Coast Watchers, a community science monitoring program focused on the health of Lake Huron, will run for its fourth year at Huron Pines. Coast Watchers volunteers are part of a dedicated group that monitors sections of the Lake Huron shoreline on a weekly basis from May to October to gather data. Volunteers are trained to record air and water temperature, seasonal changes in water levels, occurrences of sensitive or invasive plants, fish die-offs, storm damage and pollution. This information guides restoration efforts, while engaging local volunteers in direct science.
This training will introduce you to the Coast Watchers program and cover the basics of data collection, the data collection protocol and explain how you will choose a location to monitor. You will receive all the supplies you need to conduct the monitoring.
If you would like to learn more about this program and what participating in the program entails, attend the Shoreline Monitoring Information Session on April 15th (VIEW EVENT INFO HERE).
If you have volunteered as a Coast Watcher in the past and would like to volunteer for the 2025 season, you do not need to attend this training. Please email maddie@huronpines.org to get signed up.
We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. It is a priority for Huron Pines to ensure that our communications and programming are available and accessible to everyone. If you encounter barriers to attending the training, such as transportation challenges, please contact maddie@huronpines.org so we can arrange an alternative solution.
We recognize that accessibility is not always possible in every area of our work. Our efforts are ongoing. Through a commitment to continued learning and understanding, we will strengthen our awareness of the barriers and inequities that exist at the individual and community levels, in order to advance more equitable opportunities to experience the outdoors in our region.
Huron Pines is leading the effort to inspire lakeshore communities in Michigan to join the Lake Huron Forever initiative with continued support from Bay Area Community Foundation, Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan, Community Foundation Grey Bruce, Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network and Sunset Community Foundation.
