On the Ground Volunteer Highlight: Zachary Dalton

Kristina Kennedy • October 26, 2023

Dozens of brush piles were created during the April 22 stewardship workday in partnership with Mark Kenyon’s Working for Wildlife Tour.

Meet Zachary Dalton, local hunter, angler, outdoor enthusiast, and avid On the Ground (OTG) volunteer!

Zachary is from Saginaw, but he has participated in six OTG volunteer events throughout Michigan during the past year. He attended his first OTG project back in October of 2022, where he worked alongside other volunteers to plant and fence one hundred mast-producing trees for wildlife on public land in Kalkaska County.

“I wanted to get involved with MUCC because I thought it would be a great way to get more involved in conservation,” he said. “I see volunteering with OTG as an opportunity to give back to nature, wildlife, and public lands.”

Zachary earned a degree in Wildlife Biology from Central Michigan University in 2021 and has been working seasonal wildlife gigs since then. He recently started a new position with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division at the Shiawassee River State Game Area.

Using a dibble bar, Zachary preps holes for a wildflower plug planting proejct at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Barry County.

One of his favorite On the Ground projects was the Kalkaska County stewardship workday in partnership with Mark Kenyon’s Working for Wildlife Tour that took place this past spring. During the habitat project, volunteers created brush piles throughout five wildlife openings to enhance horizontal ground cover for small game habitat. “One of the highlights for me was seeing the large impact that we made in just one day of work,” he said.

Not only do these volunteer events help folks explore public land throughout the state, but Zachary agrees that volunteering has also allowed him to connect with people who share a similar love for the outdoors.

“My favorite part about volunteering is getting my hands dirty with a project and feeling like I made a difference at the end of the day, Zachary continued. “I encourage anyone who enjoys the outdoors whether that be bird watching, hiking, hunting, or fishing to get out and give back to the public lands that we collectively enjoy.”

Thank you, Zachary, for your volunteer stewardship with the OTG program! We greatly appreciate your dedication to improving wildlife habitat in Michigan.

Would you like to be our next volunteer steward? Visit  mucc.org/on-the-ground/  to register for upcoming projects!

Recent Posts

MUCC Submits Public Comment in Support of Line 5 Tunnel Project

By Justin Tomei • June 30, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MUCC Submits Public Comment in Support of Line 5 Tunnel Project Lansing, MI — Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC), the nation’s largest statewide conservation organization, has submitted formal public comments urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to approve the Enbridge Line 5 Tunnel Project. In a letter submitted today, MUCC emphasized the need to move this critical infrastructure forward to protect the Great Lakes while maintaining safe, reliable energy transportation. “MUCC supports the tunnel project as the best available alternative to reduce the risk of an environmental disaster in the Straits of Mackinac while continuing to deliver essential energy products to Michigan families and industries,” said Amy Trotter, CEO of MUCC. “We believe the tunnel project strikes a balance between protecting the environment and maintaining energy security.” MUCC’s position is backed by a formal resolution passed by its membership, which includes thousands of hunters, anglers, trappers, and outdoor enthusiasts across Michigan. The resolution supports the tunnel as a long-term solution that replaces the aging and exposed pipeline segment currently crossing the Straits, offering greater environmental safeguards through secondary containment. The organization cited the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which acknowledges the tunnel’s benefits, including reduced spill risk and a controlled, buried environment for transporting light crude oil and natural gas liquids. MUCC also rejected the "no action alternative," which would allow the existing line to remain in operation without any new protective infrastructure. “Other alternatives, like transporting fuel by truck or rail, are inefficient and carry greater environmental and safety risks,” Trotter added. “Allowing the current line to operate exposed on the lakebed indefinitely is simply not acceptable.” MUCC’s comment stresses that the organization is not weighing in on the type of energy transported, but rather on the environmental risks and safety benefits of the tunnel itself. Originally approved by the Michigan legislature and governor in 2018, the Great Lakes Tunnel Project represents a once-in-a-generation investment in infrastructure and environmental protection. MUCC urges the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to issue the necessary permits and move forward with construction without further delay. For Media Contact: Justin Tomei jtomei@mucc.org 517-346-6488 #####

Michigan Wildlife Conservation Month: MUCC's Impact

By Olivia Triltsch • June 26, 2025
Since its inception, MUCC has made great strides in the conservation of natural resources through advocacy, habitat, youth education, and communications.

On the Ground: Native Plug Planting at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute

By Katelyn Helsel • June 25, 2025
On Saturday, June 21, 2025, MUCC’s On the Ground program partnered with the Pierce Cedar Creek Institute (PCCI) for a native plug planting day in Barry County. Located on 850 acres, the institute offers both environmental education opportunities and serves as a biological field station for conducting research. Many diverse native communities from wetlands to prairies are present at PCCI, and many rare or threatened species in Michigan like the eastern box turtle call the institute home. 
More Posts