Mark Your Calendar for Upcoming Summer OTG Events

lschultz • June 6, 2019

The summer season is finally upon us, and that means our On The Ground program is packed with great events across the state. These events provide Michiganders with the opportunity to give back to their natural resources and are created in partnership with the Michigan DNR and other state and local conservation clubs. OTG focuses on projects which improve habitat for game species and sport fish on lands open to the public for hunting and fishing. Through this program, hunters, anglers, trappers and outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds have the opportunity to donate their time for the benefit of the species they enjoy. The work completed by volunteers and DNR wildlife professionals shows the general public that we are true conservationists while seeing first-hand how hunting license dollars are put to use.

If you would like to get involved with the OTG program, please consider attending one of the many upcoming events throughout the summer months:

Houghton Lake: Backus Creek State Game Area

Date:  Friday, June 21

Time: 10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.

Project: The kick-off event for MUCC’s 82nd annual convention! Shrub planting & fencing at a Grouse Enhanced Management Site (GEMS) within the Backus Creek SGA to enhance habitat for ruffed grouse and other wildlife.

Location:  Backus Creek State Game Area. Meet at DNR Roscommon Customer Service Center (8717 N. Roscommon Road, Roscommon, MI  48653)


Clinton River Clean Up

Date:  Saturday, July 6

Time:  8:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.

Project: Partnership event with Metro-West Steelheaders to clean up parts of the Clinton River for improved aquatic habitat and recreational activities on the river.

Location: Rochester, MI. Meet at Yates Cider Mill (1990 E Avon Rd, Rochester, MI 48307)


Red Cedar River Clean Up

Date:  Saturday, July 13

Time:  9:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.

Project: Partnership event with Michigan State University to clean up parts of the Red Cedar River for improved aquatic habitat and recreational activities on the river.

Location:  Michigan State University campus, exact meeting location TBD   (monitor our  OTG webpage  as more details become available)


Manistee River Clean Up

Date:  Saturday, July 20

Time:  TBD (monitor our  OTG webpage  as more details become available)

Project: Partnership event with Steelhead Manifesto to clean up parts of the Manistee River for improved aquatic habitat and recreational activities on the river.

Location:  High Bridge Boat Launch (44.268447, -86.014313) off North High Bridge Road, Brethren, MI 49619


Clare County: Gladwin State Game Area

Date:  Saturday, July 20

Time: 9:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.

Project: Tree trimming and brush pile building to enhance wildlife habitat within the Gladwin State Game Area.

Location:  Gladwin State Game Area (43.976280, -84.706279) off of South Rogers Avenue, Harrison, MI 48625


As is true with all OTG events, we provide a free lunch and OTG t-shirts! We hope to see you at one of these great events and keep monitoring our OTG webpage for new projects and updated information. Please contact MUCC Habitat Volunteer Coordinator Makhayla LaButte at mlabutte@mucc.org or 517-346-6456 with any questions. 

Come out and volunteer for wildlife!

Recent Posts

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 .
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.
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