MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - The Harris Nature Center Foundation hosts its 2nd annual Turtle Toast. Local sponsors such as Burgdorf’s Winery, WKAR, and Special Affairs Catering help put the event together, as it celebrates phase one of the nature exploration area.

“We had a great turn out. We probably had between 50 and 70 people come and enjoy the wine tasting and the beer tasting and food by Special Affairs Catering, and then we held raffles throughout the night which the people said was a fun event.” Said Roxanne Witcher, Director of the Harris Nature Center Foundation.

It all started with the work of a local artist using donated tiles from neighboring businesses.

Witcher Said, "Doug DeLind, he started our turtle sculpture which is our mascot for the Harris Nature Center, the eastern box turtle. So that’s how we had turtle in the name the turtle toast, and it was a toast to the turtle, and we decided to keep that name. The turtle toast is to raise money for the Harris Nature Foundation and we in turn use that money to fund extra things that the Harris Nature Center needs and one of the needs was our nature exploration area."

The most exciting aspect of the exploration areas is the fossil dig. With the $ 2,010 raised at last year’s event work has already begun, and the sand has been laid. Soon Michigan fossils will be buried for visitors to explore.

“In the case of the fossil dig, the elementary schools science teachers may be talking about Michigan fossils so they’ll get on the bus and come out on a field trip here, and the kids will get a chance to discover Michigan fossils." Said Mike Lenkowski Treasurer of the Harris Nature Foundation



This is just the beginning of a multi phased project.

Witcher explains, “And then long term the goal several years out would be to have a series of two tree houses with a walking bridge connecting." 



Lenkowski said, 
"All of this project is being paid for with donations.


The foundation also provides 100 dollar bus scholarships for schools that can't afford to get their students to the Nature Center.

This will be an ongoing fundraiser until all phases of the exploration area are complete. Donations can be brought into the Nature Center or you can visit www.hncfoundation.org/donations.html