Nankin Mills Interpretive Center

Nankin Mills Interpretive Center This is the official page for the Nankin Mills Interpretive Center. NOTE: The center is currently open Monday-Friday from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

The 2nd and 3rd floors are currently closed due to exciting renovations. Nankin Mills is currently open Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed for lunch from Noon – 1:00 PM)

Yet another forest fairy sighting near the pond!To find out more, register your child for Home School Thursdays: Forest ...
08/31/2026

Yet another forest fairy sighting near the pond!

To find out more, register your child for Home School Thursdays: Forest Fairies on Thursday, September 10 from 1:00 PM-3:00 PM at Nankin Mills.

Look for forest fairy figures in the woods and fields and learn about the nature behind where they are hiding and what they are protecting. The program is indoors and outdoors. Expect up to a half mile hike, the trail is dirt with some small hills and exposed roots.

The fee is $6.00 per student ($7.00 if out of county) and is recommended for ages five and older. Caregivers must attend and are free. Siblings younger than age five may attend for free, but they may not participate in activities and must not disrupt the class.

Pre-registration is required by calling (734) 261-1990 or by visiting Nankin Mills Interpretive Center, which is open 1:00 PM-4:00 PM Monday through Friday.

For more information, call (734) 261-1990.

08/28/2026

August Splendor

This aptly named insect is called the red-head bush cricket, or handsome trig, due to its pretty coloration. Handsome trigs are most commonly seen during August in fields, meadows, and backyard native plant gardens.

Unlike some crickets, they will call during the day well into the evening with a unique call that sounds like an electric buzzer. The male likes to squeeze into a hole in a leaf or between two leaves to use them as a natural megaphone to make it's call louder. This technique is called "baffling".

Forest Fairies continue appearing at Nankin Mills. These two were found inside an evergreen.To find out more, register ...
08/27/2026

Forest Fairies continue appearing at Nankin Mills. These two were found inside an evergreen.

To find out more, register your child for Home School Thursdays: Forest Fairies on Thursday, September 10 from 1:00 PM-3:00 PM at Nankin Mills.

Look for forest fairy figures in the woods and fields and learn about the nature behind where they are hiding and what they are protecting. The program is indoors and outdoors. Expect up to a half mile hike, the trail is dirt with some small hills and exposed roots.

The fee is $6.00 per student ($7.00 if out of county) and is recommended for ages five and older. Caregivers must attend and are free. Siblings younger than age five may attend for free, but they may not participate in activities and must not disrupt the class.

Pre-registration is required by calling (734) 261-1990 or by visiting Nankin Mills Interpretive Center, which is open 1:00 PM-4:00 PM Monday through Friday.
For more information, call (734) 261-1990.

Frightful Fridays have RETURNED!Are you brave enough to to venture into the woods with a flashlight in search of spiders...
08/26/2026

Frightful Fridays have RETURNED!

Are you brave enough to to venture into the woods with a flashlight in search of spiders?

Then come to our Spider Flashlight Hike on Friday, September 18 from 7:00 PM-8:30 PM at Nankin Mills. We will dive into the world of these often-misunderstood animals in this indoor and outdoor program. Expect a one-mile hike, the trail is dirt with some small hills and exposed roots. We will supply the flashlights

REGISTRATION FOR THIS PROGRAM CLOSES 9/17 AT 4:00 PM

Are you ready to have your world ROCKED?

Join us for Rocktober on Friday, October 9 from 6:30 PM-8:00 PM at Nankin Mills to learn about the mythical properties of gems and rocks as well as proven scientific properties. Expect to see rocks and test some minerals in this indoor program.

REGISTRATION FOR THIS PROGRAM CLOSES 10/8 AT 4:00 PM

The fee for either program is $5.00 per person ($6.00 if out of county) and is recommended for ages five and older.

Pre-registration is required by calling (734) 261-1990 or by visiting Nankin Mills Interpretive Center, which is open 1:00 PM-4:00 PM Monday through Friday.

For more information, call (734) 261-1990.

08/26/2026

Ancient August!

Did you know no dinosaur fossils have been found in Michigan? Despite no fossil evidence, scientists believe dinosaurs likely roamed the area during the Mesozoic Era. This is thought to be the result of Michigan's heavy glaciation moving or destroying fossils, some have theorized there could be dinosaur fossils buried incredibly deep down in the earth below our state.

Regardless of having dinosaur fossils or not, the state has rich deposits of anicent sea life fossils.

Forest Fairies have begun appearing at Nankin Mills. They seem to like hanging around certain animals and plants.To find...
08/24/2026

Forest Fairies have begun appearing at Nankin Mills. They seem to like hanging around certain animals and plants.

To find out more, register your child for Home School Thursdays: Forest Fairies on Thursday, September 10 from 1:00 PM-3:00 PM at Nankin Mills.

Look for forest fairy figures in the woods and fields and learn about the nature behind where they are hiding and what they are protecting. The program is indoors and outdoors. Expect up to a half mile hike, the trail is dirt with some small hills and exposed roots.

The fee is $6.00 per student ($7.00 if out of county) and is recommended for ages five and older. Caregivers must attend and are free. Siblings younger than age five may attend for free, but they may not participate in activities and must not disrupt the class.

Pre-registration is required by calling (734) 261-1990 or by visiting Nankin Mills Interpretive Center, which is open 1:00 PM-4:00 PM Monday through Friday.

For more information, call (734) 261-1990.

08/22/2026

𝔽𝕣𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕗𝕦𝕝 𝔽𝕣𝕚𝕕𝕒𝕪𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕓𝕒𝕔𝕜!

Our first one is our Spider Flashlight Hike on Friday, September 18, from 7:00 PM-8:30 PM at Nankin Mills Interpretive Center.

Have you ever shined a flashlight to see spider eyes? It’s pretty cool! You might be surprised by how many eyes you see. We will dive into the world of these often-misunderstood animals in this indoor and outdoor program. Expect a one-mile hike, the trail is dirt with some small hills and exposed roots. We will supply the flashlights.

The fee is $5.00 per person ($6.00 if out of county) and is recommended for ages five and older.

Pre-registration is required by calling (734) 261-1990 or by visiting Nankin Mills Interpretive Center, which is open 8:30 AM-4:00 PM Monday through Friday (closed Noon-1:00 PM for lunch).

For more information, call (734) 261-1990.

08/21/2026

August Splendor

This week we're covering the northern walking stick. This species is most commonly seen in this area around August when they reach full size. Hatching in mid May or mid June, they start off 1/4 of an inch and will max out at between 3 1/2-4 inches.

The phrase "you are what you eat" applies to these insects, being that their favorite food is oak trees, specifically their leaves. Below is a video of a northern walking stick we found in Holliday Nature Preserve.

***Update this program has been canceled***Tis' Little John of Robin Hood's Merriman (Road)!Little John will be here to ...
08/19/2026

***Update this program has been canceled***

Tis' Little John of Robin Hood's Merriman (Road)!

Little John will be here to share his knowledge of the many insects that live in Sherwood Forest.

Robin Hood's Sherwood Forest Hike is on Friday, August 21st, from 6:30 PM-8:00 PM at Sherwood Recreation Area in Westland (Address 29600 Edward Hines Drive, not too far from Merriman Road).

Expect a one-mile hike through our river prairie ecosystem. This fun and educational hike is to be led by Robin Hood and his "Merriman".

Pre-registration is required by calling (734) 261-1990 or by visiting Nankin Mills Interpretive Center, which is open 8:30 AM-4:00 PM Monday through Friday (closed Noon-1:00 PM for lunch).

REGISTRATION FOR THIS PROGRAM CLOSES AT 4:00 PM ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 20TH.

The fee is $5.00 per person ($6.00 per person if out of county) and is recommended for ages five and older.

For today's Ancient August Post we have some ancient teeth!Check out these replicas of mastodon and mammoth teeth. The ...
08/18/2026

For today's Ancient August Post we have some ancient teeth!

Check out these replicas of mastodon and mammoth teeth. The one with the bumps is a mastodon, and the bumps helped the animal crush leaves and twigs. The other is a mammoth, an animal which grazed on grasses, and the flat ridges helped it grind them up.

Address

33175 Ann Arbor Trail
Westland, MI
48185

Opening Hours

Monday 1pm - 4pm
Tuesday 1pm - 4pm
Wednesday 1pm - 4pm
Thursday 1pm - 4pm
Friday 1pm - 4pm

Telephone

+17342611990

Website

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