West Michigan Cluster - The Stewardship Network

Join us for one of our informative

Stewardship Workshop/ Workdays

Choose from the following topics:

(programs are free unless otherwise noted)

West Michigan Cluster was formed in 2006 to increase the overall stewardship efforts in Western Michigan. Our region includes Kent, Ottawa, North Allegan, Muskegon, and Newago Counties. The Cluster is made up of a diverse group of non-profit and for-profit organizations as well as governmental agencies including: The Nature Conservancy, the Land Conservancy of West Michigan, Ottawa and Kent County Parks, Ada Township Park, Calvin College, Wittenbach/Wege Agriscience and Environmental Center, and Howard Christensen Nature Center.

Like the other clusters, we held a brainstorming session where we listed and prioritized what our region's needs were. We determined that collaborative communication of stewardship events was top priority. Therefore, utilizing the Stewardship Network's Community Calendar and database we are able to post all stewarship events on our region and email reminders to our members. This has been and excellent means of increasing the awareness of programs across organizations.

Also, we hold educational workdays/workshops on stewardship related topics such as Invasive Species ID and Management and Dune Restoration workdays. Our participants have nejoyed having access to experienced land stewards and having the opportunity to help protect our region's natural lands.

Our Cluster is growing fast. We look forward to the success that other clusters hav ehad and hope we have our own set of accomplishments to share with others. Please feel free to contact us to share ideas.

Coastal Plain Marshes are rare wetlands mostly limited to parts of West Michigan and Northwest Indiana. These marshes shelter a great concentration of rare plants that are otherwise found in the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains. They result from a complex and unusual local hydrology. This trip will visit the Little Robinson Lake site, with one of the largest and most important complexes of coastal plain marsh in Michigan.

Leader(s) and Speaker(s): Brad Slaughter, Michigan Natural Features Inventory.

Cost: Free for Stewardship Network Members, $5 for Non-Members.
Download postcards and flyers here.

The Drill-and-Fill technique is a very efficient way to remove invasive trees without cutting them down. We will learn the technique and use it to help restore a portion of a oak/white pine savanna.

Leader(s) and Speaker(s): Jack McGowan-Stinski, The Nature Conservancy or Conservancy Staff.

Overabundant deer populations in natural areas can have many negative affects on native plants and animals. Join Chris Hoving, MDNR Landowner Incentive Biologist to learn about the importance of deer management and some of the techniques, tools, and potential partnerships available to control deer overabundance.