Camping, hiking, birding, boating ... no matter what you do, plan ahead and always put safety first to ensure everyone has a great time.



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"News Digest?? Holiday Edition"

a yellow-bodied, bright blue-headed mourning warbler perches on a thin, brown twig, with bright green ferns in background [ [link removed] ]

With spring birding in full swing, be on the lookout (and listen!) for warblers and other songbirds.



If you've been dreaming about the long Memorial Day weekend, we get it! We don't just take care of Michigan's natural and cultural resources, we love getting out there and unplugging from everything, too. Ahead of the holiday, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has some tips to keep everyone safe and maybe discover something new:?


* S?more smarts: Tips for safe campfires [ #link_16 ]
* Three words for three-day weekend: Play, Clean, Go [ #link_17 ]
* Summer exploring? Add a state fish hatchery to your travels [ #link_2 ]
* 'Ride Right' for safe, responsible, off-road riding fun [ #link_3 ]
* Explore Michigan?s state parks with your very own guide [ #link_4 ]
* Be a better boater; commit to safety on the water [ #link_5 ]

Need additional inspiration? Visit our website for more things to do [ [link removed] ] and places to go [ [link removed] ]. Be safe, have fun, and go make some memories!

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S?more smarts: Tips for safe campfires

A gooey marshmallow is toasted in the orange light of a flickering campfire

Stack up the graham crackers, chocolate and toasted (or burned ? whoops!) marshmallows to make the classic s?more, a treat best enjoyed around a crackling campfire.

But as you stack up wood to prepare your campfire, how do you make sure you toast only the marshmallows, and not the whole backyard or campground? Just as with s?mores, there?s a classic recipe for ensuring a safe fire:


* Build your fire in a campfire ring or space surrounded by bare earth. (In state parks and campgrounds, we provide the fire rings for you! Please don?t build your own.)
* Always keep a water source and a metal shovel nearby.
* Never leave a fire unattended, even for a minute.
* When it?s time to turn in for the night, drench your fire with water, stir the ashes and drench again to make sure it?s completely out.

By minding your campfire, you?ll help keep family and guests safe, as well as the nature around you.?Get more fire safety tips at Michigan.gov/PreventWildfires [ [link removed] ].

Questions? Contact DNR fire prevention specialist Paul Rogers at [email protected] <[email protected]>.



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Three words for three-day weekend: Play, Clean, Go

Looking up at the dirty black, pebbled sole of a man's hiking shoe, in focus, as the hiker is blurred against a lush, green forest canopy

Whether it?s organizing a group kayak trip, packing for a weekend in the woods or just planning a picnic at the beach, getting ready for a long weekend can be complicated.

On the other hand, protecting the amazing places you?ll visit is easy! Just remember three simple words: Play, Clean, Go.?The words don?t take up much space ? and here?s the great thing: You can use them over and over again, no matter where you go.

Adopting the Play, Clean, Go mindset can help prevent the spread of invasive species on land and in the water. Here?s how it works:


* *Play:* Swim, hike, fish, run, dance under the stars ? however you have fun in the outdoors.
* *Clean:* Before you leave the trail, campground or shore ? shake it out, brush it off, wipe it down or whatever it takes to remove dirt and debris from your shoes, gear and vehicle. If you have a watercraft, remember to drain tanks and bilges, too.
* *Go:* Head out on your next adventure, invasive species-free!

Whether your plans include off-road vehicle riding, hiking, boating or climbing, get helpful tips tailored to your favorite outdoor pursuits at? PlayCleanGo.org/Take-Action [ [link removed] ].

Invasive insects and plant diseases cost the U.S. an estimated $40 billion a year in damage to trees, plants and crops and related management efforts. They can threaten the economy, food supply, environment and, in some cases, public health.

As you head outdoors, remember that a little bit of prevention can go a long way. Take the time to share these easy steps with friends and family so everyone can do their part to protect our natural spaces.

Questions? Contact Joanne Foreman at [email protected] <[email protected]>.



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Summer exploring? Add a state fish hatchery to your travels

A group of children is shown on a tour of the Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery.

Want a firsthand look at where millions of fish are raised each year to stock lakes and streams across Michigan? Add a stop at a state fish hatchery to your summer travel plans!

It?s a great time to go: This year the DNR is celebrating 150 years of state fish hatcheries [ [link removed] ] ? a system rich with history, and one that helps stock 20 million to 25 million fish in an average year at up to a thousand sites in streams, inland lakes and the Great Lakes.

From southwest Michigan to the Upper Peninsula, there are six state fish hatcheries supporting fish populations throughout the state:


* Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery [ [link removed] ]?s (Van Buren County) rearing program includes muskellunge, walleye, steelhead and Chinook salmon.
* Harrietta State Fish Hatchery [ [link removed] ]?(Wexford County) was put into service in 1901. It is the longest continuously operating hatchery in Michigan, rearing brown and rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon.
* Platte River State Fish Hatchery [ [link removed] ]?(Benzie County) rears Chinook and Atlantic salmon and 100% of the coho salmon produced by the DNR. The site also incubates and hatches walleye eggs each spring.
* Oden State Fish Hatchery [ [link removed] ]?(Emmet County) was fully rebuilt in 2002, making it the most recently modernized Michigan hatchery. Oden?s current rearing program includes both brood and production fish for the brown and rainbow trout stocking programs.
* Thompson State Fish Hatchery [ [link removed] ]?s (Schoolcraft County) rearing program has included Chinook and Atlantic salmon, steelhead, and brown and rainbow trout in the years since the facility?s 1976 rebuild. Thompson also served as a walleye incubation and hatching station. In 2021, a new coolwater production facility was constructed at Thompson, adding muskellunge and spring fingerling walleye production to the program. Coldwater species currently reared there include Chinook salmon and steelhead.
* Marquette State Fish Hatchery [ [link removed] ]?(Marquette County) serves as the brood and sole production facility for all char species stocked by Michigan?s fishery managers. The Arctic grayling brood fish are also held at Marquette. The rearing program includes brook and lake trout and the hybrid splake, a cross between female lake trout and male brook trout.

To plan a visit, refer to individual hatcheries? hours of operation and call ahead to schedule group tours:?Wolf Lake (269-668-2876), Harrietta (231-389-2211), Platte River (231-325-4611), Oden (231-347-4689, ext. 12), Thompson (906-341-5587) or Marquette (906-249-1611).

Learn more at Michigan.gov/Hatcheries [ [link removed] ].



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'Ride Right' for safe, responsible, off-road riding fun

three black, orange and green off-road vehicles going single file down a dirt forest road next to a body of water, forest in background

Off-road vehicles are fun year-round, but ORV activity ramps up in spring and summer as many people head to Michigan trails and ORV scramble areas.?

Responsible, informed riding practices should be top priority for everyone, but it?s important to keep in mind that speed and rider inexperience are the primary contributing factors in ORV accidents, serious injuries and death.

All ORV operators are urged to "Ride Right" and keep this important guidance in mind:


* Ride at a safe speed.
* Ride on the right side of the trail.
* Keep lights on when riding.
* Always wear a helmet.
* Ride sober and safe.
* Operate within the limits of your ORV and your own capabilities.

Do your part to ensure everyone returns home safely to family and friends; read more about ORV safety at Michigan.gov/RideRight [ [link removed] ]. For more on where to ride and ORV laws in Michigan, go to Michigan.gov/ORVInfo [ [link removed] ].

Questions? Contact Cpl. Mike Hearn at [email protected] <[email protected]>.



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Explore Michigan?s state parks with your very own guide

On the beach, a young girl in a bright green shirt holds up a fish she caught as a young woman in a DNR ballcap looks on

Looking to learn a little something about Michigan?s natural resources this summer? The State Park Explorer Program is a great place to start. Take a hike, catch a fish, look and listen for birds, and get up close and personal with mammal furs and skulls!

Explorer guides are stationed at 35 state parks and recreation areas around Michigan from Memorial Day through the end of August, and they host a variety of programs featuring each location?s rich and varied natural resources. Park visitors can participate in fun and engaging hikes, games, activities and crafts, all while learning about what makes each park special.

If you have a passion for birds, join us in celebrating them during Michigan?s Feathered Friends Weekend June 16-18, with several state parks featuring bird hikes, bird identification programs and much more.

Explorer guide programs are fun, educational and great for the whole family. Find information about all explorer guide programs throughout the summer at Michigan.gov/NaturePrograms [ [link removed] ].

Now hiring explorer guides

Looking for a fun summer job? We?re searching for explorer guides for Algonac, Brighton, Brimley, Burt Lake, Fort Custer, Mears, North and South Higgins, Rifle River and Sleeper/Port Crescent state parks. Share your love of the outdoors all summer long! Positions start at $15 per hour. Apply today at Michigan.gov/DNRJobs [ [link removed] ].

Questions? Contact Holly Vaughn <[email protected]> at 248-459-7917.



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Be a better boater; commit to safety on the water

a small group of very young, smiling girls and boys in bathing suits and life jackets stand on a pier, a conservation officer is behind them

For many in Michigan, the Memorial Day holiday weekend marks the unofficial start to summer, and that means dropping the boat in your favorite lake, river or stream. Before you hit the water, be sure you?ve taken steps to guarantee a safe time for all aboard.

To elevate that message during National Safe Boating Week (May 20-26) [ [link removed] ] and all season long, the DNR is again teaming up with McDonald?s of Michigan to increase awareness of boater safety and the importance of wearing life jackets.

From Memorial Day weekend through the Labor Day holiday, conservation officers will hand out vouchers to youth and teens who are seen wearing life jackets while boating. Each voucher is valid for a free ice cream cone or apple slice package at participating McDonald?s of Michigan locations.

?We?re in our third year of this partnership, and it?s always nice to see kids and parents get excited when we reward them for being safe on the water, and have that positive law enforcement interaction,? said Lt. Tom Wanless, the DNR?s state boating law administrator and recreational safety, education and enforcement supervisor. ?A fun day of boating begins with safety. A tasty treat on the way home is a wonderful way to end the day and, hopefully, launch a family talk about boating safety."



A man and a boy enjoy an autumn afternoon boating on a lake in Luce County.
Real risk, sensible solutions

The most recent U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that drowning was the cause of death in 81% of national boating-related fatalities in 2021. Of those drownings, 83% of victims were not wearing life jackets, and two of every three victims were considered good swimmers.

?Taking time now to check your gear, brush up on boating laws and plan for safety can prevent problems later,? Wanless said. ?Incidents can happen at any time, and weather can quickly affect conditions on inland waters and the Great Lakes. Familiarizing yourself and fellow boaters with safety tips and equipment can mean the difference between a perfect day on the water and a needlessly tragic outcome.?

Those born after June 30, 1996, need a boating safety certificate to operate a boat on the water. If you were born after Dec. 31, 1978, and want to operate a personal watercraft, such as a Jet Ski, you also need a valid boater education safety certificate.

The DNR offers boating safety education as an online and traditional classroom course to teach new and experienced boaters about current laws and safe operation.

Learn more about boating opportunities, safety information and other resources at Michigan.gov/Boating [ [link removed] ].

Questions? Contact Lt. Tom Wanless at [email protected] <[email protected]>.



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Beach safety [ [link removed] ]

If your plans include Great Lakes beach time, get the latest on double red flag warnings [ [link removed] ] and helpful water safety tips and info [ [link removed] ] to ensure everyone enjoys the weekend.




Accessibility [ [link removed] ]

We believe the outdoors is for people of all abilities. See what we're doing to boost accessibility [ [link removed] ] at parks, piers, playgrounds and your other favorite outdoor places!?




Look local [ [link removed] ]

State park? State forest campground? Hiking trail, boat launch, fishing spot or other outdoor inspiration? No matter what you're looking for, find it in Your Local Outdoors [ [link removed] ].



Download the new Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app [ [link removed] ]
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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Michigan Department of Natural Resources ? Constitution Hall, 525 W. Allegan St., PO Box 30028 Lansing MI 48909 ? 1-800-439-1420