Early Season Michigan Out-of-Doors Camp Projects

lschultz • May 1, 2023

Does a Tree Make a Sound When No One is Around?

What I can tell you is even though we did not hear the trees fall at camp this winter, we sure did see them laid across our pathways and fields. As we drove into camp for our facility committee meeting at the beginning of April, the driveway was a real obstacle course to navigate.

Down branches and trees were all throughout our property at Cedar Lake. At first, the magnitude of the amount of work that would be needed to clean-up put us back in our timeline a bit. Even though some storm debris piles up each year from the winter, this year’s load was more to tackle than usual. We knew an extra day or two at the property was needed as well as some extra hands with big tools to get this job done. 

Fortunately enough, no buildings or power lines were damaged by the debris. The biggest concern was branches hanging from the trees that could fall at any moment. With the help of some of our great volunteers, the driveway was cleared, and logs moved just enough for us to get some more help into camp to clean up the piles of debris.

MUCC’s Vice President, Rob Miller, and a team of his guys from Rob Miller Electric were able to come out to the facility and completely cut down all hanging branches, move down trees, and saw up large logs. With chainsaws and charisma, these hard workers cleared our trails and cut up plenty of firewood to last the summer. Without them, we would not have been able to clear all the storm damage.

After Rob and his guys took care of the large debris, our long-time volunteers from the Chelsea Proving Grounds, the “Chrysler Team”, as we call them, came out and took care of necessary maintenance they volunteer to do each year. Those things include putting in our fishing dock, finishing the renovation of the directors cabin and replacing toilets in some of the bathrooms. They are seasoned pros at getting camp in shape after the winter.

During the time of tree removal this month, we were also able to expand our beachfront on Cedar Lake by more than 20 feet. The invasive brush was pulled out next to our previous beachfront. Volunteers Bill and Lisa Lowe were able to level off the expanded area and cultivate sand from the property to lay down and now make the swim beach wider. This will now allow for more kids in the water and more space to hold activities by the waterfront. 

We are gearing up for our annual Spring Clean-Up that is set for Friday, May 5th. Anyone is welcome to come out to our property that day and help us complete final necessary maintenance and clean-up to prepare the property for campers. We will be working from 9 AM until about 3 PM. If you are interested, sign up using this link: https://forms.gle/eJEbFjbfp8RiKnQL6 . There is still so much to get done before the summer, but we are definitely off to a great start.

 

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New Partnership: Certified Wildlife Habitat with National Wildlife Federation

By Olivia Triltsch • October 23, 2025
Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) is proud to announce a new partnership with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) to bring the Certified Wildlife Habitat ™ program to communities across Michigan. This collaboration connects MUCC’s long-standing commitment to conservation with NWF’s national effort to create, restore, and certify habitats that provide food, water, cover, and places to raise young. Together, the organizations aim to inspire individuals, schools, and communities to take action in their own backyards to support native species. Through this initiative, MUCC will help expand awareness of the Certified Wildlife Habitat program, integrate it into its volunteer network, and provide resources to landowners interested in enhancing habitat on their property. One of the greatest benefits for volunteers comes from the knowledge gained in understanding wildlife habitat enhancement, allowing for the application to private land habitat enhancement. In addition to this, much of the work we do for habitat can apply to a variety of species, from rabbits to wood ducks, even birds of prey. The partnership will also promote community engagement opportunities through educational events, workshops, and collaborative restoration projects. In coordination with efforts like the certified wildlife habitat, MUCC hopes to expand conservation efforts across Michigan. Our award-winning, statewide volunteer habitat program, On the Ground (OTG), works to conserve, protect, and enhance wildlife habitat. In 2025 alone, OTG worked with 739 volunteers across 27 habitat projects, from invasive species removal to river clean-ups. Through the hard work contributing over 2,900 volunteer hours, habitat stewards were able to improve 423 acres of land for wildlife conservation in Michigan. Although OTG projects are not active year-round, we encourage Michigan residents to continue land stewardship on both public and private lands. To qualify for certification through the Certified Wildlife Habitat program, a property must include: Three natural food sources One water source Two places for shelter Two places to raise young Two sustainable practices To determine if your habitat qualifies, visit the NWF website and take the habitat quiz or download the checklist. If your habitat needs native plants, check out Garden for Wildlife to find species native to your area. The $25 application fee includes a personalized paper certificate, a 1-year NWF membership, and the option to purchase lawn plaques and garden flags. Habitats located on school grounds do not have a fee to get certified, so check to see what you might need to qualify today. If you are interested in joining our On the Ground program for the 2026 season, stay connected through our Facebook , Instagram , and OTG webpage for upcoming events.

On the Ground Junior: Fall Event Recap

By Olivia Triltsch • October 16, 2025
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October NRC Recap

By Justin Tomei • October 9, 2025
The Natural Resources Commission met today, Thursday, October 9th for their October meeting. The commission reaffirmed its intent to allow for lethal year-round coyote management on public and private land via a unanimously passed resolution before passing fisheries orders, and tabling more for consideration in November. The commission passed Fisheries Orders 210.26 , and 254.25 before tabling 206.26, 219.26 , and 253.26 . Commissioner John Walters provided an amendment to the fisheries order to expand underwater spearfishing opportunities to most of the Great Lakes, allowing for some spatial closures for the protection of particularly sensitive areas. The commission took steps to make good on their promise to allow year-round coyote management, unanimously passing a resolution more clearly stating their intent and what the pending wildlife conservation order will look like. The next meeting is Thursday November 6 in Lansing.
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