West Bloomfield Parks
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      • Polar Party
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    • Summer >
      • Pet Adoption
      • Senior Dance
      • Native Plant Sale
      • Food Truck Tuesdays
      • Touch-A-Truck
      • Kids Komotion
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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:
  • 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
*All programs require pre-registration (even if there is no fee)
Scheduled Nature Room Open Hours:    ​  ​​
  • 1/24 F 3:00P-6:00P - Nature Room Remodel Ribbon Cutting
  • 2/7 F 1:00P-4:00P  
  • 2/18 Tu 3:00P-6:00P  
  • 2/22 Sa 10:00A-1:00P
  • 3/6 F 1:00P-4:00P  
  • 3/17 Tu 3:00P-6:00P  
  • 4/21 Tu 3:00P-6:00P  

The Nature Room will be closed from November until January for a remodel. Follow us on Instagram for updates as the remodel progresses!

Nature Camps

For more information on our nature camps, click here.

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. 
Oakland County CISMA Website

 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.  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:
  • 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) 451-1917 to schedule your nature appointment today! 

Click here to download information on Nature Appointments

Meet Our Naturalists:

Lauren Azoury
Naturalist 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. 



Cathy Wesley
Picture
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!

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© 2018 West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation Commission • 4640 Walnut Lake Road • West Bloomfield, MI 48323 • (248) 451-1900
  • Home
  • About
    • Commission
    • Contact
    • Community Links
    • Employment
    • Volunteer
    • Forms
    • News
    • Parks Rules and Maps
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
    • Staff
  • Parks + Facilities
    • Bloomer Park
    • Bloomfield Knolls Park
    • Connect
    • Dog Park
    • Drake Sports Park
    • Karner Farm
    • Keith Sports Park
    • Marshbank Park
    • Recreation Activities Center >
      • Nature Room and Outdoor Natural Play Area
    • Schulak Farm
    • Splash Landing
    • Sylvan Manor Park
    • West Bloomfield Trail
    • West Bloomfield Woods Nature Preserve
    • Rentals
  • Recreation
    • Youth >
      • Camps
      • Dance
      • Leaders in Training
      • Soccer
    • Adult >
      • Softball
      • Walking Programs
      • Wheels to the Road Bike Club
    • Adult 50+ >
      • Senior Services Advisory Team
      • Pickleball
      • Senior Newsletter
    • Nature >
      • Nature Birthday Parties
      • Snowshoe
    • Transportation
    • Instructors
    • Provide Feedback
    • Discount Admission Tickets
  • Events
    • Winter/Spring >
      • Polar Party
      • Daddy Daughter Dinner Dance
      • Mother Son Bowling Party
      • Maple Sugaring Brunch
      • Spring Fling
      • Camp Sneak Peek
      • Earth Day Celebration
    • Summer >
      • Pet Adoption
      • Senior Dance
      • Native Plant Sale
      • Food Truck Tuesdays
      • Touch-A-Truck
      • Kids Komotion
      • Summer-on-the-Bank
      • Marshbank Music
      • ITC Walks
      • Go Fish
      • Mother Daughter Tea
    • Fall >
      • Camp Out
      • Senior Health Expo
      • Hayrides
      • Trick or Treat Trail
      • Mother & Son Dance
      • Heroes Appreciation Breakfast
      • Bowl with Santa
    • Calendar
  • Registration
    • Registration Information
    • Register Online
    • Brochure