On the Ground Volunteer Highlight: Tom Kelley

Meet Tom Kelley, local public land steward and active MUCC member and volunteer. Tom started volunteering with On the Ground (OTG) in March of this year and has already participated in five OTG events across Michigan’s Lower Peninsula! Tom earned a degree in fisheries and wildlife biology from Michigan State University in the early 90s,…

Read More

Help FENd-off invasive buckthorn with On the Ground!

On Saturday, September 9, 2023, On the Ground (OTG) will co-host another stewardship work day with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and the City of Portage Parks and Recreation Department at Gourdneck State Game Area (SGA) in Kalamazoo County. Volunteers are needed on Saturday, September 9 from 9:00 AM to noon to help…

Read More

On the Ground: Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

Looking for a fun, family-friendly way to connect with your public lands? Come out and volunteer for wildlife with On the Ground this summer! Click below to view our upcoming events: Saturday, July 15 – Annual Manistee River Clean-Up with Steelhead Manifesto, Manistee County – Register HERE Saturday, August 26 – Mast-Producing Tree and Shrub Planting at…

Read More

Michigan and The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System

In 1968, Congress passed the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act establishing the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System (NWSRS) to preserve free-flowing rivers for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act protects more than 13,400 miles of rivers and streams in the U.S. The Forest Service is involved in…

Read More

Michigan Out-of-Doors Youth Camp is Underway

It is hard to believe, but the Michigan Out-of-Doors Youth camp is already in its second week of operation for the 2023 season. Currently, we are hosting more than 30 9-11 year-olds for a week of overnight camp down at Cedar Lake. Last week we had 35-day campers join us to learn new outdoor skills…

Read More

Help Improve Upland Bird Habitat with On the Ground and Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Barry County

MUCC’s On the Ground (OTG) program will be collaborating once again with Pierce Cedar Creek Institute (PCCI) to improve wildlife habitat by planting native wildflower plugs on active restoration units on PCCI’s grounds. Volunteers are needed on Saturday, June 24, from 9am to noon. Please arrive 5-10 minutes early to sign-in.  In 2021, the Institute…

Read More