On the Ground Junior: Eaton RESA at Lake Interstate SGA

lschultz • May 13, 2021

Two Eaton RESA students plant one of 500 sargent crabapple seedlings within Lake Interstate SGA.

On Wednesday, May 12, a group of 24 students from Eaton Regional Education Service Agency (RESA) volunteered for wildlife at Lake Interstate State Game Area with Michigan United Conservation Clubs’ (MUCC) On the Ground Junior (OTG Jr.) program. The students were tasked with a variety of wildlife habitat improvement and user-access improvement projects throughout the day.

The students began the day by planting 500 sargent crabapple seedlings in two openings within the state game area. Students learned how to properly plant bare-root seedlings, and they also took part in a discussion about why soft mast-producing species like crabapples are so beneficial to wildlife for the food and cover they provide as they mature.

Following the tree planting, students moved on to an extensive trash pick-up effort that spanned from the entrance of the state game area to many of the trails around Lake Interstate. Many small items like cigarette butts, fishing lines, drinking containers and food wrappers were removed from the area, as well as larger items like discarded metal bins, plastic outdoor decorations, and clothing items. Students were alarmed at the extensive amount of trash that had accumulated in the shrubs, trees and understory of different portions of the state game area, and learned first-hand why it is so important to properly dispose of one’s waste and not discard it on public land.

A collection of the some of the trash students picked up within the Lake Interstate SGA.

Finally, the students spent the last portion of the day improving user access to the lake and other trails by pruning vegetation that was encroaching along the pathways. Students stacked the brush to the side of the trail upon removing it, and were careful not to disturb any nesting birds or other wildlife during the pruning process. While walking the trails, students observed migrating warblers and other songbirds, chewed trees as evidence of beavers within the area and an abundance of other natural observations that helped them grow as new environmental stewards.

At the end of the day, students received OTG t-shirts and an OTG sticker for their hard work.

The work completed on this piece of public land will benefit wildlife and recreationists alike. We would like to thank the students and staff at Eaton RESA that attended this habitat day at Lake Interstate State Game Area.

To learn more about MUCC’s OTG program, please visit mucc.org/on-the-ground or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/muccotg .

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