MAEOE's Wildlife Weekend

MAEOE’s 2026 Wildlife Weekend promises fun, entertainment and education for those who enjoy the outdoors and those who like a “warmer” option. The Indoor option will incorporate the traditional skill of flint knapping, building bat houses and fly tying. The outdoor option includes snowshoeing, winter tree identification, winter orienteering and tracking.

January 30 – February 1, 2026 at the DNR’s RAM Center on Higgins Lake will once again host MAEOE’s winter getaway retreat. The program begins Friday evening with a lighter dinner and ends Sunday with lunch. Two-nights lodging and 6 meals are included.

Fees for meals, lodging and instruction:

$295/MAEOE members and $345 for nonmembers if registered by January 1.
Past Jan 1, higher fees apply. $320/member and $370 for nonmember.
The indoor course track also has a materials fee of $25.

If you enjoy spending time with your friends and colleagues or like-minded people, this winter getaway is for you. Travel to the great white north for a relaxing, fun and educational weekend in a beautiful location. More detailed of each class segment below!

MAEOE wildlife weekend logo

Outdoor Track

Snowshoeing and Tree Spotting: Snow can’t stop intrepid tree hounds! Strap on some snowshoes and learn how to identify trees by their bark, not their bite.

Who was that? Tracking: Learn who, what, when, where, and whys of tracking animals in the snow. Winter is a great time to see who has come wondering by in the evening, and the cedars of the RAM center harbors many interesting critters.

Winter Wandering: Orienteering 101: Land navigation is a lost art. Don’t trust your cell phone. Learn the basics of map and compass in this winter climate. Dress warm.

Indoor Track

Rock on! Flint knapping: Flint knapping is the art of chipping rocks to make tools such as arrow heads, axes, and scrappers. Learn the skills that prehistoric people used to fashion implements from rock.

Michigan Bats and Bat Houses: Learn about Michigan bats, play some bat trivia, and build a bat house. Help our fine, furry friends and natural insect destroying stealth fighters.

Fly tying w/Fur and Feathers: Fly tying has been an art for 100’s of years, and not only is it fun, but the flies can also be used to catch fish. Winter is the perfect time to tie flies in preparation for the spring fishing season.

For questions, contact conference@maeoe.com

Registration

About Wildlife Weekend

Held mid-February each winter, MAEOE's Wildlife Weekend is an adult retreat to explore environmental topics and outdoor skills.

Past sessions have included using radio telemetry to locate bear dens, wild edible foraging in winter, snowshoe making, orienteering, wildlife tracking and much more.

This weekend is not strictly for educators! Many of our participants come with friends and loved-ones to escape "cabin fever".

wildlife weekend participants learning to weave traditional snowshoes

wildlife weekend participants on the ice after ice fishing

Wildlife weekend participants get hands on geology training

P.O. Box 27426
Lansing, MI 48909

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