Free Books for Michigan Students!

Posted on January 24, 2014 by Jackie

Reading is such an important skill… actually it really is required to be able to function in our daily lives. What’s sad is that many families can’t afford to buy books but this new program from Michigan Friends of Education helps with that and provides free books for Michigan students!

I love reading and always have. Getting lost in a book for hours while curled up on the couch is one of my favorite things to do. It’s so easy to get pulled into a story and let your imagination run wild with picturing everything that the author is saying. Reading can take you on journeys around the world and into places that we have never imagined.

This new program is incredible and makes it possible for all kids to get immersed in reading and going on those magical journeys through books. I am happy that I can share this info with you and hope that you’ll in turn share it with others as well.

MFEfamily.org is all set to offer their free book program to all students from Michigan who either struggle to read or cannot afford to buy new books!

Michigan Friends of Education (MFE) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the community, especially for Michigan families who cannot afford to buy books for their children. The new book program makes it possible for families to get books for free. MFE believes that every child deserves an opportunity to learn, grow and fulfill their dreams. Therefore, this program is focused towards helping kids who struggle with reading or want to improve their reading skills.

“We worked closely with a variety of publishers and booksellers to make this program available to Michigan families,” said Menachem Kniespeck, president & CEO of MFE. “The response from families has been overwhelmingly positive. Our volunteers are working extra shifts to quickly get books into the hands of thousands of kids.”

How to get books for free from MFEfamily.org

The books are free of charge and families may select as many as 14 books per order. Families are only responsible for the shipping charges along with a nominal handling fee of just $2. The shipping cost depends upon the total weight of books, packaging and package size.

Who is eligible for the MFEfamily.org Free Book Program?

Anybody residing in Michigan is eligible for this program. There are no income qualifications; however, families grappling with household finances, or those who have struggling school-aged readers, are encouraged to visit the site.

What kinds of books are available?

The free book program has a mix of chapter books, leveled-readers ,study aids, and activity books at all grade levels. The inventory changes frequently as new books arrive on a regular basis.

Donations

Those wishing to make a contribution towards the Michigan community and make the future better for the kids can visit the www.mfefamily.org site.

For more information about Michigan Friends of Education, visit www.mfefamily.org

About MFEfamily.org

Michigan Friends of Education is a nonprofit organization that is committed to helping students from Michigan excel in school and beyond. And for this purpose, we are running a free book program which has received quite a good response from the community. Our aim is to reach out the more than 700,000 kids in Michigan living in poverty.

Disclosure: I wasn’t given anything in return for this post but fully believe that reading is vitally important. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Surviving a Winter Storm in Michigan

Posted on January 12, 2014 by Jackie

Hello there! Did you think that I had fallen off of the face of the earth? Well, I didn’t but I did take a little break from blogging and all the social media stuff that is involved with it. It was really nice too and I never felt rushed or pressured to get something written.

Anyway, I’m back but probably in more of a limited fashion…. you know, just getting my toes wet more or less.

So how to survive a winter storm in Michigan… I’m sure that you’ve seen the million Facebook updates from people across the mid-west and the tweets as well about the rain, ice, snow, blowing, drifting, and let’s not forget the sub-zero temps that keep us locked up in our homes for fear of frost bite within mere minutes.

I have a few tips to help you survive a winter storm in Michigan… or where ever you live.

These are in no particular order.

1. Totally forget how to drive in the ice and snow. This is especially important to those of you in Michigan and even more so if you’ve lived here your entire life.

2. Wait until the last minute and then rush to the store and stock up on all the essential items you’ll need. Like chips, beer, and wine. Skip the real food.

3. Realize that you don’t have real food and go out in the midst of the storm and shop for real food.

4. Stalk everyone you know on Facebook. Get bored with that and find new friends on Facebook to stalk.

5. Try to remember what a normal day is like where the kids actually go to school and you can go to work.

6. When the county gives the all clear and the state of emergency has been lifted go outside and stare in wonder at the world of glass that you live in. Trees covered in ice are actually very pretty when the sun shines through them.

7. Make sure that your snow shovels are securely put away in the shed so that when you need them you can’t because there is a three foot snow drift in front of the door.

8. Use the spaded shovel that wasn’t put away to attempt to remove the knee deep drift that’s at your door. Toss the shovel and give up quickly.

9. When driving on a snow covered road always go very slow and drive in the very middle of the road. It doesn’t matter what kind of car or truck you have either. Oh… only move over a little bit if you see an oncoming car.

10. Make sure that you have a generator. Maybe two just in case the first one dies.

Now, if you hadn’t noticed some of these are a bit tongue in cheek. Funny, but definitely things that I’ve seen or have happened to me or have done and no, I’m not telling you which(s).

Holiday Events in Michigan 2013

Posted on November 19, 2013 by Jackie

Michigan is full of the holiday spirit starting this upcoming weekend! There is so much to see and do with your family that picking one holiday event might be difficult.

Let’s break it down by area.

Detroit & the surround area

On December 22nd you can see the Nutcracker Ballet performed by the Moscow Ballet at the Detroit Fox Theatre. This is one show only and definitely something that you don’t want to miss!

America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Floats, bands, giant balloons, and celebrities. If you can’t make it to downtown Detroit to see it you can always watch it on TV from the comfort of your couch.

Detroit Zoo Wild Lights: The zoo lights up with an amazing light show! For 24 nights, more than two million LED lights will illuminate trees, buildings and animal sculptures on a half-mile trail through the front of the Zoo.

The Big, Bright Light Show: Downtown Rochester lights up and will be covered with more than 1 million points of glimmering holiday light.

Holiday Nights at Greenfield Village: Step into the past with carolers, candle-lit paths, horse drawn wagons, and of course Santa and his reindeer. The evening is topped off with a fireworks display too!

Genesee County area

Christmas at Crossroads: This is the one place that we visit every single year for Christmas. The village has carolers strolling around, beautiful lights (you MUST see the tree that is fully covered in lights), and the trip is not complete without riding the old locomotive and seeing Santa.

Nutcracker present by FIM: We have been trying for years to get to this and have yet to make it. There is always some reason why we haven’t gone yet but this year we will go. This show features professional dancers from New York City’s Collage Dance Collective, talented students from the Flint School of Performing Arts, and the Flint Symphony Orchestra.

Holly Dickens Festival: Starting right after Thanksgiving visitors to downtown Holly will be greeted by performers taking you for a trip through Charles Dickens’, “A Christmas Carol”.

The Holiday Pops: For two nights you can celebrate the holiday season with music and song from the Flint Symphony Orchestra, Flint Festival Chorus with members of area high school choirs, Flint School of Performing Arts students and additional musical groups.

North Pole Express: This is really in Genesee county…. it’s actually Shiawassee county. But it’s really the only event going on in the area. But is so worth sharing! The 1225 has been fully restored and is the exact steam train that was featured in the movie The Polar Express. I’ve seen this train in person… it is incredible.

Lansing area

The Nutcracker 2013: This is the 33rd year that the Nutcracker will be performed at the Wharton Center and features the Children’s Ballet Theatre of Michigan and some of mid-Michigan’s best young dancers.

Silver Bells in the City: This weekend, November 22nd, the city will be glittering with lights, a parade, the lighting of the tree on the steps of the Capital, and then a fireworks display all to start off the holiday season.

Wharton Center: The Wharton Center on MSU campus has several events going on for the holiday season. Holiday Pops Series, Vienna Boys Choir: Christmas in Vienna, and MSU’s Home for the Holidays.

This is just a handful of events that are going on around Michigan to celebrate Christmas in Michigan. To find something different or closer to you check out the Pure Michigan site where they have a huge list of holiday events from all over the state.

Are you checking out any of the holiday events where you live?

Vacation!!

Posted on July 1, 2013 by Jackie

Well, this post is a lot later than it should be but…. Oh well!

Why?

I’m on vacation!! WOOHOO!

An entire week of no work except the normal cooking & cleaning that comes with camping. Hmm… maybe I should revisit what a vacation really is because I don’t think that cleaning is in the definition of it.

I’ll be checking in because going off line completely is hard and I’ll get withdrawals.

Living in a small town

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Jackie

Life in a small town is quiet… I suppose that it could even be considered serene by some. Life goes at a little slower pace and you tend to know a lot more people in town than if you were in a big city.

I don’t live in a small town and I’m not sure that I really want to. I like being close to activity and all the opportunities that being near a city has to offer. But every once in a while we like to get away from our lives at home, get away and slow down for a bit (no internet or 3G there), and of course visit family.

The thumb region in Mid-Michigan is full of these kinds of small towns. They’ve been around for years and the families that live there have been there for generations. My family is one of those… my dad grew up in Caseville and we end up in the area every summer.

Farming is a way of life there and beans are big! Navy & soy beans of course and Bayside Best is one of the largest distributers around. As you drive through the countryside there are huge fields full of beans that you can see across for miles and the nearest farm a tiny speck in the distance.

The sad part is that so many of these small towns are dying out. They are over 30 or 40 minutes to the nearest city and have little to no industrial type work there, very few businesses, and their downtown areas are grim. But once they were busy and bustling until times changed and now all that’s left are the buildings and ghosts reminding of us of the past.

Like I said, farming is big in this region of Michigan. Aside from beans we produce a whole lot of sugar beets and when I say a lot I mean 29 – 34 tons for the growing season and the beets can handle all problems of nature – drought or damp, both of which are pretty common here (especially this summer).

Michigan Sugar company processes all the sugar beets grown in Michigan in four different factories all in small, mid-Michigan towns. Towards the end of summer (around August this year) you can see the truckers hauling loads of beets into town and then dumping them in huge piles to wait for processing. Just a little side note… the smell coming from the plant it really gross… all you can smell is manure! When you walk by the plant though you can smell the beets which is significantly better than the manure smell.

My parents like it there in the small town. They go there every year and stay all summer long just like so many other retired couples looking to get away. They relax, play bingo, tell stories around the campfire at night, and fish. Oh yes… most of these small towns are right on the Saginaw Bay (Lake Huron) and fishing is almost a national past time for some.

What about you? Do you live in a small town? What’s it like there?

A trip to the dairy farm & giveaway

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Jackie

Update: The contest has ended and a winner has been selected! Congratulations to Carolyn who won the prize pack!

A few weeks ago I went on a little field trip with a bunch of other bloggers here in Michigan to visit a dairy farm. Now, I’m not a farm girl by any means but I’m also not totally citified either…. somewhere in the middle I suppose.

My dad & step mom both grew up on large farms, had dairy cows…. pigs… chickens…. and well all sorts of farm type stuff. Me… well the only animals that I ever grew up with were cats or dogs.

Okay… I’ll be honest with all of you… I have this fear of cows. They’re freakin’ huge! I’m sure that it wouldn’t take much for one of them to trample me in a heart beat and not to mention that the bulls tend to be mean.

One of the things that I thought was great was this sign in the picture above. See that? That sign is a million dollar sign. Go ahead… scoff… I’m serious. To be an environmentally verified there is extensive paper work, inspections and hoops that you have to go through before you can have that sign in your yard. And of course the money that is involved in being certified.

The program is innovative, proactive, and voluntary program that helps farms of all sizes and all commodities voluntarily prevent or minimize agricultural pollution risks and it is designed to reduce farmers’ legal and environmental risks through a three-phase process: 1) education; 2) farm-specific risk assessment; and 3) on-farm verification that ensures the farmer has implemented environmentally sound practices.

Goma Dairy farm is proud of their accomplishment and strive to keep their farm up to if not above the voluntary standards.

The farm that I visited was in Marlette, which is way over on the east side of the state in the thumb area of Michigan. That area is mostly agricultural and has tons of fields, dairy farms, and lots of open land! It’s actually pretty to drive through in the summer with all the green fields.

See that little guy up there? He was born the day before we visited the farm! I couldn’t believe it…. I mean look how big he is! Regardless, at this size they’re cute and as far as I’m concerned mostly harmless.

Like I said it’s a dairy farm… with right around 3000 cows! All milking cows too… the males are shipped off to other farms and kept separate from the the females.

Milking is an all day process with that many cows and the cows are each milked a few times a day. Once they’re milked the milk is pumped through a cooling system and then directly onto the truck. It never sits in holding tanks waiting for a truck.

The van de Goor family were great hosts for the event and were so helpful in helping us understand dairy farming, care of the cows, and how their farm is run.

Here are a few facts about dairy farms that you may not have known:

Dairy farming is the top ranking segment of Michigan’s second-biggest industry: agriculture.
Michigan ranks 8^th in milk production in the U.S., producing 4.3 percent of the nation’s milk.
The dairy industry in Michigan annually contributes $5.9 billion to the state’s economy.
Michigan ranks 5^th nationally for average milk production per cow per year.
According to the USDA, 98 percent of U.S. dairy farms are family owned and operated, sometimes by multiple generations of the family

I was surprised at how much I learned while visiting the van de Goor’s dairy farm and it was a lot more than I had expected too. I didn’t get trampled either! Honestly, the cows were very gentle and very comfortable around people especially large groups of strange women taking tons of pictures of them!

Here’s a great dairy recipe to try!

Choco-Berry Swirl Smoothie

Ingredients:

2 cups Low-Fat Vanilla Yogurt

3 ¼ cups Frozen whole non-sweetened strawberries

½ – ¾ cup Low-Fat or Fat-Free Chocolate Milk

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend on high until smooth.

2. Add additional milk to make the consistency desired.

3. Pour into a glass and enjoy!

Note: This recipe makes 4-6 servings. To make a single serving to fill one glass in the magic bullet set, quarter the recipe.

Now, you need something to make that smoothie in, right? Well I have the most perfect giveaway for you!

One lucky person will win an incredible dairy gift bag! Complete with a Magic Bullet, $50 gift card, Got Milk hat & more!

I’ll make the entry for this giveaway so easy that you will just have to enter!

Answer this question:

What is your favorite dairy based recipe?

Now for the rules.

Open to US residents
A winner will be selected via random.org
The winner will have 24 hours to respond before another one is selected.
Contest ends August 22nd at 11:59pm

Would you like an extra entry?

Share this giveaway on any social media platform and leave a direct link in a separate comment.

If you’d like more info about dairy farming or the dairy industry check out these links.

United Dairy Industry of Michigan website
Michigan Dairy News Twitter page
Michigan Dairy News Bureau Facebook page

When will the violence end?

Posted on July 24, 2012 by Jackie

It’s no big secret that I live in Michigan, but most don’t know where I actually live though and that’s okay with me. But there are times when I meet others and they ask where I live in Michigan and I explain it to them. Lately though, I’ve been thinking more and more about it because I live so close to Flint and I often wonder what people think of that.

Flint at one time was a great city! Seriously, it was. Flint was played a huge part in the auto industry and was key in getting the shops unionized through the sit down strike in 1936 – 1937. Ever since 2002 things have been going down hill… a huge amount of the industry has left the area, it’s had a state appointed financial manager appointed twice, and worst of all crime has increased to a point where people are afraid to go out.

There isn’t a day that doesn’t go by when I turn on the news in the morning and one of the major headlines is that there has been another murder. Every. Single. Day there is another one. So here’s a stat for you…. as of Tuesday morning there had been a total of 40 homicides in Flint with 2010 being the year with the highest number of homicides at 65. We’re barely half way through the year!!

Every single one of these deaths has been preventable. Every single one was unnecessary. Every single one was a life lost. A mother…. father… son… daughter… friend… Each of those people meant something to someone.

My question is when is the violence going to end. When will it be safe again?

When I was younger we used to head out to Flint on a whim… we’d hit the mall, the college bars, and just have fun without thinking much about it. Now, well now I don’t go to Flint at night alone and when I do go I make sure that I stick to certain areas that I know very well and are considered “safer” than others. My daughter who can drive isn’t allowed to go to Flint at all.

Here are a few more stats to ponder:

Violent crimes per 1,000: 23.4
Population: 102,357
2011 murders: 52
Median income: $22,672
Unemployment rate: 18.9%

Is it any wonder that Flint has been named the #1 most dangerous city in the U.S. by the FBI. Though the violent crimes have been a problem in Flint, in 2010 the city laid off 20 of its 140 police officers, a decision that diminished both the police’s street presence and response times to crime. Things just keep getting worse too.

Here’s my question…. how long before the violence spreads and ends up here? What happens when it hit a small town like this? What do I do to protect my kids? Honestly…. it’s only a matter of time.

I’m linking up with Shell this week for Pour Your Heart Out… this has been weighing on my mind a lot lately.

#MyMichMemory: Giveaway with Hudsonville Ice Cream + Linky!

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Jackie

You scream, I scream, we all scream for ICE CREAM! What better summer treat is there? And how about a Michigan made ice cream treat at that?! This week’s My Michigan Memory giveaway features an ice cream party for up to 75 people, thanks to the kind folks at Hudsonville Creamery and Ice Cream Company. {Please note: Winner must be willing to host the party within a one-hour’s drive to either Detroit or Grand Rapids} What an amazing party you could throw for a family reunion, church group or just in your neighborhood.

If you’re a blogger, all you have to do is link up your Michigan-related blog post in the linky tool below and then enter your info into the Rafflecopter form. You’ll get 10 points just for linking a blog post you’ve written about Michigan. If you’re not a blogger, you can still enter to win, just follow the directions on the Rafflecopter form.

Here’s a bit of background on Hudsonville:

Hudsonville Ice cream was founded in 1926 in Hudsonville, Mich. and started out producing six flavors of ice cream. The company moved into their current location in Holland , Mich. in 2004.

Hudsonville is a small, family-owned business that is committed to supporting Michigan and investing in the state. When the company was sold to its current owner in 2003, the most important details were to continue producing ice cream using the same recipe that began the company’s success and to stay local to Michigan – both traditions have held. In fact, one of the sons of the original owners of Hudsonville continues to share his knowledge and participates actively at Hudsonville.

Currently, Hudsonville makes more than 30 flavors in 1.75-quart containers and sells them in grocery stores. Additionally, more than 50 flavors are available in 3-gallon tubs, which are scooped in local ice cream shops. Hudsonville is now sold throughout Michigan along with selected areas of Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana.

The company also has a commitment to using farm-fresh and local ingredients whenever possible – and milk even goes from cow to carton in under 36 hours, which makes a great impact on the flavor and quality of the ice cream. Other locally sourced ingredients include cherries from Grand Traverse County and flavorings from Jogue in Northville.

Future Hudsonville Ice Cream producers

Further showcasing Hudsonville’s commitment to Michigan are several mitten-friendly ice cream flavors, including: Grand Traverse Bay Cherry Fudge®, Michigan Deer Traxx®, Mackinac Island Fudge and Sleeping Bear Dunes Bear Hug®. But that’s not all! See the entire list of creamy and delicious flavors here.

For more information Hudsonville, visit their website, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

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#MyMichMemory: Giveaway with the Detroit Zoo + Linky!

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Jackie

Lions, Tigers and bears – oh my! If your summer plans are calling for a fabulous family adventure, look no further than the Detroit Zoo based in Royal Oak, Mich. This week’s My Michigan Memory giveaway features a family 4-pack of zoo tickets for two adults and two children.

All you have to do is link up your Michigan-related blog post in the linky tool below and then enter your info into the Rafflecopter form. You’ll get 10 points just for linking a blog post you’ve written about Michigan. If you’re not a blogger, you can still enter to win, just follow the directions on the Rafflecopter form.

So why would one want to visit the Detroit Zoo this summer? Besides the great animals, there are plenty of great events, too! Here’s a glimpse of the upcoming summer calendar featuring great nights out for families or as a date night. Mark your calendars!

Sunset at the Zoo – June 22

The Detroit Zoological Society’s annual Sunset at the Zoo fundraiser will be held on Friday, June 22, 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Featuring a sensational carnival theme inspired by the Detroit Zoo’s new Carousel, the year’s wildest evening includes a strolling supper, zoo-themed martinis, live entertainment, dancing, carnival games and live and silent auctions. The 21-and-older event is held rain or shine, and the Zoo closes at 2 p.m. that day in preparation for the festivities. Tickets range from $150-$600 per person.

Wild Summer Nights – July 4, 11, 18, 25 and Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

The Detroit Zoo gets even wilder on Wednesday nights during July and August with its annual Wild Summer Nights concert series. Concerts take place in the Zoo’s Main Picnic Grove from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wild Summer Nights features a variety of live music from local bands, including children’s, jazz, pop, folk and blues. Concert-goers are invited to bring a blanket and pack a picnic. Food, snacks, beer, wine and soft drinks are available for purchase from Zoo concessions. The concerts are free with Zoo admission, which is $5 after 5 p.m. on Wednesdays in July and August. (Concert schedule to be announced.)

Summer Zoomance – July 12 and Aug. 23

Adults are invited to rekindle their childhood love for the Detroit Zoo at an after-hours adults-only event called Summer Zoomance. The 21-and-older evenings will be held 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., rain or shine. Admission is $8 and parking is $5 (parking is free for members). Adult beverages and favorite nostalgic foods will be available for purchase. Tickets for Summer Zoomance can be purchased in advance online at www.detroitzoo.org and at the admission gates.

Wild Beasts, Wild Wine – July 27 {NEW event!}

Make a toast to wildlife at the Detroit Zoo’s inaugural Wild Beasts, Wild Wine on Friday, July 27, 2012, 6-10:30 p.m. The 21-and-over event will sample wines from local and national wineries and vineyards. Guests will enjoy live music, exclusive after-hours access to the Zoo’s award-winning habitats at twilight, animal enrichment experiences and zookeeper talks. Food will be available for purchase. Tickets are $30 in advance (online at www.detroitzoo.org) and $35 at the gate. Ticket packages include Zoo admission, parking and 10 wine-tasting tickets.

For more information on upcoming events and more, visit the Detroit Zoo’s website, Facebook or Twitter.

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Wordful Wednesday ~ The Class Trip

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Jackie

Well… I’m back. Did you miss me?

Wait…. did you even notice that I was gone? Never mind… don’t answer that one.

Last week I spent a wonderful two days with my daughter on Mackinac Island for her 4th grade class trip. For me (and probably her) it was a trip of a lifetime because as many times as I’ve been to the island I’ve never had the opportunity to actually stay on the island and it has been something that I’ve always wanted to do.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit the great state of Michigan I highly recommend taking the time to visit Mackinac Island. It is one of the most beautiful places to visit and full of history.

The Grand Hotel

The Grand Hotel is the biggest, most beautiful (and most expensive place on the island) hotel with a strict dress code! The swimming pool at the stately Grand Hotel was built expressly for the 1946 Esther Williams film This Time for Keeps who happened to be an Olympic swimmer. Also, the Grand Hotel was the setting for the 1979 love story movie Somewhere in Time starring Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeves.

I have yet to even step foot on the front porch of that place, but it is a dream that I will one day be able to stay there. For now though I can look from afar, snap pictures, and dream of what it is like on the inside.

Our trip included so many things to do and see! The first night there we biked the entire perimeter of the island on bikes that we rented… 8.2 miles total! I’ll be honest… it didn’t seem like it was that far because the road was flat pretty much the entire time. Of course we had to stop a few times when we found something that caught our interest… kind of like the small cave that Lauren is standing in.

We spent some time in one of two butterfly houses on the island. There are hundreds of butterflies there from around the world and the perfect opportunity to pause and take some pictures up close of the butterflies… that is when they held still long enough. I wasn’t able to get a picture of the large blue ones that were flying around us though… it was almost as big as the palm of my hand and a beautiful bright blue with black markings on it.

Arch Rock

One of my favorite locations on the island is Arch Rock. It’s a huge arch carved into the rock surrounding the edge of the hill. On a clear sunny day the water is crystal clear close to the shore and a shimmering blue the further out you look and if you’re lucky you can see fish swimming in the water.

This was one of the places that I really wanted to visit again while we were there and share it with my daughter. I knew that it would be one of the highlights of the trip and I was right.. she thought that it was really cool! Score one for mom!

So here are a few fun facts about Mackinac Island.

Mackinac Island (pronounced Mackinaw) owes its name to the Anishinaabe-Ojibwe Native American tribes, who called it Michilimackinac, or “Land of the Great Turtle.”
The island located between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, 7 miles east of the Mackinac Bridge, in Lake Huron. It is home to 500-600 year-round residents. Yes, they stay there even in the winter when the lakes have frozen over.
Mackinac Island prohibits all motorized vehicles (except for emergency and government vehicles) and is home to M-185, the nation’s only state highway that prohibits motorized vehicles. I’ve only ever seen one vehicle on the island and that was the ambulance and it was parking near the medical center.
The island has over 68 different kinds of lilacs on it and one lilac tree that has been estimated to be 200 – 300 years old by experts.

I’m pretty sure that the class trip was one that the kids won’t forget for many years to come! I know that I won’t.

Have you taken a memorable trip with one of your kids as part of a class trip?

With Just a Bit of Magic

Category Archives: Michigan