On The Ground
Ultimate Fishing Show-Detroit
With the freezing cold temperatures, it can be easy to want to huddle inside and wish for warm summer days again. However, if you are one of the brave souls who enjoy fishing on the hard water, or chasing steelhead on a semi-frozen river, there is a weekend event coming up you may be interested…
Read MoreMUCC Names Amy Trotter Executive Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 28, 2018 Media Contact: Amy Trotter, 517-346-6484 Yesterday, Michigan United Conservation Clubs Executive Board named MUCC Deputy Director Amy Trotter the next executive director of the organization. Dan Eichinger submitted his resignation and was appointed as the new director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources by Governor-elect Gretchen Whitmer, effective…
Read MoreA Year on Education Island
At headquarters, the block of cubicles I work in has been nicknamed Education Island. There are four cubes separated from the rest of the staff consisting of myself, Camp Director Max Bass, throughout most of 2018 our policy intern Ian Fitzgerald and a 4th cube for the Assistant Camp Director. Education Island is where all…
Read MoreMerry Christmas from the OTG program
With Christmas just five days away, I wanted to take a minute to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and thank you, as volunteers, for the time and energy that you have put into the On The Ground program. It truly takes a generous and dedicated group of individuals to set aside personal time…
Read MoreOTG: Habitat Spotlight on Wood Duck Boxes
In an upcoming project at Shiawassee River State Game Area on February 2, 2019, volunteers will be building wood duck boxes and placing them around the area. Shiawassee River State Game Area is managed for waterfowl hunting where hunters participate in a draw (twice daily during the season) to hunt zones around the area’s refuge.…
Read MoreAdopting a Piece of State Land
On Monday, Magazine Editor Nick Green and I joined Pheasants Forever and several other conservation partners at the Maple River State Game Area. We spent about 1.5 hours standing in a muddy parking lot overlooking a field of cool-season grasses, to highlight one of the newest habitat programs in the state. Spearheaded by Pheasants Forever with…
Read MoreOTG Launches New Interactive Map of Statewide Projects
After nearly a week and a half of staring at my computer screen inputting data on OTG projects, I’m elated to say that the interactive map has officially launched! There were a couple of factors that lead to making this, but I think the most important was visualization. For me, I can read all of…
Read MoreOTG: Interactive Map, Chainsaw Safety, and Upcoming Projects
It’s an exciting time of year for the On The Ground program, as I have been planning events and coming up with better ways for you to get involved in the work that we are doing. Check out (and start looking forward to) these three upcoming items: Interactive OTG Projects Map During the last fiscal…
Read MoreOTG: Deer Habitat and Venison Stew Recipe
On the eve of our unofficial state holiday, I decided to take a recipe from “Dixie Dave’s Wild Game Recipes” cook book for you to put to use after your successful harvest in the field. Who doesn’t love hot venison stew after a long, blustery day in the woods? This recipe is sure to warm…
Read MoreLooking Ahead with OTG
With so many hunters in the woods during this time of year, getting out on public land to work projects is tricky and troublesome. That’s why I’m taking this time to work hard behind my desk and with biologists to get projects planned for the upcoming season. If you’re a first-timer and interested in joining…
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