The Hartley Outdoor Education Center is celebrating 50 years of outdoor learning with the Hartley Heritage Festival on Saturday, October 11, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Murphy Farm (13240 W. Townline Rd, St. Charles, MI 48655) Families, alumni, and community members are invited to gather on Hartley’s 311-acre property in St. Charles to honor a tradition that has shaped generations of students.
“Over the last five decades, Hartley has welcomed thousands of students to explore the outdoors, discover history, and learn through experience,” said Liz Roxberry, Program Director at Hartley Outdoor Education Center. “Thanks to the support and leadership of the Saginaw Intermediate School District, Hartley has remained a place where outdoor education thrives, making this festival both a celebration of our past and a commitment to our future.”
The festival will be held on the historic Murphy Farm grounds, home to the Fowler Schoolhouse, Henige Mercantile, Murphy House, and the Saginaw Barn. Visitors can look forward to:
Hands-on crafts and games: jump rope making, schoolyard games, wool carding, loom weaving, pottery demonstrations, and drop spindle bracelets
Seasonal fun: pumpkin carving, cider and donut sales, and educational displays
Living history experiences: blacksmith shop, Saginaw Voyager canoe reenactment, candle dipping, and covered wagon stop
Artisan activities: vendor row, swag store, and cross-cut sawing demonstrations
For many families, Hartley is more than a field trip destination; it’s a tradition passed down through generations. One Hemmeter Elementary parent reflected, “Whenever I talk about Hartley with other adults who grew up in the region, their faces light up because these are some of the best memories from childhood for generations. The independence and confidence that students gain during their time there are powerful. As a parent, I’m grateful that my own children, Liam and Ellie, had the chance to experience the magic of Hartley.”
The Hartley Heritage Festival is free and open to the public. Donations collected during the event will support student scholarships, ensuring learners throughout the Saginaw Bay region continue to benefit from Hartley’s one-of-a-kind outdoor education programs for years to come. We look forward to welcoming the community back to Hartley for this special anniversary celebration.
ABOUT HARTLEY OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER
Established by the Saginaw Intermediate School District in 1975, Hartley Outdoor Education Center provides students with experiential learning opportunities and unforgettable moments while exploring nature, wildlife, natural resources, history, and cultures through virtual or in-person interactive learning. Hartley offers a variety of STEM classes in categories such as earth science, life science, and physical science.
Nestled in 311 acres of natural habitat, including hardwood forests, wetlands, meadows, ponds, and a creek, Hartley is home to Coal Mine No. 8, a historical site and museum, Schroeder Log Cabin, Fowler School, Murphy Farm, Henige Log Cabin.
ABOUT SAGINAW INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Saginaw Intermediate School District (ISD) is an educational service agency that provides effective and innovative leadership, services, resources, and programs throughout Saginaw County. Saginaw ISD provides career and technical education, early childhood, finance, human resources, instruction, pupil accounting, special education, technology, and transportation services. In addition, Saginaw ISD operates multiple educational programs to meet the unique needs of students ages birth to 26 across Saginaw County, including: Hartley Outdoor Education Center, Head Start/Early Head Start and Great Start to Readiness Programs, Great Lakes Bay Early College, Saginaw County Juvenile Detention Center School, and Special Education Center Programs.
Saginaw ISD serves 12 local school districts, four public school academies, and 22 non-public schools, with a total enrollment of approximately 26,000 students. Public school districts supported include: Birch Run Area Schools, Bridgeport-Spaulding Community School District, Carrollton Public Schools, Chesaning Union Schools, Frankenmuth School District, Freeland Community School District, Hemlock Public School District, Merrill Community Schools, Saginaw Public School District, Saginaw Township Community Schools, St. Charles Community Schools, and Swan Valley School District.
HARTLEY CONTACT
Liz Roxberry | Hartley Outdoor Education Center, Program Director
Email: eroxberry@sisd.cc | Phone: 989.865.6295
MEDIA CONTACT
For further inquiries, you may contact Chief of Staff Coty Kuschinsky at ckuschinsky@sisd.cc