Michigan's P.J. Hoffmaster State Park offers fun Spring Break programs in April

Families staying home for spring break can find fun spring adventures at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park. The park features 10 miles of hiking trails, 2.5 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and the Gillette Sand Dune Visitor Center. The Visitor Center is the meeting place for the Exploring Nature programs. Each program explores a nature topic, is suitable for all ages and includes an activity or short hike. Early April programs include:

April 2: Michigan Sand Dunes at 11a.m. Learn how sand dunes formed, take a close look at sand, take a short walk and climb a big sand dune.

April 2: Fast Food: A Predator’s World at 2 p.m. Watch a short movie about predators, play “Oh Deer,” and take a short hike.

April 5: Bird Beak Buffet at 11.am. Learn about the many styles of bird beaks, pretend to eat like a bird during a fun game and take a short hike to see birds at work.

April 5: Signs of Spring at 1 p.m. Explore the many signs of spring on this short hike.

April 6: Peeps of Spring at 11 a.m. See live frogs and learn about their many life habits.

April 6: A Good Home is Hard to Find at 1 p.m. This short puppet show will explore the topic of how animals find their homes.

April 9: Wiggly Worms at 11a.m. We will dissect gummy worms and learn all about how worms live.

DNR Park Interpreter Elizabeth Tillman designed the programs with children and their families in mind, “The start of spring is a wonderful time to visit a state park as a family and build lifelong family memories. It also can remind us of how fortunate we are in Michigan to have this wealth of natural resources and beautiful public lands,” said Tillman. “Our programs give visitors of all ages a fun experience in a state park and encourage them to explore nature in new ways at home in their own backyards.”

P.J. Hoffmaster State Park located at 6585 Lake Harbor Rd., Muskegon. For more information, contact the Gillette Visitor Center at 231-798-3573. For a listing of other events taking place in Michigan state parks and recreation areas, visit www.michigan.gov/dnrcalendar. All programs are free; however a Recreation Passport is required for entry into the park.

Recreation Passport
The Recreation Passport has replaced motor vehicle permits for entry into Michigan state parks, recreation areas and state-administered boating access fee sites. This new way to fund Michigan’s outdoor recreation opportunities also helps to preserve state forest campgrounds, trails and historic and cultural sites in state parks, and provides park development grants to local communities.

Michigan residents can purchase the Recreation Passport ($10 for motor vehicles; $5 for motorcycles) by checking “YES” on their license plate renewal forms, or at any state park or recreation area. Non-resident motor vehicles must still display a valid non-resident Recreation Passport ($29 annual; $8 daily) to enter a Michigan state park, recreation area or state-administered boating access fee site; these can be purchased at any state park or recreation area, or through the Michigan e-Store at www.michigan.gov/estore. To learn more about the Recreation Passport, visit www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport or call (517) 241-7275.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.