Upcoming Events
Native Seed Collection Workshop
Join us as we launch our volunteer native seed collection program. Through our seed collection program, we intend to collect native plant seeds for propagation to restore native habitats of Northern Lower Michigan.
North Point Nature Preserve Exploration Day
Join Huron Pines and Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary for an afternoon of exploration at North Point Nature Preserve. Located east of Alpena, North Point Nature Preserve is home to 1,384 acres of forested wetlands, four miles of undeveloped shoreline and rare ecosystems found only along the Great Lakes.
Native Seed Collection Workshop
*EVENT FULL* Join us as we launch our volunteer native seed collection program. Through our seed collection program, we intend to collect native plant seeds for propagation to restore native habitats of Northern Lower Michigan.
Lake Huron Forever's One Water Gathering
Lake Huron Forever’s One Water Gathering is an international initiative bringing professionals and partners from both sides of Lake Huron together to explore the lakeshore and celebrate a sustainable future for Lake Huron. We will gather to learn about the Bay City area – what makes it unique, how people experience and enjoy coastal areas, what programs and projects are happening through local actions, and how Lake Huron Forever works to protect this area long term.
Level 1 Intro to Invasive Species ID & Removal
Huron Pines and the Huron Coastal Invasive Species Network invite you to participate in our Level 1 Invasive Species Training. This program prepares partners and volunteers to assist in the critical work of identifying, reporting and treating invasive species.
Invasive Species Network Meet & Greet
The Huron Heartland Invasive Species Network (HHISN) is excited to invite you to our annual gathering. This is a great opportunity to meet and chat with your local Invasive Species Network team, learn more about the invasive species management happening in your area, and provide input on your thoughts and concerns regarding invasive species.
North Point Shoreline Walk & Talk
EVENT FULL - Email julia@huronpines.org to join the waitlist.
Learn about dune ecosystems, the threats they face & how to help protect them with Huron Pines at North Point Nature Preserve. During this hybrid work session/educational event, attendees will walk along the preserve’s shoreline to learn about how these ecosystems function and participate in hand removal of invasive plant species
Invasive Species Removal Volunteer Workday
Join Huron Pines and the Huron Coastal Invasive Species Network to remove invasive baby's breath near South Shore Park in Rogers City. Volunteers will learn how baby's breath impacts beach and dune ecosystems along the Great Lakes, manual removal techniques, and native plant alternatives.
North Point Nature Preserve Exploration Day
REGISTRATION FULL - Join Huron Pines for an afternoon of exploration at North Point Nature Preserve. Located east of Alpena, North Point Nature Preserve is home to 1,384 acres of forested wetlands, four miles of undeveloped shoreline and rare ecosystems found only along the Great Lakes.
Connect to Nature Through iNaturalist
Join Huron Pines to learn how you can use the iNaturalist app to better understand the plant and animal species you are seeing while exploring the outdoors or visiting one of our preserves. We’ll guide you through the fundamentals of using the iNaturalist app and show how you can contribute to community science by making nature observations and recording them.
Tawas Lake Day
Learn about Tawas Lake and help us remove aquatic invasive plant species. This event is in collaboration with The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan, City of East Tawas, Baldwin Township, Huron Pines, MSU Extension and EGLE. Please register by June 21st.
Bumblebee Inventory Field Day
Come meet other bumble bee enthusiasts to kickstart your involvement with the Michigan Bumble Bee Atlas program. Learn monitoring protocols, practice photographing bumble bees, and build your bumble bee identification skills.
Alpena Area Lake Huron Forever Community Celebration & Volunteer Day
Join a community celebration and hands-on volunteer event in support of the Alpena Area Lake Huron Forever Pledge. Learn about the pledge and contribute to its environmental impact through a variety of volunteer projects.
Wildflower Walk *EVENT FULL*
Join us at Hull Island in Oscoda Township this spring when nature unfolds its colorful treasures at this newly protected place. Stroll and learn about the unique world of wildflowers, from their ecological roles to cultural significance.
Michigan Naturalist North Country
** PROGRAM FULL ** Huron Pines and the Pigeon River Country Discovery Center bring the MSU Extension Michigan Naturalist North Country program back in 2024. This program aims to foster an appreciation for the natural world through hands-on field experiences.
Birding Big Sit
** EVENT FULL **
Join us at North Point Nature Preserve in Alpena, an optimal location for spotting birds during spring migration. Public access to North Point is permitted only during guided events.
Level 1 Intro to Invasive Species ID & Removal
Huron Pines and the Huron Coastal Invasive Species Network invite you to participate in our Level 1 Invasive Species Training. This program prepares partners and volunteers to assist in the critical work of identifying, reporting and treating invasive species.
Spring Salamander Survey
** EVENT FULL ** Add your name to the waitlist by emailing Julia Butch, julia@huronpines.org.
Survey for salamanders at Emily Min Hunt Preserve. This effort in community science helps us gauge preserve health by monitoring the abundance of amphibians in their native habitat.
Shoreline Monitoring Training Sessions
Join Huron Pines staff for a two-part training session for volunteer Coast Watchers or Piping Plover Monitors. Volunteers must complete the training in order to participate in the program(s). You only need to attend the training for the program in which you want to participate.
Introduction to Invasive Species ID & Reporting
Step into the role of an environmental stewardship champion. Learn to spot common invasive species that threaten Northern Michigan landscapes and how you can take action using the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network (MISIN) reporting system.
Shoreline Monitoring Information Session
Learn about shoreline community science monitoring opportunities we are offering this year. We’ll provide detailed information to help you assess if these programs aligns with your interests and to understand the expectations, responsibilities and time commitment involved. An in-person onboarding training will follow on April 20th.
Lake Huron Forever Learning Circle
At the convergence of the Upper and Lower peninsulas and Lakes Michigan, Superior and Huron lies a region well known for its fisheries, migratory bird corridors and nesting spots, plants and animals. In 2021, this region was recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a globally significant ecological and cultural landscape and was designated as the Obtawaiing Biosphere Region (OBR).
UNESCO Biosphere Regions promote solutions that work to use natural resources sustainably while also keeping biodiversity safe. They are learning areas for sustainable development under diverse ecological, social and economic contexts. Similar to Lake Huron Forever, these landscape-scale conservation efforts focus on the intersection and interconnectedness between communities and the environment, or people and place.
Join us on April 9 from 10:30am-12:30pm for a Lake Huron Forever Learning Circle focused on Lake Huron’s Biosphere Regions. We will have presentations from the Obtawaiing Biosphere Region, the Georgian Bay Mnidoo Gamii Biosphere and the Niagra Escarpment Biosphere Network.
Mastering the Art of Climate Change Communication
Join Huron Pines for our Mastering the Art of Climate Change Communication workshop as we walk you through the art of creating compelling narratives and engaging in effective conversations about climate change. Explore the power of strategic framing and understand the key elements that make an impactful climate story.
This workshop will enhance your communication skills, empowering you to become a change agent. Help us reshape the narrative surrounding climate change and start meaningful conversations about both the challenges and solutions of a changing climate.
Throughout the workshop, we will answer the following questions:
Why do we need to talk about climate change?
What are elements of an impactful climate story?
What is strategic framing, and how can we use it to talk about climate change?
What is the National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation?
This is an online, virtual workshop. Registration is required.
Guided Winter Walk at Hubbard Lake Preserve
Join Huron Pines for a guided hike at Hubbard Lake Preserve.
The family-friendly event will begin with a brief welcome and introduction. Over the course of the one-hour hike participants will learn about the history, geology, ecology, and management of the preserve.
Participants should bring their own water and snacks and be dressed for the weather. The trails at Hubbard Lake Preserve are hilly and steep in places. Walking aids, such as trekking poles or a walking stick, may be helpful. Sturdy boots are recommended. If there’s a significant amount of snow, participants are welcome to bring snowshoes for the hike. Huron Pines has a small number of snowshoes available for participants, if you would like to reserve a pair please email julia@huronpines.org.
Registration is required.
In the case of dangerous driving conditions or extremely low temperatures, the event will be canceled.
Hubbard Lake Preserve is located at 720 Holiday Inn Rd. in the community of Hubbard Lake. This 80-acre wooded property includes 1.5 miles of trails and hills on Hubbard Lake’s Churchill Point.
Rose City Community Input Session
Input from Rose City community members is being sought regarding the planned removal of Sanback Dam, and potential renovations and features to be incorporated in the adjacent city park. Huron Pines, GEI Consultants, and the City of Rose City have secured funding for the design phase of the project and will share conceptual designs for community feedback.
Join Huron Pines staff and project partners at the Faull Inn from 3pm-6pm (prior to the 6pm City Council meeting), to learn about the Sanback dam removal project and potential community park development. Your input is crucial to ensure the project is meaningful and valuable to the community.
This session is an open house format (come and go as you would like).
The session will provide attendees:
Details about the Sanback dam removal project
An opportunity for direct input on the design for potential community park space
Interaction with project partners
This session is family friendly. We will meet in the back section of the Faull Inn under a semi-enclosed, partially heated space — but please dress appropriately for cold temperatures. Pizza and non-alcoholic drinks will be provided.
City of Grayling - Trails and Outdoor Recreation Community Input Opportunity
Input from Grayling area community members is needed for an upcoming funding opportunity. The City of Grayling, Crawford AuSable School District and the Crawford County Pathways Committee are putting together an application to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources SPARK grant program. The City of Grayling is one of only 39 communities across Michigan selected to apply to the program’s current round of funding.
If funded, the Rayburn Connector Project would create new outdoor recreation spaces and ensure safe and improved access to multiple trails and pathways in the area. Your input is crucial to ensure the project is meaningful and valuable to the community.
This final input session gives attendees an opportunity to comment on all components of the project. This session is an open house format (come and go as you would like).
The session will provide attendees:
More details on the proposed project
Interaction with City and project partners
An opportunity for direct input on design
Each community engagement session is family friendly and will offer light refreshments and transportation at no cost to attendees through the Crawford County Transportation Authority (Dial-A-Ride). Call (989) 348-5409 to schedule a ride and specify that you're attending a community input session.
If you’re unable to attend the in-person session, you can still learn more about the project and provide feedback. CLICK HERE to access an online survey. Complete the questions and submit your input to project partners. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete.
Technical Assistance for this effort is supported by Huron Pines, Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan and Council of Michigan Foundations.
City of Grayling - Trails and Outdoor Recreation Community Input Opportunity
Join us at Grayling School Forest for a short hike on the existing forest trails. Explore the proposed pathways - including rustic walking paths and mountain bike single track, signage opportunities, and the location of a pavilion/outdoor classroom with ADA accessibility.
The hike is considered a moderately challenging route. Please dress for the weather and wear appropriate footwear. A brown bag lunch will be provided.
Input from Grayling area community members is needed for an upcoming funding opportunity. The City of Grayling, Crawford AuSable School District and the Crawford County Pathways Committee are putting together an application to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources SPARK grant program. The City of Grayling is one of only 39 communities across Michigan selected to apply to the program’s current round of funding.
If funded, the Rayburn Connector Project would create new outdoor recreation spaces and ensure safe and improved access to multiple trails and pathways in the area. Your input is crucial to ensure the project is meaningful and valuable to the community.
The session will provide attendees:
More details on the proposed project
Interaction with City and project partners
An opportunity for direct input on design
Each community engagement session is family friendly and will offer transportation at no cost to attendees through the Crawford County Transportation Authority (Dial-A-Ride). Call (989) 348-5409 to schedule a ride and specify that you're attending a community input session.
If you’re unable to attend the in-person session, you can still learn more about the project and provide feedback. CLICK HERE to access an online survey. Complete the questions and submit your input to project partners. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete.
Technical Assistance for this effort is supported by Huron Pines, Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan and Council of Michigan Foundations.
City of Grayling - Trails and Outdoor Recreation Community Input Opportunity
This public input session will be held at the Crawford County Commission on Aging building.
Join for lunch at 11:10am (chicken stir fry) and the session will begin immediately afterwards.
Input from Grayling area community members is needed for an upcoming funding opportunity. The City of Grayling, Crawford AuSable School District and the Crawford County Pathways Committee are putting together an application to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources SPARK grant program. The City of Grayling is one of only 39 communities across Michigan selected to apply to the program’s current round of funding.
If funded, the Rayburn Connector Project would create new outdoor recreation spaces and ensure safe and improved access to multiple trails and pathways in the area. Your input is crucial to ensure the project is meaningful and valuable to the community.
The session will provide attendees:
More details on the proposed project
Interaction with City and project partners
An opportunity for direct input on design
This community engagement session is family friendly and will offer transportation at no cost to attendees through the Crawford County Transportation Authority (Dial-A-Ride). Call (989) 348-5409 to schedule a ride and specify that you're attending a community input session.
If you’re unable to attend the in-person session, you can still learn more about the project and provide feedback. CLICK HERE to access an online survey. Complete the questions and submit your input to project partners. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete.
Technical Assistance for this effort is supported by Huron Pines, Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan and Council of Michigan Foundations.
Empower U! Advocating for Invasive Species Management
Empower U! Advocating for Invasive Species Management is a course that will step you through the process of creating and delivering a message to local decision makers about an invasive species issue with which you are familiar.
Native Planting at Camp Grayling
Join Huron Pines to plant locally collected and propagated native wildflower and grass plugs.