Birding, habitat building, mushroom hunting, park cleanup and more – DNR has plenty of ways to help and have fun this month.



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"September events and volunteering"

Water spills over the Upper Falls, against a colorful fall foliage backdrop, at Tahquamenon Falls State Park in Luce County

Tahquamenon Falls State Park's Upper Falls in Luce County, one of the waterfalls you can learn more about in the mobile-accessible Michigan Field Guides [ [link removed] ]!



The days are growing shorter, but the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is long on inspiration for fall fun and good works in your favorite outdoor places! Here are highlights from our statewide DNR events calendar [ [link removed] ] and Get Involved webpage [ [link removed] ], where you'll find things to do and ways to help all month long.


* Join the OAC for Birding Belle Isle this Sunday [ #link_16 ]
* Explore state’s Underground Railroad, natural history [ #link_17 ]
* Up your outdoor game with mushroom, survival clinics [ #link_4 ]
* Pitch in at parks' volunteer stewardship workdays [ #link_3 ]
* Improve wildlife habitat with MUCC On the Ground [ #link_2 ]
* Give input on proposed plans for your state forests [ #link_1 ]

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Join the OAC for Birding Belle Isle this Sunday

a male mallard, with green head and white collared neck, and female mallard with mottled brown feathers, float on the water's surface

For 10 years now, the staff at the DNR’s Outdoor Adventure Center has found new, creative ways to bring a bit of "up north" to downtown Detroit and to help visitors of all ages discover connections with Michigan’s natural world. If you’re up for an OAC event this weekend, try Birding Belle Isle [ [link removed] ] Sunday morning, Sept. 7.

Enjoy a walk around the park to observe and identify migratory and resident birds of the island, and learn about their identifying features, where they live and what makes them unique. The event is free (though registration is needed), but a Recreation Passport [ [link removed] ] is needed for vehicle entry to the park.

Although the Belle Isle birding walk is the only OAC-led adventure this month (due to closure for annual maintenance), follow the OAC activity schedule [ [link removed] ] for more fall fun and learning in October and November!



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Explore state’s Underground Railroad, natural history

The wide front steps and entrance of First Congregational Church of Detroit, built of reddish-orange brick with archways and tall belltower

Step back in time and learn more about our state’s past with Michigan History Center-partnered programs and events, including:


* *The 2025 Heritage Gathering [ [link removed] ], Sept. 6 at the Detroit Public Library’s main branch.* The annual MHC and Michigan Freedom Trail Commission program – this year with the theme “Old Stories of Freedom from Detroit” – is a fitting way to kick off Underground Railroad Heritage Month. Although registration is closed, those interested in attending to enjoy the presentations are welcome! Just know that seating is limited, and lunch will be on your own.
* *StoryTime with CADL [ [link removed] ], Sept. 28 at the Michigan History Museum in Lansing.* Join the museum and Capital Area District Libraries for stories, songs and movement – all inspired by the people, places and nature that make Michigan magical. Perfect for children up through age 6 and their caregivers. This free event requires no registration.

Watch the MHC events calendar [ [link removed] ] for more history-themed fun and learning. 



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Up your outdoor game with mushroom, survival clinics

two hands, one with a thin, gold bracelet, are upturned and holding a pile of tan, spongy morel mushrooms over a grassy area

With sessions historically ranging from ice fishing and beekeeping to deer hunting and hiking, the DNR's Outdoor Skills Academy's September offerings – both starting out in the Saginaw Bay Visitor Center at Bay City State Park – include opportunities to learn about wild mushrooms and outdoor survival. 


* *Tobico Marsh Wild Mushroom Clinic [ [link removed] ], Sept. 14.* Learn how to identify a variety of Michigan’s edible wild mushrooms, where to start looking and how to properly transport, clean, consume and preserve them.
* *Tobico Marsh Survival Clinic [ [link removed] ], Sept. 27.* Get an introduction to fire building and safety, shelter building, packing for preparedness, survival fishing techniques, a primitive archery shoot, the chance to camp overnight and more!

Bookmark Michigan.gov/OutdoorSkills [ [link removed] ] and watch for more classes with supportive, expert-led, hands-on instruction to build your confidence and inspire more outdoor adventure. 



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Pitch in at parks' volunteer stewardship workdays

A DNR staffer talks with seed gathering in the field with volunteers.

Several state parks in southern Michigan will host stewardship workdays, where volunteers are needed to help remove invasive plants that threaten high-quality ecosystems or to collect native wildflower seeds for replanting. Workdays will take place at:


* Saugatuck Dunes State Park (Allegan County), Saturday, Sept. 6, 10 a.m. to noon.
* Waterloo Recreation Area (Washtenaw County), Saturday Sept. 6, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
* Island Lake Recreation Area (Livingston County), Sunday, Sept. 7, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
* Muskegon State Park (Muskegon County), Sunday, Sept. 7, and Friday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m. to noon.
* Fort Custer Recreation Area (Kalamazoo County), Saturday, Sept. 13, 10 a.m. to noon and Sunday, Sept. 28, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
* Warren Dunes State Park (Berrien County), Saturday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m. to noon.

Learn more about individual workdays and registration info on the DNR volunteer events calendar [ [link removed] ]. Additional September workdays in southeast Michigan will be posted soon – please check back for details.



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Improve wildlife habitat with MUCC On the Ground

A shovel is shown dug into the dirt on a tree planting project.

On the Ground [ [link removed] ], Michigan United Conservation Clubs’ volunteer wildlife habitat improvement program in partnership with the DNR, offers three opportunities in September. Lunch, gear and volunteer gifts will be provided.


* Annual Fall Rendezvous in the Pigeon River Country State Forest [ [link removed] ] (Otsego County), 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 6. Volunteers will remove wiring and fencing from old elk exclosures throughout the state forest.
* Tree planting in Battle Creek [ [link removed] ] (Calhoun County), 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 13. Volunteers will plant trees and shrubs throughout Jackson & Bedford Linear Park.
* Bat habitat enhancement at the McMahon Lake Preserve [ [link removed] ] (Luce County), 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 20. Volunteers will install bat boxes in areas ideal for bats to help improve their habitat.


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Give input on proposed plans for your state forests

A dense, scenic fall forest in Ontonagon County, Michigan, rich with orange, amber, burgundy and green colors

Prescribed burns, timber harvests, tree planting and other activities are carefully planned to keep Michigan’s nearly 4 million acres of state forest thriving. Plans for these activities are currently being made for 2027, but public input is welcome now.

Find out what activities are planned and how to offer your input at Michigan.gov/ForestInput [ [link removed] ]. You can submit online comments during designated 30-day periods or attend an open house or compartment review meeting, where plans are finalized. See all scheduled comment periods, open houses and compartment review meetings for the 2025 season [ [link removed] ].

Due to the effects of the March 2025 ice storm in the northeastern Lower Peninsula, the public review periods for the Atlanta, Gaylord, Grayling and Pigeon River Country forest management units have been postponed. The schedule will be updated when the comment periods and open houses are rescheduled.



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THINGS TO DO [ [link removed] ]

The DNR and Wheels in Motion invite the disability community to Disability Dune Day [ [link removed] ], Sept. 10 at Silver Lake State Park – an exhilarating afternoon of four-wheeling adventures!




BUY & APPLY [ [link removed] ]

Sign up for the Becoming an Outdoors Woman Michigan Tree ID and Me clinic [ [link removed] ], Sept. 21 at Ludington State Park, and discover how to identify native trees and boost your knowledge of state ecology.




GET INVOLVED [ [link removed] ]

If you enjoy doing good while having a good time, our community science [ [link removed] ] opportunities might be the perfect fit. Learn more about helping locally and around the globe!




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