Spring into April with these On the Ground Opportunities

Americorps • April 12, 2023

Warm weather has finally arrived in Michigan; the birds are singing, and the spring buds are blooming. What better way to enjoy this warm weather than by going outside to help enhance habitat for Michigan’s wildlife?

There are multiple opportunities to volunteer with On the Ground (OTG) this April. From watershed cleanups to building brush piles to enhance wildlife habitat, there are ways for every conservationist to get involved. Click on the links below to view more details about these upcoming April opportunities. 

Upcoming OTG Projects:

Saturday, April 15, 2023 – Clinton River Watershed Clean-Up

Volunteers will assist in cleaning up Dawson’s Millpond at Beaudette Park and Upper Silver Lake at Hawthorne Park in Pontiac, MI (Oakland County). 

Volunteers will assist with building brush piles for game habitat, maintaining and improving wildlife openings, and softening forest/opening edge within a forested landscape to improve habitat for wildlife, particularly game species on public hunting land in Kalkaska County.

If you can’t make it up to the Northwoods on Earth Day, there’s another opportunity to get involved down in Barry County! Join the Michigan DNR at Barry State Game Area for an Earth Day cleanup ! The event will start at the Yankee Springs Township Fire Department, located at 1425 Pine Lake Road in Wayland, MI. We will begin with a short briefing at 9:00 AM, after which participants will disperse to various locations within the game area to pick up trash. Dumpsters and trash bags will be provided by the organizers. All you need to bring is your enthusiasm and dedication to keeping our beautiful game area clean and pristine. This is a great opportunity to give back to the community and help preserve the natural beauty of our environment.

Volunteers will work to remove woody invasive vegetation and create brush piles for wildlife habitat at Port Huron State Game Area in St. Clair County.

We hope to volunteer with you this spring! Please contact Habitat Volunteer Coordinator Kristina Kennedy at kkennedy@mucc.org with questions regarding the OTG program.

Recent Posts

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.
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.
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