MUSKEGON – State Representative Marcia Hovey-Wright (D-Muskegon) is encouraging families to experience Michigan’s natural wonders this summer by visiting P.J. Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon. The park is offering a number of fun and educational programs for kids each week through Friday, Aug. 12.

“While many families venture out on vacations during summer months, I want to remind our residents that they can always find plenty of fun here at home by taking advantage of our parks, lakes, trails, farms and local treasures,” Hovey-Wright said. “P.J. Hoffmaster State Park has been a wonderful resource for our community for years. These new programs will give our families even more opportunities to spend time together and learn about nature. I hope that our families can find the time this summer to enjoy our great outdoors and revisit what makes Muskegon County, and all of Michigan, a great place to live, work and play.”

P.J. Hoffmaster State Park features 10 miles of hiking trails, 2.5 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, the Gillette Sand Dune Visitor Center and nature programs for families. The Visitor Center will be the meeting place for the Exploring Nature programs. Each program includes an activity or short hike. The following programs, offered each week, meet at the Visitor Center through Aug. 12:

Tuesdays

  • Time Travel: Forest to Beach Hike – 10 a.m. This naturalist-led hike explores the sand dunes.

  • Great Lakes Aliens – 1 p.m. Learn about Great Lakes creatures that are not native to our Michigan waters.

Wednesdays

  • Butterfly or Gardening Program – 11 a.m. Each week will cover a new topic related to butterflies and gardening with native plants. The program will include an audio-visual program and tour of outdoor garden.

  • Bats, Bats, Bats – 1 p.m. See a great bat movie, learn all about bats and make your own bat glider.

Thursdays

  • Little Creatures of the Dunes – 10 a.m. Help find tigers, lions and wolves! This is a longer hike for older children; no children under eight please.

Fridays

  • Fantastic Fish of Inland Lakes – 11 a.m. This is a wonderful program for children to enjoy with their parents. Learn some fishing basics, characteristics of panfish, types of fishing and how to prepare equipment for fishing. Participants will also learn about Asian carp.

P.J. Hoffmaster State Park is located at 6585 Lake Harbor Road in Muskegon. All children attending programs must be accompanied by an adult. Programs are free; however, a Recreation Passport is required for entry to the park.

For more information, residents can visit www.michgan.gov/DNR.