors or outdoors at Blandford. Blandford continues to monitor local COVID rates and reserves the right to reinstate masking requirements for staff, general visitors, and program participants of all ages, regardless of vaccination status, if community health concerns arise. Blandford will notify program participants if this policy changes before a scheduled program takes place. Participants should not attend a program if they show any signs of infectious illness, including cough, fever, headache, runny nose, vomiting or diarrhea.