Celebrating Fenner Nature Center’s
Visitor Center Mural
This project was made possible with support from the City of Lansing Arts Projects Grant Program, funded by the City of Lansing and administered by the Arts Council of Greater Lansing.
In February 2026, Fenner Conservancy issued a Request for Proposal inviting artists to submit their ideas for murals on the exterior of the Visitor Center building, which was previously blank and in need of artwork. After several months of preparation, Michigan-based artist Dania Grevengoed was chosen to transform the building with a vibrant nature-themed design. Dania collaborated closely with Fenner staff to ensure the mural reflected Fenner Conservancy’s values and highlighted the environmental education the team is so passionate about.
Stages of the Mural
In August 2026, the vision became a reality as the walls came to life. The Visitor Center now features a vibrant display of diverse habitats and wildlife that showcase Michigan’s native species. This colorful backdrop will welcome thousands of program attendees, school students, festival-goers, and visitors to Fenner each year. It will greet hundreds of people every month and serve as an educational tool for educators.
Local Involvement
With the mural located at a nature center in the heart of Lansing, we wanted to involve community members and let them make their mark on their city. Using a paint-by-numbers method, Dania led volunteers as they shaped the mural and filled in the colors on the walls. In a short time, the community members who showed up made the work that much more fun. Everyone rolled up their sleeves and took part in what would be a monumental part of Fenner.
Community Impact
The mural has already made the space much more welcoming to locals and tourists alike. Students gather behind the Visitor Center, see a visual of the space they visited, and connect it to what they learned. Every year, Fenner Nature Center welcomes hundreds of students from local school districts for field trips and environmental programs. Pictured above is a group from ABNL (Annie’s BIG Nature Lesson), captured in September 2026, during an Apple Butter program.
In October 2026, thousands of guests are expected to attend the 52nd Apple Butter Festival, many of whom will likely take photos in front of the mural. This mural features beautiful sights, including Fenner’s flower logo above native plants, positioned directly above the Native Plant Garden. Not only does the “Fenner flower” stand tall, but the Fenner Nature Preschool logo also appears on the corner of the building. It floats above a Common Snapping Turtle, which is inspired by Fenner’s longtime animal ambassador, Bowser, who just celebrated his seventeenth birthday!
Mural Walkthrough
Go on the journey of how this mural came to life! Join Dania Grevengoed as she walks you through the mural and how it came to be, then hear longtime Fenner volunteers react to the mural for the first time.
A Note from the Artist
Dania Grevengoed
Oak savannas, wetlands, maple groves, ponds, prairies…This mural adventure through the different ecosystems of Fenner in Lansing, and highlights various plants and species found on the grounds.
A deer carcass rests in a technicolor oak savanna, a garter snake curls in the sun, ‘Bowser’ the resident snapping turtle idles in a pond while frogs dance below, a wood duck placed next to a tree cookie of a White Pine felled by lightning, a great blue heron in her nest and a little green heron watch over a pond, paw paw leaves brush up against the sky, dragonflies and other bugs flit through the scenery, skunk cabbage unfurls throughout the seasons, snow that melts into rich delta black dirt, large brown bats soar into the night sky, an eastern bluebird belts his morning song, a patch of goldenrod and joe pye weed spring forward, a boulder rests—deposited by glacial movements.
This is a story that spans seasons and species. Little highlights of what makes Fenner and Central Michigan so special. Thanks for everything, Lansing!
Want to see the mural yourself? Fenner Nature Center is open from dawn to dusk. Or check our Visitor Center hours below to come inside, meet our animal ambassadors, explore the educational displays, and get involved with the work we do!
Visitor Center Hours
Mon: CLOSED
Tue – Fri: 12 PM – 6 PM
Sat-Sun: 9 AM – 3 PM
About Fenner Conservancy
Fenner Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the managing body of Fenner Nature Center and Fenner Nature Preschool, connects people to nature in the heart of Lansing through conservation, education, and stewardship. Through the efforts of this organization, Fenner Nature Center continues to serve as a place of connection for our community and a regional resource for environmental education.