New Huron Pines AmeriCorps Member Begins Service

lschultz • January 19, 2022

Hello! My name is Madison Paulk, and I am pleased to be MUCC’s new Huron Pines AmeriCorps Engagement Specialist. Recently I moved from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Michigan. Even though I am not a native Michigander, I am very excited to help ignite people’s interest in the wild areas of the state.

I grew up at the base of a mountain, surrounded by a desert. My favorite activities were hiking, camping and exploring the outdoors. During the summers, I would spend my time at my grandfather’s run-down farm, where I would go out and search for quails or barn owls. I was lucky to be born into a family with a deep appreciation for nature. They encouraged me to explore and continue my education.

I received my degree in conservation biology from the University of New Mexico in December 2020. During my education, I tried a myriad of different focuses. I helped track endangered and threatened species across the state of New Mexico, I was a lab technician working with population genetics of endemic fish species and I even volunteered at museums cleaning bones and repairing plant specimens. After all of that, I am still no closer to deciding what I would like to do.

I am very excited to be serving with MUCC’s On the Ground (OTG), On the Water (OTW) and educational programs. These programs will allow me to gain hands-on experience with habitat restoration, conservation and community engagement efforts all over the state of Michigan. Even though I am not an avid hunter or angler, I support MUCC’s mission and am very grateful to be serving here during my term.

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White Oaks vs Red Oaks: Why Does It Matter?

By Olivia Triltsch • April 9, 2026

Oaks are a critical tree species for wildlife in Michigan as they provide food, cover, and long-term habitat in forests, field edges, and public lands. Both red oaks and white oaks are native to Michigan, but there are differences in management between the species, making an impact on conservation and hunting success. The growth patterns are important to understand when planning for land management due to variation in growth, acorn production (mast), and wildlife use.