News and Projects

Unveiling

On June 23rd, 2009, Discovery Center ~ Great Lakes was dedicated as the shared home of several of our community’s important nonprofit organizations. It is a collaborative partnership between four local nonprofits operating with the guidance and support of Rotary Camps & Services. Current operations on site include, the Great Lakes Children's Museum’s hands-on learning facility, the Maritime Heritage Alliance’s workshops for building and repairing historic boats, and the Watershed Center’s office and Bay Monitor tug. Traverse Area Community Sailing plans to someday utilize the West Bay waterfront for large boat sailing instruction.

Here at Discovery Center ~ Great Lakes, we want to create educational opportunities while helping to protect the water quality of the west arm of Grand Traverse Bay. We are continually working to foster good stewardship of the property, including its wetlands, and creeks. Two activities in progress that will help us with these goals are a nature trail connection to the TART trails system and a Natural Resource Protection plan.

Unveiling the new Discovery Center Great Lakes sign

Nature Trail Connector

Along with encouraging non-motorized travel to Discovery Center, the nature trail connector will serve several purposes, including:

  • Open a transportation connection from the Leelanau Trail at the back of the property to the Discovery Center ~ Great Lakes, as well as Greilickville Harbor Park, Elmwood Township Marina, and other attractions on or in the vicinity of the property.
  • Create a self-guided nature trail for trail users that will provide access to and interpretation of key elements of the natural features, especially in the wetland and creek areas.
  • Provide an opportunity for the Great Lakes Children’s Museum and The Watershed Center to offer specialized facilitated educational programs.
  • Create overlooks at appropriate locations to best enable both self-guided and facilitated educational experiences.
TART Trail and wetlands adjacent to the Discovery Center property

Natural Features Inventory and Natural Resources Protection Plan

The natural resource protection plan is being created to enable Discovery Center ~ Great Lakes to be good stewards of the property and will include several components:

  • Complete a natural features inventory to determine the current status of natural resources on the property.
  • Identify ways that the existing natural resources could be protected and/or enhanced.
  • Identify ways to improve animal habitat, including fisheries habitat in the creek.
  • Identify ways that impacts from the occupied upland portion of the property can be minimized.