Don’t lock yourself inside this winter! There is plenty of fun outside during the cold, snowy months. Friends of the St. Clair River is here to guide and inspire you to ditch the indoors, grab your boots and head outdoors.

Winter brings more natural beauty and recreation than we often appreciate; like waking up to spot wildlife tracks through the night’s fallen snow; peering at a bald eagle perched in a leafless tree against the blue sky; and hunting for stoneflies as they emerge from a stream and onto the white ground.

We’ve got you covered with a lineup of nature hikes and field experiences to connect you to nature this winter.

Birding – The St. Clair River shoreline is a bird watchers paradise. Winter attracts migrant birds and wintering waterfowl as they congregate to open water. The Blue Water Birding Trail highlights twelve locations for beginner to advanced-level birders. www.BluewaysofStClair/birdtrail

Stoneflies – Volunteers brave the cold to search local rivers and streams for these small aquatic insects that are easily found in winter. Winter Stoneflies are one of the most sensitive of all macro invertebrates that live in our waterways and their presence is a sign of clean water. www.crwc.org.

Hikes – Are you a paddler or boater feeling lost without open water? Winter is the best time for nature hikes.  Gather year-round for social fun with like-minded people who love to experience and learn about habitats for people, plants and wildlife. www.scriver.org.

Adventure – A winter adventure awaits you at St. Clair County’s Columbus County Park. This 400 acre park provides that “up north” feeling with winter attractions specializing in groomed cross county trails, a lighted sledding hill and ice skating. www.stclaircounty.org/Offices/parks

Step into the great outdoors with Friends of the St. Clair River! Join us in the field to get your hands in the dirt, feet in the water and boots on the ground. Our passion runs deep for making the St. Clair River a destination watershed — join with us to show the winter wonderland some love!

Reach out at [email protected] or visit www.scriver.org. You can find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Sheri Faust is the co-founder and President of Friends of the St. Clair River and enjoys downhill skiing, snow shoeing and ice-skating in the winter with her two girls and husband.