Volunteer with OTG on National Trails Day!

Celebrate National Trails Day on Saturday, June 4, 2022 with MUCC’s On the Ground program and the MI Department of Natural Resources! We will be improving hunter and recreationist access as well as constructing brush piles to enhance wildlife habitat at Dansville State Game Area in Ingham County on Saturday, June 4 starting at 9am.…

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The Great Grasslands of Michigan

Grasslands provide many amazing ecological functions. A wide range of different grassland community types is found across Michigan. Sadly, due to a misguided viewpoint from the 60s, fires as a management tool have been suppressed across the region. This lack of fire has allowed trees and woody vegetation to take over many grasslands. Common culprits…

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World Water Day

World Water Day was yesterday. A day founded on the belief of equal access to clean water and dedicated to its conservation. The theme for 2022 is how climate change and water are linked. This is the perfect opportunity to talk about wetlands. Besides the carbon storage capabilities of wetlands, the impact of these communities…

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Mushroom Foraging in Michigan

Michigan is full of amazing wildlife and there are many ways to enjoy the space around you. A great activity that allows you to explore the wild areas of Michigan is mushroom foraging. Mushroom foraging can be tricky and certainly makes you appreciate the complexity of nature. But with a good identification book and possibly…

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Great American Outdoors Act Passes Congress!

The Great American Outdoors Act (S. 3422/H.R.7092 & H.R.1957) passed out of the House of Representatives by a margin of 310-107 on Wednesday. We are now one important step closer to full, permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and addressing the deferred maintenance backlog on federal public lands.  The LWCF has only…

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Resources for Outdoor Enthusiasts

The month of March has finally come to an end, and now we Michiganders are faced with what looks to be a long April ahead as the global coronavirus pandemic continues. With this in mind, many folks are looking for ways to connect with nature responsibly.  Several conservation organizations are producing excellent resources for folks…

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OTG Reaches Volunteer Milestone at Event in Gwinn

Over 25 volunteers braved the cold and rain in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to complete a habitat improvement project in the Gwinn State Forest on Saturday, May 18th. In collaboration with MUCC, RGS, and the MDNR, these volunteers planted 85 crab apple trees and 250 fruit shrubs in the heart of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. We began…

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