Kettunen Center 3rd Annual 5K Trail Run a huge success!

Finisher receiving medal at the Kettunen Center 5K Trail Run/Walk.

The 3rd Annual 5K Trail Run at Kettunen Center, held Saturday, Aug. 10 had great participation and competition with over 50 registrants.

The overall winner was Zack Workman from Mesick with a time of 20:11. The women’s winner was Nicole Edstrom of LeRoy with a time of 25:17. Click here for the complete results.

The 5K Trail Run/Walk course is not your typical 5K and started with a short spurt on asphalt, which quickly led to Kettunen Center’s extensive trail system. Runners managed hills, woods, and the lakeshore.

Proceeds from the Kettunen Center 5K Trail Run/Walk will be used to support youth and family programs at Kettunen Center, making it more affordable for schools, camps and other youth organizations to attend.

Kettunen Center's Christmas Trees and Gardens

Kettunen Center’s Christmas Tree Arboretum provides us with the opportunity to display the wide range of tree species grown commercially in Michigan. Our state is one of the largest producers of Christmas Trees in the country.

This year the arboretum has undergone a major change. After shipping Detroit their holiday tree a couple of years ago, removal of some other large trees for Kettunen Center’s holiday celebration, and extensive deer and winter damage it was necessary to remove all remaining trees this past spring.  Fortunately, we have access to able, qualified, and creative folks that have reshaped the arboretum to make it better than ever.

Steve Neuman, Kettunen Center’s Maintenance Director, was able to sculpt the landscape and provide an aesthetically pleasing presentation and planting area. We then consulted with Jill O’Donnell, MSUE Christmas Tree Educator, to devise a planting plan for the area that exhibits ten different varieties of trees.  Jill then secured donations from Dutchman Tree Farm, Northern Pines Nursery, and Needlefast Nursery. She delivered these to Kettunen Center and along with her office mate, Erin Lizotte – MSUE Educator, properly planted and mapped the new plants. Going forward, we are thankful to have Jill’s oversight and help as the trees grow.

With everyone pulling together the Christmas Tree Arboretum will develop into a top notch demonstration-garden, highlighting one of Michigan Agriculture’s largest businesses. Many thanks to everyone that has helped improve this area at Kettunen Center!

Another thank you goes to Pat Morse and Maggie Swirdu, our master gardeners who have been working hard all summer to maintain the gardens at Kettunen Center. They have worked weekly to tend and weed our various gardens. Both Pat and Maggie are certified Master Gardeners through MSUE’s Master Gardener program. Pat is on staff and has put both volunteer and paid hours in tending these areas. Maggie is volunteering 4 to 8 hours a week. We are fortunate to have them bring their passion to Kettunen!

Kettunen Center is great for retreats!

The Kettunen Center is the ideal location to host retreats of all kinds: boards, youth, church, women’s and more! It's exciting to have a wide variety of retreats take place at the Kettunen Center. We help groups plan and execute their event, so there is little stress involved for our meeting planners.
The Kettunen Center offers a beautiful, relaxing location for your group. We have lodging accommodations ranging from hotel style to dorms that are perfect for all groups and any budget. There is a wide variety of meeting spaces available for your group. Recreation surrounds you when you stay at the Kettunen Center; you may decide to relax by the fire in the main lodge or hike one of our trails, the choice is yours.

Save the Date!

Breakfast with Santa is Saturday, December 14.

Ho, Ho, Ho! Breakfast with Santa is Kettunen Center’s largest community event. It is our opportunity to give back.  We provide a wonderful breakfast, a visit with Santa, arts, crafts and more.  More information will be available in upcoming Kett Monthly editions and the Kettunen Center’s website, www.kettunencenter.org.

Join the Kettunen Center for the 5K Trail Run/Walk - a Family-Friendly Event!

Kettunen Center 5K Trail Run/Walk
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Start time:  9 am
Registration begins at 8 am
at Kettunen Center
Tustin, MI
REGISTER NOW!

$15 registration fee before August 8, 2013
$20 day of the race

Proceeds benefit over 2,000 area children with experience in team building, outdoor fun, and environmental learning. Learn more at www.kettunencenter.org or download the entry form.


Finisher receiving medal at the Kettunen Center 5K Trail Run/Walk.

No More Cabin Fever! Winter Fitness Family Fun Day

February 16, 2013

Beat the winter blahs and enjoy a day of winter activities in the mitten state! A mix of fun indoor and outdoor activities includes making survival shelters, fire building, snowshoe racing, team-building challenges, Zumba and yoga. Top off your fitness experience as you enjoy making and tasting nutritious snacks.

The Feb. 16 event begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. Pre-registration and payment is required. Call 231-829-3421 or email ljacobson@kettunencenter.org to sign up. $7/person includes all materials and lunch.

Andrea Grix Says Goodbye After 24 Years

Andrea Grix

After twenty-four years of service to Kettunen Center, Andrea Grix said goodbye. She has relocated to Beulah with her husband and former Kettunen Center director, John Grix. Andrea served as Kettunen Center’s Educational Program Manager since 1988.

During her tenure Andrea initiated, developed, and grown a vast array of educational program offerings that have impacted many youth and families over the years. She started the 4-H Trackers outdoor environmental education program that has provided area schools with meaningful opportunity to bring science to life at Kett. The TREE program has fostered group work and team-building for young and old throughout the year. Andrea initiated a number of Road Scholar programs at the center that have benefited visitors from all over the country.

Many community programs were developed through Andrea’s efforts. The Family Day Programs hosted at Kettunen Center throughout the year give local families a chance to be together and enjoy the outdoor environment Kettunen offers. While Andrea did not start it, she developed the center’s annual Breakfast with Santa event to serve nearly 1000 people each year. The summer’s Art Camp has provided a unique week of camp to youth from all over the region.

Andrea’s service has not been limited to Kettunen Center. Her statewide activities have included coordinating MSU Extension’s Michigan 4-H Youth Conservation Council; participating in the 4-H Great Lakes and Natural Resources Camp each summer; serving with the Michigan Alliance for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE); leading local 4-H clubs; and many other endeavors.

The Kettunen Center facility has also benefited from Andrea’s dedication. She coordinated re-development of the arboretum, the various gardens, the trail system, and waterfront. It’s been a common sight to see Andrea working with volunteers in the gardens, lifeguarding at the beach, or guiding folks along the trails. She’s been a leader, facilitator, and worker in enhancing the beauty and enjoyment of Kettunen Center.

Kettunen Center has become a better place because of Andrea’s passion, dedication, hard work and leadership. She’ll be very much missed but her touch and work will always be present for future visitors and program participants.

Thank you, Andrea!

New Rain Garden beautifies and manages water runoff

The Harwood Learning Landscape Arboretum and Wildflower Trail at Kettunen Center has a new theme garden to manage rain water runoff.

The Harwood Learning Landscape Arboretum and Wildflower Trail at Kettunen Center has a new theme garden to manage rain water runoff.

MSU Extension master gardener volunteers, Maggie Swiriduk, Pat Marlow, Andrea Grix, and Mike Stifler, a retired Department of Environmental Quality Water Division engineer, wanted to change the ditch at the trail entrance to a rain garden that would not only manage water runoff, but also showcases native Michigan wildflower species.

The rain garden, made possible with a gift from Dr. and Mrs. Russ Mawby and the work of volunteers, manages the rain runoff from the impervious surfaces like the road, parking lot and compacted lawn areas at Kettunen Center by collecting and absorbing the rain water preventing soil erosion, water pollution and flooding. Native plants are used because they do not require fertilizer, are more tolerant of local weather conditions and also attract local pollinators such as birds, butterflies and bees. The plants absorb excess water and rocks placed at the entrance of the garden slow and direct water flow.   

In addition, the gift supported the work of a professional landscape designer from Manning Designs of Big Rapids to create a new plan for the pollinator garden areas, and to purchase informational signage for the garden. The signage explains the importance of gardening for native bees using native wildflowers, shrubs and trees. The sign is a replica of the signage placed in the MSU Horticulture Gardens at the native bee educational display garden.

2nd Annual Green 5K Run/Walk Results

The 2nd Annual Green 5K Trail Run/Walk at Kettunen Center was held Sat., Aug. 11.

The 2nd Annual Green 5K Trail Run at Kettunen Center, held Sat., Aug. 11 saw a marked increase in participation and competition with over 70 registrants.

The overall winner was Ken Zylicki of Traverse City with a time of 19:42. The women’s winner was Grace Hamilton of Evart with a time of 25:21. See the full results below.

The Green 5K Trail Run/Walk course is advertised as “not your typical 5K” and started with a short spurt on asphalt, which quickly led to Kettunen Center’s extensive trail system. Racers went up and down hilly paths through hardwoods and meadows, and those taking a more leisurely pace, had the chance to enjoy beautiful vistas overlooking Center Lake and several wetland areas. Remarks from participants after the race included “I loved the run! I can see why this is such a good place for teaching outdoor and environmental education,” and “Whew! That was an excellent training run for hill work. Really nice!”

The event would not have been possible without the help of many local community volunteers. Laura Jacobson, Kettunen Center program staff and race organizer praises the efforts of Kettunen Center staff for getting the course marked and cleared for the race and credits the many volunteers who came and helped make the race a success.

Proceeds from the Green 5K Trail Run/Walk will be used to support youth and family programs at Kettunen Center making it more affordable for schools, camps and other youth organizations to attend. Annually, over 2000 youth and adults participate in outdoor and environmental education activities at Kettunen Center that include team building and leadership development.

Plans are to hold the race again next August.

Women’s Run Results

9 and Under:  Katharine Vann (37.18)
10 – 12:  Christina Vann (35.43)  Madeline McLutyre (1.04:42)
13 – 15:  Kinzie Sikkema (27.08)     Cheyana Rizor (28:09)    Robin Peppy (48:58:
16-19:  Grace Hamilton (25:21)    Jamie Bogart (34:49)
20 – 29:  Lindsey Akom (30:55)   Leah Sefton (33:56)   Holly Barber (35:14)   Wendy Paterson (43:02)   Stephanie Ellison (49:54)
30 – 39:  Nicole Edstrom (28:49)  Tonia Hartline (34:38)  Brandy Loveless (35:45)  Teresa Grover (38:46)  Michelle Bartman (39:40)  Sara Keinath (40:46)  Christina Dodde (41:58)
40 – 49:   Ann Bush (30:56)   Sheri Montoye (32:22)   Lauren Heilman (33.26)  Ellen Vann (35:43)  Louanne McLutyre (1.04:46)
50 – 59:  Becky Doll (34:54)   Darcy Vandawater (49:58)  Lisa Fragomeli (55:26)  Deb Nemish (56:11)
60 – 69:  Karen Yorks (37:18)  Joanne Iler (41:29)  Betsy Erickson (41:29)  Barbara Vandenberg (51:26)

Men’s Run Results

10 – 12:  Timmy Rizor (35:28)   Caleb Dodde (36:20)
13 – 15:  Ben Rigling (22:52)  Derek Hartline (25:12)   Joe Rigling (31:34)
16 – 19:  PJ Nemish (56:11)
30 – 39: Jed Avery (27:32)  Scott Akom (31:07)  Kirk Edstrom (34:58)
40 – 49: Mike Battle (25:06)  Tim Rigling (28:59)  Walt Hartline (31:44)  Tom Vann (39:17)
50 – 59:  Ben Zywicki (19:42)  Dale Moody (22:44)  Greg Mills (24:13)  Keith Stutzman (27:32)  Gary Sielski (33:23)
60 – 69:  David Stroud (30:43)  John Iler (50:38)  Ketih Yorks (52:49)
70 + :  Ken Vandenberg (37:40)

Walker Results

Men – 50 and Over:  Mike Tylman (47:18)
Women 40 – 49:   Renee Bisel (52:49)
Women 50 and Over:  Kris Bullock (53:41)

Welcoming Christopher Gentry

Chris Gentry

Please help us welcome Christopher M. Gentry as Kettunen Center director. Gentry succeeds John Grix who served as Kettunen Center’s director since 1988. Chris comes to the Michigan 4-H Foundation from service as executive director of the Oliver Art Center in Frankfort. He brings 25 years of non-profit organizational leadership and management experience serving local YMCAs in a variety of roles including managing a 180-acre facility in Ohio. He recently served as executive director of a $6.5 million YMCA facility in Cadillac with responsibility for building capacity to deliver program and funding which led to completing the construction and opening the facility. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Park and Recreation Administration from Michigan State University. If you are at Kettunen Center in the coming months, please take a moment to welcome Chris to Kettunen Center and Michigan 4-H.

Save the Date for our Summer Events

Summer Family Water Fest - June 9

Start your summer with a family fishing trip to Kettunen Center. Saturday June 9th, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., join the Summer Family Water Fest to enjoy shoreline and pontoon boat fishing on Center Lake. Basic fishing skills will be taught with a prize for the largest fish caught. Center Lake is great habitat for Yellow Perch, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass and this year the Michigan Department of Natural Resources fish-stocked the lake with Rainbow Trout. Enjoy paddling a kayak or canoe and watch Common Loons diving for fish and Great Blue Herons hunting for frogs. Basic boating instruction provided. Other Summer Family Water Fest activities include watercolor art, and water team games. The cost of the event is $4.00 per person or “fill the boat” with five or more family members and only pay $3.00 a person.

Registration deadline June 7th. To register call Kettunen Center at (231)829-3421. Funding for the event is provided by the Osceola County Community Foundation.

Learning Science Through the Arts Camp - July 8-11

Kettunen Center has a summer camp for kids, 9-14 years old from July 8-11, 2012!  It is the 20th year for the Learning Science through the Arts Youth Camp. This year the camp will focus on Games around the World: Our window into other cultures! Campers will learn games, songs, dances, art, sports, traditions and culture of people that live in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Latin America. Different cultural food preferences and lifestyle practices will be explored through hands-on geography and science activities. Campers will also enjoy fishing, swimming and boating on Center Lake, disc golf, campfires and much more.

Registration deadline July 1st. To register, visit Kettunen Center online at  www.kettunencenter.org for a camp brochure and registration form or call Kettunen Center at (231)829-3421.

Camp scholarships funded by Mecosta-Osceola United Way are available for local families.

5K Green Trail Run/Walk - Aug. 11

If you enjoy a challenge Kettunen Center is hosting the 2nd annual 5K Green Trail Run/Walk event, August 11, 2012. The course is not your average 5K. We have it all- hills, flats, woods, lakeshore and fields! We will have medals for the top three in each age group and a trophy for overall fastest male and female runner, plus Masters Runner. T-shirts will be given to the first 50 registrants. Start time is 9:00am. Registration begins at 8 a.m. The race begins at 9 a.m.

Cost is $15 before Aug. 8 and $20 day of the race. To register visit Kettunen Center at, www.kettunencenter.org for the registration form or call (231)829-3421.

Kettunen Center Director is retiring

After 24 years of service, John Grix is retiring as Kettunen Center's Director. The Michigan
4-H Foundation and Kettunen Center cordially invite you to a retirement celebration to honor John and his accomplishments. Join us for an open house reception on Friday, May 11, 2012 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Kettunen Center. Coffee, punch snacks and cake will be served. A presentation will take place at 4 p.m.

Please RSVP to Kettunen Center at 231-829-3421 or by email to info@kettunencenter.org no later than May 7th.

If you would like to submit an item (picture, letter, etc.) for the memory book that will be given to John, please send them to:

Kettunen Center14901 4-H DriveTustin, MI 49688

All items due before May 7th.

If you would like to honor John with a gift, please make a contribution in his name to the Michigan 4-H Foundation to the John and Andrea Grix Endowment Fund to support Kettunen Center. Contributions may be made online at: www.mi4hfdtn.org/memtributegifts.html. You may also mail your gifts to:

Michigan 4-H Foundation

535 Chestnut Road, Room 240East Lansing, MI 48824

Feed the Need in Wexford County

In 2011, Kettunen Center staff members started the Feed the Need Program and with help from all our guests, we donated over 500 items to Cadillac Area OASIS/Family Resource Center. Kettunen Center is continuing the program in 2012. Please remember to bring one non-perishable item to the center the next time you visit in 2012.

Traditional Irish Dinner and Ceiliah

Join us for a Traditional Irish Dinner and Ceiliah at Kettunen Center, Sunday, March 18, at 5:30 p.m.

Ceiliah is an informal social gathering with folk music, singing, dancing and storytelling. Celtic music will be provided by Mulligan Stew, a 7-member band accompanied by the Pine River Irish Dancers.

Cost: Adults $25.00 in advance, $30.00 at the door
Youth, 12 and under $15.00, $20.00 at the door

Winter Family Fun Day

Saturday, February 18, 2012
10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Kettunen Center
Join families from across Michigan for a day of winter fun. Try cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, sledding, learn about winter survival skills, snow science, bird study and tracking winter wildlife. The day is designed for school-age children and their parents.

Call the Kettunen Center at (231) 829-3421 or email kross@kettunencenter.org. Pre-registration is required by Feb. 17, 2012.

Cost: $7/person (includes use of all equipment, a hot buffet lunch and snacks)

4-H Teen Leadership & Community Change Conference

January 21-22, 2012

By Betsy Knox

Over 140 participants from 32 Michigan counties gathered at Kettunen Center to learn teen leadership skills and how to be agents of change in their home communities. A sampling of sessions offered include: Get Involved in a 2012 Political Campaign; Service Activities that Build Career Skills; Communicating through Conflict, Generating Ideas & Moving to Action; The Photovoice Project: Recording Your Life & Community and Seven Billion People: Global Sustainability & Limited Resources. We also offered a session called Outdoor Winter Club Activities, taking advantage of the beautiful surroundings and natural teaching lab that Kettunen Center provides.

As a result of participating in the program, 95% of the participants think that they can make a difference in their communities; 90% feel a sense of responsibility to their communities; and 94% will teach others what they learned at the conference. This conference was supported by the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation, the Sandra Clarkson Stuckman Endowment and the Turner-Ousterhout Endowment.

Tree Donation to the City of Detroit

On Nov. 2, the nonprofit agency that manages Detroit’s Campus Martius Park accepted a delivery of a statuesque, 60-foot Norway Spruce tree that crowned the 2011 Detroit Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and related Winter Magic-Detroit festivities. The 50-year-old evergreen was a gift from Kettunen Center.


The Detroit 300 Conservancy had launched a statewide search for a Michigan tree in August without success. The Michigan Christmas Tree Association pledged support, and through its vast grower’s network ultimately located the tree with help from Michigan State University Extension. The tree was planted a half-century ago to celebrate the opening of the Kettunen Center. It has become a fixture at the Center, where it dominates the arboretum, said John Grix, director of the Kettunen Center. “It’s like a page out of the children’s book The Giving Tree,” Grix said. “It’s a magnificent tree and has given us so much over the years, helping create a beautiful sanctuary for our staff and guests. It’s a fixture here and will be missed, but unfortunately has long out-grown the arboretum. When we learned of the Detroit Christmas Tree search, we couldn’t think of a better use for it.”

The tree was harvested on Oct. 31 and arrived at Campus Martius Park Nov. 2 where it was transformed from wild, forest beauty to glittering, holiday royalty. It took more than a week to ready the tree for the Nov. 18, 2011 Detroit Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Winter Magic-Detroit festivities, presented by DTE Energy Foundation.

Read more about the tree and lighting ceremony in the press:

• Cadillac News 9&10 video of tree cutting (John Grix interviewed)


• My Fox Detroit news video of tree arriving in Detroit


• Detroit Free Press story


• Detroit News story


• WXYZ ABC 7 Detroit

Fall Family Festivities in November

Join us for the Fall Family Fest Nov. 12, 2011 from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at Kettunen Center. Highlights of the day include a Live Birds of Prey presentation by Joe Rogers of Wildlife Recovery Association, apple tasting and cider making, interpretive fall hikes, canoeing and kayaking on Center Lake, disc golf in the forest, and discovering and tasting wild edibles. Cost per person is $7/person (includes lunch).

2011 4-H National Youth Science Day Celebrated

Forty-five 4th graders from Mesick Elementary School celebrated 4-H National Youth Science Day by participating in the Wired for Wind Experiment during a three-day camp program at Kettunen Center, Oct. 26-28, 2011. In the experiment, students designed and tested their own renewable energy wind turbines and determined the best location for a wind farm in their local community.

The students started the experiment by talking about electricity and all the energy sources used to generate electricity. Teams of two students built and tested a wind turbine design using poster board, plastic cups, blade protractor, dowels, hot glue, scissors, pencil, a hub, PVC tee and handle, a small generator and a multi-meter. The students learned that the amount of power their turbine would produce was based on how well they designed their blades. After testing their prototype and measuring the voltage, the students were able to experiment by changing the pitch of the blades and compare results.

The students complete the Wired for Wind Experiment in school by determining a good location in their local community for a wind farm by using a Michigan wind map, transmission map, information about endangered plant and animal species and a human population density map.

Kettunen Center received a 4-H National Youth Science Day Grant from Michigan 4-H Youth Development to offer the Wired for Wind Experiment to Mesick Elementary and to continue to offer the project to other local schools, summer camp and family fun day youth groups. The grant funding provide a program discount to Mesick Elementary and purchase supplies to continue to provide the Wired for Wind Experiment for other youth groups.

Volunteering in the Firewise Garden

Fourteen students from the MSU Horticulture Club donated their time Oct. 1 to maintain the garden areas at Kettunen Center. The Saturday clean-up project included weeding, raking, pruning and transplanting to improve the gardens at Kettunen Center. Elaine Bush, Firewise Project Director for Greening Michigan Institute, Manistee County MSU Extension, worked right along with the students that day and will continue to manage the Firewise Garden, an educational garden demonstrating fire-resistant gardening and structure materials at Kettunen Center. Kettunen Center really appreciates the work done by the students and their future plans to help next spring.