NORTHERN VIEW: New SEE-North Center Explores Northern Michigan‘s Wild Side

Dec. 22, 2004

Need a refresher course on Northern Michigan’s wildlife and natural history? Check out SEE-North Exploration Cen-ter, a new science and nature project in the heart of Petoskey.
Located next to Pennsylvania Park in Petoskey’s Gaslight District, SEE-North features the plants, animals and habitats of Northern Michigan through 21 interactive exhibits.
“The Exploration Center has been two years in design and fabrication,” said Dr. Mary Whitmore, the center’s executive director. She adds that SEE-North staff members came up with the ideas for all exhibits and activities and also wrote the text for all panels. Local photographers donated hundreds of images to illustrate the educational displays.
A visit starts with the Center’s front window, which offers “Fascinating Finds,” a display of found objects from nature. “What’s Happening Here?” is a regional calendar of natural events. “Destination: Nature!” features short videos about four natural areas.
Inside, a band of photographs leads to a display about the history of Northern Michigan’s landscape. The legend and forma-tion of Petoskey stones, the role of glaciers in shaping our state, and the human-environment connection are spotlighted. Each features a related, hands-on activity so that visitors “learn while doing.”
Across the room is the Habitat Wall, a series of six panels. Each focuses on a habitat found in Northern Michigan, including dunes, meadows, rivers, wetlands, forests and the Great Lakes.
“We’re All Connected,” the centerpiece of the Exploration Center, is located at the end of the Habitat Wall. A mosaic of 160 pictures of plants, animals and habitats are displayed on a large screen. Selecting an image of interest enlarges it on the screen, and magically connects it to three other super-sized images.
Two colorful kiosks include “Lifestyles of the Little Known,” about interesting plants and animals. “Take a Closer Look” focuses on magnification tools, complete with a working microscope and plenty of objects to view.Birds are the theme for the second kiosk. “Be a Birder!” features two tools used by biologists: radio telemetry and bird-banding. A videotape follows a local biologist as he captures and bands owls. An activity involves banding “birds.”
“What’s in Your Backyard?” is a display about plants and wildlife found close at hand -- from oak trees to river-bank grape to deer to garter snakes to pillbugs -- and how each is connected to the other. The “Poet-Tree” features a large cedar that provides a restful place for kids to create poems or drawings about nature, or to explore one of the many activity packs stored there.

GETTING IT TOGETHER
SEE-North contracted with two nationally known fabrication companies to produce the exhibits.
“Although our focus is local, we wanted to have professional-grade exhibits in the Center. The panels are beautifully finished and the materials are very sturdy,” said Whitmore. Most of the exhibits are designed to be changed over time to offer visitors something new in every season of the year.
A community partnership, SEE-North was made possible by private donors, local foundations and businesses, civic groups, local photographers. SEE-North is in the midst of a $1.6 million capital campaign to establish both the SEE-North Exploration Center and a second facility, the SEE-North Center for Outdoor Studies, located seven miles northwest of Harbor Springs. Those wishing to donate can contact Whitmore at 231-348-9700 or mail a contribution to SEE-North at 220 Park Avenue, Petoskey, MI 49770.

The Center is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Thursdays from 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. SEE-North members ($30 individual; $60 family; sold on site) enjoy free, unlimited access. Others pay $4/person. SEE-North’s website is at
www.seenorth.org.