Plus, tour the Black Lake sturgeon hatchery free Saturday, Aug. 17!



Share or view as webpage [ [link removed] ]  |  Update preferences [ [link removed] ]




DNR banner [ [link removed] ]


"News Digest - Week of Aug. 12, 2024
"

Uncountable stars glitter in the deep indigo sky.

Don't miss out on opportunities for stargazing [ [link removed] ] at Michigan state parks!



Here are a few of this week's stories from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources: 


* Explore the night: Meteors, the moon and more at state parks [ #link_3 ]
* Mackinac Bridge closed to vehicle traffic Labor Day morning [ #link_2 ]
* Relax with the August 'Wildtalk' podcast episode [ #link_16 ]
* Get certified as a Michigan Conservation Steward: Sign up now for fall [ #link_17 ]
* Photo ambassador snapshot: Soft sunset skies [ #link_1 ]

See other news releases, Showcasing the DNR stories, photos and other resources at Michigan.gov/DNRPressRoom [ [link removed] ].

PHOTO FOLDER [ [link removed] ]: Larger, higher-res versions of some of the images used below, and others, are available in this folder. All photos in this digest courtesy Michigan State Park Photo Ambassadors". "See more photo ambassador [ [link removed] ] images at Instagram.com/MiStateParks [ [link removed] ]. 

________________________________________________________________________



Explore the night: Meteors, the moon and more at state parks

The dark silhouette of a tall stand of trees spears into the star-scattered sky.

From spine-tingling campfire tales at Muskallonge Lake State Park [ [link removed] ] to a Bat Hike at Maybury State Park [ [link removed] ], and even Yooperlight rock hunting at Harrisville State Park [ [link removed] ], there's a nighttime adventure for everyone this month!  

Across the state, the Perseid meteor shower will also be visible on clear nights at many of Michigan's state parks. Peaking in mid-August, this meteor shower is the best of the year, offering the opportunity to see up to 100 shooting stars per hour. To view the show, you will need a location away from light pollution and a clear view of the sky to the northeast.  

Recently, Indian Lake State Park [ [link removed] ] guide Leah Saxton hosted a "S'more and Meteor" event to celebrate the Perseid shower, drawing in dozens of park visitors. Situated along the shores of Indian Lake in the Upper Peninsula, the park is an ideal spot for stargazing because of its clear night skies. Here, visitors can frequently enjoy meteor showers, views of various constellations and phenomena such as the Northern Lights. If you can’t make it to the U.P. but still want to enjoy the night sky, Van Buren State Park [ [link removed] ] near South Haven will host a program about the Sturgeon Moon Aug. 16 at 10 p.m., complete with a telescope for guests to use.  

Events like these are part of the Explorer Guide program, which offers free educational programs to campers and day-use visitors at over two dozen state parks, with topics ranging from orienteering, wildlife identification and survival skills to basic fishing lessons and scavenger hunts.  

“Someone shared with me that feeling connected to a natural resource is like ownership, which carries the responsibility of caring for the park environment,” said Saxton. “Working with park educators is an incredible opportunity, and being with park guests is a privilege. I really love connecting guests to our park’s environment and teaching visitors about the night sky.” 

For more information and weekly schedules [ [link removed] ] for the 25 Explorer Guide parks, visit Michigan.gov/NaturePrograms [ [link removed] ]. Questions about the DNR’s Explorer Guide Program? Contact Shaun McKeon <[email protected]> at 989-370-0789. 



________________________________________________________________________



Mackinac Bridge closed to vehicle traffic Labor Day morning

Crowds walk across the Mackinac Bridge.

If your Labor Day weekend travel plans include crossing the Mighty Mac Monday, Sept. 2, keep in mind the Mackinac Bridge Authority closes the bridge 6:30 a.m. to noon for the Annual Mackinac Bridge Walk [ [link removed] ]. 

Want to join the Bridge Walk? It's free (and registration isn't required). There's plenty to do on both sides of the bridge, like visiting Mackinaw City or Ocqueoc Falls [ [link removed] ] in the Lower Peninsula or exploring St. Ignace or Fayette Historic State Park [ [link removed] ] in the Upper Peninsula.



________________________________________________________________________



Relax with the August 'Wildtalk' podcast episode

An eastern chipmunk, a small, brown rodent with dark and light stripes, nibbles on a nut.

In this episode of the award-winning "Wildtalk" podcast [ [link removed] ], we talk to Heather Shaw, wildlife biologist with the DNR’s Shingleton Management Unit, and Tom Seablom, the DNR’s western U.P. district forest manager, about habitat work on GEMS – grouse enhanced management sites – in the Upper Peninsula, fly away with a discussion about the ruffed grouse and wrap up the episode with a chat about the eastern and least chipmunk.

Pete Kailing, senior wildlife biologist in the southwestern Lower Peninsula, also stops in to talk about hunting and trapping opportunities available in August, including the application period for reserved waterfowl hunts in DNR-managed waterfowl areas, timing for bear baiting by management unit, and early crow season, which runs through Sept. 30.

Visit the "Wildtalk" webpage [ [link removed] ] for the latest episode, as well as show notes and links to past episodes. Questions about the podcast? Email [email protected]. 



________________________________________________________________________



Get certified as a Michigan Conservation Steward: Sign up now for fall

A graphic showing the details for the conservation stewardship certification program.

If you have a passion for the natural world and want to learn more about how to care for it and inspire others to do the same, consider signing up for Michigan State University Extension’s Michigan Conservation Steward Program [ [link removed] ]. You can enroll now for a hybrid program that pairs online learning with field learning in Berrien, Macomb, Marquette or Newaygo counties.

You’ll explore the history of conservation in Michigan, basic ecological principles, ecoregional classifications, current conservation issues, making informed choices that benefit natural resources and how residents can get involved in community science. The program is a great opportunity to better understand natural communities in your area and to complete (with the guidance of a local mentor) a stewardship project important to you.

The eight-week program runs September to November and includes self-paced, weekly online course content and up to three hours of weekly, in-person lecture and field instruction with the other participants in your local cohort. Registration [ [link removed] ] closes Aug. 18.

You’ll learn about forest land, grasslands, wetlands, lake and stream environments. Professional-level instruction is provided by MSU Extension, Michigan Natural Features Inventory and experts from local conservation organizations.

Interested? Learn more about the program – including how to sign up for updates – at www.canr.msu.edu/csp [ [link removed] ].



________________________________________________________________________



Photo ambassador snapshot: Soft sunset skies
A couple watch a lone sailboat from the pier at sunset.

See more pictures by Michigan state parks photo ambassadors [ [link removed] ] at Instagram.com/MiStateParks [ [link removed] ]. For more on the program, call Stephanie Yancer <[email protected]> at 989-274-6182. (This photo is by Aubry Healy [ [link removed] ], for the Michigan DNR, at Ludington State Park in Mason County.)

________________________________________________________________________




THINGS TO DO [ [link removed] ]

Want to see how the DNR rears "living dinosaurs?" Tour the Black River sturgeon hatchery [ [link removed] ] near Onaway for free Saturday, Aug. 17, for an up-close look at one of Michigan's oldest species.




BUY & APPLY [ [link removed] ]

Boating opportunities abound in the Great Lakes state – just make sure you prepare ahead of time [ [link removed] ], review safety tips [ [link removed] ] and bring your boater safety certificate [ [link removed] ].




GET INVOLVED [ [link removed] ]

Put your conservation stewardship skills to good use with volunteer stewardship days [ [link removed] ]. Through hands-on habitat restoration, you can help keep state parks healthy and protect some of your favorite places.




facebook icon circle [ [link removed] ]twitter icon circle [ [link removed] ]YouTube icon circle [ [link removed] ]instagram icon [ [link removed] ]email icon circle [ [link removed] ]pinterest icon circle [ [link removed] ]




If you wish to no longer receive emails from the DNR,
please update your preferences here:
Manage Preferences [ [link removed]? ]  |  Unsubscribe All [ [link removed] ]  |  Help [ [link removed] ]

Need further assistance?
Contact Us [ [link removed] ]  |  Provide Feedback <[email protected]>

Visit us on our website: Michigan.gov/DNR [ [link removed] ]

________________________________________________________________________

Get personalized voter information on early voting and other topics at Michigan.gov/Vote [ [link removed] ].

________________________________________________________________________

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