On The Ground Junior: Berkley School District Students Plant Native Trees and Build Brush Piles at Chesterfield Township State Game Area

Americorps • May 31, 2023

Students work together to carry a log to the base of their first brush pile.

On May 23 and May 24, 2023, sixth grade students and faculty from Norup International School participated in MUCC’s On the Ground Junior (OTG Jr.) program in an effort to improve wildlife habitat at the Chesterfield Township State Game Area (SGA) in Macomb County.

Previously a mix of agricultural fields and forest fragments, this SGA was acquired by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in the mid-2010s.

DNR biologists have plans to restore the main hay field into a natural grassland habitat with native wildflowers which will benefit a variety of pollinators.

Students pose next to an opossum hidden in a shrub during their wildlife scavenger hunt!

During the two-day project, student volunteers split-up into small groups and rotated through four stations where they participated in activities ranging from building brush piles, archery lessons, a pollination relay race, and planting native trees like white oak and quaking aspen.

During these projects, approximately 110 native trees were planted and 8 large brush piles were constructed. Students helped improve a total of 5 acres of land for wildlife at the game area.

If you are interested in getting involved in MUCC’s On the Ground or OTG Jr. program, please visit mucc.org/on-the-ground/.

 

Recent Posts

On the Ground: Jack Pine Planting Day 2026

By Olivia Triltsch • May 7, 2026
On Saturday, May 2, 2026, a group of dedicated volunteers joined Kirtland's Warbler Alliance, Huron Pines, Saginaw Children’s Zoo, and MUCC's OTG program in planting approximately 4,800 jack pine saplings within the Grayling Forest Management Unit in Crawford County. Jack pines are a critical nesting habitat feature for the once-threatened Kirtland’s warbler. In total, volunteers directly impacted about 7 acres of land were prepared by the Michigan DNR for this planting to allow volunteers to maximize their efforts across the land. This is one of our annual events that is perfect for helpers of all ages and interests.

MUCC Announces Dissolution After Nearly 90 Years of Conservation Advocacy

May 4, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) announces its decision to dissolve after nearly 90 years of conservation advocacy, citing ongoing financial challenges and outlining next steps in an orderly wind-down process.

On the Ground: Trees and Trash in Grayling Forest Management Unit

By Olivia Triltsch • April 30, 2026
On Saturday, April 25, 2026, MUCC's On the Ground program partnered with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Ruffed Grouse Society, National Wild Turkey Federation, and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers for a crabapple tree planting and dump site clean-up event in the Grayling Forest Management Unit. Volunteers worked as a team to plant, compost, mulch, and fence 25 eight-foot trees at various locations in Crawford County on the public lands to offer forage for wildlife. Many species, like grouse, turkey, and deer, utilize mast-producing trees for food when other resources are not available. These trees were planted along an old logging road for both game and non-game wildlife, while enhancing the local recreational opportunities. Another group of volunteers branched off to remove trash from three dump sites on public land in Kalkaska County, which included couches, mattresses, shingles, and tires. Volunteers filled a 30-yard dumpster with trash found in the landscape in an attempt to keep the environment better than how it was found while improving future recreational opportunities. In total, volunteers directly enhanced 2.1 acres of wildlife habitat through this project.
More Posts