I started this challenge because the company I work for has a wellness challenge each month. This month, the wellness challenge was to visit parks on the park passport. I forgot about it for the first half of the month, so one day while out to dinner with my husband, I got the idea to do all 15 parks in the remaining 15 days of the month. For the work challenge, I would only need to visit 6 parks to get the most points possible (for prizes), but for the general park passport challenge (open to the community), I would have to visit 10+ parks to be entered to win the grand prize.
To be honest, I think it was the aspect of 15 in 15 that made my brain get the fuzzy tingles, and that is why I started this challenge.
Ultimately, I did want to visit new parks and hike new trails. I had this goal on my 2025 vision board I created in January which I had taped up on my art room wall. However, every time I looked at it, I became overwhelmed and slightly depressed that I would not accomplish this goal at all this year. So I took it down off the wall and covered it up on my desk so I couldn’t see it anymore, and suddenly that is when I thought of doing this 15 parks in 15 days challenge.
My therapist said that when people try and take on a big project, it can be too overwhelming to know where to start. I agreed, as I had this idea that what I was supposed to do was drive hours away and go camping or go on long hikes in state parks. My Pinterest board titled Wanderlust is full of images like this. I long for adventure. I ache to go camping in a tent and go on long hikes. Those things aren’t accessible to me, but local parks that I have never been to are accessible to me.
I also love a good list to work from. This is the list of parks I worked from. It is the ODC Network 2025 Park Passport that you can download and print. There are three upcoming dates when a grand prize winner will be chosen, in July, September, and November. So if you want to participate in the park passport challenge, you have plenty of time to do so and be entered to win a grand prize.
That is the story of how this challenge started.
Monday, June 16 : Day 1
Park : Dune Pines Nature Preserve
Location : Holland
Pros : Woodsy nature trail
Cons : No parking lot. Just pull over on the side of the road, I guess?
This park sounded nice by the name of it, and it is pretty close to my house, so I figured it would be an easy one to start with. The park is located in a dead-end area and was previously a private nature trail for the community that lives there, but has recently been opened to the public. After pulling over as far as my little car would possibly go without tipping or getting stuck, I started up the trail, realizing I had no clue where I was going, as there is no trail map. I tried pulling up AllTrails but could not get a good enough cell reception to get it to load, so I kept walking with no guide other than the trail under my feet. Luckily, I found my way out and back to my car after only half a mile. It was a great first park adventure.
Tuesday, June 17 : Day 2
Park : Quincy Park
Location : Holland
Pros : Playground, bathrooms, ample parking
Cons : What nature trails? I couldn’t find them.
To be fair, this park is large and confusing and quite intimidating when the parking lot is full and a baseball game is taking place there. After using the bathroom because I always have to pee, it seems, I walked around looking completely out of place, trying to find some information about nature trails. After walking over to a bridge and taking this picture, I gave up and searched the lot for my car and decided to drive around a bit before leaving. There was one parking area down the way that had a few port-a-potties and some nature that maybe had a clearing for a trail, but by then, I was convinced everyone was staring at me, thinking I was a crazy person. So I left and called it good enough.
Wednesday, June 18 : Day 3
Park : Sanctuary Woods
Location : Holland
Pros : I have been to this park before, and it is my go-to place for hiking
Cons : none, this was a perfect park experience for me
On Wednesday, I had virtual counseling at 7 pm, and it was also thunderstorming that day. I did not know if I was going to even be able to go to a park that day. Thankfully, the storm turned to just light rain, and I was able to dash over to the park before it got dark.
The big trees overhead, the gentle rain on the leaves, the damp earth, the birds singing and splashing in the creek, it was perfection. I was the only person there, and while I normally would hike the upper trail, I stayed on the lower part to enjoy the magical, peaceful moment. I need to remember to go out after a storm and enjoy the way it changes nature.
Thursday, June 19 : Day 4
Park : Paw Paw Bridge Park
Location : Zeeland
Pros : Parking area, picnic table
Cons : This park is just a bridge and a picnic table
Feeling unsatisfied with this tiny park visit for driving out to Zeeland, I got back on the road and went to the park I saw signs for on the way there, Paw Paw Park.
Paw Paw Park happens to be on the list of parks for the Ottawa Parks Challenge (40 parks), so I inadvertently knocked out two parks for two challenges in one day.
Paw Paw Bridge Park is nice if you live there and are looking for a scenic place to have a picnic, but if you are hoping to walk around and see some wildlife and nature, Paw Paw Park is the clear choice.
Paw Paw Park
Meadow trails with diverse areas to walk. Ample parking, bathrooms, paved trails, and grassy trails, deer, rabbits, birds, even a disc golf course, this park has it all.
Friday, June 20 : Day 5
Park : Duncan Woods
Location : Grand Haven
Pros : Parking and different trail options, very woodsy nature area with deer!
Cons : no bathrooms
This is the park where I got into the groove of park trips. I took my work backpack with all of my various outdoorsy items, including bug spray. Was I carrying too much? Yes. Did I care? No. After walking the entire paved section of the trail, I wanted more, since the paved area wasn’t much. So I ventured up into the woods, and on my way up the trail, I met a deer. When I saw the deer in front of me, I decided to do something I read about in a book, and sit down so the deer wouldn’t run away from me. I wanted it to know I wasn’t a threat, I wasn’t going to chase it, I was just here to be in the woods at the same time, peacefully. The deer slowly walked around to the side of me and came a little closer. It probably smelled the bug spray on me and was super confused by what a strange creature I was, but it did not run away. It simply walked a little and a little more and eventually walked away, continuing on its path. Once I could no longer see it, I stood back up and continued my hike up the trail to the top of a ridge and eventually back down to my car in the parking lot.
Saturday, June 21 : Day 6
Park : Maplewood Park
Location : Jenison
Pros : one mile paved loop around a small body of water, a playground, a splash pad, lots of parking, plus bathrooms
Cons : not much shade, not much wildlife, not much nature
Maplewood Park is perfect if you live nearby and have kids or want to have a good one-mile loop walk for exercise. My favorite part of this park was the messy ice cream cone experience I had at a nearby ice cream shop. It was exceptionally hot that day, and the ice cream was melting fast. After snapping a cute picture, I opened the door and sat on the edge of the seat and ate it like a child or a cavewoman. People glanced over, and I didn’t care. We all understood the assignment - enjoy the moment of eating ice cream on the hottest day of the year (so far).
Sunday, June 22 : Day 7
Park : L.M. Wise Preserve
Location : Hopkins
Pros : beautiful area, personally significant to my family
Cons : I was too nervous to walk around much
L.M. Wise Preserve just so happens to be a place that is a part of my family’s history. My maiden name is Wise, and after texting my parents while I was there, I discovered that L.M. Wise is my grandpa’s cousin, and this preserve is someplace where my dad used to go frequently as a kid to visit his relatives who lived there.
In preparation for this park, I packed a picnic and a book based on some Google reviews. There is a pavilion with picnic tables near the parking area, but the best spot to picnic is down the path by the stream. There, on a conveniently located bench under a shade tree, I ate my dinner and watched the dragonflies graze the water. Then I read a few poems by Mary Oliver about summer. It was lovely and an intimate moment connecting to my ancestors’ lives and land.
Monday, June 23 : Day 8
Park : Armintrout-Milbocker Nature Preserve
Location : Allegan
Pros : Woodsy loop trail, parking, a port-a-potty
Cons : The flies were starting to get to me, even with bug spray
I heard an owl while in the parking area!! This fueled my hike on a day that I was feeling the tiredness seep in. There was an easy-to-read trail map conveniently located in several places along the trail. There is a shorter loop and a longer loop. I took the longer one (1.4 miles) because the bench I needed to read for the challenge question on the park passport was at the far end of the loop. Although it was hot and sweaty and buggy, and I was covered in bug spray that didn’t seem to work, it was a good adventure. By this point in my personal 15 parks in 15 days challenge, I was feeling the exhaustion come on, but I pushed forward and enjoyed this hike. It really felt like I was out there in nature, going on an adventure. I never did find that owl, though.
Tuesday, June 24 : Day 9
Park : Rabbit River Preserve
Location : Hamilton
Pros : close enough to my home, bathrooms, shorter trails, different habitats to enjoy
Cons : the flies were reportedly bad here, so I stuck to the open meadow area
I was tired. This challenge was draining me. Even though I was taking my prescription stimulant for my type two narcolepsy and drinking coffee after work, I was still so sleepy and worn out. I pushed to go to this park in a hazy brain fog. When I got there, another couple was walking their dog and they ended up telling me the flies are so bad on the trails. I had gotten bit by one while reading the trail map already and had decided to avoid the trails and just meander the open meadow near the activity building. I didn’t want to bother with the bug spray as it wasn’t working that well anyway, and having to scrub my entire body in the shower every day to get it off before bed was too much work for something that didn’t stop the flies from buzzing around my head and ears the entire time. While on my little walkabout, I nearly stepped on a snake as it crossed the path in front of me. I sat down on the cement pad of the pavilion and used my binoculars to try and spot an owl or an interesting bird, to no luck. Eventually, it started to threaten rain, so I left. At least I got to see a snake.
Wednesday, June 25 : Day 10 (attempt)
Park : River Junction Preserve
Location : Hamilton
Pros : close to home
Cons : THE FLIES
I tried. I was exhausted. My mind ached for sleep. My cat longed for cuddles. My husband desired more time together. And I was starving. I went straight to the park after work because if I went home, I wouldn’t want to leave again. In hindsight, I might have done better had I eaten before I went to the park, as the hangry was getting to me.
As soon as I pulled into the parking area, my car was swarmed by flies. I parked, but did not want to get out of the car; there were so many flies. I was wearing a skort and a tank top, and sandals, not nearly enough skin protection from flies. I had my bug spray with me, but let’s face it, it was useless. I needed to read the sign for the challenge question, but I did not want to get out of the car. I knew that as soon as I opened the door, flies would get in the car, and I did not want to deal with biting flies in the car. Frustrated and exhausted, I gave up and drove home. Although I was in the parking area of this park, I did not get to answer the challenge question on the park passport; therefore, I cannot count this park as complete.
At this point, I decided to stop my park-a-day challenge. I was exhausted. My body was dragging. My mind was constantly foggy. It was no longer an enjoyable experience. I needed rest. In through-hiking circles, hikers take rest days here and there to recuperate from the exertion. I needed a rest day or two.
Saturday, June 28
Park : Outdoor Discovery Center
Location : Holland
Pros : beautiful place, closest to my home, many trail options, and points of interest
Cons : I had taken a few rest days and decided to skip the rest of the parks and do this one which I was saving for last
Life handed me an opportunity. It was serendipitous. The ODC was offering a Women in Nature workshop called Foraged Tea Hike. I had just done some foraging myself and was curious if the red clover I collected was safe to make tea from. Before I could even read the Google results, I saw this workshop opportunity to go foraging with a naturalist and make tea from gathered plants. Without hesitation, I signed up.
The whole experience was great. It was cool to walk around with a group of women and learn about different edible plants, even forage for them. It was fun to be in a group like that and learn something new together. When we got back to the Cultural History Center and made tea from foraged plants, we sat together in a circle and chatted for a while. It was an awesome experience and one I don’t think I would have been brave enough to do had it not been for my multi-day park visit challenge.
Final Thoughts
I made the park passport challenge and the company wellness challenge harder than they needed to be, but I also pushed myself outside of my comfort zone in a way that was good for me. I learned that having a set parameter for adventure helps me achieve things, and I learned that I need to schedule in a few rest days as well. I noticed so much growth in myself from the year past, when I struggled to even go places I had never been before. I saw so much beauty and endured some frustrating challenges (did I mention the flies?). The summer is only just beginning, and yet I have already had many noteworthy experiences. I feel more content than I did 2 weeks ago, and I feel empowered to do more things that are outside of my comfort zone (as long as I eat first and can rest at some point). All in all, this was not a failure; it was a great success.
