OTG Jr. Partners with Lenawee ISD in Chelsea

lschultz • October 10, 2019

On Wednesday, October 9, 21 students and three chaperones from Lenawee ISD came out to the Michigan Out-of-Doors (MOOD) Youth Camp in Chelsea to help improve native wildlife and pollinator habitat on camp property. The MOOD Youth Camp islocated at Cedar Lake and is part of the Waterloo Recreation Area, and every summer hundreds of youth come through the camp to learn about natural resources and outdoor recreation.

Native wildlife habitat and pollinators are part of the education curriculum at camp, and there is a pollinator garden on camp property that is used to help introduce the campers to the importance of pollinators and their habitat. However, a large section of the pollinator garden and sections along the trail at camp had become crowded out by a grove of invasive autumn olive, and the students from Lenawee ISD decided that they would be able to help us take care of the problem.

After introducing the project and educating students about the ecology of the floral and faunal species they were impacting, the students wasted no time before beginning to tackle the invasive species in the pollinator garden. Using teamwork, students successfully removed the entire grove of autumn olive and an abundance of autumn olive along the trail. Before long, the students were ready for a break from the work and looking forward to lunch, and the last half hour before food was served was spent on the obstacle course at camp.

The students arrived at the lodge for lunch bright-eyed and laughing after the fun challenge of the obstacle course, and it wasn’t long before the five pizzas were devoured. During lunch, regional DNR Wildlife Biologist Denny Tison visited the students to discuss potential career pathways with the department and MUCC Camp Director Max Bass discussed summer employment opportunities at MOOD Youth Camp and careers in outdoor education. The students spent the remainder of the afternoon continuing their natural resources education at the Gerald E. Eddy Discovery Center near MOOD camp.

Thank you for another great OTG Jr. project, Lenawee ISD!

Volunteers from Lenawee ISD after the invasive autumn olive was removed.

Volunteers from Lenawee ISD in front of the invasive autumn olive they removed during the OTG Jr. project.

Recent Posts

On the Ground: Clean Up at Yates Park

By Olivia Triltsch • April 23, 2026
On Saturday, April 18, 2026, MUCC’s OTG program partnered with the Clinton River Watershed Council and Metro-West Steelheaders to host the annual Clinton River clean-up at Yates Park. Volunteers removed about 270 pounds of trash from the riverbanks and the surrounding watershed. Approximately 80.3 acres of fish and wildlife habitat were directly impacted by this project, in addition to improving local outdoor recreational opportunities. Cleaning up the watershed is critical for ensuring safe drinking water, safe recreation, and a clean habitat for fish and wildlife alike.

OTG Volunteers Needed in Crawford County Tree Plantings

By Olivia Triltsch • April 16, 2026
MUCC’s On the Ground (OTG) will be in the northern lower peninsula in late spring to improve habitat for wildlife. Volunteers are needed on Saturday, April 25th, from 8 AM to 12 PM and Saturday, May 3rd, from 9 AM to 2 PM to plant trees across Crawford County. These projects will take place rain or shine, except in the event of severe weather, so please dress accordingly. All registered volunteers will receive lunch and a free appreciation gift for their efforts.

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.
More Posts