Read a firsthand account by Diana Digges, our second-year Huron Pines AmeriCorps member serving Michigan Natural Features Inventory, as she searches rugged and remote corners of the Upper Peninsula for Michigan’s diminutive wildflower. … More Searching the U.P. for Michigan’s State Wildflower
There’s a reason so much emphasis is placed on the outdoors when it comes to pitching Northeast Michigan to visitors: Tourism structured around outdoor recreation is growing part of our economy, leading to new opportunities and challenges around access, stewardship and economic growth. … More How Recreation Powers Northern Michigan’s Economy
A tiny, floating plant that can dominate entire shorelines of ponds, lakes and slow-moving rivers is here in Northern Michigan — and it is spreading fast. Mats of frog-bit make it difficult or impossible for fish, waterfowl and other wildlife to move through infested areas. … More Take on Invasives: European Frog-Bit
Huron Pines AmeriCorps members and staff were among 25 volunteers working in chest-deep water to remove invasive cattail from Alpena Wildlife Sanctuary on Friday, June 25. They joined community volunteers, wetland restoration crew from Loyola University, and board members for the sanctuary and Thunder Bay River Center in clearing narrow-leaf cattail from the kayak launch … More Gallery: Cutting Cattail at Alpena Wildlife Sanctuary
On May 22, a fleet of a dozen Huron Pines AmeriCorps members took to the Alpena Wildlife Sanctuary by kayak for training on how to identify and locate European frog-bit. The trip preceded an effort June 25 to remove frog-bit and narrow-leaf cattails within the sanctuary. … More Gallery: Surveying for Frog-Bit in Alpena Wildlife Sanctuary
Picture a carpet of vegetation so dense that your legs become lost in a sea of green as you wade through the forest. The woodland wildflowers that used to bloom here are no more, lost to a flood of invasive plants. Gone too are the diverse insects that once clamored over every blossom and propagated those beloved native flowers. What’s left are trees and an understory of nothing but garlic mustard. … More Take on Invasives: Garlic Mustard
Members of our water team — Amy Nowakowski, Josh Leisen and Samantha Nellis — surveyed six road/stream crossing sites in the watersheds of the Thunder Bay and Pigeon rivers last month. Their nets revealed a diverse assortment of aquatic insects, indicating healthy waters. Have a look at what they found in our gallery. … More Meet the Aquatic Insects of the Upper Pigeon, Thunder Bay Rivers
A desire to better protect Northern Michigan’s waters has encouraged Huron Pines, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay and Conservation Resource Alliance to form a partnership to strengthen protections for these valuable natural resources. … More Huron Pines Partners with Conservation Groups to Protect Water Resources
Over 100 volunteers came together at Vanderbilt Area School on May 21 for a Day of Service to enhance the school grounds and school forest through landscaping, tree planting and trail building. Each spring the Huron Pines AmeriCorps program leads a day of service for AmeriCorps members from across the region to come together to support a community project. … More Huron Pines Leads Day of Service to Spruce up Vanderbilt School Forest
When students gain a deeper understanding of the natural resources in the places they live and have connections to, it sets the groundwork for lifelong stewardship. Giving students ownership to drive projects and have a direct and positive impact on their environment strengthens their sense of place and responsibility for their community’s natural resources now and into the future. … More Student-Led Stewardship Builds Community Connections