Education
Ultimate Fishing show- January 11-14
Cold temperatures have finally arrived. If you are one of the brave souls who enjoy fishing on the hard water, or chasing steelhead on a semi-frozen river, swing by the Ultimate Fishing show in Novi to grab some new gear. The Ultimate Fishing Show is a four-day event held at the Suburban Collection Showplace in…
Read MorePeace out Rainbow Trout: My last week of service.
My AmeriCorps service with MUCC is coming to an end this week. I’ve met a lot of wonderful and passionate people through On the Ground, outreach days and MUCC’s Out-of-Doors Youth Camp. The OTG Program hosted 28 events this year during my term. It was extremely gratifying to help improve wildlife habitat across the state…
Read MoreBipartisan bill introduced to provide hunter’s safety in schools
Bipartisan legislation was introduced in both chambers of the legislature this week that would create an elective program for Michigan school districts to host hunter and firearms safety programs within their schools. Senate Bill 664, sponsored by Sen. Jon Bumstead (R-North Muskegon), and House Bill 5334, sponsored by Rep. Curt Vanderwall (R-Ludington)are both supported by …
Read MoreHaving a Hard Time Identifying Woody Invasives in the Winter? On the Ground has your Back
As the leaves begin to fall and winter approaches, the need to remove woody invasives continues. Removing woody invasives during the wintertime is ideal as the species becomes dormant and easy to get access. The big issue then becomes how you can distinguish a woody invasive from a native plant when it’s just the bark.…
Read MoreDon’t Make a Rash Decision, Watch out for Poisonous Plants in the Winter
The thought of encountering a plant like poison ivy isn’t always on our minds when we’re recreating outdoors during the fall and winter months. I mean why would it? All the other plants are dormant or dead so why is a poisonous plant any different? The danger comes from the oil urushiol, which can remain…
Read MoreFamily Events this Weekend
This weekend kicks off a busy season for getting youth engaged with the outdoors. To start, it is the youth hunt weekend for deer. A weekend of new experiences and quality family time in the blind throughout the state. There are also a couple of large family events happening this weekend that the MUCC team…
Read MoreGive it Time, They’ll Grow on You: The Importance of Late Blooming Flowers
Often when you think of flowers blooming we first think of spring as the warmth melts away the last bits of snow. We might even think of summer as multiple species of wildflowers begin blooming, but do you think about late summer and the fall for blooming flowers? Wildflowers such as Goldenrods and Asters bloom…
Read MoreWhere to find Hunter Education Classes
With fall hunting seasons right around the corner, August and September see a high demand for hunter safety classes. Whether it is parents looking for classes for their kids or new hunters trying to get ready for a first season in the field, the DNR sees a large demand for classes over the next six…
Read MoreUnder-SAND-ing Michigan’s Dune Habitats
Michigan is home to the world’s largest collection of freshwater sand dunes, many of which are located in our parks. When you look at a dune you may only think of sand, but that is not entirely true! Dunes need vegetation to help hold sand in place so you will often find grasses and shrubs…
Read MoreMUCC’s AmeriCorps Member Taking the Li-bird-ty to Teach Youth About Birds
Traditionally, MUCC’s AmeriCorps member has run a small learning program for the youth campers at MUCC’s Youth Camp. This year I’ve decided on an introduction to birds and birding program to share with the campers. The program involves a nice bird hike with tips and tricks to start birding such as how to use binoculars…
Read More