Opportunities to get involved with the Michigan DNR for June 2023



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"DNR Get Involved - June 2023"
group of stewardship volunteers in field

Here are a few ways to get involved in taking care of Michigan?s natural resources in June. For more opportunities to volunteer, contribute and provide input, visit Michigan.gov/DNRVolunteers [ [link removed] ].


* Help restore natural areas at state parks [ #link_4 ]
* Join in wildlife habitat improvement projects [ #link_8 ]
* Give your opinion on latest state land review recommendations [ #link_1 ]
* Headed outdoors? Take steps to help protect places you love [ #link_5 ]
* Give us your input on your state forests [ #link_2 ]
* Learn about new beech disease in June webinar [ #link_3 ]

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Help restore natural areas at state parks

stewardship volunteers in field

Several state parks in southern Michigan will host volunteer stewardship workdays in June. Volunteers are needed to help with removing invasive plants that threaten high-quality ecosystems or collecting native seeds for prairie restoration.

Please note that registration is required for all volunteer workdays.

Workdays will take place:


* Friday June 9, 10 a.m. to noon *and* Sunday June 18, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Yankee Springs Recreation Area (Barry County).
* Saturday, June 10, 9 a.m. to noon *and* Wednesday, June 21, 4-6 p.m. at Bald Mountain Recreation Area (Oakland County).
* Saturday, June 17, 10 a.m. to noon at Warren Dunes State Park (Berrien County).
* Saturday, June 24, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Island Lake Recreation Area (Livingston County).
* Saturday, June 24, 10 a.m. to noon at Muskegon State Park (Muskegon County).
* Sunday, June 25, 9 a.m. to noon at Fort Custer Recreation Area (Kalamazoo County).
* Sunday, June 25, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pinckney Recreation Area (Washtenaw County).

Get more details about each workday on the DNR volunteer events calendar [ [link removed] ].



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Join in wildlife habitat improvement projects

two people planting tree with DNR truck in background

Help improve wildlife habitat and hunting access with On the Ground [ [link removed] ], Michigan United Conservation Clubs? volunteer habitat improvement program in partnership with the DNR. All registered volunteers will receive free lunch and a thank-you gift.

On the Ground volunteer opportunities coming up in June:

*Tree planting in the Newberry Forest Management Unit*

Saturday, June 10, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Meet at the DNR Newberry Customer Service Center, 5100 M-123 in Newberry

Join us in planting 100 oak and apple trees in an opening in the Newberry Forest Management Unit in Luce County, part of an effort to establish soft and hard mast that will benefit various species of wildlife, including white-tailed deer. All ages are welcome to attend.

Register for Newberry event [ [link removed] ].

*Native wildflower and shrub planting in Barry County*

Saturday, June 24, 9 a.m. to noon
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, 1025 West Cloverdale Road in Hastings

Volunteers will help plant native wildflowers and shrubs on Pierce Cedar Creek Institute?s grounds to improve upland bird habitat. Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, an 850-acre nature center and biological field station, is home to several unique natural communities and supports conservation and stewardship efforts on the property through a variety of grant and volunteer efforts.

Register for Barry County event [ [link removed] ].

If you have any questions about these events, please reach out to MUCC habitat volunteer coordinator Kristina Kennedy <[email protected]>.



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Give your opinion on latest state land review recommendations

sun shining through trees on forest path

The DNR is hosting virtual public meetings to provide information on the state land review process and opportunities for feedback on recommendations on whether to keep, exchange or sell DNR-managed public land in 11 counties: Baraga, Benzie, Clare, Clinton, Genesee, Ionia, Manistee, Mecosta, Newaygo, Shiawassee and Wayne.

The state land review stems from the 2013 DNR-managed public land strategy [ [link removed] ] and involves review of certain parcels of state land to determine whether they are contributing strongly to the department?s mission. The review process involves DNR-managed lands that are 200 acres or less in size or that, due to an irregular boundary, may be difficult to manage.

The meetings will be held:


* Tuesday, June 20, at 6 p.m.
Join Microsoft Teams meeting [ [link removed] ] or call (for audio only) +1 248-509-0316, 360467187#, Conference ID: 360 467 187#
* Wednesday, June 21, at 2 p.m.
Join Microsoft Teams meeting [ [link removed] ] or call (for audio only) +1 248-509-0316, 521378890#, Conference ID: 521 378 890#

You don?t have to have Microsoft Teams on your computer or smart device to join, but please note that each link is specific to its meeting date and time, and the links will not be live or accessible until each meeting is ?opened? by the moderator. Anyone without access to a computer may call in using the phone number provided.

Visit the DNR?s land review webpage [ [link removed] ] for more information, or contact?Kerry Heckman <[email protected]> at 517-643-1256.



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PlayCleanGo Awareness Week graphic
Headed outdoors? Take steps to help protect places you love

The third annual PlayCleanGo Awareness Week [ [link removed] ]?(June 3-10) is a great time for some reminders about quick and easy ways to responsibly enjoy the outdoors without spreading invasive species or pests.

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

Everyone who enjoys the outdoors can do their part to prevent the spread of invasive species ? a little bit of prevention contributes to a larger effort of preserving biodiversity and important habitats.

Here are some simple steps you can take to help protect the places you love.


* Clean your shoes, clothes, packs and pets before and after exploring, and stay on designated trails.
* Clean, Drain and Dry [ [link removed] ] your watercraft and fishing equipment to stop aquatic hitchhikers!
* Don?t Move Firewood! [ [link removed] ] Buy it where you burn it, buy certified heat-treated firewood or gather it on-site when permitted.
* Before traveling to new areas, inspect and clean your trailers, off-road vehicles and recreational vehicles with water or compressed air to remove mud, plant parts and hidden pests.

More information on invasive species and prevention is available at Michigan.gov/Invasives [ [link removed] ].

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Give us your input on your state forests

Plans for prescribed burns, timber harvests and other activities that keep Michigan?s nearly 4 million acres of state forest thriving are currently being made for 2025, but public input is welcome now. Find out which activities are planned where and how to offer feedback at Michigan.gov/ForestInput [ [link removed] ]. You can submit comments online during designated periods or attend a compartment review meeting, where plans are finalized.




Learn about new beech disease in June webinar

The next in the?NotMISpecies [ [link removed] ] series of webinars exploring efforts to combat invasive species in Michigan is "Life?s a beech! Another disease is threatening Michigan?s majestic giants [ [link removed] ]," June 14 at 9 a.m. Learn about beech leaf disease, first detected in Michigan in 2022, and?the potential effects this new disease might have on Michigan?s forests, what?s being done to address it and how to spot the symptoms of beech leaf disease on your trees.??




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