DNR Outdoor Adventure Center

08/24/2026

Notice: Annual September Closure

The OAC is closed for the month of September for annual deep cleaning, maintenance and exhibit enhancements.

We look forward to seeing you when we re-open on Saturday, October 3rd!

08/18/2026

Join us Sunday, August 23 with your friendly dog and enjoy a tail-wagging day of fun at Dog Days of Summer! This event will feature frisbee toss, refreshing water games, group hikes and more. Swimming pools will be available for both small and large dogs to cool off. For everyone’s safety, your dog must be on a leash and friendly with both people and other dogs and must have current vaccinations and licenses.
No pets allowed in the Outdoor Adventure Center.

In partnership with:
Michigan State Police K-9 Unit
Sweet Paws Creamery

This is a free, outdoor event. Regular admission fees apply for building access.
MEMBER BENEFIT: Members will receive a complimentary special themed giveaway.

08/14/2026

🛶 Ready to explore the Detroit River by kayak? 🌊

We have a program for that! There are still spaces available for Kayaking the Detroit River Canals on Tuesday, Aug. 18. Registration closes TONIGHT (Friday, Aug. 14) at 11:59 p.m. ⏰

Here's a peak at what you may experience! Photos are from our previous programs.

To learn more and register, click the link in the comments.

08/13/2026

Looking for one more family adventure before the school year begins?

Join the OAC team for Maybury State Park Family Campout 2026, Friday, August 21-Saturday, August 22. Pitch a tent under the stars and enjoy a night hike, games and more. We’ll end the night with a campfire and s’mores.

Preregistration required. Cost is $45 per site.

REGISTRATION CLOSES August 14 at 11:59 p.m.

08/12/2026

We hope to see you at Belle Isle Nature Center next Thursday, August 20, 7-9pm! Click the post below to learn more about Nature at Night: Nighttime Animals.

Get ready for a wild night out next Thursday, Aug. 20, at the Belle Isle Nature Center!

During this lively Nature at Night event, hosted in partnership with the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center, you can enjoy a rare glimpse into the world of nocturnal animals. There will be a guided walk, campfire gatherings and educational activities featuring native wildlife who rule the night!

This free event is from 7-9 p.m., and no registration is required. Learn more on our website: https://belleislenaturecenter.org/event/nature-at-night-nighttime-animals/

08/11/2026

The Perseid meteor shower is one one of the brightest and most active celestial events of the year!
Viewing the shower should be easy in 2026 - a new moon will create darker skies when the shower peaks August 12-13.
Drive away from cities to achieve the best viewing, typically in the pre-dawn hours (between 1:00-5:00 a.m. Light pollution from street lights, buildings and other sources interferes with clear, dark sky viewing.

Learn more about the Perseid Meteor Shower: https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/perseids/

Discover tips and tricks for viewing: https://downriver.macaronikid.com/articles/66ad3a8d70f3f90ce0701744/how-to-watch-the-2026-perseid-meteor-shower-with-your-family

The Best Stargazing Sites Near Detroit, from Expedition Detroit: https://www.expeditiondetroit.com/post/best-stargazing-destinations-near-detroit

08/10/2026

We were having such great adventures at summer camp that we forgot to share photos! Take a look at our final two weeks of Camp Explore 2026 - Trailblazers Rock On week, and our very first Excursion Camp! Campers challenged themselves in climbing, hiking, swimming, and most importantly spent time together in nature 🤩🌳☀️🏕

We are so grateful to our wonderful camp families who joined us for the 2026 camp season, and to the amazing partners who provided special experiences to our campers.

Special thanks to:
DYNO Detroit
Hoeft State Park
Mackinac State Historic Parks
NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Oden State Fish Hatchery and Michigan Fisheries Visitors Center

We can't wait for more adventures in 2027! Save the date - Camp Explore registration will open January 1.

08/07/2026

Space is still available to register! Learn more by visiting the link in the post.

This summer, BOW is teaming up with Outdoor Adventure Center educators to host a women's-only, two-day workshop on Department of Natural Resources recreational safety classes. Prior to the workshop, participants must complete hunter education and/or bow hunter education courses. Aug. 15: Participant...

07/30/2026

Celebrate Dinosaur Day at the OAC!
Sunday, August 2, 12-3 p.m.
Meet our “living fossils”, make a plaster fossil cast and dig for fossils to take home!

Did you know?
Michigan has no dinosaur fossils - but we have “living fossils”!

The land that would become Michigan was mostly desert during the time of the dinosaurs. The majority of that rock eroded away, leaving almost no trace of what was here during that time.

Michigan does have a creature alive today who has ancestors from the time of the dinosaurs. Sturgeon are called “living fossils” and have remained relatively unchanged for 200 million years.

Can’t make it to the OAC on Sunday? Learn more about Michigan’s lack of dinosaur fossils:
https://www.johnsonnaturecenter.org/articles/michigans-missing-pages

https://wgrd.com/michigan-dinosaur-fossil-history/

07/29/2026

⛺Adventure is calling—save your spot today! ⛺
Join us for one (or both!) of our upcoming Family Campouts:

Outdoor Adventure Center Family Campout (Detroit)– Friday–Saturday, Aug. 7–8
📅 Registration closes Aug. 6 at 11:59 p.m.

Maybury State Park Family Campout (Northville) – Friday–Saturday, Aug. 21–22
📅 Registration closes Aug. 7 at 11:59 p.m.

Gather the family, pitch a tent, and enjoy a fun overnight camping experience filled with outdoor adventure and lasting memories. Preregistration required. Cost is $45 per site.

https://secure.rec1.com/MI/michigan-dnr/catalog/index/12f85f37b786095ccaa4c2ebfd9bc4f8?filter=c2VhcmNoPWNhbXBvdXQ=