Explore the Possibilities...
​Take your students on a Great State Park Field Trip!

Discover Michigan's Natural Resources! The Saginaw Bay Visitor Center offers a wide variety of educational, hands-on experiences for students K-12.  Click on the Program Topics and choose which program you would like to bring your students to.  ​


Field trip reservations

Traveling NaturalistWe also offer a "traveling naturalist" option - where we come to you, either at your school or another location off-site. This can come in handy, especially in the winter season!
To help in program selection, here is a list of suggested labs and class segments
  • Lessons learned from the bald eagle Pre-Visit (email Jonathan Massung directly for scheduling)
For assistance in registration, please contact Jonathan Massung via email or call 989-667-0717. 


To help in program selection, here is a list of suggested labs and class segments:(Let us know your learning goals and when can build a custom program to suit your needs.)
Ecology hikes30 min, 60 min, 90 min or 120 min.  (90- and 120-min. hikes include in-field investigations along the trail)
  • Tobico Marsh (requires buses to drop off at trailhead)
  • Lagoon Loop
  • Shoreline

Field labs30 - 60 min
Natural Science
  • Live creature collection and ID
  • Beaver dam and ground water lab
  • Leaf ID challenge
  • Carrying capacity model
  • Tree needs model
  • Tree aging estimation lab
  • Invasive species model
  • Microscopes field investigation
  • Simple bird feeders
  • Habitat houses: bird or bats
Outdoor Recreation
  • Fishing at the docks
  • Archery (grades 5+)
  • 3D field archery (grades 5+/ advanced skills)
  • Survival shelters / hatchet program

Building Presentations & Labs30 - 60 min
  • Mammal of Michigan
  • Vertebrates of Michigan
  • Birds of Michigan
  • Fish of the Great Lakes
  • Raptor classification lab
  • Owl pellet lab
  • Fur lab
  • Skulls lab
  • Microscope lab
  • Live animals of Tobico Marsh
  • Invasive species lamprey lab
  • Watershed model
  • Aquaponics & the cattail marsh lab

Traveling Naturalist30 - 60 min
  • Lessons learned from the bald eagle (75 minutes)
  • Invasive species lab
  • Live animals of the marsh
  • Mammal fur lab
  • Mammal skull ID lab
  • Owl pellets lab
  • Carrying capacity model /game
  • Watershed model
Let us know your learning goals and we can build to suit your needs.
In addition to a Friends membership, you also can donate directly to the many programs, events, and projects affiliated with the Bay City State Park, which exist due to such donations. Friends can make a general donation or specify a favorite project to help. To learn more about the many donation opportunities, click the donate button on the right.
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