Nature Interpretive Programs
Our Nature Room features a variety of educational, hands-on action stations that will have you and your family learning about all the wonderful aspects of nature right here in West Bloomfield. The Nature Room is located within the Recreation Activities Center (4640 Walnut Lake Road) and is home to the majority of our nature interpretive programs.
Our interpretive programs include:
Our interpretive programs include:
- Summer Camps
- Free Mommy and Me Hikes (first Thursday of each month)
- Live Animal Shows (dates vary)
- Canoe, kayak and stand up paddle board programs
- Various seasonal activities - click here to view our Seasonal Activity Guide
Scheduled Open Hours:
Please note: Families will have the opportunity to explore the Nature Room indoors for approximately 10 minutes during this time. There is no registration required for this. The Naturalist on-staff will take families inside in the order that they arrive to the Outdoor Natural Play Area.
*Admittance into the Nature Room is dependent on how many families attend and will only be allowed during the scheduled time of Open Hours. Masks will be required while inside the Nature Room.
- 12/11 Saturday 12-2 PM
- 12/14 Tuesday 2-4 PM
- 1/11 Thursday 10 am-12 pm
- 2/3 Thursday 12-2 pm
- 2/26 Saturday 2-4 pm
- 3/15 Tuesday 12-2 pm
- 3/24 Thursday 2-4 pm
- 4/19 Tuesday 4-6 pm - Earth Day Celebration
- 4/26 Tuesday 12-2 pm
Please note: Families will have the opportunity to explore the Nature Room indoors for approximately 10 minutes during this time. There is no registration required for this. The Naturalist on-staff will take families inside in the order that they arrive to the Outdoor Natural Play Area.
*Admittance into the Nature Room is dependent on how many families attend and will only be allowed during the scheduled time of Open Hours. Masks will be required while inside the Nature Room.
Snowshoeing
You're also welcome to rent snowshoes during our Open Hours. For details on rentals, visit the link below!
Spring wildlife
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Spring has sprung! This is the time of year when most animal babies are being born. It is also the time of year when nature centers get the most phone calls from well-intentioned and concerned residents regarding potential abandoned or injured wildlife. However, in most scenarios, wildlife is best left wild. Check out the article below to see which animals we get the most questions about and what you should do.
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Please do not feed wildlife in our parks!
It is against the law and dangerous for wildlife. Read more at the link below.
Invasive Species Management
The Oakland County Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) was established in December 2014 by 19 partners. Today the partnership has grown to over 40 members including local governments, county governments, non-profit organizations, and universities. WB Parks has been involved with this organization since 2014. For information on invasive species, treatment options and additional resources, please visit their website at the link below.
Outdoor Natural Play Area
Come out and play in the dirt, create a masterpiece with sticks, hop on log stepping stones, dig in the garden bin, hunt for bugs and have some fun! The area is sensory-rich and a treasure trove of experiential learning, imagination and wonder.
The space features natural elements for play, intentionally designed to engage children with nature. We use the area for various nature programs and it is also be open for public use during select hours.
Research has found that frequent, unstructured play in natural environments is a strong positive influence on the developmental needs of young children. The Outdoor Natural Play Area allows children to practice the most important parts of growth and play: nature, healthy risk, fantasy, and freedom. The benefits of outdoor play include critical thinking, imagination, independence, and problem solving. Benches are available for parents while children craft their own activities using natural materials.
The space features natural elements for play, intentionally designed to engage children with nature. We use the area for various nature programs and it is also be open for public use during select hours.
Research has found that frequent, unstructured play in natural environments is a strong positive influence on the developmental needs of young children. The Outdoor Natural Play Area allows children to practice the most important parts of growth and play: nature, healthy risk, fantasy, and freedom. The benefits of outdoor play include critical thinking, imagination, independence, and problem solving. Benches are available for parents while children craft their own activities using natural materials.
Naturalist-Guided Services
Naturalist-guided services are available year-round for your group. We welcome school and youth groups, preschoolers, homeschoolers, boy/girl scouts and other community organizations. We can bring nature to you or your group may visit the Nature Room and Outdoor Natural Play Area! There are a variety of topics to choose from and we can customize the topic to fit your group’s needs. Depending on the topic, our nature appointments may include an interactive nature talk, stories, games and a live animal.
Program examples include:
Call our park naturalist at (248) 451-1909 or email araines@wbparks.org to schedule your nature appointment today!
Program examples include:
- Nature Talk; in the Nature Room, 1 hour program, 25 people max, $65 for West Bloomfield Residents, $90 for non WB residents
- Nature Talk; at your location,1 hour program, 50 people max, $65 for West Bloomfield Residents, $90 for non WB residents, +$10 travel fee
- Nature Talk & Hike (1.5 hrs.), in the Nature Room or other WB Park, 1.5 hour program, 25 people max, $90 for West Bloomfield Residents, $115 for non WB residents
Call our park naturalist at (248) 451-1909 or email araines@wbparks.org to schedule your nature appointment today!
Meet Our Naturalists:
Lauren Azoury
Hello fellow nature lovers! Please allow me to introduce myself…my name is Lauren Azoury and I am the part-time Naturalist for West Bloomfield Parks.
I am fortunate to be a part of the WB Parks team and enjoy teaching new and innovative nature interpretive programs to West Bloomfield residents. I especially love being able to provide first time nature experiences for adults, children and families. Through a partnership with Civic Center TV, we have a series of short videos titled "Minute with Nature" that help families learn more about nature. Check them out on our YouTube page here!
I’ve always been passionate about the importance of getting people outdoors and prior to my time here at WB Parks I facilitated nature education programs at Oakland County Parks from 2007 to 2013. Prior to that, I had an amazing experience as a team member of the animal presenter team at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. My Bachelors of Science degree in Fisheries and Wildlife comes from Michigan State University. Go Green!
I love sharing my passion for the outdoors with others, including my own family (my husband and our 3 year old son). Please take a look at our Seasonal Activity Guide to see some of the programs I am teaching this year. I would love for you and your group to come visit me at the Nature Room too! There are lots of options for nature appointments.
I am fortunate to be a part of the WB Parks team and enjoy teaching new and innovative nature interpretive programs to West Bloomfield residents. I especially love being able to provide first time nature experiences for adults, children and families. Through a partnership with Civic Center TV, we have a series of short videos titled "Minute with Nature" that help families learn more about nature. Check them out on our YouTube page here!
I’ve always been passionate about the importance of getting people outdoors and prior to my time here at WB Parks I facilitated nature education programs at Oakland County Parks from 2007 to 2013. Prior to that, I had an amazing experience as a team member of the animal presenter team at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. My Bachelors of Science degree in Fisheries and Wildlife comes from Michigan State University. Go Green!
I love sharing my passion for the outdoors with others, including my own family (my husband and our 3 year old son). Please take a look at our Seasonal Activity Guide to see some of the programs I am teaching this year. I would love for you and your group to come visit me at the Nature Room too! There are lots of options for nature appointments.
Cathy Wesley
Come get wild about nature with me! Hello, I’m Cathy Wesley, a Part-Time Naturalist Programmer at West Bloomfield Parks Nature Room.
My love of the outdoors comes from growing up in the country and always being outside. That passion lead me to study Wildlife Biology at the University of Michigan. After graduation I was a Naturalist at Seven Ponds Nature Center. Six years later I moved to West Bloomfield and took a position with WB Parks.
Being your Naturalist at WB Parks allows me to share my love of nature with you through all of our various programs. From hikes at Marshbank Park to Summer Adventure Nature Camp to listening to owls in the woods, let’s get immersed in the nature of West Bloomfield!
My love of the outdoors comes from growing up in the country and always being outside. That passion lead me to study Wildlife Biology at the University of Michigan. After graduation I was a Naturalist at Seven Ponds Nature Center. Six years later I moved to West Bloomfield and took a position with WB Parks.
Being your Naturalist at WB Parks allows me to share my love of nature with you through all of our various programs. From hikes at Marshbank Park to Summer Adventure Nature Camp to listening to owls in the woods, let’s get immersed in the nature of West Bloomfield!
Annabelle Raines
Annabelle is one of the naturalists at West Bloomfield Parks. Annabelle has lived in multiple states, including Tennessee, Hawaii, and North Dakota, but she calls the outdoors her home. You can find her caring for the ambassador animals in the Nature Room and spreading her love and curiosity of nature with the public. Outside of work, she’s looking for new paces to hike and explore!