New: Interlochen Online to offer music and arts programs for adults.
Sustainability & Nature Lecture and Cooking Series
Why Attend Sustainability & Nature Lecture and Cooking Series
Interlochen’s Sustainability & Nature Lecture and Cooking Series offers a variety of two-hour programs focusing on creative sustainability and exploration of nature. Our goal is to inspire adult learners to interact with our local environment in a positive way. We explore cooking, artistry, and ecology while providing an educational and exciting learning experience for all.
Sustainability & Nature Lectures are $20, while our food-based programs require a $40 registration fee. All events in this series require preregistration. To register, click the link below for the program you wish to attend.
Programs will be held from 6 p.m to 8 p.m. at the R.B. Annis Botanical Lab on the campus of Interlochen Center for the Arts, directly in front of the Interlochen Public Radio building. For more information, please contact Emily Umbarger at emily.umbarger@interlochen.org.
Making Focaccia Bread
Do you love focaccia bread? Do you enjoy fresh, local garden herbs and vegetables? Join Chef Maria for an interactive cooking experience where participants explore the art of making homemade Ligurian-style focaccia bread. (Liguria, Italy, is the birthplace of traditional focaccia.) With the use of fresh herbs and locally sourced, seasonal vegetables, participants will get to use our on-site bread oven to make some of the most mouth watering, beautiful focaccia bread!
About the Presenter:
Chef Maria Leggett grew up in Traverse City and graduated from Great Lakes Culinary Institute in 2018. Currently, she is the Chef for Grand Traverse Sauce Company. While traveling in Italy in 2017 and 2018, she fell in love with the Italian philosophy behind cooking: simplistic and full of flavor.
Date: Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Time: 6 - 8 p.m.
Registration Fee: $40
Register Here
Exploring Michigan's Geology—A Story Written in Rocks
Have you ever wondered what the rocks you find at the beach are? What stories they tell us? Rocks are like pages in a book, written in a language geologists have learned to read. Learn how to read the rocks of Michigan in the session. We'll break down how to identify rocks of all stripes—metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary—and explore what they tell us about Michigan's deep past. Bring along your favorite beachcombed treasures for identification!
About the Presenter:
Trisha Smrecak is a paleontologist and educator who focuses on creating authentic science experiences for learners of all ages. She is the Education Coordinator at Inland Seas Education Association where she takes youth into the watershed or out on Lake Michigan in a 78-foot schooner to inspire the next generation of Great Lakes stewards.
Date: Wednesday, June 14, 2023
Time: 6 - 8 p.m.
Registration Fee: $20
Dinner is Done! Family Friendly Spring Cooking Options
Picky eaters? Low on time? Looking for more healthy family dinners? This class is for you! Using a food processor to minimize prep time, you will learn to create three sure-to-please crowd favorites: roasted beet hummus, a garden gazpacho, and finally a tasty falafel that kids will gobble up. Each recipe will incorporate spring veggies and herbs from the garden that can easily be grown in a bed or containers at home. We'll also incorporate local ingredients to celebrate the bounty of our rich Northern Michigan food scene. Join us for this fun and easy evening designed to focus on family eating. Little chefs are welcome (and encouraged!) and we'll discuss ways they can safely help out in the kitchen.
About the Presenter:
Kayleigh James is not a professional chef, but she's married to one! A seasoned home cook, Kayleigh's focus in the kitchen the past few years has been on ease and health as she feeds her one- and three-year old sons. Family dinners are a high-priority for her family, but because of her husband's work schedule, she is solo-parenting for dinner several times a week and looks for anything she can do to create yummy options quickly for her young eaters! The kid-approved recipes she's sharing in this class are in regular rotation in her house—and, maybe soon, in yours too!
Date: Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Time: 6 - 8 p.m.
Registration Fee: $40
Register Here
Exploring the World of Butterflies
Explore the fascinating world of butterflies and gain a solid understanding of these beautiful creatures and the important role they play in our world. You will learn about some of the common butterflies of the region, in addition to tips on finding, capturing, handling, identifying and photographing adult butterflies. The class also teaches techniques for making and storing a butterfly collection. Whether you are a nature enthusiast, a gardener, or simply curious about the world around you, this class is a great introduction to the basics of butterflies.
About the Presenter:
Dr. Duke Elsner is a local renown entomologist and bee and butterfly expert. While retired from teaching, he still can be found working on local programs through the Michigan State University Extension Office in the Grand Traverse Region.
Date: Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Time: 6 - 8 p.m.
Registration Fee: $20
Register Here
Preserving the Arcadia Dunes: Story of a Landscape
Have you ever wondered about the stories behind hiking trails you love? Join author Heather Shumaker and explore the story of preserving Arcadia Dunes, a 6,000-acre landscape-level conservation project in Benzie and Manistee counties in Michigan, subject of the book Saving Arcadia. Learn how a community came together across decades and generations to preserve the area, and explore how telling stories of hope are essential in continued environmental efforts today.
About the Presenter:
Heather Shumaker writes books for children and adults. She began writing books in elementary school and is now an award-winning author. The Griffins of Castle Cary is her first book for young readers. Before she became an author, Heather tried many jobs, including milk maid, tall ship sailor, llama trek guide, and fire crew. She also lived at the South Pole and sorted garbage and recycling in Antarctica. Heather now lives in northern Michigan with her family where she co-hosts the children's book podcast BookSmitten.
Date: Wednesday, July 5, 2023
Time: 6 - 8 p.m.
Registration Fee: $20
Register Here
Honey Tasting
Join Interlochen's beekeepers, Willow and Janna, for an evening of sweet exploration. You will learn how to taste, select, and use a wide variety of honey. The tasting will cover the origins, flavors, and culinary uses of many types of honey, from local starthistle to exotic international varietals. You will also take a walk through Interlochen's pollinator garden, with the option to visit the apiary. If you would like to visit the bees, please bring long sleeves, pants, and closed-toed shoes.
About the Presenters:
Janna Urbasic - Beekeeper
Jon Willow takes a stewardship approach to keeping her bees healthy and thriving. She and her partner, Janna, are Interlochen's beekeepers. Together, they teach courses for NMC's Northern Naturalist certificate program and lead classes and workshops at Interlochen's Sustainability Center. Janna has been a northern Michigan beekeeper for seven years and enjoys being an active member of the beekeeping community. She offers beekeeping classes through NMC’s extended education program. She also teaches in the summer lecture series at Interlochen Center for the Arts R. B. Annis Botanical Lab and Community Garden and is the co-beekeeper at their educational apiary. She is a lifelong learner and treasures her greatest mentors—the bees!
Date: Wednesday, July 12, 2023
Time: 6 - 8 p.m.
Registration Fee: $20
Register Here
Native Pollinator Plants of Northern Michigan
Native pollinators play a critical role in the health of our wild ecosystems and local agriculture. Michigan is home to hundreds of species of bees, butterflies, moths, wasps and other insects that have co-evolved with our native plants to form the very foundation of the many diverse natural communities found throughout the state, and many of these species are currently in peril. We all can play a role in supporting native pollinators, in our yards, by choosing to garden with native plant species! In this presentation, learn about the relationships between Michigan's pollinators and our native flora, and how to turn your backyard into a beautiful and vibrant refuge for these important insects.
About the Presenter:
Garrett Noyes, along with his wife Blythe Webster, owns and operates Birdsfoot Native Nursery in South Boardman, MI. Beginning in 2018, Birdsfoot Nursery grows Michigan native wildflowers, grasses and shrubs from seed, for habitat restoration, landscape professionals and home gardeners in Northern Michigan.
Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023
Time: 6 - 8 p.m.
Registration Fee: $20
Register Here
Making Marvelous Mocktails: Goodness from the Garden
Would you believe your garden could be your bar? Could you imagine if drinks grew from the earth? Now they can! By taking this hands-on, interactive class, you will learn to identify herbs, edible flowers, and other fruits and vegetables to make delicious concoctions. You will also learn the art of flavored syrup making, bitters and aromatics for drinks, and garnishes and natural dyes. You will walk away with an understanding of the benefits of herbs and minerals in making marvelous mocktails that are good for your health and your spirit, and these drinks will be a hit at your next social gathering!
About the Presenter:
Jack Lankford is a native to northern Michigan who enjoys being out in nature, the arts and city life. He co-founder and aids in the running of Evergreen, a nonprofit that specializes in social events that are alcohol free. Jack is excited to share with you exciting drinks that can help you entertain anyone.
Date: Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Time: 6 - 8 p.m.
Registration Fee: $20
Register Here
Backyard and Wilderness First Aid: Don’t Let Safety Take A Hike!
In this session, paramedic and university professor Jim Sturgill shares his love of the outdoors and his years of knowledge as an EMS provider in both Michigan and Ohio to better prepare you for how to respond to an emergency, whether in the vast outdoors of Michigan or in your own backyard. You will learn what steps to take before you ever set out on your adventure, what supplies and skills will help prevent serious injuries, what to do if you sustain an injury, and how to prepare your own wilderness first aid kit. A minimal amount of planning can mean the difference between an exciting adventure and a weekend ruined because of a potentially preventable injury.
About the Presenter:
Jim Sturgill is a paramedic and college professor who calls Cheboygan home. He's happily married to his wife, Erin, and has one son, Jamie. Jim has been involved in emergency medicine since 2005.
Date: Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Time: 6 - 8 p.m.
Registration Fee: $20
Register Here
Exploring Wildflower Habitats
Are you a nature lover looking for a new adventure? Join us for an informative talk and a nature walk to explore the wildflower habitats in northern Michigan. This session is designed to help you discover what it takes to be a wildflower and give you tips on how to identify specific flora. The tour will be led by our expert guide, who will provide insightful commentary on the different species of wildflowers that grow in the region, their unique characteristics, and the conditions they require to thrive. As you explore the beautiful surroundings, you'll discover the beauty and complexity of the northern Michigan wildflower habitats.
About the Presenter:
Martina Dorn is the owner of SBD Tours in Empire, Michigan and is an avid nature enthusiast!
Date: Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Time: 6 - 8 p.m.
Registration Fee: $20
Register Here
Honey Bees in Mystic Traditions
Throughout history, cultures all over the world have honored bees in their spiritual tradition. It is believed that connecting with bees on a spiritual level develops a deeper relationship with Self, the Little Sisters (the bees), Spirit, and Gaia (Mother Earth). Learn about the mystic history of the bees, including an activity to help you personally connect to the energy of the hive.
About the Presenters:
Jackie Rushton is a natural teacher whose experience spans four decades. She has been devoted to the bees for more than twenty years, and trains women to care for the bees in a gentle and wise woman way, weaving the practical with the mystical. This approach centers on the needs of the bees, co-creating a sacred space for all to thrive.
Janna Urbasic - Beekeeper
Jon Willow takes a stewardship approach to keeping her bees healthy and thriving. She and her partner, Janna, are Interlochen's beekeepers. Together, they teach courses for NMC's Northern Naturalist certificate program and lead classes and workshops at Interlochen's Sustainability Center. Janna has been a northern Michigan beekeeper for seven years and enjoys being an active member of the beekeeping community. She offers beekeeping classes through NMC’s extended education program. She also teaches in the summer lecture series at Interlochen Center for the Arts R. B. Annis Botanical Lab and Community Garden and is the co-beekeeper at their educational apiary. She is a lifelong learner and treasures her greatest mentors—the bees!
Date: Wednesday, August 16, 2023
Time: 6 - 8 p.m.
Registration Fee: $20
Register Here
Drawing Inspiration from Van Gogh and Sunflowers
Vincent Van Gogh was deeply inspired by the beauty and symbolism of sunflowers. What did the flowers mean to him? Why did he use the colors and brush strokes in his sunflower paintings? In this session we will discover what makes these paintings unique. Through these discoveries we will look at local Michigan flowers in the garden. We will create drawings and paintings using a variety of mediums.
About the Presenter:
Autumn Kirby loves teaching art to all ages. She has taught at Glen Arbor Art Center, Northwestern Michigan College, and Interlochen College of Creative Arts. She graduated from Minneapolis College of Design (MFA) and Western Michigan University (BFA). She presently enjoys acrylic painting, charcoal drawing, and playing violin.
Date: Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Time: 6 - 8 p.m.
Registration Fee: $20
Register Here
Discovering Wild Edible Mushrooms
Did you know we have over 60 species of wild edible mushrooms in Michigan? Learn the basics of mushroom identification, popular species found in our area, as well as harvesting and preservation methods. You will also learn how to grow your own mushrooms at home!
Presenter: Kim LeBlanc
Date: Wednesday, August 30, 2023
Time: 6 - 8 p.m.
Registration Fee: $20
Register Here
Painting with Pigment from Nature
For thousands of years, people have made pigment from nature. In this session, students will learn a step-by-step process for making flower petals into liquid watercolor and then painting with this pigment. You will explore simple watercolor techniques using the beautiful botanic gardens at Interlochen as your subject. You will take home a sample of watercolor liquid, a handout, and your watercolor painting.
About the Presenter:
Wendy McWhorter is a retired Lansing School District art teacher. She is a practicing Landscape and Floral oil, watercolor and gouache painter. She currently teaches with Arts for All, at Northwest Education in Traverse City.
Date: Wednesday, September 6, 2023
Time: 6 - 8 p.m.
Registration Fee: $20
Register Here