Volunteers Prep Camp for Season

lschultz • April 29, 2022

Last week staff and volunteers spent four days down at the Cedar Lake Outdoor Center preparing the facility for the upcoming summer season.  Each year opening and closing the property is a massive effort and we appreciate all of the help we get in both the spring and fall.

The Cedar Lake Outdoor Center has been home to the Michigan Out-of-Doors Youth Camp since the early 2000s. Located within the Waterloo Recreation Area and operated under a lease agreement from the Michigan DNR, we are proud of the work we have done and continue to do to maintain this historic facility and have a place to operate our outdoor programming.

Built between 1938 and 1940 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Cedar Lake outdoor center encompasses more than 200 acres and boasts 14 original buildings with several outbuildings added through the years.  There is a beach for swimming a dock for fishing and boating and even rifle and archery facilities.

MUCC is 100% responsible for building and grounds maintenance as well as capital improvements. We rely on a shoe-string budget and the help of dozens of volunteers to accomplish this task. Over four days last week, we were joined by more than 50 volunteers.

From turning on the water system and installing the dock to blowing needles off roofs and organizing the kitchen and main lodge, we kept everyone busy. With decent weather and plenty of helpful hands, we were able to get all of the necessary chores down around the property and even were able to build 12 new picnic tables.

We would like to thank all the volunteers who helped make the opening process relatively smooth.

We look forward to hosting our first rental group this weekend and welcoming our campers in June.

Speaking of camp, we are still in need of professional paid staff! If you are looking for a summer job, with housing and meals included and the opportunity to change lives, visit the camp website to see if there is a position that may be the right fit for you. https://www.mucccamp.org/about/staff/

Recent Posts

MUCC Announces Dissolution After Nearly 90 Years of Conservation Advocacy

May 4, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) announces its decision to dissolve after nearly 90 years of conservation advocacy, citing ongoing financial challenges and outlining next steps in an orderly wind-down process.

On the Ground: Trees and Trash in Grayling Forest Management Unit

By Olivia Triltsch • April 30, 2026
On Saturday, April 25, 2026, MUCC's On the Ground program partnered with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Ruffed Grouse Society, National Wild Turkey Federation, and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers for a crabapple tree planting and dump site clean-up event in the Grayling Forest Management Unit. Volunteers worked as a team to plant, compost, mulch, and fence 25 eight-foot trees at various locations in Crawford County on the public lands to offer forage for wildlife. Many species, like grouse, turkey, and deer, utilize mast-producing trees for food when other resources are not available. These trees were planted along an old logging road for both game and non-game wildlife, while enhancing the local recreational opportunities. Another group of volunteers branched off to remove trash from three dump sites on public land in Kalkaska County, which included couches, mattresses, shingles, and tires. Volunteers filled a 30-yard dumpster with trash found in the landscape in an attempt to keep the environment better than how it was found while improving future recreational opportunities. In total, volunteers directly enhanced 2.1 acres of wildlife habitat through this project.

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.
More Posts