The Michigan Botanical Society

MBS1941@michiganbotanicalsociety.org

The Michigan Botanical Society is the native plant society for the state of Michigan and the entire Great Lakes Region, as well as the home of the Michigan Big Tree Program

2026 MBS Mini Foray

Saturday 29 August

Eddy Discovery Center, Waterloo State Recreation Area

Chelsea, Michigan

Join the Michigan Botanical Society for a day of botanical exploration at the beautiful Waterloo Recreation Area, hosted by the Huron Valley Chapter. This year's Mini-Foray combines outstanding field trips, an engaging educational presentation, and opportunities to reconnect with fellow botanists and naturalists.

Friday Evening Meet & Greet

Kick off the weekend by visiting with old friends and making new ones at an informal Meet & Greet on Friday evening at The Kitchen at Jolly Pumpkin in Dexter.

Saturday Highlights

Morning Field Trips (9:30–11:30 a.m.)
Choose from three guided excursions:

Pickerel Lake – Explore dry-mesic forest, wet prairie, marsh, and restored oak savanna while learning to identify a rich diversity of woody and herbaceous plants.
Lycopods of Waterloo – Join Dr. Tony Reznicek to search for one of Michigan's finest collections of clubmosses and learn about these fascinating ancient plants.
Waterloo Bog Trail – Discover glacial landforms, oak-hickory forest, and a spectacular poor fen featuring pitcher plants, sundews, bog buckbean, and diverse sedges.

Lunch & Presentation (11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.)
Bring your own lunch and enjoy a presentation by Michigan Master Naturalist and Park Interpreter Doug Jackson, How Waterloo Came to Be, exploring the natural and human history that shaped one of Michigan's largest state recreation areas.

Afternoon Field Trips (2:00–4:30 p.m.)
Continue the adventure with your choice of:

Kettle-Hole Lake/Bog Ecology – Visit a rarely seen, nearly pristine kettle-hole bog and lake ecosystem.
Hickory Hills Trail – Hike through glacial landscapes while exploring the ecological and cultural history of Waterloo Recreation Area.
Waterloo Bog Trail – A repeat of the popular morning excursion for those who missed it earlier.

Whether you're interested in plant identification, ecology, geology, or simply spending a day in the field with fellow plant enthusiasts, the 2026 Mini-Foray offers something for everyone.

For registration information and complete event details contact mbs-hvc@michiganbotanicalsociety.org

Join Us!

The Michigan Botanical Society has four local Chapters and one regional Chapter.Chapters organize field trips with knowledgeable leaders and a speaker series. Twice a year, the membership gathers for speakers and field trips. The Society publishes a newsletter “Arisaema” and a professional journal “The Great Lakes Botanist” which are sent to all members.

About the Michigan Botanical Society

MBS1941@michiganbotanicalsociety.org

The society was founded in 1941 and consists of five chapters. The focus of the Michigan Botanical Society is:

Conservation of all native plants and their home places.
Education of the public to appreciate and preserve plant life and their home places.
Sponsorship of research and publication on plant life and their home places.
Sponsorship of legislation to promote preservation of Michigan native flora and their home places.
Establishment of suitable sanctuaries and natural areas.
Cooperation in programs concerned with the use and conservation of all natural resources and scenic features.

Please join us by becoming a member. Membership is handled through the individual chapters. If you do not have a chapter near you, you can join us through our online Great Lakes Chapter.

Each chapter holds monthly meetings and sponsors field trips. Every Memorial Day, the Michigan Botanical Club sponsors a Foray to a different area of Michigan.

We sponsor the publication of The Great Lakes Botanist a scientific peer-reviewed journal and Arisaema, our State Newsletter.