Sun shines through the tree canopy.
Tree Canopy Migratory songbirds nest in the forest at the Nan Weston Preserve. © Jason Whalen

Stories in Michigan

Enhance Your Preserve Experience

Find new ways to explore our preserves—at home or in the field.

September 08, 2020

Director, Protect Land and Water, Chris May points out plants for hikers at Nan Weston Nature Preserve at Sharon Hollow.
Spring Treasures Director, Protect Land and Water, Chris May points out plants for hikers at Nan Weston Nature Preserve at Sharon Hollow. © Michael D-L Jordan/dlp

Get the Inside Scoop 

Take a tour through floodplain forests, wetlands, bluffs and marshes right from the palm of your hand. Our guided audio tours include stories, fun facts, historical notes and natural sounds to deepen your connection to place. Access the tour from the comfort of your home, or onsite as you hike! Keep scrolling to find directions for either option, available at the following locations:

*Coming soon!

Take the Tour at the Preserve

Before you visit:

  • Download the free TravelStorys app to your smartphone or tablet from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android).
  • Open app and when prompted to choose location permissions select ‘allow all the time’
  • Search for the preserve you want to tour
  • Click on the tour when it pops up, then click on the blue circle with the white arrow to download it to your device.
  • In your device settings, make sure GPS and location services are set to "allow all the time".
  • Charge your device and grab a pair of headphones (if you prefer). 

When you arrive:

  • In the preserve's parking area, open the TravelStorys app, and select the tour for that preserve to begin the tour (data service/internet is not required). 
  • As you begin your hike, the audio will play at pre-programmed GPS points along the route. It’s like a personal tour guide that you can carry in your pocket! 

Take the Tour at Home

  • Visit travelstorys.com/tours and search for the preserve you’d like to tour, or click one of the preserves links above.
  • Click on the tour page and scroll to the green button “Explore this Preserve Remotely”.
  • From here, toggle your way through the interface at your own pace. Enjoy all the sights and sounds from the comfort of your home or classroom.  
A delicate orange and black butterfly balances on a plant with small yellow flowers.
FRITILLARY BUTTERFLY AT ROSS PRESERVE One of many species you may see enjoying the wildflowers. © Jason Whalen/Big Foot Media

Placing a Geocache

Download Guidelines and Permit

Treasure Hunt with Geocaching

Geocaching is an exciting way to explore the landscape, to discover someplace new and share special places with other outdoor enthusiasts. Players seek to locate hidden containers, called geocaches or earthcaches, using a smartphone or GPS. It gets the whole family outside to explore the natural world and teaches kids about navigation with the fun reward of finding real hidden treasure. Once back home, you can share your stories and photos of the adventure online. Log on to geocaching.com to set up a free account and start the hunt. Official geocaches can be found at the following preserves:

Geocaching is a regulated activity at TNC. In order to protect the sensitive areas of preserves, to maintain a safe, fun activity and to allow TNC to monitor this use, all people wishing to place a geocache within preserves must complete a permit application.  

Geocaching 101 Start your adventure today!

Webinars and More

Find Events Near You

What's Coming Up?

Volunteer Work Days

Step up for nature at Ives Road Fen Preserve in Tecumseh. Enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds as you remove garlic mustard in the floodplain next to the River Raisin and cut honeysuckle in the upland prairie. Work days take place every Saturday from 9am-12pm EDT in the months of April, May, September, and October. To participate, contact Chuck Pearson at ivesroadfen@gmail.com or call 615-500-8229. 

Volunteer groups are limited to 10 and under and must adhere to TNC's COVID-19 field work guidelines.

Field Trips

Experience the beauty of the UP without the drive. Nestled along the shore of Lake Huron, The Carl A. Gerstacker Nature Preserve at Dudley Bay features one of the most spectacular limestone bedrock shorelines in Michigan. Home to a variety of wildlife and migratory songbirds, it is wonderfully water-oriented, containing multiple bays, islands, creeks, and forests. On this virtual tour, you'll be guided by two expert staff as you hear more about the land's history and the natural features to experience here. Register on Zoom for this free webinar occurring Friday, November 20 from 12-1pm EDT.

at Ives Road Fen Preserve
Volunteer Work Day TNC staff (including State Director Helen Taylor) removing invasive species at Ives Road Fen Preserve © TNC/Heywood

Spotlight on Nature Series

Trillium and blue phlox are just two of the flowers on display at Nan Weston Nature Preserve in the spring.
Nan Weston Nature Preserve at Sharon Hollow Fall for the colorful foliage found at our popular preserve near Chelsea.
View from top of the Helmut and Candis Stern Preserve at Mt. Baldy.
Helmut & Candis Stern Preserve at Mt. Baldy See a stunning vista above Lake Superior before exploring the forest floor and river below that supports a spectacular array of plants and wildlife.
Grand River Fen Preserve is home to the longest river in the state of Michigan, the Grand River.
Grand River Fen See the start of Michigan’s longest river as it begins nestled in a protected area that provides habitat for fluttering butterflies and dazzling wildflowers.
Fritillary butterfly enjoying wildflowers at Ross Coastal Plain Marsh Preserve.
Ross Coastal Plain Marsh Preserve Watch the seasons change at this beautiful preserve in southwest Michigan.
Erie Marsh Preserve sunrise.
Erie Marsh See the migratory birds that use this restored coastal wetland system near the Michigan/Ohio border.
Box turtles such as this one can be found at Paw Paw.
Paw Paw Prairie Fen Colorful plants, insects, birds and other wildlife thrive at this unique wetland habitat in southwest Michigan.
An alkaline spring-fed prairie blends into a floodplain forest to create a globally significant fen habitat at Ives Road Fen Preserve.
Ives Road Fen Through the hard work of hundreds of volunteers and staff, this rare fen habitat has been restored to ecological glory, less than an hour away from Detroit.
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Webinars and Staff Features

(ALL RIGHTS GRANTED TNC, CREDIT MANDATORY) Nan Weston Preserve at Sharon Hollow. Photo Credit: © Kevin Kluczek
Take a Walk with Kim and John at Sharon Hollow Enjoy this mini-tour hosted by TNC restoration staff.
An alkaline spring-fed prairie blends into a floodplain forest to create a globally significant fen habitat at Ives Road Fen Preserve.
Restoring and Protecting Tecumseh Great Lakes Now Connect Wild Places Enjoy this feature on the super volunteers making conservation possible on our preserves.
Lindsay Chadderton on Lake Michigan.
On the waters of Lake Michigan Lindsay Chadderton on Lake Michigan. © Paul Meredith
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