Nature

Generations: From Flora to Fauna
ONLINE: A Zoom invitation link will be sent one day before class begins.

With apologies to ancestry.com©, this double-feature program by Don Chalfant returns to Elderwise with another session of beautiful photography that focuses on the incredible natural phenomena of the birth of our beautiful trees, flowers, and insects. Through Don’s amazing photography we will witness the incredible transformation of acorn to oak tree, seed to flower, caterpillar to butterfly, and much more through multiple generations of various plants and animals. No DNA necessary! Don spends half the year in Florida and half in Michigan, so we will be viewing his spectacular photography taken in both places. Don Chalfant has been entertaining and enlightening the Elderwise community for many years with his profound knowledge and stunning photographs of North America’s natural world. Don received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Michigan. Since retiring from teaching in the Ann Arbor Public Schools, Don is eager to share his passion for birds and other flora and fauna through his photos.
Fee: $15.00
Instructor(s): Don Chalfant
Dates: 1/29/2025 - 1/29/2025

Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Sessions: 1

Days: W
Building: Online Course

Room: Online via Zoom

Vernal Pools
IN-PERSON: The Elderwise classroom at the Vineyard Church

Come join us as Elle Bogle unravels the mystery of the unique and important wetlands called vernal pools. Learn how to properly identify, interact with, and protect these delicate and magical habitats which serve as both homes and essential breeding grounds to many animals including blue spotted salamanders, wood frogs, and fairy shrimp. Elle Bogle is a passionate outdoor educator and adventurer who takes pride in connecting people with the beauty of nature. She has been working as a naturalist with Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission for four years and as an environmental specialist with the Ann Arbor Public Schools for five years. Her specialties are amphibians and reptiles, dragonflies, and mindfulness in nature. She is an avid reader and book lover who also enjoys traveling, kayaking, hiking, and spending time with her family.
Fee: $15.00
Instructor(s): Elle Bogle
Dates: 2/26/2025 - 2/26/2025

Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Sessions: 1

Days: W
Building: Vineyard Church

Room: Classroom at the Vineyard Church

Discoveries in Lake Huron's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
ONLINE: A Zoom invitation link will be sent one day before class begins.

Since its designation as the first freshwater national marine sanctuary in 2000, NOAA's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary has worked to preserve a historically significant collection of shipwrecks through research and education, encouraging access to the rich maritime history of the Great Lakes. Collaborating with partners, this work has led to the discovery of shipwreck sites, such as the schooner barge Ironton, sunk in a collision in 1894. Join a sanctuary maritime archaeologist as they share the Ironton's tragic story of loss, its exciting story of discovery, and learn more about the sanctuary's ongoing exploration of Lake Huron. Stephanie Gandulla is a maritime archaeologist and the Resource Protection Coordinator for NOAA's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, based in Alpena, Michigan. Working to protect the Great Lakes and its rich history through research, education, and outreach, Stephanie has led and participated in archaeological expeditions, on-water educational programs, and innovative interpretive initiatives.
Fee: $15.00
Instructor(s): Stephanie Gandulla
Dates: 3/21/2025 - 3/21/2025

Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Sessions: 1

Days: F
Building: Online Course

Room: Online via Zoom

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