On the Ground: Native Plug Planting at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute

Katelyn Helsel • June 25, 2025

On Saturday, June 21, 2025, MUCC’s On the Ground program partnered with the Pierce Cedar Creek Institute (PCCI) for a native plug planting day in Barry County. Located on 850 acres, the institute offers both environmental education opportunities and serves as a biological field station for conducting research. Many diverse native communities from wetlands to prairies are present at PCCI, and many rare or threatened species in Michigan like the eastern box turtle call the institute home.

Volunteers Planted a Variety of Native Species

Once volunteers grabbed their work gloves, plant trays, and tools, they split into groups and worked together in several mowed areas to plant each plug. Mowing the planting areas beforehand will ensure the native species are able to grow and not be outcompeted by grasses. Volunteers used either hand trowels or dibble bars to plant each plug, ensuring that the soil was packed tight and all air pockets were extinguished. Each plug was also watered after planting to help them get a head start with the incoming heat.

Why is it Important?

Planting native species throughout an ecosystem is important because they provide critical food and habitat for wildlife, help aid in erosion and flood control and provide us with essential products that we use in our daily lives. Native plants are an essential part of the fundamental food chain, serving as a valuable food source for insects which are then consumed by birds, and so on. Some native plants like wild lupine are the only food source for rare or threatened insects like the Karner blue butterfly. Native species present along shorelines or banks can also help stabilize the soil and slow water movement, which in turn helps prevent future erosion and flooding issues. Finally, essential products that we rely on like paper are harvested from native plants (i.e., trees and shrubs).

Similar to the Karner blue butterfly, native plants can also provide food and habitat for rare or threatened reptiles like the eastern box turtle and eastern massasauga rattlesnake. Both of these species occupy wetland areas and depend on high quality habitat with native plants for their survival.

Learn More

Want to volunteer at an On the Ground event in your area and be a part of the conservation story? Visit our website at mucc.org/on-the-ground for a list of upcoming projects. Our mission is to conserve and enhance Michigan’s public lands and wildlife through volunteer stewardship. We invite both consumptive and non-consumptive users to band together and improve fish and wildlife habitat across the state. Common habitat projects we complete include native plantings, invasive species removal, brush pile building, river cleanups, and more. Our projects are built for all ages, so bring your friends and family and come join us! Registered volunteers receive lunch and a free appreciation gift for their efforts. Registration links with more event details can be found on our website.

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On the Ground: Brush Piles and Invasive Species at Denmark Township Mini State Game Area

By Olivia Triltsch • May 21, 2026

On Friday, May 15, 2026, high school students who are part of the Reese High Outdoors Club joined MUCC’s On the Ground Junior program and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) at the Denmark Township Mini State Game Area. Students completed a wildlife habitat improvement project by clearing a grassland habitat of invasive woody growth maintained for pheasants. Using the cut vegetation from the area, students constructed several large brush piles throughout the site to benefit small mammals and other wildlife in the area. Maintaining open grassland habitat is important for supporting species that rely on early successional cover for cover or feeding. Due to suppression of natural disturbances, active management helps to control woody vegetation from gradually overtaking the areas and reducing habitat quality for species that rely on the grassland. The project area is near fields planted by the DNR to provide both habitat and food sources for wildlife, making these improvements part of a larger habitat management effort on the property. In total, students directly improved 10 acres of wildlife habitat through this project. Beyond the on-the-ground impact, the event also allowed students to try a hands-on conservation experience and the ability to contribute to habitat management and public land stewardship in Michigan. Projects like this continue to demonstrate the value of engaging the next generation in Michigan's outdoor heritage and wildlife conservation efforts.

On the Ground: Jack Pine Planting Day 2026

By Olivia Triltsch • May 7, 2026

On Saturday, May 2, 2026, a group of dedicated volunteers joined Kirtland's Warbler Alliance, Huron Pines, Saginaw Children’s Zoo, and MUCC's OTG program in planting approximately 4,800 jack pine saplings within the Grayling Forest Management Unit in Crawford County. Jack pines are a critical nesting habitat feature for the once-threatened Kirtland’s warbler. In total, volunteers directly impacted about 7 acres of land were prepared by the Michigan DNR for this planting to allow volunteers to maximize their efforts across the land. This is one of our annual events that is perfect for helpers of all ages and interests.

MUCC Announces Dissolution After Nearly 90 Years of Conservation Advocacy

May 4, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) announces its decision to dissolve after nearly 90 years of conservation advocacy, citing ongoing financial challenges and outlining next steps in an orderly wind-down process.

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