The Thumb Nature Areas Organization has funds available to Tuscola County Schools to defray transportation cost of field trips to study the nature trails at the Exchange Club Forest, Darbee Park, Indianfields Township Park or water study topics at Chippewa Landing.
The parks are located near Caro or just outside of Mayville. Other nature locations are acceptable for your application. If the interested school have another location in mind, please contact us directly to discuss your idea.
The nature trails and water study areas provide an excellent setting for outdoor nature education for teachers and their students who wish to take advantage of the opportunity to meet educational objectives during the current school year.
The Exchange Club Forest, Darbee Park, and Indianfields Park all have developed nature trails with interpretive features that allow teachers to meet educational objectives utilizing outdoor nature settings here in Tuscola County. The Chippewa Landing sites have areas to explore water topics.
The Exchange Club Forest and Chippewa Landing are located at the corner of M-24 and Gun Club Road, just south of Caro. As of 2019, a new trail extension now joins these two parks.
The Indianfields Township Park is located west of Caro on M-81.
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Darbee Park is located east of Caro on Cameron Road.
You will find the application form for grade level classrooms in your school to apply for transportation costs for a field trip during the current school year under the "FORMS" tab on the menu bar.
We encourage all interested grades/classrooms to apply. The funds will be expended on a first come, first serve basis, providing an equal opportunity to all schools in Tuscola County. Funds will be granted based on the date of the application. The Thumb Nature Areas organization will notify schools of the status of their application in a timely manner. If your trip is approved, a transportation department invoice needs to be submitted to the above address upon completion of your trip.
Schools may request presenters who are available through our organization, to assist teachers during their field trip. Presentations are done by volunteers and are based on the availability of presenters.
We look forward to hearing from you. If classrooms within your school wish to participate in this outdoor education opportunity, it is suggested to apply early.
Completed application can be mailed, emailed or your request can be taken over the phone by a member of our group. Our contact information can be found on the "Contact Us" tab on the menu bar,
If you have questions, please feel free to contact Patty McNinch at the Tuscola Conservation District Office at 989-673-8174 ext. - 136 or by emailing us at thumb.nature.areas@gmail.com.
Sincerely Yours,
Patty McNinch
President
Thumb Nature Areas