Dahlem
Jackson’s Nature Place
Mission
Providing environmental education and outdoor experiences to the people of south central Michigan.
Planning Your Visit to Dahlem
· Dahlem’s trails are free and open daily from sunrise to sunset. However, donations and memberships help keep our doors open so we can provide educational programs and services to school groups as well as the public.
· The offices, Nutshell Giftshop, and Exhibit Room are open Tuesday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM; Saturday, Sunday, and Monday closed.
· Photographers and Nature Enthusiasts enjoy walking along our five-plus miles of trails, which take visitors through oak-hickory woods and grasslands, over streams and by ponds and fens. Our efforts to reclaim abandoned farmland and re-establish native habitats has resulted in a resurgence of native wildflowers, insects, and birds.
Please Respect Our Rules
In order to provide a quality experience to the greatest number of people, we ask that you adhere to the following set of rules.
· Dogs and other pets are not allowed on the property, with one exception. We are currently allowing dogs only on the Butterfly Trail over at the Ecology Farm (please keep your dog(s) on a leash and clean up after them). Otherwise, dogs can be walked at MacCready Reserve on Skiff Lake Road, at Ella Sharp Park in Jackson, and along the Falling Waters Trail in Jackson.
· Bicycles and horses are not allowed on the property. Our trails were only designed for foot traffic. Jackson’s Falling Waters Trail and the Martin Luther King Jr. Trail are ideal for cycling, and the Waterloo Recreational Area has many horse trails.
· Take only photographs and memories; leave only footprints. In other words, please do not collect plants, wildlife or fungi, and if you eat or drink while on your visit, take your trash out with you. Also, please do not leave carvings on our trees, benches, bridges or boardwalks.
· The following are prohibited for safety’s sake: firearms, archery, weapons of any kind; smoking, alcohol, illegal drugs; release of wildlife or unwanted pets; camping or fires of any kind.
[bugs and reptiles, oh and one jar]