Happy AmeriCorps Week!

Americorps • March 12, 2021

This week March 7th-March 13th, is National AmeriCorps Week! 

I began my service with the Huron Pines AmeriCorps (HPA) program in February of 2020. I applied for my first service term because I wanted to learn more about environmental issues here in Michigan and participate in hands-on work that benefits the forests, grasslands, waterways, and other wild places that I love to explore in my home state.  

My service term has taken me to many different corners of Michigan, from planting native wildflowers in the Southeast, native mast-producing trees in Kalkaska and cleaning up trash from creeks in the Upper Peninsula; I have gotten to work with passionate individuals who are determined in their efforts to leave the natural resources of Michigan in good shape for future generations. I am constantly impressed by my HPA colleagues that serve across Michigan with host sites that include the Department of Natural Resources, regional land conservancies, federal agencies, and various conservation non-profits.  

Serving through a global pandemic has certainly had its challenges, and AmeriCorps members all across Michigan have had to adjust their usual routine to honor the AmeriCorps pledge “to make our people safer, smarter, and healthier” and “bring Americans together to strengthen our communities.” This year I am serving as the LeaderCorps member for the HPA program, and in this role, I have gotten to learn more about the many AmeriCorps programs here in Michigan. 

Last year alone, around 7,400 individuals completed a term of service here in Michigan.  For those unfamiliar with the reach of AmeriCorps as a National branch of service, “AmeriCorps engages 270,000 Americans each year in sustained, results-driven service through our AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors programs. These dedicated citizens help communities impacted by COVID-19, ensure students stay on track to graduate, combat hunger and homelessness, respond to natural disasters, fight the opioid epidemic, help seniors live independently, support veterans and military families, and much more.”  To learn more about the incredible impact of AmeriCorps service in Michigan, please follow this link . 

The intent behind National AmeriCorps Week is to celebrate and highlight the impact of AmeriCorps service members. I am certainly very grateful to have met many amazing members within the HPA program as well as across the state, committed to serving and bettering their community. I look forward to the rest of my service term, getting out into the field with upcoming habitat projects and getting things done! 

Recent Posts

May 2025 NRC Recap

By Justin Tomei • May 8, 2025
The Natural Resources Commission (NRC) met for their May meeting today at Lansing Community College West Campus. The commission voted to return antlered opportunities to the Independence and Liberty hunts at the May Natural Resources Commission meeting. The amendment to restore this opportunity passed after Commissioner Walters withdrew his amendment from April to only partially restore antlered opportunity during these hunts. MUCC testified for the complete restoration of antlered opportunity during these two hunts, per a member passed policy from our 2025 Annual Convention. The commission also voted on, and ultimately accepted, a proposal to allow archery antlerless take in the high snowfall zone in the Upper Peninsula. Additionally, the commission also chose to leave on the table and postpone indefinitely the order to reopen the illegally partially closed coyote season. This prevents the order from dying after today's meeting and makes it eligible for action at a later date. This amendment will remain postponed until the June meeting at the earliest.  MUCC has created the Coyote Coalition to assist in unifying the voice of conservationists in support of Proposal G. To join the Coyote Coalition, visit https://www.mucc.org/coyotecoalition . The commission did adopt proposed fall turkey regulations unanimously. The June commission meeting is Thursday, June 12 in Bay City. To ensure our natural resources remain protected and managed thoughtfully and our outdoor heritage defended, join Michigan United Conservation Clubs today: http://bit.ly/JoinMUCC .

On The Ground: Volunteers at the Annual Jack Pine Planting Day

By Olivia Triltsch • May 8, 2025
In total, volunteers improved about 6 acres of habitat and planted around 6,000 trees in this stand to continue regeneration.

On the Ground Junior: Spring Event Recap

By Katelyn Helsel • May 7, 2025
Our student volunteers have been hard at work improving wildlife habitat on public lands! MUCC’s On the Ground Junior (OTG Jr.) program, a subset of the On the Ground program, is a fully funded field trip program that brings grade-school classrooms into the outdoors to improve fish and wildlife habitat in their local communities. Through activities like native plantings, brush pile building, and invasive species removal, students gain hands-on experience with conservation and positively impact the world around them. Students also participate in educational activities like predator-prey tag to teach them about population dynamics and other natural resources concepts. So far this spring season, MUCC welcomed 69 students, teachers, and chaperones who participated in multiple OTG Jr projects with more on the way! In total, they improved over 12 acres of wildlife habitat. Read on for a recap of each OTG Jr project and see what all our awesome student volunteers have been up to. 
More Posts