Events

Events Archive: 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Upcoming Events

April 2024

Apr
15

Rain Gardens: Improving Water Quality, One Garden at a Time

Monday, April 15th, 2024
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting

Zoom webinar

This webinar will cover the basics of what a rain garden is, reasons to build one, and how to get started with planning, designing and building. Participants will also learn about the many Michigan native plants that do well in rain gardens.

Presented by Rachel Leonard, Rain Gardener and Outreach Assistant for the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner's Environmental Program. 

Register Read More

May 2024

May
20

An Introduction to Moth Appreciation

Monday, May 20th, 2024
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting

Although extremely important in our ecosystems, moths are underappreciated compared to their day-flying butterfly cousins.  Dr. Scholtens will introduce us to the amazing world of moths, their life cycles, feeding strategies, roles in the environment, and some opportunities to contribute to our knowledge of this fascinating group of insects.

Zoom link TBA

Read More

June 2024

Jun
14

Farmers Market Day

Friday, June 14th, 2024
to (Eastern Time)
Fulton Street Farmers Market, 1145 Fulton St E, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503 Map

Public Welcome Family Friendly Free Event Seed/Plant Sale Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking

Farmer's Market Days are co-hosted by Wild Ones River City Chapter and the Native Plant Guild. They feature sales of native plants and sometimes native seeds offered by Native Plant Guild members. Representatives of Wild Ones River City Chapter will answer questions and provide educational handouts.

Jun
17

The Highlands: An Update

Monday, June 17th, 2024
to (Eastern Time)
The Highlands, 2715 Leonard St NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504 Map

Public Welcome Free Event Group Tour Nature Walk/Hike

The Highlands Golf Club, adjacent to the Blandford Nature Center in Grand Rapids, was purchased in 2017 through a collaborative effort of the Blandford Nature Center and the Land Conservancy of West Michigan. The vision for the 121-acre parcel, now called The Highlands, is to transform it into a natural area for community recreation and education. With grasses already growing, a diverse wildlife population has moved in, including fox, deer, muskrats, and a variety of birds and insects. In the summer of 2022, a project was initiated to bring an underground stream back to the surface. Justin Heslinga will lead us on a tour of The Highlands, describing what has been accomplished to date, as well as future plans for the site.

Read More

July 2024

Jul
17

Wild Ones River City Native Plant Sale/Fundraiser

Wednesday, July 17th, 2024
to (Eastern Time)
Fulton Street Farmers Market, 1145 Fulton St E, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503 Map

Public Welcome Seed/Plant Sale Public Restroom Free Public Parking

Wild Ones members receive pre-order early access June  24-28.

Public pre-orders June 29-July 12.

More details to come!

August 2024

Aug
16

Farmers Market Day

Friday, August 16th, 2024
to (Eastern Time)
Fulton Street Farmers Market, 1145 Fulton St E, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503 Map

Public Welcome Family Friendly Free Event Seed/Plant Sale Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking

Farmer's Market Days are co-hosted by Wild Ones River City Chapter and the Native Plant Guild. They feature sales of native plants and sometimes native seeds offered by Native Plant Guild members. Representatives of Wild Ones River City Chapter will answer questions and provide educational handouts.

Aug
19

Flat Iron Lake Nature Preserve Tour

Monday, August 19th, 2024
to (Eastern Time)
Flat Iron Lake Nature Preserve, 11570 Hart St NE, Greenville, MI, 48838 Map

Public Welcome Free Event Home Garden Tour Group Tour Nature Walk/Hike

Flat Iron Lake Nature Preserve is in Kent County's Oakfield Township, approximately 30 miles northeast of Grand Rapids. The preserve was the idea of Fritz and Carol Rottman, who owned much of the property and wished to see the space preserved for green space and scientific study. The property includes a 25 acre kettle lake, 13 acres of forest, and an 18 acre created prairie. River City Wild Ones originally visited the property in 2011. This nature hike will showcase changes over the past several years.

September 2024

Sep
16

Human Ecology

Monday, September 16th, 2024
to (Eastern Time)
Marywood Chapel, 111 Lakeside Dr NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503 Map

Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting Program/Speaker Presentation Free Public Parking

The default Western thinking about ecosystems is to see humans as outside, objective observers, except in cases where we are actively degrading or interacting with areas we have designated as ‘nature’. However, not only are humans a part of our ecosystem, our interactions with other humans are arguably some of the most important transactions in the ecological web of our neighborhoods. What does this mean for us? How can we use this perspective to foster positive change?  And what does it mean to be a good neighbor to all?

Read More

Sep
20

Farmers Market Day

Friday, September 20th, 2024
to (Eastern Time)
Fulton Street Farmers Market, 1145 Fulton St E, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503 Map

Public Welcome Family Friendly Free Event Seed/Plant Sale Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking

Farmer's Market Days are co-hosted by Wild Ones River City Chapter and the Native Plant Guild. They feature sales of native plants and sometimes native seeds offered by Native Plant Guild members. Representatives of Wild Ones River City Chapter will answer questions and provide educational handouts.

October 2024

Oct
21

Gardening for Bluebirds and Other Wildlife

Monday, October 21st, 2024
to (Eastern Time)
Marywood Chapel, 111 Lakeside Dr NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503 Map

Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting Program/Speaker Presentation Free Public Parking

John Harville is the Berrien County Coordinator for The Michigan Bluebird Society. He will share his expertise and strategies to attract bluebirds and other wildlife to your yard.

November 2024

Nov
11

Annual Chapter Meeting and Seed Swap

Monday, November 11th, 2024
to (Eastern Time)
Marywood Chapel, 111 Lakeside Dr NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503 Map

Public Welcome Free Event Seed/Plant Swap Free Public Parking

A wrap-up of chapter activities and seed swap.

Visit our 2022 Programs listing listing of all programs for the current year.

All programs will begin at 6:30 pm on the third Monday of each month (unless otherwise specified). No programs are scheduled in December and January. Check our monthly calendar on this page for event locations and more information.

Non-members are always welcome, but we encourage your membership to help bring the programs we all enjoy!