2023 Holiday Hike Challenge Results
This holiday season, many of you set out to find the big red holiday bows hanging on trees in 16 of the natural areas the Land Conservancy has helped protect. You travelled across West Michigan with your friends, family, and pets and discovered gorgeous natural places—some for the first time!
A hearty thanks to everyone who participated in our Holiday Hike Challenge! Today we are excited to share with you the results and prize winners.
Stats
- 116 participants
- 5 (pictured) furry companions
- 393 total preserve visits
- A record 13 participants visited all 16 nature preserves!
Prizes
Congratulations to our winners! We will be reaching out to everyone who won to arrange redemption of prizes. A special thank you to our prize donors, Conservation Resource Alliance, Brewery Vivant, Querkus Creative, REI, Blandford Nature Center, Designs by Nature, Field Sparrow Studio, Grand Rapids Public Museum, John Ball Zoo, Frederik Meijer Gardens, Orvis, New Holland Brewing Company, The Patient Artist (Matthew Goetzka), The Pottery Lane, and Wild Ones Wellness.
GRAND PRIZE: Framed Original Painting by Jerry Gates, donated by Conservation Resource Alliance
Awarded to the first person to submit photos from all 16 preserves
Winner: Janalyce Fletcher
FIRST RUNNER UP: Gift Package with selections from Brewery Vivant and Broad Leaf Brewery & Spirits
Awarded to the second person to submit photos from all 16 preserves
Winner: Anna Tarach
SECOND PRIZE: Gift Package from Querkus Creative
Awarded to the first person to successfully identify the most trees.
Winner: Andrew Lidral
SECOND RUNNER UP: Backpacking Bundle from REI
Awarded to the second person to successfully identify the most trees.
Winner: Lea Sevigny
SOCIAL MEDIA PRIZE: Backpacking Bundle from REI
Winner drawn from raffle of individuals who submitted their entries on social media.
Winner: Anna Felkers
DRAWING WINNERS
Amy Schenkel
Christine Malmsten
Clarence Rudat
@candisajs
Tari Koziatek
Pattie Gaddy
Cari Draft
Holly Dumond
Jen & Jeremy Patzer
Anna W
Hannah Barnsdale
Heather Bell
Bethany Sebree
Nic L.
Tree ID Answer Key
| Anderson Woods | Red maple (Acer rubrum) |
| B.D. White | White oak (Quercus alba) |
| Brower Lake | Black oak (Quercus velutina) |
| Dune Pines | Red oak (Quercus rubra) |
| Flower Creek | Yellow birch (Betula allegheniensis) |
| Kuker Van-Til | Black cherry (Prunus serotina) |
| Lamberton Lake Fen | Black willow (Salix nigra) |
| Maas Family | Jack pine (Pinus banksiana) |
| McDuffee Creek | Northern White Cedar |
| Minnie Skwarek | Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) |
| Palomita | Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) |
| Richmond Woods | White pine (Pinus strobus) |
| Saul Lake Bog | Pignut hickory (Carya glabra) |
| The Highlands | Silver Maple |
| Upriver Nature Preserve | Bigtooth aspen (Populus grandidentata) |
| Wege Foundation | Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) |
