Brush Hour! Reese Middle School Volunteers Remove Invasive Vegetation and Build Brush Piles at Denmark Township State Game Area

Americorps • May 22, 2023

On Wednesday, May 10, 32 students and faculty from the Reese Middle School Out-of-Doors Club participated in MUCC’s On the Ground Jr. program. Students cleared invasive vegetation from Denmark Township State Game Area and built brush piles as part of a grassland improvement project.

This grassland is home to various wildlife from ring-necked pheasants and wild turkeys to songbirds and pollinators. The area is inaccessible by machinery so management requires a more hands-on approach. Volunteers used hand saws and loppers to cut down shrubs and used them to create brush piles. MUCC staff also treated the stumps with herbicide to prevent any shrub regeneration.

Two volunteers from Reese Middle School work to cut down an invasive autumn olive bush.

In just three hours of habitat work, volunteers constructed 5 large brush piles, helping restore and improve 7 acres of habitat on public land.

There are multiple opportunities to get involved with MUCC’s On The Ground program this spring. Our next open event is on Saturday, June 10 in Luce County. Volunteers will help plant mast-producing trees in the Newberry Forest

Management Unit. If you’re interested in viewing our upcoming events, please click HERE for more information.

Recent Posts

By Olivia Triltsch January 22, 2026
Michigan winters are long, but that just means fishing season doesn’t stop, it adapts to the weather. For many anglers, winter means ice fishing: drilling holes in frozen lakes, scouting for perch or pike, and enjoying fresh air with family and friends. This year, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is making it even easier to get out on the ice by holding a Free Fishing Weekend that’s perfect for both experienced anglers and folks trying ice fishing for the first time.
By Olivia Triltsch January 15, 2026
Squirrels have been part of Michigan’s forests and woodlands since before European settlement, thriving in diverse habitats from dense hardwood forests to
By Olivia Triltsch January 8, 2026
Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) are not year-round residents in Michigan, but they have a long history of passing through the state during seasonal migrations
More Posts