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Lake Lansing North Park
Photograph Courtesy of Roger Darden ©
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The Mid-Michigan Cluster aims to educate and involve the community in protecting and conserving native plants and wildlife in all their natural diversity in Mid-Michigan. In support of this mission, we:
· Facilitate the sharing of expertise in natural lands management between public and non-profit organizations and the community
· Inventory native plant and wildlife communities
· Map invasive species and other threats to biodiversity
· Develop invasive species removal and natural area restoration projects
· Encourage community understanding and enjoyment of our native ecosystems through education, training, and volunteer opportunities
Please feel free to share your questions and ideas with our cluster. We'd love to have you participate!
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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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2010 Meetings NEW!
Planning Committee Meeting
March 17, Wednesday 9-11am Wear green!
Location: Harris Nature Center, 3998 Van Atta Road, Okemos (about 1 mi south of Grand River Ave, just over the 1-lane bridge)
All our welcome to join us for our next meeting! The topic this month will be “Conservation Easements”, presented by Dr. Paul Kindel, Director of the Mid-Michigan Land Conservancy. Following the presentation and Q&A session, we will discuss natural area management activities for 2010, as well as our speaker program for May through December.
2010 Workshops NEW!
Registration will open at www.stewardshipnetwork.org around January 20th
Using a GPS Device for Mapping and Monitoring
- March 27, Saturday 9am-12pm
- Cost: $30/$25 for members
- Limit: 30 participants
- Location: Harris Nature Center, 3998 Van Atta Road, Okemos
Click here to register now!
Gain experience using a GPS device and practice using it for mapping invasive species locations during this workshop. This technique can be used for multiple purposes at your own site including the continued mapping and monitoring of plant species, natural areas, trails and other features of interest. Please register ahead. Contact Kati Adams at 517-349-3866 or adams@meridian.mi.us with questions.
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Native Plant Gardening
May 1, Saturday 9am-10am
Cost: $30/$25 for members
Location: Harris Nature Center, 3998 Van Atta Road, Okemos
Click here to register now!
Join Laurie Kaufman and Dave Tschirley for a slide presentation and active discussion on native plant gardening. The session will highlight the aesthetics of integrating natives into existing gardens, and also show how native gardening can provide a lifeline for beneficial native insect populations and the wildlife that depends on them. You'll learn about great books and web site resources for continued learning. A follow-up session featuring visits to local gardens and Wildtype native plant nursery will be scheduled for the summer. Call Dave Tschirley at 517-349-8651 or Laurie Kaufman at 517-339-0380 for more information.
Great Lakes Photo Tour
May 2, Sunday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Location: Sandhill Shelter at Lake Lansing North, 6260 East Lake Dr., Haslett
Click here to register now!
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 enjoying their eco/photo tours or excursions.
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Invasive Plant Problems and How to Manage Them
- May 15, Saturday 10am-noon
- Cost: $30/$25 for members
Location: Harris Nature Center, 3998 Van Atta Road, Okemos
Click here to register now!
Join Dave Tschirley, Eckhart Dersch, local ecologist Steve Thomas and others for a hands-on look at invasive species, why we should care, and how to control them. Workshop includes an overview of the issue (including great resources for learning more) and a guided walk through a healthy habitat highlighting key native species, followed by a visit to an area severely affected by invasives. We'll end by pulling "satellite" populations of important invasives, as a start to Harris Nature Center’s invasives control campaign for 2010. Call Dave Tschirley at 517-349-8651 or Eckhart Dersch at 517-349-6466 for more information.
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Garlic Mustard Pull and Party
- May 22, Saturday 9:30am-11:30am
- Cost: Your effort is your payment
- Limit: We can’t have too many!
- Location: Harris Nature Center, 3998 Van Atta Road, Okemos
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- The Mid-Michigan Stewardship Initiative and Meridian Township Parks have organized an event to encourage people to pull Garlic Mustard from parks, preserves, natural areas and private lands. Garlic Mustard is an invasive plant that threatens to overtake habitat preferred by some of our favorite native wildflowers. Harris Nature Center staff will be leading a group that is pulling in Meridian Riverfront Park. We will meet at 9:30 am in the Harris Nature Center parking lot, 3998 Van Atta Road, Okemos and can be contacted at 517-349-3866 or adams@meridian.mi.us with questions. The public is invited to work with our group or choose another location; please call us and let us know where you are pulling, and be sure to have the permission of the land owner before beginning. All plants must be bagged, marked “invasive plants” and put in your garbage, NOT your yard waste. At 11:30 am, meet at the Harris Nature Center for lunch, stories and to find out who pulled the most of this invader by counting the number of 30 gallon bags collected!
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Recognizing Michigan Natural Communities and Performing Rapid Ecological Assessment
- July 24, Saturday 9am-12pm
- Cost: $40 for members /$55 for non-members
- Limit: 15 participants
- Location: Harris Nature Center, 3998 Van Atta Road, Meridian Township
Click here to register now!
Did you ever wonder what Michigan’s landscape looked like at the turn of the century? Join Phyllis Higman as she describes how Michigan’s Natural Features Inventory used historical surveyor records to map Michigan’s natural communities, circa 1800. Then learn to use MNFI’s key to the Natural Communities of Michigan by identifying the communities at Legg Park. Finally, learn about MNFI’s natural community ranking system and the Huron River Watershed Council’s Rapid Field Assessment tool to assess natural community quality. The MNFI “Natural Communities of Michigan: Classification and Description” and “Atlas of Early Michigan's Forests, Grasslands, and Wetlands” will be available for review and ordering. Contact Phyllis Higman for more information at 517-242-3269. Register at www.stewardshipnetwork.org or 734-996-3190
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Preparing for a Prairie Restoration and Prescribed Burn
- August 7, Saturday 10am-12pm
- Cost: $30/$25 for members
- Limit: 30 participants
Location: Davis/Foster Land Preserve, 5120 Van Atta Road, Meridian Township
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Click here to register now!
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- Many of our native Michigan habitats, including grasslands and savannas, historically experienced regular fires. This workshop will introduce participants to prairie restoration and holding a prescribed burn on their property. Topics will include setting goals and objectives, prairie management, evaluating a site for prescribed burning, legal considerations, liability, neighbor and public relations, fire weather information, basic fire behavior considerations, and burn contractor information. The workshop, led by Chris May of The Nature Conservancy, will be held at a restored prairie on a 110-acre land preserve, and participants will see the early stages of a prairie restoration project. For directions and other questions, contact Jane Greenway at greenway@meridian.mi.us or 517-853-4610. Register at www.stewardshipnetwork.org or 734-996-3190
- Propagating Native Plants from Seed
October 23, Saturday 10am-1pm
Cost: $30/$25 for members
- Limit: 20 participants
- Location: Harris Nature Center, 3998 Van Atta Road, Okemos
Click here to register now!
Join Suzan Campbell and learn to grow native plants from locally collected seed. Workshop includes an overview of natives in flower, fruit and seed, and treatments including stratification, scarification etc. Participants will receive seed from several species to clean and prepare during class and take home for their own gardens. Call Suzan Campbell at 313-378-0433 for more information. Register at www.stewardshipnetwork.org or 734-996-3190
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Additional programs related to Mid-Michigan natural areas stewardship, through Harris Nature Center:
Invasive Intervention Work Days, Saturdays, April 24 and June 5 at 9:30am-11:30am
Weekday Wildflower Walks, Tuesdays, April 20-May 11 at 10am-11am
Spring Wildflower Walks, Sundays, May 2 and May 16 at 3pm-4pm
Wildflower Festival, Saturday May 8 at 9am-3pm 9 (native plant sale, beekeepers, composting, Mid-Michigan Stewardship Initiative and garden club booths, guided walks)
Contact harriscenter@sbcglobal.net or call 517-349-3866 for more info on these activities
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Mid-Michigan Cluster Contact Information
Do you have any questions regarding the Mid-Michigan Cluster? If so, please don't hesitate to ask!
Contact the Mid-Michigan Cluster:
midmich@stewardshipnetwork.org
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Mid-Michigan Cluster Participating Organizations
Ingham County Parks Department
Meridian Township Parks and Land Preservation Advisory Board
Michigan Natural Features Inventory
The Nature Conservancy
Michigan State University
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
And Local Residents!
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We'd Love to Have You!
We welcome you to participate! Groups and individuals who may be interested in volunteering include: community service volunteers, Eagle Scouts, Master Gardeners, Conservation Stewards, field interns, and people who like outdoor exercise and connecting with nature, and enjoy meeting with like-minded people. Let's have some fun!
Are you an expert who would like to help as a member of our Mapping & Prioritization, Best Management Practices, Education & Events, or Development Committees?
In either case, please contact us at midmich@stewardshipnetwork.org
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