Educational Programs
Registration pricing and class size vary with each program. Pricing for each class is detailed below. Non-members will be charged admission upon entrance, as pricing does not include the cost of admission. Admission pricing structure can be found on the Hours & Admission page. Members receive year-round free admission and discounted program rates; join by visiting the Memberships page.
Cancellation Policy: Please register early to ensure your space. If you need to cancel, please do so at least 7 days before the program date to receive credit towards a future program. We're unable to issue credits for cancellations made less than 7 days before the program.
OCTOBER
Tree Identification with the Sam Beauford Institute
Saturday, October 3, 2026 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Join HLG Education Coordinator Carley Kratz and Bob Birch from the Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute for an introduction to tree identification. Learn to recognize common tree species used for lumber, including maple, oak, birch, and pine. Explore leaf shapes, bark textures, growth habits, and habitat clues that can help you identify trees with confidence. Participants will also identify the unique characteristics and uses of lumber produced from each species discussed.
Audience: Adults
Cost: $15/person, $12 for members
Location: TBD at Hidden Lake Gardens
Celebratory Ecology: Pumpkin Carving and Dissection
Saturday, October 31, 2026 | 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Live life on the spooky side and discover the fascinating world of bats, pumpkins, and owls with HLG Education Coordinator Carley Kratz. Enjoy the Halloween decor and get your hands dirty, if you dare. Brave participants can dig into the gooey insides of a pumpkin, investigate what owls eat by examining owl pellets, and create a bat-themed craft to take home. It's a frightfully fun experience for curious minds of all ages!
Audience: Families
Cost: $25/person, $20 for members
Location: TBD at Hidden Lake Gardens
NOVEMBER
Mushroom Identification
Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Explore the mysterious realm of mushrooms and the fabulous world of fungi. These remarkable organisms play many essential roles in our ecosystems and can also be a delicious part of our diets. Learn the basics of mushroom identification, discover how to keep toxic species out of your foraging basket, and gain confidence in recognizing common edible mushrooms. Participants will be introduced to trusted resources and receive expert guidance from certified wild-foraged mushroom expert, Ph.D. mycologist, and HLG Education Coordinator Carley Kratz.
Audience: Adults
Cost: $15/person, $12 for members
Location: Auditorium
Hidden Natural Worlds: National Take a Hike Day
Tuesday, November 17, 2026 | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Join us on National Take a Hike Day for a guided adventure through the trails with HLG staff members Jon Genereaux, Carley Kratz and Paul Pfiefer. Participants will receive a water bottle to stay hydrated along the way. With hikes designed for a variety of fitness and experience levels., choose one hike or take part in all three options:
10:00 AM 1/2-mile hike (gentle, slow-paced)
1:00 PM 4-mile hike (rigorous)
3:00 PM 2-mile hike (just right)
Enjoy a leisurely half-mile hike at 10 AM, try a challenging 4-mile hike at 1:00 PM, or join the 2-mile 'Goldilocks" hike at 3 PM offering the perfect balance of distance and difficulty, not too short or too long. will allow you to explore at a slower pace.
Come spend the day exploring the beauty of Hidden Lake Gardens and celebrate the great outdoors!
Audience: Adults
Cost: $15/person, $12 for members
Location: TBD at Hidden Lake Gardens
Vermicomposting
Saturday, November 21, 2026 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Worms are nature's ecosystem engineers that help to build healthy soil by breaking down organic matter and recycling nutrients through a process known as vermicomposting. Whether practiced on a small scale in a kitchen or on a larger commercial scale, vermicomposting is an effective method of using food waste to produce nutrient-rich compost. Join HLG Education Coordinator Carley Kratz to learn the basics of vermicomposting, see a working worm bin in action, and learn how to keep your worms healthy, productive, and thriving.
Audience: Adults
Cost: $15/person, $12 for members
Location: Auditorium
Build Your Own Terrarium - Kids Program
Saturday, November 28, 2026 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Audience: Families
Cost: $25/person, $20 for members
Location: Garden Room
DECEMBER
Winter Tree Identification
Saturday, December 5, 2026 | 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Identifying trees can be a challenge once the leaves have fallen. Bark patterns, bud shapes, tree form, and habitat clues can provide valuable insight in determining the species of a tree species during the winter months. Learn tips and techniques for recognizing these subtle characteristics and gain confidence in identifying trees year-round. Instruction will be provided by HLG Education Coordinator Carley Kratz and Bob Birch of the Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute, who will share practical strategies for observing and remembering key identification features.
Audience: Adults
Cost: $15/person, $12 for members
Location: TBD at Hidden Lake Gardens
Registration Opening Soon
Celebratory Ecology: Friendly Fir and Spiky Spruce
Saturday, December 12, 2026 | 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Evergreens abound in holiday decor, but how do you tell which greenery came from which tree? Join us to build your own table centerpiece while learning about the plants that are used to build them. Our experts will introduce you to the world of the friendly fir, spiky spruce, and other evergreen plants that you will see around the holidays.
Audience: Adults
Cost: $48/person, $40 for members
Location: Auditorium
Registration Opening Soon
Wildlife Food Sources (build feeder) - Kids Program
Saturday, December 19, 2026 | 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Some tough birds spend their winters in Michigan. A little extra food can help them stay warm during our chilly winter season. Learn how we can help our wildlife friends weather the winter storms. Story time will include a book on winter wildlife. Help birds survive the winter by crafting a feeder for them to hang in your yard.
Audience: Families
Cost: $15/person, $12 for members
Location: Auditorium
Registration Opening Soon
JANUARY
Science of Snowflakes (with ice cream) - Kids Program
Saturday, January 2, 2027 | 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Have you ever wondered how the unique patterns on each snowflake form? What makes snowflakes tiny or fall in huge clumps? Join us to learn about the science of snowflakes! We will make a tasty snack to learn about ice crystal formation and make snow-related crafts.
Audience: Families
Cost: $15/person, $12 for members
Location: Garden Room
Registration Opening Soon
Celebratory Ecology: National Houseplant Appreciation Day
Sunday, January 10, 2027 | 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Let’s take a day to celebrate our houseplants. Houseplants boost our mood, increase indoor humidity in the dry winter months, and improve indoor air quality. Come celebrate houseplants with us by learning how to care for some of the most common indoor specimens. Take home a small potted plant to add to your collection or start a new one.
Audience: Adults
Cost: $15/person, $12 for members
Location: Auditorium
Registration Opening Soon
Watching the Winter Sky (Star Projector)
Saturday, January 16, 2027 | 1:00 - 3:00 PM
The long nights of the winter months provide ample opportunities for stargazing. We will examine the winter constellations together by looking at their placement in the January sky, and consider how they move through the seasons. Stories related to the constellations will be incorporated to help you remember the shapes and names of these groups of stars.
Audience: Adults
Cost: $15/person, $12 for members
Location: Auditorium
Registration Opening Soon
Winter Seed Sowing
Saturday, January 30, 2027 | 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Sowing seeds in the winter has countless benefits. It is a cost-effective way to germinate seeds in the slower season of the year. Many perennial plants, and some annual and herbaceous plants, have seeds that require cold stratification. We will sow common perennial seeds using up-cycled materials. Expert gardeners will share their advice and stories of success. Get a jump start on your spring garden by sowing your seeds now.
Audience: Adults
Cost: $25/person, $20 for members
Location: Auditorium
Registration Opening Soon
FEBRUARY
Gaining Ground on Groundhogs
Tuesday, February 2, 2027 | 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Groundhogs, woodchucks, whistle-pigs…they go by many names and often wreak havoc in our gardens. Together, we will embark on a journey to learn methods to keep these critters out of our flowerbeds. Learn about the Hidden Lake Hog that has been the bane of staffers for years. Integrated pest management may provide a solution to this and many other common garden pests. Prepare now before you are reliving pest problems in your garden next year.
Audience: Adults
Cost: $15/person, $12 for members
Location: Auditorium
Registration Opening Soon
Paint with Plants
Sunday, February 14, 2027 | 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Fall in love with the beauty of nature this Valentine's Day by painting with plants. Plant leaves, petals, roots, and fruits can all be used to create environmentally friendly paints in a wide variety of colors. Together, we will learn about the science of plant pigments and where they naturally occur. We will provide the supplies you need to get creative on your very own canvas and take home a unique masterpiece.
Audience: Adults
Cost: $25/person, $20 for members
Location: Auditorium
Registration Opening Soon
Animal Tracks and Winter Habitats - Kids Program
Saturday, February 20, 2027 | 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Use your powers of observation to explore the hidden winter lives of wildlife. Animal footprints can tell us a lot about where animals travel in the winter. Learn how to identify different animal tracks and what these tracks can reveal about what our wild animal friends are up to in the winter. We will read a winter wildlife story, paint an animal track to take home, and hike the forested trails to discover habitats up close.
Audience: Families
Cost: $15/person, $12 for members
Location: TBD at Hidden Lake Gardens
Registration Opening Soon
Grow Your Own Mushrooms
Saturday, February 27, 2027 | 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Growing mushrooms at home is a fun and inexpensive way to add delicious, nutritious food to your diet. Join our expert mycologist to learn tips and tricks for successfully cultivating mushrooms. We will prepare mushroom growth bags for you to take home and teach you how to make new growth bags once your mushrooms have been harvested. Common pitfalls will be discussed, such as signs of contamination and spore containment. Grow your own mushrooms with confidence.
Audience: Adults
Cost: $40/person, $32 for members
Location: Garden Room
Registration Opening Soon
Cancellation Policy for Classes and Programs
Please register early to ensure your space. If you need to cancel, please do so at least 7 days before the program date to receive credit towards a future program. We're unable to issue credits for cancellations made less than 7 days before the program.
Accessibility
Michigan State University is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services, and activities. Accommodations for persons with disabilities may be requested by contacting Carley Kratz, Education Program Coordinator, at (517) 431-2060 three weeks prior to the program start date. Requests received after this date will be honored whenever possible. More information is available at the Michigan State University Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities.
