When you want to get away from screens and out the house, head to a nature center. Metro Detroit is home to multiple Nature Centers (most of them offer free admission) where you can spend the day or sign up for a class. From pre-school to homeschool, here’s where you can find sessions and lessons for the littles in your life.

Huron-Clinton Metroparks

Huron-Clinton Metroparks hosts Nature Classes at multiple locations across southeast Michigan. Classes range from pre-k nature sessions to Homeschool Nature Clubs. Class fees are generally minimal and about $3 to $5 per child. Multiple locations

Burgess-Shadbush Nature Center

The Burgess-Shadbush Nature Center hosts nature classes for pre-schoolers, story times and Family Fun Days. The building is open to the publc Wednesdays thru Sundays for self-guided visits. Address: 4101 River Bends Dr, Shelby Twp, MI 48317

Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve

Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve hosts a variety of nature programming for kids of all ages. Address: 333 N. Hill Circle, Rochester Hills, MI, 48307

Hawk Woods Nature Center

Hawk Woods Nature Center hosts nature classes for kids ages 0 to 6 year old. Address: 3799 Bald Mountain Rd, Auburn Hills, MI 48326

Johnson Nature Center

The Johnson Nature Center hosts multiple early childhood enrichment programs for pre-school aged kids. Guests can explore the Visitor Center on Saturdays from 10am to 4pm. Address: 3325 Franklin Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302

Outdoor Adventure Center

The State of Michigan’s Outdoor Adventure Center in downtown Detroit is open to the public Wednesdays thru Sunday and hosts a variety of special events including Little Cub and Explorers Club classes for kids ages 3 to 10. Scout badge workshops are also offered. Address: 1801 Atwater Street, Detroit, MI 48207

Farmington Nature Center

The Farmington Nature Center offers FREE daily admission and it’s a great destination for families to learn about nature. For those looking for structured sessions there are drop-in and multi-week classes offered for kids ages 1 to 12. The Nature Center is also home to a Nature Preschool for kids ages 3 to 5. Address: 24915 Farmington Rd, Farmington Hills, MI 48336

Stage Nature Center

Stage Nature Center in Troy hosts multiple weekly classes for kids of different ages and interest. Toddler Time, Knee-High Naturalists and Little Acorns are popular pre-K programs. The Center also hosts sessions for homeschoolers and scouts. The bilding is open to the public for self-guided visits Tuesdays thru Saturday. Address: 6685 Coolidge Hwy, Troy, MI 48098

Sterling Heights Nature Center

The Sterling Heights Nature Center is open to the public for FREE Tuesdays thru Saturday. Explore independently or sign up for a special class – the center generally hosts a couple each month. Address: 42700 Utica Rd, Sterling Heights

Free Forest School

The Free Forest School is a national program model with multiple locally led groups in metro Detroit. The group promotes unstructres outdoor play designed to cultuvate curiousity and independence in kids. Multiple locations

Photo credit: Stage Nature Center