A treehouse built by the crew from Animal Planet’s Treehouse Masters sits in a Michigan woods, and it’s free to visit. Even better, the idea for it came from kids.
The treehouse serves as headquarters for a team of fictional nature superheroes. Their names include Grandmaster Snapper, Owl Girl, The Frog, and Miss Sunflower.
I can’t imagine a kid who wouldn’t want to join that club.
A paved path leads right up to it, so wheelchairs and strollers can come along too. I like how the whole thing was designed so nobody gets left at the bottom of the ladder.
The treehouse is only the opening act, though. Around it stretch hundreds of acres of trails, creek crossings, butterflies, and maple trees with sweet secrets.
So what else is waiting out there in those woods?
The Treehouse Comes With Its Own Superhero Team
Kids dreamed it up, and a famous TV crew built it. The star at For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum is a barrier-free treehouse made by Nelson Treehouse and Supply.
That company stars on Animal Planet’s Treehouse Masters. The For-Mar build aired in January 2017, so this treehouse is officially a TV celebrity.
It’s known as the Nature’s Super HQ treehouse. It works as headquarters for Nature’s Superheroes, The Preservers, a team devoted to protecting the environment.
Meet the crew through comic books at the Visitor’s Center. Characters include Grandmaster Snapper, Owl Girl, The Frog, and Miss Sunflower.
The structure covers about 330 square feet. Builders worked it around black cherry, red oak, butternut hickory, basswood, American elm, and white oak trees.
That’s quite a guest list of trees for one clubhouse. Each one adds to the feeling of floating among the branches.
Best of all, the treehouse costs nothing to visit. A paved path runs from the parking area straight to it, so wheels of all kinds are welcome.
Read a comic first, then head out to the HQ. Your kids might come back with secret superhero names of their own.
Seven Miles Of Trails Means You Can Wander Wherever
Over seven miles of hiking trails loop through this place. That’s a lot of ground for a park sitting right on the edge of Flint.
The trail system mixes mowed lanes, gravel roads, and short footpaths. Some sections are barrier-free, which makes them easier for strollers and wheelchairs.
The whole preserve covers 383 acres. Inside you’ll find meadows, ponds, wetlands, and forests, so the scenery keeps changing as you walk.
Wildlife shows up here too. Deer and wild turkeys are part of the neighborhood, so keep your eyes open and your voice soft.
Winter doesn’t shut things down either. The gravel service drive opens for jogging, biking, and cross-country skiing when the ground is frozen.
A quick tip for the trip: wear sturdy shoes, especially after rain. Trails near the water can get muddy, and bug spray is a smart idea in warm months.
Also, leave the dog at home. Pets aren’t allowed in the preserve, which helps keep the wildlife calm.
Grab a map and pick a path. Short stroll or long adventure, the choice is all yours.
Bring Your Wobbly Legs To The Creek Bridges
Kearsley Creek splits the property right down the middle. Crossing it is half the fun.
The preserve features three scenic bridges. They connect trails that wander through a heavily wooded floodplain along the creek.
Floodplain forests feel different from the rest of the woods. The ground runs lower, the trees crowd closer, and the creek keeps things lively.
Bridges also make great pause points. Stop in the middle, peer over the rail, and watch the water slide past below your shoes.
Kids tend to treat bridges like the boss level of a hike. Let them lead the way across and see who gets to the other side first.
Wet weather changes things down here. The trails near the creek can get soggy, so boots or tough sneakers beat fancy shoes every time.
Bugs also like the water as much as we do. A little spray before you head out will save plenty of swatting later.
Plan a loop that crosses the creek at least once. Michigan woods always look a little more magical with water running through them.
A Tree Museum You Can Walk Through In Sneakers
Over 1,800 woody plants live in the arboretum here. They represent 157 different species, which is more tree variety than most people see in a year.
The arboretum covers 116 acres. It holds Level II accreditation from ArbNet, a group that recognizes serious tree collections around the world.
Think of it as a museum where the exhibits grow. Collections include maple sugar bush forests, crabapple and conifer areas, and herbaceous plants.
Native wildflower and grass collections round things out. They show off what Michigan land looks like when plants are allowed to do their thing.
Spring brings blossoms, and fall brings color. Every season gives the same path a brand-new look, so repeat visits never feel like reruns.
Want a game while you walk? For-Mar offers an Adventure Lab, an app-based scavenger hunt that sends you hunting through the arboretum.
It’s a clever way to keep curious kids moving. Adults might get hooked too, and that’s perfectly fine.
Bring a phone, bring a buddy, and start exploring. You’ll leave knowing a crabapple from a conifer, guaranteed.
Maple Season Smells Like Pancakes Out Here
Syrup doesn’t start in a bottle. At For-Mar, it starts in the trees along the Maple Walk.
Mature maple trees line this path, giving it a grand, shady feel. It’s a lovely stroll any time of year.
Things get sweeter in March. That’s when the annual Sugar Bush Festival celebrates maple sugaring right on the grounds.
A Sugar Shack sits on site too. That’s where sap gets boiled down, slowly turning watery tree juice into thick, golden syrup.
The process takes patience. Sap is mostly water, so a lot of boiling is needed to make a small amount of syrup.
Learning this in person beats reading about it. Kids get to connect breakfast with an actual tree they can touch.
Michigan Marches can be chilly and muddy, so dress for both. Layers and waterproof boots will keep the fun from turning soggy.
Check the preserve’s event calendar before you go. Festival dates shift each year, and you won’t want to miss the steamiest weekend of early spring.
Your pancakes at home may never taste the same afterward. That’s a good thing.
Snakes, Turtles, And A Bird Museum Wait Indoors
Rainy day? No problem.
The Visitor’s Center opens daily from 9 AM to 5 PM.
Inside, hands-on exhibits feature live animals. The displays teach how ecosystems stay balanced and why healthy environments matter.
Turtles, reptiles, and other creatures make great indoor company. Kids can get closer to animals here than they would on any trail.
The center also houses the Foote Bird Museum. It features a collection of bird-related art, a fun surprise in a nature center.
Look up and around while you’re there. Display cabinets and murals were added in 2022 and 2023, giving the space a fresh look.
Practical perks live here too. You’ll find restrooms, drinking water, and a gift shop for a souvenir on the way out.
This is also where the comic books about The Preservers live. Stop in before visiting the treehouse so the kids know who they’re visiting.
Accessible bathrooms are inside during operating hours. Paved paths lead here from the parking area, so getting in is easy for everyone.
Start your day here, and finish here too. A quick bathroom stop never hurt anybody.
Sunday Afternoons Belong To The Butterflies
Timing matters for this one. The Butterfly House opens to the public on Sundays from 2 PM to 4 PM.
That two-hour window makes it feel like a special event. Plan your weekend hike around it, and you’ll get trails and wings in one trip.
Butterflies have a calming effect on almost everyone. Even the wiggliest kid tends to freeze when a pair of wings floats past.
Move slowly and keep hands to yourself. Butterflies are delicate, and the gentle visitors usually get the best close-up views.
Bring a camera if you’ve got one. A butterfly resting on a flower makes for a picture worth framing.
Butterfly numbers can change with the season. Summer is a smart bet, though nature keeps its own schedule.
After the visit, keep looking around the grounds. Gardens and meadows give wild butterflies plenty of places to stop for a snack.
Fluttering visitors are one of those small joys that stick in your memory. It’s free fun that feels a little like magic.
Little Gardeners Can Get Their Hands Dirty Here
Gardens usually come with a strict look but don’t touch rule. Not this one.
The For-Mar Garden Exploration Space is built for hands-on learning and open-ended play. It’s open during preserve hours, from 8 AM until sunset.
Raised beds and in-ground gardens show off different growing techniques. Curious grown-ups might pick up ideas for their own backyard.
Then there’s the Pebble Harp. It’s a musical feature that turns rocks into sound, and kids love making a little noise.
An imaginative play area adds even more room to roam. Pretend play and real plants make a pretty great combo.
The preserve also includes a Community Vegetable Garden and a Memorial Garden. Each offers its own quiet corner to explore.
Need more outdoor fun? An outdoor playground sits on the grounds, and picnic areas are ready for your packed lunch.
Pack snacks, water, and wipes. Little hands tend to find dirt fast, and that’s sort of the point.
Let the kids lead here. They’ll show you what curiosity looks like.
A Dairy Farm Gift Became Michigan’s Free Backyard
Before the trails and treehouse, this land was a dairy farm. Forbes and Martha Merkley donated it to Genesee County.
The preserve opened in 1970. Its name, For-Mar, blends the first parts of Forbes and Martha.
Martha kept the dream going. She founded the Friends of For-Mar Foundation in 1974 to support the preserve.
A few farm-era touches still charm visitors. An old-fashioned windmill stands on the grounds, a nice nod to simpler times.
For wide views, climb the observation tower. It overlooks wetland habitats, a great spot for spotting birds and other wildlife.
You’ll find all of this at 2142 N Genesee Rd, Burton, MI 48509. Parking is plentiful, with handicap spaces available.
Grounds stay open daily from 8 AM to sunset. General admission is free, though certain programs may carry a small fee.
That’s a rare deal in Michigan or anywhere. A couple’s generosity turned into a place where families still explore every single day.
Not bad for an old cow pasture. Forbes and Martha would probably be proud.
