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This is the second year offering Portage residents and visitors a type of letterboxing called Clue Trail. This collaboration between Portage District Library, the City of Portage Parks and Recreation Department and Kalamazoo Nature Center, with funding support by Lees Sports and Sportswear, will provide a summer adventure for families, adults and teens. There will be five clue trail boxes hidden in the Nature Center; six in the Portage District Library and four in the Portage parks, Celery Flats and historical areas.
What Do I Need to Participate in the Clue Trail?
What Do Participants Need for Clue Trail?
List of clues and instructions which you can pickup in print and websites from Portage District Library, the City of Portage. Clues are also available in print from Kalamazoo Nature Center and Lees Sports and Sportswear
- Blank book (passport/personal logbook)
- Stamp & dye-based acid-free ink pad (you can use several colors of ink. Be creative!)
- Compass
- Map of Portage city parks & cultural areas
- Map of Kalamazoo Nature Center trails
Follow the clues provided below to locations in the Portage District Library, Portage Parks and historical areas, and the Kalamazoo Nature Center. Decipher the clues and you will find a hidden waterproof box which contains a stamp, stamp pad and logbook. Take a moment to savor your surroundings and tracking genius and stamp your book with the stamp in the box and the box’s logbook with your stamp. Place the box where it was for the next Clue Trail detective.
Travel the library stacks: Heritage Room, Adult Area, and Youth Area to find these clue boxes…
1. Travel around looking for Very Old (90 years old) writings about Mushrooms (hint—what do scientists call field mushrooms in Latin?)
2. If you were an ornithologist going to Isle Royale 50 years ago, what book might you have taken with you?
3. If you were looking for a book by a cook who went on tour looking for the perfect meal including bugs in the Mekong Delta, what book would you put in your backpack?
4. Take your 9-year old little brother to read this fictional story of a young peregrine falcon.
5. Could you survive in the wilderness for fifty-four days with nothing but a hatchet? The hero in this award winning teen novel did.
6. Fried chicken, fried mushrooms, fried fish, fried okra, fried cheese, fried onions, fried apples, fried potatoes, fried WORMS?!? Find the play.
Celery Flats Historical Area:
From the parking lot at the Celery Flats Interpretive Center, follow the walkway to the front entry of the Interpretive Center. As you look into the Interpretive Center the 1st clue location is a “pane”. From there follow clues at each new location. While following the clues, enjoy the sights and scenery of the Historical Area. Did you know that Celery Flats hosts a variety of events, festivals and entertainment during the summer months? Also, several of the buildings can be rented for family and group outings. Remember, be sure to close the box when finished and place the box back in the location found. Find your way back to the parking lot and continue on the clue trail hunt for letterboxes in other locations.
Bicentennial Park/Milham Avenue Access:
See the old apple tree in the middle of the front parking lot island? Take the sidewalk east and cross the driveway to the main trail. Look for a green sign with a map of Bicentennial Park. Can you find the 1st clue on the sign? You may need to look all around. As you search for clues, watch for bicyclists, walkers and in-line skaters on the main trail. Did you know that the trail is used by over 200,000 participants on a yearly basis? Remember, be sure to close the box tightly when finished and place the box back in the location found. Find your way back to the parking lot and continue on the clue trail hunt for letterboxes in other locations.
West Lake Nature Preserve:
From the parking lot, take the walkway to the shelter. The first clue is located under cover of a container for “interpreting” the park. West Lake Nature Preserve is over 110 acres in size and home to several special plants and animals. As you search for clues, please stay on the trails. Remember, be sure to close the box tightly when finished and place the box back in the location found. Find your way back to the parking lot and continue on the clue trail hunt for letterboxes in other locations.
Oakland Drive Park:
From the parking lot, take the main walkway up the hill to a place of “ground” where all children like to “play”. Search for the 1st clue on one of the many “legs” of this structure. Hint – do you like to play tic-tac-toe? Oakland Drive Park provides year-round activities for all including a sledding hill during the winter months. As you search for clues, be sure to enjoy the playground, woods and play areas. Remember, be sure to close the box tightly when finished and place the box back in the location found. Find your way back to the parking lot and continue on the clue trail hunt for letterboxes in other locations.
The Kalamazoo Nature Center (KNC) is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to connect people with nature. We are located at 7000 N. Westnedge Ave. and maintain 1,100 acres with over 10 miles of hiking trails, interpretive exhibits, gardens, a barnyard and a live butterfly display (seasonal). Daily admission is $6/adult, $5/seniors, $4/children & students, and FREE for ages 3 and under. If you are a member of KNC, admission is free. Information on becoming a member can be found at www.naturecenter.org or by calling (269)381-1574.
We hope that you’ll try ALL of the clues that KNC has hidden for you, but we understand that there are only so many hours in the day! So, to assist you in choosing which clues you’d like to attempt, we’ve provided a rating system describing the level of difficulty for each one.
Difficulty Level
Easy --paved surface
Moderate -- gravel surface with some elevation changes
Difficult -- lots of inclines, uneven surfaces
Kalamazoo Nature Center –A Squirrel’s Cache
Difficulty Level: Easy
To begin your adventure, stand under the sign with the squirrel on it and look across the parking lot for a white archway, the entrance of the Arboretum. Walk through the archway and follow the gravel pathway past the picnic area to the first intersection. Follow the gravel pathway clockwise, take the 2 nd path on your left and head towards the Hummingbird/Butterfly Garden. Walk to the entrance of the garden and take a moment to read the sign titled Winged Jewel of the Garden. The Hummingbird/Butterfly Garden is a beautiful space for visitors to relax and enjoy the lovely flowers, trees and shrubs that attract butterflies, caterpillars and hummingbirds. KNC volunteers are responsible for the maintenance and care of this wonderful space. Give them a round of applause! The garden is also used throughout the summer as an outdoor wedding space. Leave the garden and turn left towards the Butterfly House. Step inside the house and see many varieties of butterflies fluttering and caterpillars munching on their favorite foods. Look for the brilliant orange and black butterfly called the Monarch. Did you know in late summer the last generation of the Monarch Butterfly will fly all the way to Mexico to spend the winter? How long you can flap your “wings” before your muscles tire out? After visiting the butterflies, exit the house, turn left and follow the trail around the back of the butterfly house. Bear right when the trail splits and look for a big old turtle waiting for you under some bushes. Take a break on the turtle’s back then continue on the path. Look for a sign with cow print and follow the arrow towards the Barn. Look both ways as you cross the dirt farm road and head up towards the barn. In the lower level of the Barn, visit with our farm animals. How many chickens are there? How about bunnies? Did you know that we offer special programs all summer in our Barnyard? Ask the Barn staff person about upcoming events! Once you’ve visited with all of the animals, retrace your steps across the dirt farm road and back past the hiding turtle. This time when you get to the trail intersection, turn right and walk past the row of Red Cedars that line the back of the garden. You should now be close to the “Magic” Weeping Beech tree, which is on the right hand side of the trail! The branches droop to the ground and if you explore around the tree you’ll find a secret entrance to the “inside”. Sneak into the Weeping Beech and use your detective eyes to locate a squirrel sculpture perched high up in the tree guarding the letterbox below! Remember, be sure to close the box tightly when finished and place the box back in its hiding spot. Once done exploring the “squirrel’s cache”, head back to the trail and continue around the garden staying left at the first intersection. Once back at the picnic area, head back towards the parking lot and continue on the Clue Trail Hunt for our other letterboxes.
Kalamazoo Nature Center – A Bird’s Eye View of Kalamazoo
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Begin your adventure at the Nature Center’s main parking lot. Look for the sign with the squirrel and the arrow and head down the sidewalk in the direction of the arrow. Cross the “ Tree Top Bridge” and enter the Interpretive Center. Here you’ll find restrooms, refreshments and outstanding exhibits describing our property’s natural treasures. Walk around the guest service desk and look for a room that appears to be a jungle. Enter the Sun-Rain Room through the double doors and follow the ramp down to the bottom. Do you see any turtles or hear any birds? Did you know that many of the birds that we see in Michigan in the summer spend their winters in places that look like our Sun-Rain Room? Exit the Sun-Rain Room through the lower doors and veer left towards the Habitat Haven Trailhead door. The Habitat Haven Trail is a half-mile, accessible loop highlighting several of Michigan’s important habitats. Step outside and walk down the steps toward the Red-tailed Hawks and the Great Horned Owl. What characteristics can you see that help these amazing predators to hunt? Behind you is a rock-lined pond and stream. Groundwater from our geothermal heating and cooling system ends up there after we use it to heat or cool our building. This method of controlling the indoor temperature helps reduce the amount of energy that we use. Follow the trail alongside the stream, at the first intersection stay right and walk 36 paces to the pond overlook. Take a detour and step onto the deck to see how many frogs you can spot in the water. Do any have yellow chins? These are Green Frogs and you might hear their “banjo” calls on a warm summer day! Retrace your steps back 36 paces to the last intersection, veer right this time and hike through the beech maple forest until you reach the intersection of Cooper’s Overlook Trail. Hike to the top of the wooden stairs and catch your breath at the overlook. Can you find a tree with bark that looks like elephant skin? This American Beech tree provides food for animals such as R uffed grouse, Wild turkeys, Raccoons, Red fox, White-tailed deer, Rabbits and Squirrels . Watch your step and continue on Cooper’s Overlook Trail. On your right, admire the view of Trout Run Stream, a healthy cold water stream managed for Brook Trout. After walking about 0.2 mile, veer right at the intersection of the Beech-Maple Trail. Hike down to the stream and follow it until you reach a bridge. Cross onto the bridge and cool off by dipping your toes into the stream. Peek under a rock or two to see which aquatic insects call the stream their home. Continue across the bridge and go 25 regular paces to the intersection of the Raptor Ridge Trail. Veer right onto Raptor Ridge and begin the climb to the top. Take your time to catch your breath at the top of the steps and then hike approximately 50 yards to Connie’s Overlook. Sit on the bench and enjoy the view created by glaciers! Can you imagine what it feels like to be a bird up here? Back on the trail, continue hiking up the trail. At the next intersection notice how the trail surface changes from mostly dirt and tree roots to mostly rocks - you have just entered an old gravel mining pit. Just up the hill is an overlook with a bird’s eye view of Kalamazoo! As you stand on the overlook, turn to the right and see if you can find Borgess Hospital just over the horizon. Look down…raptors love this ridge and often you’ll get a chance to look down on them as they soar by! Notice the fence blocking off the old trail. Beneath the fence lies rocks and brush and here you’ll find the letterbox. Remember, be sure to close the box tightly when finished and place the box back in its hiding spot. Head back the way you came and look for a large single boulder, or “erratic”, left here by the glaciers, on the right side of the trail. Walk 14 regular paces past this boulder to the next intersection. Veer right and continue downhill until you pass 3 more boulders on the right side of the trail. Continue 19 regular paces to the “T” intersection and veer left. Take the steps down the hill back towards Trout Run Stream. Need to cool your toes again? Go for it! As you come off the bridge, veer left and return back up the Beech-Maple Trail towards the building. At the intersection of the Cooper’s Overlook Trail, stay right and continue on the Beech-Maple. As you reach the peak of the gradual hill you’ll find the intersection of a foot-trail. Turn left here and it will take you back to the Interpretive Center where your journey ends!
Kalamazoo Nature Center – A Hike Back Through Time
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Begin your journey back in time at the DeLano Homestead Parking Lot at 555 West E Avenue. Park in the large gravel lot and locate the service road at the southeast corner of the parking lot. Hike up the road past the rock-lined walls towards the DeLano Homestead. Be careful not to give in to the urge to climb on the rock walls as they are often blanketed in the 3-leaved plant, Poison Ivy. Stop and use your eyes only to get to know this plant! Upon cresting the hill you’ll pass by the granary on your left and the tool shed on your right. These buildings were important to the DeLano family as they were used for storing vegetables and grains and for creating tools and repairing equipment. Hike up to the house to read the sign detailing the journey of the Delano’s to southwest Michigan. Take a peek into the windows of the house and see if you can find the kids’ play room, the parlor and the bedroom. Come back in December to see how the family celebrated Christmas in the 1800s at Holidays at the Homestead.Before leaving the house, locate the heirloom herb garden and use your nose to find a plant that smells like mint, one that smells like licorice and one that smells like onions. Fresh herbs were a very important component of homestead gardens! Retrace your steps back down the road. At the intersection just past the tool shed turn left and follow the path past the corn crib. At the “Y” in the trail stay left and hike until you spot the home made of trees. This was the first home of the DeLano family. Explore the outside of the house and see if you can find where they would have kept their animals. Take a moment to close your eyes and imagine what southwest Michigan might have looked like back at this time. What did you see? Go back to the trail and walk about 25 yards further until you see the intersection of a trail on your right. Do you see the large fenced in area where our Nature Up Close summer camp grows fruits and veggies? Hike past the garden to the “T” intersection of the Pioneer Woods Trail. Veer right and follow the winding trail. Notice the large ravine on your left? Just past the ravine you’ll find a foot trail that crosses the main path. Take this foot trail to the left and hike back into the Native American encampment. Can you find the wooden frame of the wigwam? How about the drying racks for vegetables, herbs and meats? Look for the spot where the garden would have been. Stand in the main entrance of the garden and locate the corner which contains a small pile of rock at its outside base. Examine this small rock pile and find the hidden box beneath. Remember, be sure to close the box tightly when finished and place the box back in its hiding spot. Once you’re finished exploring the Native American village, head back to the foot trail, cross over the Pioneer Woods Trail that you walked in on and continue west till you hit another section of the Pioneer Woods Trail. Veer right and follow the trail back towards the DeLano House. At the tool shed turn left and follow rock-lined service road back to parking lot. Welcome back to 2008!
Kalamazoo Nature Center - Last Letterbox in the Woods
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Start your search by following the signs at the Westnedge entrance to the visitor's parking area. After parking, follow the walkway by the wooden structures down to the Interpretive Center. Say hello to the Guest Services staff and head straight across to the entrance of the Sun-Rain room.
At the bottom of the Sun-Rain room, see if you can spot the fish and turtles. Look for the upside down raindrop too. Exit out the doors at the bottom and veer left towards the door that says Habitat Haven Trailhead. Go out the doors, walk down the steps to the raptor cages and then head right on the trail towards the Beech-Maple Trail. You’ll cross two sections of pavement before entering the woods and reaching the start of the trail.
The trail will descend gradually. Continue straight, looking for another trail marker on your left, then another. What's that up ahead? A viaduct under a railroad bed - go through it. The path continues on a boardwalk - is there any child who can resist running on a boardwalk? To the right is a short detour to a bench at a stream. Take your shoes and socks off, dig some slimy mud... and then it’s back to the trail.
Retrace your path back through the viaduct. This time, turn left, following the path of the stream. Look for another trail sign on your left. Pass by the steep hill to the right of the trail and follow the stream on the left.
Continue until you cross a small bridge over a trickling waterfall. Stop at the end of the bridge and look up the hill on the right side for two large trees very close to each other. One is standing upright but dead, and the other leans slightly toward the water. In the base of the leaning tree, covered in leaves, you will find the "Last Letterbox in the Woods". It involves a short, but steep, walk to retrieve it. A short distance down the path is a bench that is perfect for stamping in.
After replacing the box, continue on the path straight past the Raptor Ridge Trail on the left. At a large group of fallen logs on your right the trail will make a right turn and wind back behind the logs. Follow the wooden beam stairs up the hill. Continue on the path, looking for a trail marker on your right. Take the left path back to the Interpretive Center via a back door. After you go inside, make a right to get back to where you entered the Center.
Geocaching is a worldwide game dedicated to GPS (Global Positioning System) users. This “game” involves a GPS user hiding “treasure” (a container filled with prizes) and publishing the exact coordinates so other GPS users can go on a “treasure hunt” to find it. The only rules are: if you take something from the cache, you must leave something for the cache, and you must write about your visit in the logbook. The Kalamazoo Nature Center is participating in Geocaching by hiding a five-part multi cache on its North Westnedge property. GPS users can begin by following the first set of coordinates:
N 42º 21.651 W 085º 35.291
Once these coordinates are located answer the following question:
Who built the structure found here?
Participants then take this answer to the Guest Service desk in the Interpretive Center, during business hours, where they will receive the remaining coordinates needed to locate the cache. Allow yourself a minimum of 2 hours to complete this cache! Good luck!
Location: Kalamazoo Nature Center (will be indoors in the event of rain)Your Clue Trail personal logbook is your passport to this End of the Trail event. There will be prizes, ice cream, activities for the whole family and the Nature Center’s Birds of Prey program. Come learn what “clues” tell you a bird is a raptor and meet some of our Michigan raptors up close!
Thursday, August 7 th from 6:30 – 8:30pm
For more information please call (269) 329 4542 x600.
Special thank-you to Lees Sports & Sportswear for their financial support for Clue Trail
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