MUCC Celebrates Pollinator Week at Partnership Event in Mt. Pleasant

lschultz • June 20, 2019

On Tuesday, June 18, Mid Michigan College hosted a pollinator workshop and designated a half-acre plot of campus land as pollinator habitat. In partnership with the Michigan DNR, Pheasants Forever, Huron Pines AmeriCorps and the NRCS, MUCC was proud to take part in the event and celebrate pollinators.

The event kicked off at 11:00 A.M. with presentations from DNR Wildlife Biologist Bruce Barlow and Mid Michigan College faculty regarding the goals of the project, the importance of pollinators and how to manage your own property for pollinator habitat. In addition to these presentations, a variety of local groups representing different Michigan conservation organizations and clubs set up information tables and answered questions fromattendees about their programs. Autumn and I both engaged in great conversations with event attendees regarding MUCC and conservation in Michigan, as well as the On the Ground and Wildlife Cooperative programs.

Due to their vastly declining populations and the critical role they play in sustaining ecosystem health, pollinators have been of increasing concern to conservation agencies around the world. Some of the main threats pollinators face are habitat loss, pesticide usage and climate change. Although there is no cover-all cure for the challenges faced by pollinators, regular citizens can still have a big impact on these important species by planting native grasses and flowers on their property (no matter the size of the plot planted). As emphasized by Mid Michigan College faculty during the presentations, every effort counts in the race to conserve pollinators and their habitat.

After an hour of discussions and educational presentations, more than 30 volunteers went outdoors to begin laying down the native flower and grass seeds provided by the DNR and Pheasants Forever. It didn’t take long to empty three five-gallon buckets of seed mix, and within a half hour volunteers made their way back indoors for refreshments and raffle prizes.

Initiated by the faculty at Mid Michigan College’s Mt. Pleasant campus, this half-acre plot has been in progress for the past two years. Bruce Barlow of the DNR and the local Pheasants Forever chapter played a direct role in coordinating with the faculty to ensure its success. Due to the planting completed by the volunteers, it is expected that this plot will resemble a restored tallgrass prairie within three years. As the seeds develop in the seed bank and are given the opportunity to compete with previously-established vegetation, native plants will eventually dominate the plot. Although managed for pollinators, this grassland habitat will benefit a variety of fauna that includes turkeys, pheasants, songbirds and deer. The native vegetation and their deep root systems will also aid in improving soil and water quality.

Recent Posts

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
In 2025, the On the Ground program conducted 8 junior projects with schools involving 316 students from across the state. From tree plantings to invasive species removal, these students worked to enhance 39.3 acres of public land after contributing over 200 volunteer hours. Visit our website to learn more information about our On the Ground program and On the Ground Junior . To wrap up the 2025 field season, the On the Ground program worked with two classrooms to enhance wildlife habitat and recreational access. Junior programs like these allow teachers to get their students out of the classroom and into hands-on learning about the importance of habitat work while meeting individuals in the field.

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.
More Posts