Homeschool,  Michigan,  Travel

All Good Things (In Nature) Are Wild and FREE ~Outdoor Discovery Center, Holland, MI~

October 8, 2018 / 40 Comments
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Are you looking for FREE things to do with kids in West Michigan? Then you need to check out the Outdoor Discovery Center in Holland, MI. Located on a 155 acre piece of paradise, it is the perfect place to get your kids outside, connecting with nature, and it is FREE and open to the public.

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Free Things To Do With Kids In West Michigan

Photo Credit: holland.org

Arriving on a warm fall day in October, was perfect for all the time we would be spending outside. As we entered the Outdoor Discovery Center’s Visitors Center, we were greeted by a woman at the front desk, who was very welcoming and knowledgeable. She gave us maps of the facility and told us about everything that could be found both inside the Visitors Center, and outside on the property.

A Glimpse Inside The Outdoor Discovery Center

An example of some of their many taxidermy displays.
Taxidermy exhibit

The Visitors Center is large, about 5,000 sq/ft, and it consists of North American wildlife exhibits with both taxidermy and live animals. One side of the building is dedicated to habitats which display taxidermy in dioramas designed especially for Outdoor Discovery Center. On the opposite side, there is another display room which has live animals and taxidermy, all arranged to illustrate the five vertebrate animal groups.

An example of some of their many taxidermy displays.

Now this isn’t a place where kids are not allowed to touch anything! It was very hands-on, like the Touch Tables which offer many items that the kids can pick up and touch: feathers, pelts, snake skins, and talons.

A touch table so children can have a hands on experience
Go ahead! Touch it!

Another nice feature for children is that the animal exhibits are lower, allowing little children to walk right up to the exhibit so they can see the animals without being picked up. Each area has detailed plaques that children can understand.

Exhibits are low enough for children to view.
Exhibits low enough so children can view them.

There is also a wildlife viewing room that provides views of an outdoor bird feeding station, and also serves as a resting space with seating and a play area for small children.

Outside In Nature

After many trips from one side of the building to the other, we decided to see what was awaiting us outside. We headed to the Imagination Forest, conveniently located right by the trailhead, to let the kids burn off some energy (a.k.a. run around) after being inside.

Tunnel in the Imagination Forest play area.
Imagination Forest tunnel

Imagination Forest is a child’s play area full of natural materials such as balance beam logs, stepping stumps, rocks, a natural materials building area, zip line, and a sandbox. All of which blend perfectly with the surrounding trees and green space. There were benches for parents to sit and watch their children immerse themselves in nature. Allowing for our own little mental break while they played. It is conveniently located next to a pavilion for easy access to a restroom and picnic area.

Birds of a Feather

Next stop? Down the Kestrel Trail to view the De Witt Birds of Prey Center. What an amazing building! The cages are on the outer walls of the building, which allows the birds the feeling of being “outside.”

De Witt Birds of Prey Center
Photo Credit: ODC

All of the birds housed in the facility have been permanently injured, or disabled, so that they cannot be returned to the wild. We were able to see 12 different species of birds including owls, hawks, falcons, eagles, and vultures. 

Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
Barred Owl
Barred Owl
Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon

All of the kids loved being able to get up so close to the birds!

Up close with birds you usually only see in the air

So Much To Do

After making our way around the Outdoor Discovery Center property, we couldn’t believe everything they offered! Each trail had something different from the others: wetlands, a prairie, woods, meadows, natural play areas, and a public fishing pond.

Traditional Wigwam
Traditional Wigwam

There is even an Indian summer village complete with a traditional bent pole wigwam, a traditional three pole house (similar to a teepee), and a Three Sister’s Garden area with corn, pole beans and pumpkins. Indian tribes used to plant those three plants together because the corn supports the beans, the beans add nitrogen to the soil, and the pumpkin (squash) shades out the weeds.

Trees, and Plants, and Wildlife! Oh, my!

Who could forget all of the trees, plants and wildlife; mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. As our children ran ahead of us, all we heard were “Ooo’s” and “Ahh’s,” which were followed, of course, by, “Mom? MOM!?! Wow!! Look at this!”

Who can resist petting a Wooly Bear Caterpillar
Who can resist petting a Wooly Bear Caterpillar

As much as we didn’t want to leave, it was close to lunch, and our kids were getting hungry. We were returning to the cabin we were renting for our lunch, but if you wanted to stick around, they do have three pavilions throughout the property- perfect for a picnic lunch as each one has picnic tables and a trash can.

Our Experience

Would we go again? Absolutely! As homeschool moms, we are always looking for educational free things to do with kids in West Michigan. Our children had a blast and as teachers, we enjoyed having the “day off” by letting nature give the lesson for that day. Therefore, next time we go, we will plan to participate in one of the many different programs they offer. Their programs help visitors, both children and adults, with the concept of conservation and preservation. Some of which include:

  • bird watching
  • pond studies
  • sensory nature walks
  • ecosystem studies
  • archery
  • summer camps
  • wildlife studies
  • and exploring Michigan’s cultural past.

The hard part is trying to decide which one you want to do first. PERHAPS next time you are looking for free things to do with kids in West Michigan, you will visit the Outdoor Discovery Center in Holland, MI. So, pack a lunch and make a day of it!

Know Before You Go

  • Website: https://outdoordiscovery.org
  • Address: 4214 56th St, Holland, MI 49423
  • Hours: The Visitor’s Center is open Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, closed on Sundays. Although, from Memorial Day through Labor Day, they have extended hours on Sundays from 12:00 to 4:00 PM. The trails are open from sunrise to sunset.
  • Admission: The Visitors Center and trails are free and open to the public
  • Parking: There is plenty of onsite parking located right out front of the Visitors Center.
  • Additional Info: All of the Outdoor Discovery Center’s Nature Preserve trails are wide, allowing plenty of room for wheelchairs, strollers, and wagons. The trails are also pet friendly as long as they are kept on a 6ft leash, you clean up after them, and they are kept 50ft away from any animal enclosure.

Read about our other adventures in Michigan:


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