This gray tree frog is just one of the many species of Michigan amphibians and reptiles to be celebrated during Michigan Wildlife Weekend. Photo by Jim Harding.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will highlight herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians) during Michigan Wildlife Weekend (June 23-25), with three days of outdoor education programming in a handful of Michigan state parks. The family-friendly programs are free for campers and visitors.

This year’s program will feature pond and wetland hikes, animal identification programs and other interactive activities. Participants will learn about frogs, turtles, snakes, salamanders and other interesting creatures. The annual program features a different group of animals each year, while providing a fun and educational experience for the whole family.

Michigan Wildlife Weekend and many other programs are led by state park Explorer Guides and park interpreters who work in the park and present a variety of outdoor education opportunities in nearly 30 Michigan state parks. These enthusiastic, nature-minded folks lead hikes, activities and programming that shine a spotlight on each park’s unique resources.

To find nearby Michigan Wildlife Weekend programs, visit www.michigan.gov/natureprograms and look for Wildlife Weekend under Special Programs. To see all available Explorer programming throughout the summer, view the interactive map or alphabetical list of parks.