Earn a valuable Gift Shop coupon just for walking in the beautiful Dow Gardens!

Check their website for details

Free Airplane rides to youth 8 - 17 years of age - permission required.

Dow Gardens will be hosting a celebration of color this winter as we feature WinterGarden Glass by artist Craig Mitchell Smith. The winter splendor of the gardens will be highlighted through the unique placement of Smith's colored glass sculptures, creating jewels throughout the winter landscape.

Learn about the chakras, a subtle energy system in the body which helps to maintain physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual balance. As a way to explore this ancient system, students will practice yoga poses specifically helpful to individual chakras. Each student will create a strand of chakra prayer beads during this 8-week period. Instructor Wilma Carter is a gifted yoga teacher and experienced maker of prayer beads. Registration required by December 21. Cost: $85 for non-members/$80 for members, plus a $20 materials fee

The Art of Chris Erskine, Lisa Owen and Molly Warren-Haycock.

Outsider artist Chris Erskine is known for her shrines/nichos using old religious and pop images. Lisa Owen's art features fascinating portraits of women, usine unorthodox colors. Molly Warren-Haycock often paints both the front and back of the canvas, because there is more than one side to every story.

Members-only reception with the artists, Wednesday, January 13,   7:00 - 8:30 pm

Free public reception, Friday, January 15,   7:00 - 8:30 pm

Explore the physical properties of water, the harnessing the power of water, and water’s role in our everyday lives.

Organized by Science North.

Museum Hours:
Monday-Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday-Saturday: 10am-4pm
Thursday: 10am-6pm
Sunday: 1pm-5pm

The first half will be spent on tree identification. We will focus on trees of special interest in each of the four seasons. The second component of each night will deal with a specific topic relating to tree health/care.

The cost is $10 each or $32 for the series of four classes. 2 Master Gardener Education Credits available per class.

February 3: Spring Splendor and Planting & Design
February 10: Summer Shade & Pesky Pests
February 17: Fantastic Fall Foliage & Pruning, Cabling, Bracing for Healthy Trees
February 24: Exciting Evergreens & When to Call the Professionals

Nia is a powerful mind-body movement practice that draws from dance arts, martial arts, and healing arts to create health, well-being, and awareness. Practiced barefoot to music, Nia builds strength, flexibility, cardiovascular fitness, grace, joy, and a deep sense of aliveness. Using a variety of movement forms, Nia teaches you to awaken, increase, gather, and contain your energy. Nia is masculine and feminine; linear and fluid; fast and slow. Nia facilitates balance and connection among all realms of Body-Mind-Emotion-Spirit.Come dance. No experience necessary. With Certified Nia Blue Belt Instructor Stephanie Cirihal.

Saturdays, 9:30 – 10:45 am

Session II - 4 classes – February 6, 13, 20, 27

$32/$28 members or $10 drop-in always welcome!

Whether beginner or have strapped snowshoes on many times before, you are welcome to join CNC's Senior Naturalist Janea Little for a walk about our trails. We'll look for animal tracks, birds, and other points of interest, and enjoy the snowy scenery.

Meet at the temporary Visitor Center. Call ahead to reserve a pair of CNC's snowshoes or bring your own. 

Please arrive promptly at the start of the program so we can mazimize our time outdoors. 

Ages: 14 & up

Native Americans used snowshoes for thousands of years to make winter travel through deep snow possible. CNC's Kyle Bagnall will teach you the basics of snowshoeing and then take you out on a short walk on and off the trails to enjoy the winter wonderland.

Meet at the temporary Visitor Center. Call ahead to reserve a pair of CNC's snowshoes or bring your own. If snow conditions are unfavorable, the hike will be cancelled (based on the discretion of CNC).

Please arrive promptly at the start of the program so we can mazimize our time outdoors.

Ages: 9 & up (under 18 w/adult)

Each year since 2003, Creative 360 has honored Mid-Michigan arts advocates who has made significant contributions through exceptional vision, leadership, and commitment to the arts. Our Honor Roll of Art Sweethearts includes Dorothy Yates, Virginia (Ginny) Morrison, Barbara Prince-Sovereen, Sally Moss, Judy Rapanos and Nancy Barker of Midland and Janet I. Martineau of Saginaw. This year, Ruby Iwamasa is our Art Sweetheart.

Ruby is a natural-born optimist, a cheerleader who loves meeting people and listening to their life stories. She has a zest for living and learning. Ruby believes that having a passion for whatever you do in life makes all the difference in the world. Born on a farm in Anaheim, California, she and her family were interned in Poston, Arizona in 1942. In 1961, Ruby became a teacher and married Bob. They've been together for 48 years -- 42 of those years in Midland! While Bob worked for Dow Chemical, Ruby volunteered and raised three sons. Today, Bob and Ruby have 3 grandchildren. After Ruby discovered Delta's Channel 19, she became a 12-year supporter; and in 1983, officially joined the Channel 19 staff. For the next 20 years, her community involvement in education and advocacy as well as volunteerism intensified. Ruby retired in 2003 to prepare for service as Rotary 6310's Centennial District Governor.

Registration of $45 due by February 9.

Friday, February 12

11:30-1:00pm

Winter birding can be challenging if your binoculars fog and your fingers freeze, but it's worth it to get a view of a Northern Shrike, Rough-legged Hawk or other winter visitor!

Join Senior Naturalist Janea Little for all or part of this bird walk. If there is a lot of snow, we'll use CNC's snowshoes (or bring your own); otherwise we'll stick to boots.

Loaner binoculars are available.

Ages: 12 & up (under 18 w/adult)

Whether beginner or pro, you are welcome to join CNC's Jeanne Henderson for a snowshoe walk on our trails. We'll look for animal tracks, birds, and other points of interest, and enjoy the snowy scenery.

Meet at the temporary Visitor Center. Call ahead to reserve a pair of CNC's snowshoes or bring your own. If snow conditions are unfavorable, the hike will be cancelled (based on the discretion of CNC).

Please arrive promptly at the start of the program so we can mazimize our time outdoors.

Ages: 9 & up (under 18 w/adult)

Join us for scrumptious desserts, tasty treats, lively music and a silent auction. Celebrate the start of Mardi Gras at the 23rd annual World’s Greatest Dessert Party benefiting the Literacy Council of Midland County.

Tickets for the Dessert Party are $20 per person or $35 for two people and are available at Eastman Party Store, Village Green, and Ace Hardware.

The death of a pet can be a difficult time. Many of us feel the need to gather mementos that remind us of our beloved furry family member. This workshop offers participants the opportunity to create a memory box to honor a lost pet. We provide boxes and supplies. Participants may also bring their own box, supplies, photos, and stories to share. With facilitator Jill Staszak.

Thursday, February 18

6:00-8:00pm

$20 for non-members/$17 for members, plus $5 materials fee

Join Kyle Bagnall, Manager of Historical Programs, in this photographic exploration of Midland County's 19th-century lumbering past. Learn what it was like to live in a logging camp, how river drives were conducted, what sawmills looked like and how views of forests were changing forever by axe and saw. CNC's collection of period lumbering tools will also be on display.

Ages: 12 & up

The heart of Nia is inspired by 9 movement forms – 3 from martial arts, 3 from dance arts, and 3 from healing arts, bringing diversity and inspiration to our movement. Identify your Nia personality, and dance them all in this 3-hour workshop. We’ll experience each form and then put them all together in an energizing 1-hour Nia dance.

Sunday, February 21 from 2:00 - 5:00 pm

Cost: $32

Join certified Diva instructors in weekly classes where you learn belly dance techniques and get a low-impact, high cardio workout. No bouncing, no running, no jumping. Each week, you’ll learn graceful new belly dance moves that are incorporated into your workout. Your instructors focus on problem areas like arms, abs, stomach, and rear.

Make a note - the key word is really “BOOTCAMP” so be prepared to dance, sweat and really work your body.

7:15 – 8:00 pm

$45 for non-members/$40 for members per session

**Session II - February 22, March 1, 8, 15 (snow day make-up March 22)

You’re almost there! All your hard work and determination lead you straight to the Diva Troupe. This class focuses on completing choreographies 5 through 10, reviewing all the Divas’ dance numbers, and preparing you for our 2010 show.

Pre-requisite: Completion of Diva Choreographies 1 through 5. 

Pre-registration required.
6:30 – 7:15 pm

$45/$40 members per session

**Session II – February 22, March 1, 8, 15 (snow day make-up March 22)

In this class, incorporate Booty Camp techniques into dances while getting a great workout and learning Diva choreographies. This class is also the getaway to becoming a part of the Belly Dance Divas® troupe, though performing is optional. Stay in this class until you learn 5 Diva choreographies, before moving to the apprentice level.

Pre-requisite: Completion of a minimum of 2 sessions of Booty Camp classes.
8:00-8:45pm

$45 for non-members/$40 for members per session

**Session II - February 22, March 1, 8, 15 (snow day make-up March 22)

Native Americans used snowshoes for thousands of years to make winter travel through deep snow possible.

CNC's Kyle Bagnall will teach you the basics of snowshoeing and then take you on a short walk on and off the trails to enjoy the winter wonderland.

Meet at the temporary Visitor Center. Call ahead to reserve a pair of CNC's snowshoes or bring your own. If snow conditions are unfavorable, the hike will be cancelled (based on the discretion of CNC).

Please arrive promptly at the start of the program so we can mazimize our time outdoors.

Nia is a powerful mind-body movement practice that draws from dance arts, martial arts, and healing arts to create health, well-being, and awareness. Practiced barefoot to music, Nia builds strength, flexibility, cardiovascular fitness, grace, joy, and a deep sense of aliveness. Using a variety of movement forms, Nia teaches you to awaken, increase, gather, and contain your energy. Nia is masculine and feminine; linear and fluid; fast and slow. Nia facilitates balance and connection among all realms of Body-Mind-Emotion-Spirit. Come dance. No experience necessary. With Certified Nia Blue Belt Instructor Stephanie Cirihal.

Wednesdays, 9:00 – 10:00 am

$59 for non-members/$52 for members per session or $10 drop-in always
welcome!

**Session II – February 24, March 3, 10, 17, 24, April 7, 14

College Hockey League Playoffs

Hours are February 25   6:30 - 11:45 pm, February 26   7:00 pm - 12:00 am, February 27   5:15 - 10:15 pm

Cost is $6/adult and $3/student

Join us for the conclusion of the Dow Gardens WinterGarden Glass Exhibit. This is your chance to bid on a unique piece of glass art by Craig Mitchell Smith for your yard. This auction will be held in the Garden Room.

Tennis tournament

A stunning ensemble of playful, whimsical dancers who move in a way that must be seen to be believed!

Presented by MATRIX:MIDLAND
Tickets: $32/$16

For 2010, we welcome Michael A. Dirr, professor of Horticulture at the University of Georgia, who will present "Hydrangeas" as well as "New and Exciting Woody Plants". We also welcome Jeff Epping, Director of Horticulture at the award winning Olbrich Gardens, who will present "Container Gardening".

5 Master Gardener Education Credits are available.

Seminar Fee: $60 prior to February 10. After February 10 $75.

Join Janea Little for a nighttime hike on snowshoes under the light of the full moon. With good snow cover, the bright reflection of the full moon will give us plenty of light to see by as we explore the Nature Center at night. With some lick, we'll see a fox or raccoon or hear coyotes howling at the the moon!

Meet at the temporary Visitor Center. Call ahead to reserve a pair of CNC's snowshoes or bring your own.

Please arrive promptly at the start of the program so we can mazimize our time outdoors.

Ages: 9 & up (under 18 w/adult)