A festival that celebrates sandhill cranes in southern Michigan will be hosted on Saturday, Oct. 25, by the Eddy Discovery Center at Waterloo State Recreation Area near Chelsea. Activities that focus on nature are scheduled for the entire day. Waterloo State Recreation Area is located at 17030 Bush Rd. in Chelsea.

Activities start at 10 a.m. and conclude at 4 p.m. Lunch, snacks and beverages will be offered for sale at the recreation area's pavilion. For more information, please call the Eddy Discovery Center at 734-475-3170. The schedule of programs for the day includes:

• 10 a.m. Wildlife Photography. Local photographer Michelle Massey will present her work, including images of Waterloo's sandhill cranes.
• 10:30 a.m. Beehive. Tom Hodgson, naturalist and storyteller, will discuss the secret lives of bees as visitors view Waterloo's year-round beehive. Program is repeated at 1 p.m.
• 10:30 a.m. Geology Walk. View all three major rock groups and the geological history of Michigan in a unique boulder time line. Program is repeated at 3 p.m.
• 11:30 a.m. Live Birds of Prey! The Howell Nature Center will give a live presentation featuring several injured hawks and owls that have been rehabilitated at the center.
• 12:30 p.m. Leaf Prints. Using a variety of leaves and paints, children will color a fabric or paper. Children should bring an article of their choice, or paper will be provided.
• 12:30 p.m. Bog Hike. Participants will visit the Cedar Lake bog and experience this unique habitat firsthand. Sights along the way include the carnivorous pitcher plants, the bog's tamarack trees and more.
• 1 p.m. Sandhill Crane Origami. Landscape architect Meg Gower will show you how to make a paper crane to take home.
• 1 p.m. Glacier Walk. On this guided hike, discover how the glaciers formed the landscape of the Waterloo Recreation Area.
• 2 p.m. Sandhill Crane Program and Tour. Participants will learn about the natural history of the sandhill crane, including how they gather and dance during fall migration. There will be a tour of the park to discover the cranes' gathering sites with Bill Wells, teacher and sandhill crane expert.
• 2:30 p.m. Fall Color Walk. Participants will walk on the recreation area's trails and learn how and why leaves change color during the fall.

There is no fee for the programs; however, any motor vehicle entering Waterloo State Recreation Area needs to display a 2008 Motor Vehicle Permit. Permits are available for purchase at the park entrance. Permits for Michigan residents cost $6 for a daily and $24 for an annual. For non-residents, permits are $8 for a daily and $29 for an annual.