geneseecountyparks.org | 800.648.PARK

FOR MARNATURE PRESERVE& ARBORETUM

80091374

EXPLORE OUR GROUNDS.When you need to lose yourself in nature’s beauty, there’s nothing quite like the 383 picturesque acres of For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum. This former dairy farm was donated by Forbes and Martha Merkley to create For-Mar, which opened in 1970.

Scattered throughout the grounds are meadows, ponds, bridges and even a treehouse. Enjoy miles of trails, our collection of gardens and the display of trees in the arboretum.

Today, you can celebrate the spirit of Forbes and Martha by exploring the wetlands, fields and forests of this great park. Rich educational experiences can be had all over our grounds with our year-round programming.

In our Visitor’s Center, get a hands-on experience with live animals and learn how flora and fauna coexist in a healthy ecosystem.

If you’re an educator, take a field trip with your school and explore Kearsley Creek as it twists through the park. Sign up for a guided hike with one of our naturalists or ask For-Mar On The Road to come to your school or classroom and learn how you can experience the great outdoors in a whole new way.

Take a look around and discover the many unique features at For-Mar:• Apiary – Located next to the Arboretum Pond, our apiary

houses a mix of Italian and Carniolan Honeybees. They make honey from the many varieties of wildflowers and trees around For-Mar.

• Community Garden – With over 11,000 square feet designated to our Community Garden, we have 12 raised and 10 ground-level garden beds for public access. We also have several garden plots set aside for children’s programming as well as our Hoop House, which produces and donates hundreds of pounds of food for our community each year.

• Bridges – There are four scenic bridges within the For-Mar property: the Mott bridge, suspension bridge, troll bridge and vehicle bridge.

• Sugar Bush Area – We tap over 15 maple trees each year during our sugar bush season. You’ll also find the Sugar Shack, where we boil down the sap from our maple trees during the month of March.

• Treehouse – Our newest addition to For-Mar stands about 30 feet above Kearsley Creek and is barrier-free. It’s equipped with many unique elements, allowing us to redefine educational programming with enough space to fit groups of up to 30 students.

WHERE EDUCATION KEEPS ON GROWING. At For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum, we have the best outdoor classroom for helping kids understand the world around them. Each year, thousands of children come to For-Mar to learn about the plant and animal life that makes up our unique ecosystem. We have expert naturalists and horticulturists on staff to help your students discover and uncover what’s great about the outdoors. From bluebirds to bats, organic gardening to nature photography, there are lessons here for every age at For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum.

We can also take our show on the road, bringing our 383-acre nature preserve and arboretum to you. We call it For-Mar On The Road. If your school, club or organization wants one of our expert staff members to stop by your location, just call about our extensive outreach initiatives that include Truck Farm horticulture and Turtle Van nature programs.

From our Knee-High Naturalist Program and school science nights to programs that meet science curriculum standards and adaptive recreation programs, we can develop a program for just about any group.

For more information and reservations, call us at 810.736.7100, ext. 6.

Volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks. For more information, call 810.736.7100, ext. 892.

FOR-MARFor-Mar Brochure Map

HIKING

RESTROOM

ACCESSIBLE

NO CARS PASTTHIS POINTPICNIC

SCENIC

PAVILION

COMMUNITY GARDEN

OUTDOORCLASSROOM

GARDEN

PARKING

GRAVEL

BRIDGE

NO PETS OR FISHING ALLOWED

YOU CAN CROSS-COUNTRY SKI AND SNOWSHOE IN WINTER ON TRAILS ONLY

PAVED ROAD

PAVED PATH

TRAILS

BIKING

No running or biking

BUTTERFLY AREA

WALKING

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Potter Rd

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y Rd

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Runoff Pond

Ground Water Pond

Arboretum Pond

Kearsley Creek

Visitor’s Center

Observation Tower

Treehouse

Apiary

Hoop HouseSugar Shack

DeWatersCenter

MAINENTRANCE

POTTER RDENTRANCE

When facing trail marker signs, you are facing

North. Number shows your current location.

1

View this map online at geneseecountyparks.org/formar

PRIVATE EVENTS.Special occasions deserve special sanctuaries. Consider having your ceremony in the historic allée of For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum’s Maple Walk or the Four Seasons Garden overlooking a pond surrounded by willows.

Ditch the board room and schedule your next business meeting in our Visitor's Center.

And parents, relieve birthday stress by booking your child's next party with us.

Ask one of our staff for more information about holding your event at For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum. Or visit us online at geneseecountyparks.org/reservations.

SHOP AT NATURE’S NOOK.If you’re looking for a unique gift, come by Nature’s Nook in the Visitor’s Center. Find field guides, educational toys and local honey or stuffed animals for your little ones. At Nature’s Nook, you’ll be sure to find something to remember your visit.

Open 7 days a week from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

VISIT FOR-MAR. Visitor’s Center HoursOpen 7 days a week, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

For-Mar Grounds HoursOpen 7 days a week, 8:00 am to sunset

Contact For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum2142 North Genesee RoadBurton, MI 48509-1209

Phone: 810.736.7100, ext. 892 Reservations: 810.736.7100, ext. 6

Food, Drink And SmokingLight refreshments are allowed inside the Visitor's Center. At For-Mar, food is allowed outside in the designated picnic area only. Smoking, tobacco products, electronic cigarettes and alcoholic beverages are not permitted on the grounds.

No pets allowed.

SO MUCH NATURE. SO CLOSE TO HOME. From I-69, exit at Belsay Road (Exit 141).North on Belsay Road to Davison Road.West on Davison Road to Genesee Road.North on Genesee Road.Right 1/4 mile at For-Mar’s entrance.

Kearsley Lake

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Lippincott Blvd

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Miller Rd

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E Richfield RdE Potter Rd

Carpenter RdCarpenter RdCarpenter Rd

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Calkins Rd

Beecher Rd

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Saginaw Rd

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Fenton Rd

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Reid Rd

Linden Rd

Van Slyke Rd

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Coldwater Rd Coldwater Rd

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Wilson Rd

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Corunna

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Elms Rd

Deland Rd

Potter Rd

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Miller Rd

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Saginaw St

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Pasadena Ave

Martin Luther King Ave

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Center Rd

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Lake RdLake Rd

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Neff Rd

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State RdState Rd

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Wilson Rd

Stanley Rd

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McDowell Rd

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Morrish Rd

Elms Rd

Perry Rd

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Dixie Hwy

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Perryville RdFish Lake Rd

E Holly Rd

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Belford Rd

Montrose

Lobdell Rd

Cook Rd

Bridge StS Linden Rd W

hittaker Rd

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S Jennings Rd

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Marshall Rd

Nichols Rd

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Elms Rd

N Linden Rd

Davison Rd

Morrish Rd

Oakwood Rd

Grange Hall Rd

Hegel Rd

Lippincott Blvd

Merwin Rd

Hill Rd

Horton Rd

Green Rd

Bald Eagle Lake Rd

Oakhill Rd

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Kier RdOakhill Rd

Groveland Rd

Barron Rd

N Jossaman Rd

E Frances Rd

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Lake Rd

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Marathon Rd

Klam Rd

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Columbiaville Rd

Piersonville Rd

Mt Morris Rd

Catlin Rd

Carpenter Rd

Bray RdPyles Rd

Vermilya Rd

Flushing Rd

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ch Rd

Carr Rd

Mararthon Rd

Zemmer Rd

Holloway Reservoir

Mott Lake