Hawk’s Nest will be unique to Harris Nature Center; campaign kicks off with donations, pledges for over 20% of goal

MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, MICH. — Harris Nature Center Foundation launched the fundraising campaign for the next addition to the Harris Nature Center’s Nature Exploration Area and officially donated the new Log Jam play feature to Meridian Township at an event Wednesday, Dec. 11.

The campaign goal is to raise $180,000 by Sept. 30, 2025, for a new Hawk’s Nest feature. The unique, six-foot high molded structure will replace the Beaver Lodge feature, which was opened in 2018 and removed in 2023 due its natural structure disintegrating over time.

At the event, the Kiwanis Club of Haslett-Okemos donated $5,000 to the project. With other early donations and pledges, the total commitment is $39,000, or just over 20% of the goal. Potential donors can contact Harris Nature Center for more information at 517.349.3866.

“We're excited to continue upgrading the Nature Exploration Area with more permanent structures,” said Alexa Warwick, Harris Nature Center Foundation president. “It is because of the generous support from individuals and organizations in our community that we can enhance Harris Nature Center facilities and programs. Providing these resources connects people with the wonder of the natural world, which in turn supports incredible physical and mental benefits for all ages.”

Harris Nature Center Coordinator Kati Adams explained, “The Hawk’s Nest design is like no other playground feature out there. It will be unique to Harris Nature Center. We took some inspiration from the Beaver Lodge structure because it was so well loved by our community.”

The new play feature will allow children to climb up six feet and see their surroundings from a six-foot diameter platform shaped like a bird’s nest. The extra space allows for multiple children to see the world from a different view. It is named for the red-tailed hawks housed at Harris Nature Center.

In addition to the $5,000 donation for the Hawk’s Nest, Kiwanis Club of Haslett-Okemos also provided $20,000 of the $45,074 cost for the new Log Jam, with the foundation paying for the remainder.

Vic Samuelson, Kiwanis Club secretary, said, "Harris Nature Center is a jewel in Meridian Township. The Haslett-Okemos Kiwanis Club helps fund many of the center's exhibits and projects that encourage children to explore nature. They align with our club's priority to support youth in our community and around the world. And thanks to the many subscribers of Flags Over Meridian, our major fundraiser. Your support is crucial to our mission."

The Log Jam is designed to foster development of gross motor skills — i.e. walking, crawling and balancing. It also encourages imagination for kids of all ages, mimicking what they would do if they came upon a log or stump in the woods.

The play feature includes log balance beams, stumps, oversized mushrooms and a log crawl-through tunnel. This new Log Jam also replaces an original play feature made of natural materials that had deteriorated. The first Log Jam was installed in 2015.

Michigan-based Sinclair Recreation and its partner GameTime provided and installed the new Log Jam.

Other special projects funded by Harris Nature Center Foundation in 2024 include:

· A concrete bed for the popular hands-on Fossil Dig educational exhibit. Larger fossils were embedded in the concrete; smaller real and replica Michigan fossils were rehidden in sand that topped the new concrete bed.

· A weather-themed interactive play panel — a hands-on activity that teaches kids about weather and days of the week.

· School bus scholarships that helped 597 students from 27 schools participate in HNC educational programs.

Harris Nature Center Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2006 to provide a source of funding for special projects that enhance the quality of nature appreciation and education at Harris Nature Center, a 48-acre park operated by Meridian Township. More information is at http://hncfoundation.weebly.com. For questions, contact Harris Nature Center at 517.349.3866 or hnc@meridian.mi.us.

Harris Nature Center, 3998 Van Atta Rd., Okemos, comprises 48 acres of the Meridian Riverfront Park. HNC offers environmental activities and outdoor recreation opportunities that focus on protecting, promoting and interpreting the Red Cedar River.

Park amenities include a half-mile of paved trail, several miles of natural trails, the River Overlook, Nature Exploration Area, and the handicapped-accessible observation deck with three commercial binocular stands. The Nature Building provides interpretive exhibits, nature murals by local artists, and displays of live, native Michigan wildlife. A pavilion is available for event rental. Meridian Township staff offers educational programs for visitors of all ages.

# # #

Photo captions

HNCF-Log Jam.jpg – The Log Jam fosters development of gross motor skills and encourages imagination for kids of all ages.

HNCF-Bugs up close.jpg – There are surprises inside the log crawl-through tunnel: critters that would love to live in logs found in nature.

HNCF-Log Jam-opening.jpg – Representatives of Harris Nature Center Foundation, Kiwanis Club of Haslett-Okemos, Harris Nature Center and Meridian Township cheer when officially opening the Log Jam play feature.

HNCF-Hawks Nest launch.jpg – Holding the check, from left, are Holly Galovich and Vic Samuelson, Kiwanis Club of Haslett-Okemos; Alexa Warwick, Harris Nature Center Foundation; and Kati Adams and Allison Goodman, Harris Nature Center. They are supported by representatives of the foundation, the Kiwanis Club and Meridian Township.

HNCF-Hawks Nest concept.jpg – A concept drawing of the Hawk’s Nest play feature at Harris Nature Center.