The Grand Rapids Downtown Market is hosting its fourth annual Nature Day on January 25, from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. This free family event allows kids to get up close and personal with animals, see and touch interesting artifacts, learn through stories and enjoy other greenhouse activities like take-home crafts. Nature Day will take place on the second floor of the Market in the greenhouse and banquet space.

Partners for the event include Blandford Nature Center, Outdoor Discovery Center, Kent District Library (KDL), Reptiles by LS and Casa La Parrot as well as the Michigan Entomological Society and Say Yes to Nature, both new this year. These organizations will bring learning materials and/or live animals for kids to see and touch. 

“We’re thrilled to keep adding partners to this popular event, and so thankful for the amazing West Michigan organizations that share their wildlife with us each year,” said Amanda Gielczyk, VP of marketing and operations. “This is always one of our most popular events for families, bringing nature and wildlife education indoors during one of the coldest winter months.”

Blandford Nature Center will bring animals from their ambassador program, including a barred owl, barn owl, long-eared owl, domestic rabbit, American toad, and eastern box turtle.

The Outdoor Discovery Center will bring a turtle pond with turtles and frogs that kids can touch, a black rat snake, eastern screech owl, red-tailed hawk or great horned owl as well as hands on artifacts like skulls, skins, feathers, antlers and furs.

The Michigan Entomological Society will bring a number of preserved butterflies and moths in frames from around the world while Say Yes to Nature will bring worms, bugs, and hands on educational activities and pieces.

Reptiles by LS will bring a variety of reptiles for kids to hold, and Casa La Parrot will present a variety of tropical parrots for kids to learn about and observe, including some special needs birds.

Kent District Library will lead nature-themed story time activities during the event, and bring hands-on learning activities as well.

For more info, visit: http://downtownmarketgr.com/classes-events/nature-day-1.