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The Southwest Corner Cluster (SWCC) of the Stewardship Network serves organizations and individuals in the southwest region of Michigan. Lead organizations of the SWCC include: the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy; The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Land Owner Incentive Program, Stewardship Program, Kalamazoo Nature Center, and Fort Custer Training Center Environmental Section; and The Nature Conservancy. These and other organizations and individuals combine resources, efforts, knowledge, and experience in order to enhance stewardship capacity and on the ground efforts at land management and restoration.
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Support Your Local Cluster Today!
Donate Today to Become a Member!
Are you Part of an Organization?
Find out More about our Memorandum of Understanding Memberships!
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Southwest Corner Cluster Events 2010
Click the name of a workshop to be taken to a registration form for that event
NOTE: ALL WORKSHOPS REQUIRE REGISTRATION.
Are you looking to share a ride to an event? Follow this link to the carpooling section of our forum to post requests or offers for ride shares!
Principles of Restoration: Beyond Killing Plants
February 24, Wednesday 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Cost: $10 for members/$15 for non-members
VENUE CHANGE! Location: 1718 Wood Hall, Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo)
Click Here to Register Now!
Ecological restoration is much more than "killing the bad plants." Led by Nate Fuller of the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, this workshop will review the biological principles that can help guide restoration strategies, such as hydrological functions, soil conservation, nutrient flow, floral diversity, faunal distribution, and others. Sponsored by the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy. Snacks will be provided.
For a more detailed map of campus, click here!
Spring Wildflower Workshop
April 25, Sunday 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Cost: Free
Location: Kazoo Shool, 1401 Cherry St., (Kalamazoo)
Click Here to Register Now!
Come join us at WMU's Kleinstuck Preserve for a walk around the preserve to identify the wide range of spring wildflowers present in the wetland and upland habitats. Learn about their habitat requirements and how they are being threatened by invasives such as garlic mustard. After the walk, help us save these flowers by pulling garlic mustard plants. Sponsored in collaboration with the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy. Snacks will be provided.
Cluster Photo Tour
April 30, Friday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $10 Pre-Registration fee to Stewardship Network and $69 due to Great Lakes Photo Tours at event
Location: Kleinstuck Preserve
Click Here to Register Now!
The Stewardship Network and Great Lakes Photo Tours have joined forces to bring you a line up of Cluster Photo Tours for Spring 2010. Great Lakes Photo Tours treat participants to some of the most inspiring scenic and natural areas in the Great Lakes region. From digital ‘snap-shooters’ to advanced amateur photo enthusiasts, all will benefit from Mark and Bob’s over 50-years worth of combined experience as professionals in their respective fields. Mark presents a wealth of naturalist information to attendees, as well as many helpful tips & suggestions on how to make better nature photographs, regardless of equipment or skill level. Bob offers his expertise assisting digital photographers with their camera and accessories, allowing them the opportunity to create cherished photographs, not just memories, while hiking beloved natural areas close to home. Learn more about Great lakes Photo Tours at the GLPT website at: http://www.markcarlson.com/glpt/
Questions: Email info@greatlakesphototours.com
Native Landscaping and Insect Diversity
July 15, Thursday 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Cost: $10 for members/ $15 for non-members
Location: Gibbs House, 4503 Parkview Ave., Kalamazoo
Click Here to Register Now!
Chad Hughson, of Hidden Savanna Nursery, will be covering the basics of landscaping with native plants: what they are, why they should be used, how to select species appropriate for your landscape, site prep/planning and maintenance. He will also be showing a plant gallery highlighting a wide range of species with a description of the most common pollinator/nectaring insect groups/families and Lepidoptera host information.
Ecology of an Urban Lake
July 17, Saturday 9:00 am to 11:00 am
Cost: $10 for members/$15 for non-members
Location: 4503 Parkview Avenue (Kalamazoo)
Click Here to Register Now!
Come visit WMU's Asylum Lake Preserve and learn about the ecosystem health issues facing Asylum Lake, a lake typical of that found in an urban setting. Dr. Steve Kohler, Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies at WMU, will desribe sampling methods for various parameters and what those parameters indicate about the health of the ecosystem. He will also describe some of the interesting findings of his freshwater ecology class that studied Asylum Lake last fall, especially those related to lake eutrophiation.
Compost Tea Workshop
August 7, Saturday 9:00 am to 11:30 am
Cost: $10 for members/$15 for non-members
Location: Gibbs House, 4503 Parkview Ave., Kalamazoo
Click Here to Register Now!
Conventional lawn and garden treatments, such as fertilizers and pesticides, kill the microbial communities that are essential for optimal growth of plants. By destroying the microbes, plants then become "addicts' dependent on humans for nutrients and water. Adding compost tea to lawns can reduce water consumption, increase disease resistance, reduce mowing needs, and elimnate the use of chemicals. WMU Landscape Services has been developing a compost tea program to use on its campus lawns and trees. Come join us for this workshop and learn how you can use compost tea around your homes and reduce your dependence on fertilizers, pesticides, water and mowing.
Native Seed Collection
August 13, Friday 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Cost: Free
Location: Goldsworth Valley Pond, Western Michigan Unversity (Kalamazoo)
Click Here to Register Now!
Steve Keto, former commercial propagator of native Michigan plants, will discuss the techniques involved in choosing, harvesting, and storing seeds. We will be at WMU's Goldsworth Valley Pond. The shoreline of this pond was restored in 2004 and planted with native vegetation.
Techniques of Wetland Restoration
October 21, Thursday 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Cost: $10 for members/$15 for non-members
Location: Van Buren Conference Center (490 S. Paw Paw St., Lawrence)
Click Here to Register Now!
Wetlands are crucial for water quality protection and habitat, but many of our original wetlands have been converted for agriculture or development. This workshop will provide land owners and land managers with the details they will need to oversee a successful wetland restoration project, such as determining a suitable site, restoring hydrologic conditions, and establishing suitable vegetation. Sponsored in collaboration with the Van Burn Conservation District.
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Garlic Mustard Challenge 2010
April – June
Garlic Mustard Pull Challenge
Garlic mustard is an invasive plant that threatens the abundant wildflowers and diverse Michigan woods. Each spring (April through June) the Stewardship Network has a Garlic Mustard Pull Challenge among its local clusters. Check out the Stewardship Network's Garlic Mustard Challenge webpage for more information on how to participate and help the Southwest Corner Cluster in its quest for the Cluster Cup.
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Southwest Corner Cluster Participating Organizations
The Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Land Owner Incentive Program
Stewardship Program
Kalamazoo Nature Center
Fort Custer Training Center Environmental Section
The Nature Conservancy
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We'd Love to Have You!
We would like to invite you to join our Cluster. Groups and individuals who may be interested include: Community Service volunteers, Eagle Scouts, Master Gardeners, Conservation Stewards, field interns, people who want to connect to nature, people who want to meet with like-mnded people, and people who like getting exercise outdoors. Let's have some fun!
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