Park Passport - Outdoor Discovery Center
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Park Passport 2020
Take the Passport Challenge!
Celebrate West Michigan’s nature-richness with the ODC Network’s Park Passport.
How to Start Your Adventure
This passport will guide you to 15 local parks and natural areas where you can find forests, beaches, dunes,
lakes, trails and more in our nature-rich community. Use your curiosity to explore these wonderful West
Michigan parks.
1 2
Visit some parks! Answer the “Challenge Question”
about each park. Hint: You may have
to read signs.
3 Collect your reward! Present your passport by
November 7, 2020 to one of these locations to
receive your prize:
• Outdoor Discovery Center Visitors Center
4214 56th St • Holland, MI • 49423
• DeGraaf Nature Center
600 Graafschap Rd • Holland, MI • 49423
What makes our community nature-rich?
While there are many components that make a community nature-rich, parks and greenspaces are
critical. This passport book is designed to help you and your family explore these amazing places.
Why does it matter?
Being nature-rich promotes:
• Positive educational approaches and outcomes • Environmental respect and preservation
• Active and healthy lifestyles • A vibrant and strong economy
Want to learn more?
The ODC Network, a 501c3 education and conservation organization, is working to advance the
nature-rich community initiative in West Michigan. Learn about more of our programs at
outdoordiscovery.org
Park Passport Prize System
5 Tote Bag & Pencil
Parks 52-week Calendar
Completed $5 Dick’s Sporting Goods bonus certificate
Tote Bag & Pencil
10 52-week Calendar
Parks $25 toward a ODC Network Family Membership
Completed $20 Dick’s Sporting Goods bonus certificate
Tote Bag & Pencil
15 52-week Calendar
Parks A ODC Network Family Membership
Completed $50 Dick’s Sporting Goods bonus certificate
Prizes are subject to availability
Comparable prizes may be substituted
Share your adventures with us!
Post pictures, stories, and comments and see how others
are enjoying this Passport Challenge using the hashtag
#naturerichwestmi on Facebook and Instagram!
The ODC Network is a collection of nine business divisions with the mission to advance
outdoor education and conservation in West Michigan.
ODCoutdoordiscovery.org.
Visit our website: Network
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Parks Map
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Grand Haven
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Zeeland
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Holland
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Saugatuck
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1. Outdoor Discovery Center
2. DeGraaf Nature Center
3. Rabbit River Preserve
4. Cottonwood Park
5. Bysterveld Park
Coopersville 6. River Bluff
7. Ottawa Sands
8. Hawthorn Pond
9. Van Raalte Farm Park
10. Holland Energy Park
11. Farview Park
12. Shore Acres Park
13. Mt. Pisgah
14. Huizenga Park
15. Upper Macatawa Natural Area
Hudsonville
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Wayland
Outdoor Discovery Center
4214 56th St • Holland, MI • 49423 Features to Discover
}} Visitors Center
Date Visited:
}} Live Animals and Taxidermy Exhibits
Trails Open: Sunrise—Sunset, year-round }} De Witt Birds of Prey Center
}} Three Miles of Walking Paths
Visitors Center: Monday—Saturday, 9am—4pm
}} Catch and Release Fishing Ponds
Extended Summer Hours: Sunday, 12pm—4pm }} Two Nature-inspired Playscapes
1
Challenge Question
Birds of prey do not drink water! How do they get the water
they need?
Use Your Senses
List the surrounding sounds, sights, and scents.
Measure your wingspan at the
De Witt Birds of Prey Center
Which bird of prey has the same wingspan as you?
Nature Detective
What plants, animals, or fungi do you see?
DeGraaf Nature Center
600 Graafschap Rd • Holland, MI • 49423 Features to Discover
}} Live Animal Exhibits
Date Visited:
}} Bird Viewing Area
}} Nature Trails and Benches
Trails Open: Sunrise—Sunset, year-round
}} Picnic Shelter
Nature Center Open: Tuesday—Saturday, 9am—4pm }} Science and Nature Store
}} Gem and Mineral Club Rock Trail
2
Challenge Question
What group is recognized on a stone plaque for donating a
walkway through this park?
Use Your Senses
List the surrounding sounds, sights, and scents.
Nature Detective
What plants, animals, or fungi do you see?
Rabbit River Preserve
4401 135th Ave • Hamilton, MI • 49419 Features to Discover
}} Riparian Wetlands
Date Visited: }} Trails and Overlooks
}} Views of Rabbit River
Open: Sunrise—Sunset, year-round }} Old Growth Hemlock Trees
3
Challenge Question
What are some of the mature tree species that you can find at
Rabbit River?
Use Your Senses
List the surrounding sounds, sights, and scents.
Nature Detective
What plants, animals, or fungi do you see?
Cottonwood Park
5441 143rd Ave • Holland, MI • 49423 Features to Discover
}} Hiking Trails
Date Visited: }} Children’s Play Area
}} Gazebo
Open: Sunrise—Sunset, year-round }} Picnic Tables and Grills
4
Challenge Question
Fill in the blanks: Funding for this park is made possible
through a ____ provided to the citizens of the State of
Michigan by the Michigan ______ _____ Trust Fund.
Word #1:
Word #2:
Word #3:
Bysterveld Park
4171 14th St • Wayland, MI • 49348 Features to Discover
}} Catch and Release Fishing
Date Visited:
}} Picnic Pavilion
}} Picnic Tables and Grills
Open: May—September, 8am—9pm }} ADA Trails and Play Area
5
Challenge Question
How many miles is the North Loop Trail?
Use Your Senses
List the surrounding sounds, sights, and scents.
River Bluff
6493 Old Allegan Rd • Saugatuck, MI • 49453 Features to Discover
}} Children’s Swings and Play Area
Date Visited:
}} Picnic Tables and Grills
}} Boat Landing with Picnic Shelter
Open: Sunrise—Sunset, year-round }} Scenic River Overlook
}} Educational Signs
6
Challenge Question
What kind of factory was on the river bank in 1905?
Nature Detective
Name a plant, animal, or fungus that you found.
Ottawa Sands
18153 N Shore Dr • Spring Lake, MI • 49456 Features to Discover
}} Scenic Trail Around an Inland Lake
Date Visited:
}} Catch and Release Fishing
}} Educational Signs
Open: 6am—11pm, year-round
7 Challenge Question
Fill in the blanks: ____ can carry the ____ of invasive plants
like spotted knapweed.
Word #1:
Word #2:
Nature Detective
Name a plant, animal, or fungus that you found.Hawthorn Pond
9876 Black River Ct • Holland, MI • 49424 Features to Discover
}} Walking Trails Around Hawthorn Pond
Date Visited:
}} Boardwalk and Scenic Overlooks
}} Fishing Dock
Open: 6am—11pm, year-round }} Kayak Launch
8
Challenge Question
How many rocks line the parking lot and trail entrance?
Use Your Senses
List the surrounding sounds, sights, and scents.
Van Raalte Farm Park
1076 E 16th St • Holland, MI • 49423 Features to Discover
}} Historic Van Raalte Farmhouse
Date Visited:
}} DeGraaf Nature Center Sugar Shack
}} Scenic Nature Trails
Open: Sunrise—Sunset, year-round }} Picnic Shelter and Play Area
}} Winter Sledding Hill and Groomed
Cross Country Ski Trails
9
Challenge Question
What year did Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte purchase this land?
Use Your Senses
List the surrounding sounds, sights, and scents.Holland Energy Park
1 Energy Park Way • Holland, MI • 49423 Features to Discover
}} Paved Walking Trails
Date Visited:
}} Wildlife Overlooks
}} Fountains and Natural Ponds
Open: Sunrise—Sunset, year-round }} Prairie Ecosystem
10
Challenge Question
How many permanent benches can you find along the trail?
Use Your Senses
List the surrounding sounds, sights, and scents.
Farview Park
6257 138th Ave • Holland, MI • 49423 Features to Discover
}} Scenic Trails Through Wetland, Low
Date Visited: Dunes, Woodland and Meadow
Ecosystems
}} Maintained Horse Trails
Open: 8am—Sunset, year-round
11
Challenge Question
What organization constructed and maintains the horse trails
at Farview Nature Park?Shore Acres Park
6602 138th Ave • Holland, MI • 49423 Features to Discover
}} Historic Gibson Church
Date Visited:
}} Access to Felt Estate and Saugatuck
Dunes State Park
}} Disc Golf Course
Open: 6am—10pm, year-round
}} Mountain Bike Trails
}} Winter Sledding Hill
12
Challenge Question
What phone number would you call to reserve The Chapel?
Use Your Senses
List the surrounding sounds, sights, and scents.
Mt. Pisgah
2238 3rd Ave • Holland, MI • 49424 Features to Discover
}} 239 Steps
Date Visited: }} Stairways and Trails Through Dune
Open: Ecosystem
}} Scenic Overlooks
April—October, 7am—10pm
}} Educational Signs
November—March, 7am—8pm
13
Challenge Question
What are some of the common minerals found in sand
particles in Michigan?Huizenga Park
350 Royal Park Dr • Zeeland, MI • 49464 Features to Discover
}} Children’s Play Area
Date Visited: }} Baseball Diamond and Basketball Court
}} Beach Volleyball Court
Open: Sunrise—Sunset, year-round }} Fishing Access
}} Outdoor Skate Park
}} Paved Trails
14
Challenge Question
How many pickleball courts are there?
Use Your Senses
List the surrounding sounds, sights, and scents.
Upper Macatawa Natural Area
1300 84th Ave • Zeeland, MI • 49464 Features to Discover
}} Single-track Mountain Bike Trails
Date Visited: }} Paved Bike Trails
Open: }} Hiking and Ungroomed Cross-Country
Ski Trails
March—October, 7am—10pm
}} Scenic Overlook Decks
November—February, 7am—8pm }} Picnic Tables
15
Challenge Question
What is the name of the third strategy being used to transform
the landscape for improved floodplains and upland areas?
Hint: At the 84th street entrance, take a left at the trail head, heading north.
The answer can be found at the overlook.The ODC Network
Park Passport
is generously supported by:
Thanks for participating in the Park Passport Challenge!
We hope you had fun exploring the nature-richness
of West Michigan.
Please fill out the attached form and tell us what you think!
Bring it with your completed passport to the ODC or
DeGraaf by November 7, 2020 to claim your prize!
Printed on paper made with post-consumer waste
Please Recycle!NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
US POSTAGE
PAID
Discovery Center HOLLAND, MI
Permit No. 539
4214 56th Street • Holland, MI • 49423You can also read
