History Programs:  Bring history to life by having our naturalist into your classroom or facility.

Michigan's French Voyageurs: Life During the Great Lakes Fur Trading Era. Dressed as a voyageur, and talking the talk of a voyageur our naturalist brings to life what it was like for the first Europeans that explored Michigan and the Great Lakes Region.  Explorations, concepts of trade, cultures,  and the importance of Michigan's waterways and other natural resources in the development of Michigan are covered. Our naturalist brings with him the experiences of having canoed hundreds of miles  in the arctic, hundreds of miles upon the dangerous waters of the Great Lakes, and in other remote locations as well. While most children grow up riding a bike, our naturalist  grew up paddling a canoe.  G 3-12

Michigan's Native Americans: Through hands on experiences, demonstrations, the use of actual artifacts and materials that range from 600 - 12,000 years of age, and other materials students develop a better understanding of what life was like for the 3-Fires and other Native American Nations that used Michigan's natural resources in their everyday life. Everything from, cooking methods and food storage, to growing crops, or living as hunters and gatherers is covered.   Medicinal plants,  foods, building materials, tool construction, transportation methods, and clothing are also discussed. G 3-12

American Indian Life: The various life styles of the Indian nations that ranged from the Eastern Woodland region to the Pacific Northwest, to the Southwest, the Southeast and the Northern Great Plains are all reviewed in this extraordinary program. Artifacts that range from hundreds to thousands of years of age as well as other materials are used in this far ranging program. How the local natural resources, geography, and climate played a role in determining the similarities and differences  in family life styles, house structure, fuels for cooking & warmth, methods of transportation, and materials traded are all covered in this program. Foods, medicines, tool construction, hunting methods,  and materials for clothing, are shown as well. G 4-12

 Michigan Statehood & Beyond: U.S Studies. Portraying  an 1890's retired lumberjack our naturalist  brings to life the early days of Michigan statehood. Why people came to Michigan, their motivations for and against immigration and emigration into and out of Michigan, where they came from, what they found when they got to here, and what daily life was like in the 1800's is only a part of this program. The role that new technologies and developments play in changing history, the Erie Canal, the underground railroad, national and international trade, past and current threats to our natural resources, and how human activities has changed the Earth's surface are but a few of the topics covered in this program. G 4 -12

Early European Explorations in the Americas: The focus is on early French, English and Spanish explorations of the Americas with the greatest emphasis on North America.  Topics covered in this program include: why they came, including their goals, their motivations, where they went, the difficulties they encountered, and the impact that the early European explorers had on the Native American culture.  the Columbian Exchange, trade triangles and the impact that they had on the world are also covered in this far ranging program. Our naturalist arrives as an early explorer. G 4-12

Colonial America: Life in the Colonies. Our naturalist portrays a colonist and what daily life would have been like in their early days along the northeast coast of North America.   The life styles of the northern colonists is compared the life styles of the southern colonies. Cultural differences, foods, farming methods, crops, medicines, illnesses, and other aspects of daily living are covered. G 4 - 12

Westward Expansion via The Lewis & Clark Expedition 1804 -1806.  The purpose of the expedition, it's role in the development of the United States, and the people that made it happen are all covered in this exciting program. Our naturalist portrays Patrick Gass, a member of the expedition. Our naturalist combines his  stories with  an abundance of artifacts to bring this great journey to life and to develop a better understanding of why our nation reaches from the Atlantic to the Pacific.  G 4-12

America's Revolutionary War.. Our presenter portrays a veteran of the American Revolution. The causes of war, the impact the war had on North America and the world,  the life of a soldier, and some amazing behind the scenes information as to how we won the war.