The Big Oaks Conservation Society is hosting an open house at the historic Old Timbers Lodge on September 7th from 1 PM to 6 PM.  Access to the Lodge will be from gate 8 on Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge (NWR); Gate 8 is about 1 mile south of New Marion on Old Michigan Road. The Society will offer tours of the Lodge and provide light refreshments; refuge staff will offer short tours of portions of Big Oaks NWR.  The Society will also provide information about their mission and volunteer opportunities at Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge and at Old Timbers Lodge.

The Society will offer tours of the Lodge and provide light refreshments; refuge staff will offer short tours of portions of Big Oaks NWR.  The Society will also provide information about their mission and volunteer opportunities at Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge and at Old Timbers Lodge. Other local conservation groups will have informational booths set up for visitors to discover outdoor opportunities in the surrounding communities. Big Oaks Conservation Society is a local non-profit Friends Group that supports the mission and activities of Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge. The Society also cares for the historic Old Timbers Lodge, in cooperation with the refuge. The lodge, completed in 1932 by Alexander Thomson, vice president of Champion Paper Company, is located on a scenic overlook of Graham Creek just off K Road in the northeast corner of the refuge.  For more information about Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge, visit the refuge website (https://www.fws.gov/refuge/big-oaks).