Butterfly Network Field Trips 

Lost Nation State Game Area is a 1,471 acre area of public land in Hillsdale County, Michigan composed of several different habitats including prairie fen, woodland, lakes, streams, and ponds. Join the Michigan Butterfly Network as we explore this fascinating area on Wedneday, June 19th from 12:00pm-3:00pm. Registration required.  

If you would like to carpool we will be leaving the Kalamazoo Nature Center at 10:00am and leaving the Game Area around 3:00pm. 

Directions from Kalamazoo: Follow I-94 East, take exit 108 toward Fort Wayne. Merge onto I-69 South. Take exit 16 for Jonesville Road in Branch County. Turn left onto Jonesville Road. Follow Jonesville Road to Murphy Street. Turn right onto Murphy Street. Continue onto Reading Avenue. Turn right onto M-99S/Olds Street. Turn right onto M-99S/Broad Street. Continue onto M-34 E. Turn right onto Bird Lake Road S. Continue straight (Bird Lake Road will eventually curve south), instead go straight onto Trail Road (a dead end dirt road, there will be a house on the corner). Trail Road dead ends into the parking area where we will meet.  

Join the Michigan Butterfly Network as we explore the Allegan State Game area on Wednesday, July 17th from 1:00-4:00pm. Registration required. 

The Allegan State Game area is a 50,000 acre area of public land located in Allegan County, MI which is comprised of mostly hardwood forest but includes small inland lakes and streams. 

Butterflies we could observe include Karner Blue, Gray Hairstreak, Coral Hairstreak, Banded Hairstreak, Edwards' Hairstreak, and possiblity Purplish Coppers among many others. 

Directions from Kalamazoo: Head north on US 131, take exit 49B to merge onto M-89 W/Allegan Street towards Allegan, continue to follow M-89 (12.6 miles), turn left onto Cutler Street (0.2 miles), continue onto Western Avenue (0.3 miles), continue onto M-40 N/M-89 W/Lincoln Road (0.7 miles), turn left onto Monroe Road, merge onto 118th Avenue, turn onto 59th Street, destination will be on your right.

Join the Michigan Butterfly Network as we explore Chipman Preserve on Wednesday, August 7th from 1:00pm - 4:00pm. Registration Required.

Chipman Preserve is a 228-acre natural area managed by the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy. This preserve consists of rolling savanna, forest, and grassland habitats and is home to a variety of wildlife species including some state-listed plants.

We will convene at the preserve's gravel parking lot. 

Directions: Chipman Preserve is in the 8000 block of East Main St., 3 miles east of Sprinkle Rd. between 30th and 33rd Streets in Comstock Township (Galesburg). The preserve entrance is on the north side of the street.