MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

NATURE GET-AWAY

MAY 22-25

Join us for our annual Memorial Day Weekend Nature Get-Away from May 22-25 at beautiful Loon Lake Lutheran Retreat Center just north of Hale on M-65. You'll go to sleep and wake up to the call of the Common Loons floating on a darkened lake. We may go for an owl prowl to see if we can hear owls too.

By day, the camp has beautiful nature trails with an abundance of birds and lined with rare yellow lady slippers and trillium. The camp also features a Frisbee golf course and a challenge course - a series of physical obstacles set up to require team work to conquer. There is an additional fee for this activity. While you are there, it is worth the time to explore the lake in the camp's paddle boats, row boats or canoes. The price is right too - the use of boats is free. If you're brave, and it's warm enough, take a dip or even an extended swim in the lake. Inside on rainy days or before programs, you can try your hand at ping pong or foose ball.

Saturday and Sunday morning early risers will gather for a bird hike before breakfast. After one of the camp’s delicious and filling meals, we'll go our separate ways for field trips - some are on the camp property and some are a 45 minute drive away. Some of the off-camp areas we go to are:

1. Kirtland's Warbler Management Area near Mio. There is a $10 extra fee for this.

2. Tawas Point, which has been called a miniature Point Pelee, with an historic light house you can climb up for a small fee. Two years ago we had a state record for the western Couch's Kingbird here.

3. Rifle River area with its observation tower looking over three lakes and offering a view of an active Bald Eagle's nest.

4. AuSable River Overlooks. The overlooks along Monument Road include Lumberman's Monument with a statue dedicated to the lumberjacks who helped build the state and a small historical museum with gift shop.

5. Canoer's Monument where a trail along the river's high banks has revealed nesting Black-throated Green and Black-throated Blue Warblers, and Merlin.

6. Iargo Springs that has a spectacular view from up top. For the fit and adventurous there are 200+ stairs to climb down to the shore of the river to see a magical area of springs filled with watercress, skunk cabbage and yellow blossoms of marsh marigold. At Iargo Springs, we have seen nesting Red-shouldered Hawks and Northern Waterthrush. It is a place you won't forget and will want to go back to again and again despite the challenging climb back up the stairs.

Back at camp people from each field trip log their bird sightings on a giant bird checklist that was made for us by camp naturalist and former Detroit Audubon President, the late Homer Roberts. We have over 30 years of bird records which gives us an idea of trends in bird migration for this area.

We go to this camp because it is only a three hour drive if you leave early and avoid the late-in-day traffic or take back roads. It offers an unbeatable variety of birding opportunities within an hour's radius. Our headquarters is Seaholm Lodge. This is where registration and evening programs are located. This heated lodge is also where adults can bunk down in separate rooms for female and male campers. For families with small children, there is the smaller Eagle's Nest Lodge or Loon Lodge. There are also rustic summer cabins with no heat that afford a bit more privacy for families with older children and adult friends who want to bunk together. These cabins are on a bluff

overlooking the lake so you wake up each morning to see the sunrise over the lake.

Some people who want or need more comfort can stay in a local motel and join us for meals and programs.

This is one program you won't want to miss. Reserve your spot early. You'll be glad you did.

Please complete this registration form

View the excitement at last year's Memorial Weekend