MUCC Staff Attend MDNR’s 5th Annual Nature Center Summit

Americorps • February 15, 2023

On Friday, February 10, 2023, a few of MUCC’s staff members attended the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) Nature Center Summit at North Higgins Lake State Park. The Nature Center Summit was established five years ago as an opportunity to connect nonformal educators from organizations like nature centers and nonprofits to the science behind statewide natural resource management. The goal of this conference is to provide educators from around the state with the latest and most scientifically accurate information about Michigan’s wildlife, fisheries, forests, and policies so they can help relay this information to the masses. The Summit was a great opportunity for MUCC’s staff to gain valuable information about how to present this material to the public. 

 

One of the highlighted topics at this year’s Summit was terrestrial invasive species and the role that different organizations play in preventing the spread of these species throughout the state.  After the talk, educators brainstormed ways to get our respective audiences involved with invasive species prevention and control. This information is valuable to MUCC’s On the Ground program as one of the more frequent events hosted is invasive species management and removal. If you’re interested in helping to remove invasives from Michigan’s public lands, join us at one of our upcoming On the Ground volunteer events. Visit mucc.org/on-the-ground/ for more information about the program and for details on how to register for events. 

Recent Posts

By Katelyn Helsel April 30, 2025
As spring gets fully underway and the warmer weather hits, many birds are in the process of migrating back to Michigan. One migratory species you might see (if you live in northern Michigan) is the rare Kirtland’s warbler. This bird has a long and detailed conservation story, coming back from the brink of extinction with the help of strong conservation efforts. 
By Olivia Triltsch April 24, 2025
Historically, Michigan experienced a lumber era in which the state was a leading producer for 50 years starting in 1860.
By Katelyn Helsel April 23, 2025
Rochester Hills, MI — On the Ground, MUCC’s volunteer stewardship program, celebrated its 250th habitat improvement project in Oakland County this past weekend. In partnership with Metro-West Steelheaders and the Clinton River Watershed Council , 62 volunteers removed more than 460 pounds of trash from the Clinton River watershed and surrounding areas, restoring more than 80 acres of fish and wildlife habitat. Volunteers focused on picking up trash and other debris in the river near Yates Park and along various walking trails near the Yates Cider Mill. Many different items were collected, including a couple of tires, fishing line, old cans, a sign, and even a car bumper. “We definitely wanted to clean up as much trash as possible because that's going to help the watershed as a whole, and it’s going to clean up the river for both humans aesthetically, and also the animals that live in it, and create safer drinking water” said Olivia Triltsch, MUCC’s Habitat Program and Partnerships Coordinator.
More Posts