2019: Another Successful Year for OTG

The OTG season for the 2019 fiscal year officially came to a close on Friday, September 6 following an event in the Gratiot-Saginaw State Game Area. Now that school is back in session, we have four more events planned for the month of October with our OTG Jr. program. This field trip-based program enables youth to get involved in hands-on conservation efforts across the state and encourages education and stewardship in future conservationists.

Regarding the past 2019 season, our OTG and OTG Jr. programs successfully completed a total of 26 projects and impacted 512 acres of public land. Additionally, 625 volunteers donated a grand total of 2,570 hours of their time to make this level of achievement possible. As our program enters its eighth year, we would like to take a moment to thank the 2,853 volunteers and countless DNR wildlife biologists, technicians and seasonal workers who have helped us grow into the nationally-recognized conservation program we have become.

While MUCC as an organization provides its members with a voice in the legislature, it is programs like OTG and OTG Jr. that give MUCC members and all Michiganders the opportunity to “practice what they preach” and complete boots-on-the-ground work for the habitat and species they value. Whether you hunt big game or small game, prefer to kayak or fish, or simply enjoy being outdoors, On the Ground is the perfect way to give back to your natural resources and truly leave the land better than you found it. Additionally, our program gives volunteers the opportunity to explore their abundant public lands and share quality time with family, friends and like-minded individuals across Michigan.

We already have events being scheduled for the winter and spring of 2020, and more information can be found on our website and Facebook page as it becomes available.

In 2020, we invite you to truly “get your hands dirty” for conservation and volunteer with the award-winning On the Ground program. Please contact MUCC Habitat Volunteer Coordinator Makhayla LaButte with any questions or ideas regarding the program at mlabutte@mucc.org.

Thank you to all of our volunteers who continue to support and grow the OTG program. See you in 2020!