Free hike in Sanctuary Woods focuses on birds

The free walk is 6-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10, and is the second of three bird-centered events.

Keera Lung, left, education network ambassador for the Outdoor Discovery Center, and Caitlin Strikwerda, naturalist, keep their eyes on a scarlet tanager at Farview Park, 6257 138th Ave., as part of the Migratory Birds program on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

Bird is the word on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at Sanctuary Woods Park in Laketown Township.

The Outdoor Discovery Center is leading a Birding Hike from 6-7:30 p.m. at the park, 4750 66th St. The free event is sponsored by the Laketown Township Parks and Recreation Commission.

Walk with a naturalist who will guide you through the trails and share identification techniques and more while identifying birds on the walk.

All experience levels are welcome.

Binoculars will be provided.

The Outdoor Discovery Center suggests participants download Merlin Bird ID and eBird on their phones, but the apps are not required.

Suggested age range is 10 years old and up. Guardians stay with the class.

Registration is not required but appreciated. Click here.

For more information, visit here or call (616) 393-9453.

For the birds

This is the second of three bird-focused hikes in Laketown Township this season.

On May 20, naturalists led a hike through Farview Nature Park, 6257 138th Ave.

On Sept. 16, join a free Hawk Watch from 2-4 p.m. at Laketown Township Beach, 6710 142nd Ave.

Participants will watch for migrating raptors. Though songbirds may be spotted along the way, the focus of this program is bird of prey migration. The group will be stationary to watch for migrants riding the thermal air currents along the dune ridge.  Some binoculars will be available. Registration is required. Click here.

Other Laketown events

Other upcoming free events in June are Frog Catching (for all ages) at Farview Nature Park from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, June 16, and Little Explorers (for children up to 6 years old) at Wolters Woods, 6281 147th Ave., on Monday, June 23 from 10-11 a.m.

Registration is not required for the events but appreciated at outdoordiscovery.org. Click on “Calendar” and go to the date for details.

For more information, visit outdoordiscovery.org.

Other events are:

July 8 at 5:30 p.m.: Family Kayaking at Gilligan Lake, 66th Street north of 142nd Avenue.

July 21 at 11 a.m.: Blueberry Fields Forever at Huyser Farm Park, 4188 64th St.

Aug. 21 at 10 a.m.: Incredible Insects at Shore Acres Park, 6602 138th Ave.

Sept. 16 at 2 p.m.: Hawk Watch at Laketown Township Beach Park, 6710 142nd Ave.

Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m.: Night Hike at Huyser Farm Park, 4188 64th St.