Pesticide Safety Webinar Series: The RUP/CCA CEU Credit Clinic
2025-12-03 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Detroit)
December 3, 2025 10:00AM – 2:00PM
Online

Contact: Safa Alzohairy, Heather Borden, or Emma Schlachter
Join the MSU Pesticide Safety Education Program for a comprehensive virtual learning opportunity designed for Pesticide Applicators, Agricultural Professionals, and Crop Advisers. This webinar series is FREE to attend, but participants who wish to earn Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP) credits or Certified Crop Adviser Continuing Education Unit (CCA CEU) may do so for a small registration fee. This series offers timely, science-based education on Pesticide Safety, Endangered Species Act Regulations, environmental protection, and best practices in application and equipment use.
All participants must pre-register using this short form:
Webinar Registration
Participants from Michigan who wish to earn RUP credits must fill out this form before the webinar date:
Register for RUP Credits
Participants who wish to earn CCA-CEUs must fill out this form before each webinar from which CCA-CEUs is requested:
Register for CCA-CEUs
Deadline to fill out this form is 11:59PM same date of the webinar sessions.

"Dinosaur Fish" film premiere
2025-12-12 19:00 - 20:00
What: Premiere of Dinosaur Fish film (23 minutes) with a Q/A panel
When: December 12, 2025, 7 – 8pm
Where: Delta College Planetarium | 100 Center Avenue, Bay City, MI, United States, Michigan 48708
How: Event is free and open to the public

The Saginaw Bay Sturgeon Restoration Program and its partners have been working since 2017 on a significant project to restore lake sturgeon in the Saginaw Bay system. This follows major partner investments in restoration projects, research, dam removal and education. It has become one of the greatest restoration success stories in decades on the Great Lakes.

Last year, thanks to major support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and the Bay Area Community Foundation, the sturgeon team began the development of a documentary film that focuses on the effort. The documentary is now complete!

On Friday, December 12 at 7pm, we will premiere the documentary at the Delta College Planetarium in Bay City. This is a free, public event. Here is the Facebook Event Page.

Following the 23-minute film, there will be a panel of folks who participated in the film, as well as sturgeon experts, available to discuss the project and answer questions. Panelists include:

Dr. Jeff Jolley, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Jason Whalen, Fauna Creative (the firm that produced the documentary)
Meaghan Gass, Michigan Sea Grant & Michigan State University Extension
Doug Larson, Michigan State University, Black River Sturgeon Facility

Seafood HACCP Training
2025-12-16 - 2025-12-18 | Ojibwa Casino Hotel Baraga, 16449 Michigan Avenue, Baraga, Michigan 49908, 16449 Michigan Avenue, Baraga, Michigan, 49908
December 16-18, 2025
8 a.m.-5 p.m. (Tuesday, Wednesday)
8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (Thursday)
Ojibwa Casino Hotel Baraga
16449 Michigan Ave.
Baraga, MI 49908
Commercial fishing operators and fish processors must follow strict guidelines to meet tribal, state, and federal requirements for health and food safety. The Seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) certification course is a federal regulation for ensuring that businesses handling seafood products stay up-to-date on requirements and best practices. This allows commercial fishers and processors to meet licensing requirements and provide a safe and healthy product for consumers.
The cost of this event is $148.40 which includes certification and training materials.
Snacks will be provided.
Contact:
Lauren Stigers
Michigan Sea Grant
Extension Educator
(570) 687-6818
jescovit@msu.edu
Registration: events.anr.msu.edu/HACCP25

Aquaculture Challenge info sessions and coach Q&A
2025-12-19 12:30 - 13:30, 2026-01-08 16:00 - 17:00
Aquaculture Challenge info sessions and coach Q&A
Michigan Sea Grant will host two upcoming information sessions for new and returning Aquaculture Challenge coaches. Each session will start with a 10-minute presentation followed by 50 minutes of Q&A for coaches to ask questions. Attendance for the full hour is NOT required, and coaches can drop in any time during the session.

December 19, 2025, 12:30pm eastern / 11:30am central, Zoom link
January 8, 2026, 4pm eastern / 3pm central, Zoom link

The Aquaculture Challenge is a collaboration between the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network and Lake Superior State University (LSSU) and is co-chaired by Michigan Sea Grant. This science competition engages students in grades 6-12 from around the Midwest in a four-month venture to:

Build and monitor aquaponics systems
Create business plans
Perform a community outreach project

Registration is now open for the 2026 competition! To register, submit this Google Form by January 14, 2026.

2026 St. Clair Detroit River System – Annual General Meeting
2026-01-21 09:00 - 2026-01-23 12:00
Registration is now open for the 2026 St. Clair Detroit River System – Annual General Meeting series!

MEETING REGISTRATION

We hope you’ll join us to hear from experts, connect with colleagues, and help shape the next phase for the St. Clair Detroit River System Initiative. Learn from regional experts about status updates and priorities on a range of topics related to SCDRS objectives, including:

Fish assessments & habitat
Lake Sturgeon, mudpuppies, and other rare species
Reef restoration monitoring
Nutrient loadings and reduction strategies
Microplastics, PFAS, and pharmaceuticals
St. Clair and Detroit River Areas of Concern

Participants will also have opportunities to provide input on future directions for the SCDRS Initiative.
All three ½-day meeting events will be accessible virtually, but we hope you can make it to one or both in-person (hybrid) sessions as well.

Day 1 (hybrid) – Wednesday January 21, 9:00 am -12:00 pm ET – Dossin Great Lakes Museum – ‘Showcasing Detroit’s role in regional and national maritime history on the shores of Belle Isle’ (it’s a really neat place if you’ve never been!).
Day 2 (hybrid) – Monday January 26, 1:00-4:00 pm ET – Ojibway Nature Centre located within the ‘Ojibway Prairie Complex featuring acres of pin oak forest, savannah and tall grass prairie habitats’. A great place and also the venue for the last SCDRS General Meeting in 2024.
Day 3 – fully virtual – Thursday January 29, 9:00 am -12:00 pm ET

There is no registration fee for this event, but there will be valuable updates, lively discussion, engagement opportunities, friendly faces, and, if you join in person, tasty refreshments!

Sucker Summit
2026-01-30 14:45 - 15:30
January 30th, 2:45-3:25 with Q&A panel to follow
1st Floor Colab Space, Hekman Library, Calvin University
Park in Covenant Fine Arts Center lot or Lots 1-4 west of campus and walk to the library
Join us for a January afternoon conservation conversation about some of Plaster Creek’s coolest native fish! Speakers from Michigan Sea Grant, John Ball Zoo and other local partners will share about suckers, their history and habitat, research on their spawning habits, and how you can get involved in research and restoration efforts. To have fun, we will also have fish-themed snacks, suckers, and a chance to win a prize. We hope you can join the seminar-type learning with Q&A to follow. The meeting space is in the Hekman Library Colab space in the basement of the library, free parking on campus in the Covenant Fine Arts Center lot or Lots 1-4 west of the main campus. Your RSVP is helpful but not necessary.
Facebook Event I’m happy to add you as a co-host if you tell me what FB account to add.
Sign up Genius for RSVP
More info about suckers: https://www.michiganseagrant.org/sucker

2026 Shiver on the River Eco Fair on Belle Isle
2026-02-07 10:00 - 16:00
Friends of the Detroit River, in partnership with the Detroit Historical Society, Belle Isle Nature Center, and Belle Isle Conservancy, are hosting The 2026 Shiver on the River Eco Fair on Belle Isle on Saturday, February 7.
Learn more about our natural resources from local organizations and enjoy free caricature drawings, a live magic show, s’mores, and more! There are indoor and outdoor activities taking place across Belle Isle between 10am and 4pm.
Admission to all activities is free of charge. Food concessions will be available for cash purchases at the Dossin. A Recreation Passport is required to enter Belle Isle. It’s an annual pass that can be purchased when you renew your vehicle tabs or when entering a state park. For more information, go to michigan.gov/dnr/buy-and-apply/rec-pp. It’s sure to be a day of fun for the whole family!

10am – 2pm Indoor Eco Fair at Great Lakes Dossin Museum (100 The Strand)
11am – 4pm Indoor and Outdoor Eco Fair at Belle Isle Nature Center (176 Lakeside Dr.)

HABs 101 Webinar: The Power of Plants (Zoom)
2026-03-10 18:00 - 19:30
In previous “HABs 101” webinars, we learned about the basics of harmful algal blooms, the value of algae in aquatic ecosystems, and heard from Michiganders who are tackling HABs in their inland lakes.

In March, we will look at The Power of Plants and discuss how to use plants to reduce nutrients and help prevent algal blooms. Hosted by Michigan Sea Grant and partners around the state.Want to dive deeper into HABs? Find a collection of resources on Michigan Sea Grant’s website.

Register

Contact: Erica Clites, clitese1@msu.edu
AGENDA
6:00 pm: Erica Clites, Michigan Sea Grant Extension, Introduction
6:05 pm: Erick Elgin, MSU Extension, Benefits of native plants in lakes
6:25 pm: Eric Calabro, EGLE, Building a natural shoreline
6:45 pm: Susan Bryan, Washtenaw County, Rain gardens and other features to reduce runoff
7:25 pm: Erica Clites, Wrap-up and applicator credits

Michigan Birding 101: Spring 2026 (Zoom)
2026-03-17 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-03-19 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-03-24 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-03-26 19:00 - 20:00
4 FREE Sessions in March!
March 17, 19, 24 and 26, 7-8 p.m. ET

Location: Zoom Webinar
(link sent after completion of registration)

Explore the wonderful hobby of birding in fun online classes!
Topics include everything a new birdwatcher should know:

Schedule:
March 17 – Introduction to Birding and Equipment
March 19 – Backyard Birding and Feeding
March 24 – Conserve the Birds: Birding Ethics and Backyard Habitats
March 26 – Birding in Michigan: Where to Go and What to See

COST: FREE

This is a great opportunity for those new to the hobby or looking to get started!

Register
Contact: Elliot Nelson at elliotne@msu.edu or (906) 322-0353.

2026 Indigenous Food Sovereignty Summit
2026-04-06 - 2026-04-08
Indigenous Food Sovereignty Summit
Co-Hosted by Michigan State University and the University of Michigan
April 6-8, 2026 | Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center, East Lansing, MI
Join a powerful gathering that celebrates Indigenous food systems, cultural resilience, and community-driven solutions for food sovereignty. This conference brings together Tribal leaders, farmers, youth, scholars, and advocates to share knowledge, build relationships, and inspire action.
Conference Objectives

Knowledge Sharing: Share food sovereignty initiatives and traditional foodways to inspire learning, exchange lessons, and strengthen community health and resilience.
Vision & Self-Determination: Collectively define the future of Indigenous food sovereignty in the Great Lakes region, grounded in tribal leadership and long-term self-determination.
Skill Building & Collaboration: Equip participants with practical skills and highlight collaborative efforts that unite communities, build capacity, and support sustainable, just food systems.

What to Expect:

Keynote Speakers from Indigenous communities leading food sovereignty efforts
Workshops on traditional food and harvesting practices, seed saving, land stewardship, and policy advocacy
Participant conversations and intergenerational storytelling
Local Indigenous Vendors
Cultural Performances and ceremonies honoring the land and its people

Interested in submitting a proposal for the summit? Review the call for Stories and Narratives here.
Why It Matters:
Food sovereignty is more than access: it’s about reclaiming ancestral knowledge, protecting sacred relationships with the land, and ensuring that future generations thrive. This conference is a space to uplift Indigenous voices and build pathways toward sustainable, self-determined food systems.
This event isn’t possible without generous support from organizations like yours. If you are interested in sponsoring, please review our Sponsorship Opportunities.
Registration
Registration is now open!
Funding is available to help cover registration costs for members of tribal communities. If you are a tribal partner and would like to request a discount code, please email events@anr.msu.edu.

Fisheries Workshop Lake St. Clair & Lake Erie
2026-04-09 18:00 - 20:00
April 9, 2026, 6-8 p.m. ET
Macomb County Extension office
Macomb County Extension office or online via Zoom
Michigan Sea Grant hosts fishery workshops to provide recreational anglers, commercial fishers, charter operators, agency staff, and researchers with a forum to share and discuss Great Lakes fishery management. While each workshop is different, agendas often cover fish populations and angler catch data, forage or prey fish surveys, offshore and open water fisheries, fisheries management activities, citizen science opportunities for anglers, and more.
This event is free, but registration is required. Please indicate if you will be attending in person or via Zoom.

Registration

Agenda:

Back to basics: DNR Fish Regulations — Cleyo Harris (MDNR)
Status of Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair fishery – Andrew Briggs (MDNR)
Impact of year-round catch and release on smallmouth bass — Jan-Michael Hessenauer (MDNR)
Ford Cove habitat restoration project — Scott Dierks (GEI Consultants)
Update on muck in Lake St. Clair – Kevin Goodwin and Josh Tellier (EGLE)

Fisheries Workshops Lake Michigan: Ludington
2026-04-13 18:00 - 20:00
Lake Michigan: Ludington
April 13, 2026, 6-8 p.m. ET
West Shore Community College, 3000 N. Stiles Rd. Scottville, MI 49454
(In-person and online via Zoom)
Registration
Spring fishery workshops offer current research and information related to the status of the Great Lakes fishery.
Michigan Sea Grant and Michigan State University Extension, in partnership with the Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division, USGS Great Lakes Science Center, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and local fishery organizations annually offer evening regional workshops to provide valuable information for anglers, charter captains, resource professionals, and interested community members.
Workshops include information and status updates on topics such as fish populations and angler catch data, forage or prey fish surveys, offshore fisheries and open water fisheries, as well as updates on fisheries management activities, citizen science opportunities for anglers, and a variety of other topics of interest based on specific regions.
Agenda
5:30 pm
Refreshments and Registration
6:00 pm
Welcome and Sea Grant Update: Dan O’Keefe – Southwest District Extension Educator, Michigan Sea Grant
6:10 pm
Fishing License Fee Proposals and the Michigan Anglers Consortium: Capt. Mark Williams, Silver Addiction Charters
6:30 pm
Fishery-Independent Data on Chinook Salmon from the Ludington Pumped Storage Plant: Jake Downey, Student, University of Michigan
6:50 pm
Lake Michigan Predator-Prey Ratio: Chinook Salmon and Alewife Dynamics: Ben Turschak – Fisheries Research Biologist Specialist, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
7:10 pm
DNR Management Updates: Jay Wesley – Lake Michigan Basin Coordinator, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
7:30 pm
Invasive Mussels in the Great Lakes: Status, Impacts, and the Long Road to Control: Ashley Elgin – Research Ecologist, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, NOAA
8:00 pm
Adjourn

Fisheries Workshops Lake Huron: Open Water
2026-04-14 18:00 - 20:00
Lake Huron: Open Water
Date: April 14, 2026, 6-8 p.m. ET
(Online via Zoom only)
Michigan Sea Grant and Michigan State University Extension, in partnership with the Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division, USGS Great Lakes Science Center, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and local fishery organizations are holding the Lake Huron Fisheries Workshop – Open Water Session. Participants can attend online via Zoom.
This workshop offers current research and information related to the status of the Lake Huron fisheries. We look forward to hosting your questions!
Registration for this event is free, but you must register by Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
In addition to receiving a confirmation email directly following this registration process, a link to the Zoom meeting will be emailed to all virtual registrants on the morning of April 14.

Registration

Workshop Agenda:
Welcome and Introductions
Brandon Schroeder and Meaghan Gass, Michigan Sea Grant
Lake Huron Offshore Catch & Creel Fishery Updates
Chris Kemp, DNR Fisheries Research
Prey Fish Survey
Tim O’Brien, USGS Great Lakes Science Center
Sea Lamprey Management Program
Nick Johnson, USGS Hammond Bay Biological Station
Mi Fresh Fish: Michigan Commercial Fisheries Overview
Lauren Stigers, Michigan Sea Grant
Fisheries Management Updates & Discussion
Doug Schultz, Tim Cwalinski and Jeff Jolley, DNR Fisheries Management

Fish Stocking Updates
Management updates
Question and answer discussion

Adjourn

Fisheries Workshops Lake Michigan: South Haven
2026-04-16 19:00 - 21:00
Lake Michigan: South Haven
April 16, 2026, 7–9pm ET
South Haven Moose Lodge, 1025 Wells St., South Haven, MI 49090
(In-person only, no registration required)

Spring fishery workshops offer current research and information related to the status of the Great Lakes fishery.
Michigan Sea Grant and Michigan State University Extension, in partnership with the Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division, USGS Great Lakes Science Center, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and local fishery organizations annually offer evening regional workshops to provide valuable information for anglers, charter captains, resource professionals, and interested community members.
Workshops include information and status updates on topics such as fish populations and angler catch data, forage or prey fish surveys, offshore fisheries and open water fisheries, as well as updates on fisheries management activities, citizen science opportunities for anglers, and a variety of other topics of interest based on specific regions.
Agenda: TBD

Fisheries Workshops Lake Huron: Saginaw Bay
2026-04-21 18:00 - 20:00
Lake Huron: Saginaw Bay
April 21, 2026, , 6-8 p.m. ET
Bay City
(In-person and online via Zoom)
Spring fishery workshops offer current research and information related to the status of the Great Lakes fishery.
Michigan Sea Grant and Michigan State University Extension, in partnership with the Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division, USGS Great Lakes Science Center, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and local fishery organizations annually offer evening regional workshops to provide valuable information for anglers, charter captains, resource professionals, and interested community members.
Workshops include information and status updates on topics such as fish populations and angler catch data, forage or prey fish surveys, offshore fisheries and open water fisheries, as well as updates on fisheries management activities, citizen science opportunities for anglers, and a variety of other topics of interest based on specific regions.

Registration

Workshop Agenda:
Welcome and Introductions
Brandon Schroeder and Meaghan Gass, Michigan Sea Grant
Saginaw Bay Fisheries Updates
Dave Fielder, DNR Fisheries Research
Acoustic Telemetry in Saginaw Bay
Todd Hayden, USGS Great Lakes Science Center
Habitat Restoration in Saginaw Bay
Jeff Jolley, DNR Fisheries Management
Fisheries Management Updates & Discussion
Doug Schultz and Jeff Jolley, DNR Fisheries Management

Fish Stocking Updates
Management updates
Question and answer discussion

Adjourn

Outdoor Adventure Center - Trails Expo
2026-04-25 11:00 - 15:00
Michigan Sea Grant will have a table at this event promoting water trails and water safety.

In honor of Celebrate Trails Day, an annual event from the Rail to Trails Conservancy, the OAC is celebrating our very own neighborhood rail trail! Join us for our Trails Expo on the Dequindre Cut, which was once a line on the Grand Trunk Railroad.
This outdoor adventure features local experts in hiking, biking, paddling and more. Learn tips and tricks for hitting the trails from the best, then test out your skills in hands-on workshops.
Included in the cost of admission.
Contact Information
Outdoor Adventure Center

DNR-OAC@Michigan.gov
844-622-6367

Workshops
Happy Little 5k
10 a.m.
Calling all Happy Little Trees 5K participants! Running is more fun with good company – join the fun and take a run along the Dequindre Cut! Enjoy fabulous murals and great company while you complete your Happy Little Trees 5K. Note: The race begins promptly at 10 a.m. Please arrive early for parking and line-up.
The course: An out-and-back course that is flat and fast – with parking available across from Milliken State Park and Harbor. The race begins and ends at the Outdoor Adventure Center. (See course map.)
Register here: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/places/state-parks/happy-little-trees.
For those who registered online in advance for the virtual event, your keepsake Happy Little T-shirt, commemorative bib number and finisher’s medal will be mailed to you address prior to the start of the race week.

Fisheries Workshop - Lake Huron: Les Cheneaux Islands & St Marys River
2026-04-28 18:00 - 20:00
Lake Huron – Les Cheneaux Islands & St Marys River
April 28, 2026, , 6-8 p.m. ET
Cedarville, Clark Twp Community Center
(In-person and online via Zoom)
Michigan Sea Grant and Michigan State University Extension, in partnership with the Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division, USGS Great Lakes Science Center, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and local fishery organizations are offering the Lake Huron Fisheries Workshop – Les Cheneaux Islands & St Marys River. Participants can attend in person or online via Zoom.

This workshop offers current research and information related to the status of the Lake Huron fisheries. We look forward to hosting your questions!
Registration for this event is free, but you must register by Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
The event will be held at the Cedarville Community Center, Clark Township, 133 E M-134, Cedarville, MI 49719.
Zoom event link will be available after registration.

Registration

Agenda
Welcome and Introductions
Brandon Schroeder and Elliot Nelson, Michigan Sea Grant
Cormorant Management Updates
Matt Curry, USDA Wildlife Services
Les Cheneaux Islands Fish Community Survey
Dave Fielder, DNR Fisheries Research
Lake Sturgeon in the St. Marys River
Kevin Kapuscinski and Alana Miller-Schofield, Lake Superior State University
Fisheries Management Updates & Discussion
Neal Godby, Tim Cwalinski and Doug Schultz, DNR Fisheries Management

Management updates
Question and answer discussion

Adjourn / Safe Travels

Knauss Fellowship Applications Due
2026-06-03 17:00
The John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship provides a unique educational experience to students who have an interest in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources.
The program matches graduate students with host agencies in Washington, D.C., such as congressional offices, the National Marine Fisheries Service, or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For one year, fellows work on a range of policy and management projects related to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources. Fellows can be placed in the federal legislative or executive branches; learn more about what legislative fellows do.
The fellowship will run from June 1, 2027 through May 31, 2028.
Application Deadline
Application deadline is June 3, 2026 at 5pm.
Results will be announced by the National Sea Grant Office around mid-September 2026.

Learn more and apply by June 3

Kayaking Skills Course, MI Paddle Stewards
2026-06-05 08:30 - 2026-06-06 17:00
June 5
8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (rain date June 12)
(includes 30 minute lunch break – please bring your own lunch)
Independence Oaks County Park boat launch
Independence Township, Oakland County MI
9501 Sashabaw Rd, Clarkston, MI 48348
This is an eight hour Level 1 kayak skills course that covers how to prepare for kayak trips, involves demonstrating strokes and safety maneuvers including rescues. You can either take the class to learn or learn and be assessed at the end of the class.
In order to pass the assessment you need to demonstrate kayak rescue techniques which will involve getting wet. Please wear quick dry clothing, ideally closed-toe water shoes and bring a change of clothes.
This class is a prerequisite to the Community Paddlesport Leader training which will be offered in July. Find a detailed description of what the course covers on the ACA website.
**There is no cost, but limited spots are available, please only register if you intend to participate!
Assessment Course Prerequisites:

Acknowledgment of personal compliance with the ACA Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC)
Be a current ACA Member
Agree to comply with the ACA Code of Conduct

Instructors: Erica Anculle, Angela Scapini (Michigan Sea Grant, MSU Extension), Jacqui Rabine (American Canoe Association certified instructors)
For more information, contact Erica Anculle at clites1@msu.edu.

Sturgeon Fest 2026
2026-06-06 10:00 - 15:00
Saturday, June 6 • 10am-3pm
Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, 2802 Omar St, Port Huron, MI

Learn more about the event!

We have two ways for your to experience the Giant of the Great Lakes – by Ship and by Shore! Each spring, thousands of lake sturgeon gather under the Blue Water Bridges to spawn – ground zero for one of the largest remaining populations of lake sturgeon in the Great Lakes – making these experiences like none other!
Shore Experience – Come face‑to‑fin with the Great Lakes’ biggest underwater celebrity at our live sturgeon touch tank. Enjoy hands‑on activities, tasty treats from local food trucks, lively music, and plenty more festival fun! Sturgeon Fest By Shore is held 10am – 3pm at Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, 2802 Omar Street in Port Huron. Parking, admission, and activities are FREE!

Ship Experience – Cruise under the Blue Water Bridges on the St. Clair River and Lake Huron with a live sturgeon aquarium experience and sturgeon activities from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s research vessel. This narrated cruise offers interaction with wildlife biologists conducting research that is helping to reintroduce sturgeon around the Great Lakes. Sturgeon Fest by Ship begins at the Huron Lady dock on the Black River in Port Huron. River Cruise tickets are available for 11am and 1pm.

All event and ticket proceeds help support the Friends of the St. Clair River’s year‑round conservation and education programs—so you can have fun and do good at the same time!

Belle Isle book launch and roundtable
2026-06-11 14:00 - 17:00 | Belle Isle Nature Center, 176 Lakeside Drive, Detroit, MI, 48207, United States
Belle Isle Roundtable
Come celebrate the launch of the newly revised A Self-Guided Tour of Beautiful Belle Isle: Detroit’s Unique Urban Park guidebook!
2 p.m. on June 11
Michigan Sea Grant and The Belle Isle Conservancy invite you to the Belle Isle Roundtable at 2 p.m. on June 11 for an indoor event at the Belle Isle Nature Center, 176 Lakeside Dr., Detroit, MI 48207.
Optional walking tours will begin at 3 p.m.
There is no cost to attend the event (though a state Recreation Passport is required to drive onto Belle Isle).

Register here!

Partner organizations are also welcome to register for display table space.
For more information, please contact Erica Anculle, Michigan Sea Grant Extension Educator, (313) 578-9740, clitese1@msu.edu

Saginaw Bay 4-H Fish Camp: Tawas City
2026-06-17 09:00 - 2026-06-18 16:00
Gateway Park, Tawas City
Save the date for the 2026 camps (registration opens May 1)
When: June 17-18, 2026
Calling all 8–13-year-olds interested in learning how to fish and protect our Great Lakes! Campers learn about knot tying, tackle crafting, casting, stopping aquatic invasive species, and fishing.
MSU Extension, 4-H, Michigan Sea Grant, Project FISH, and many local partners host these camps to recruit the next generation of anglers and Great Lakes stewards.
Open to Michigan 4-H members ages 8-13, as of Jan. 1 2026. Not a current 4-H member but want to attend camp? Enroll in 4-H for FREE.

Community Paddlesport Leader Training, MI Paddle Stewards
2026-07-06 08:30 - 2026-07-07 17:00
July 6-7
8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
(includes 30 minute lunch break – please bring your own lunch)
Independence Oaks County Park boat launch
Independence Township, Oakland County MI
9501 Sashabaw Rd, Clarkston, MI 48348
This is two-day course that equips paddlers with the trip planning and leadership skills to provide safe and enjoyable trips with a variety of craft in environments suitable for beginner and novice paddlers (in calm and protected waters with constant access to landing).
In order to be certified you need to demonstrate kayak rescue techniques which will involve getting wet. Please wear quick dry clothing, ideally closed-toe water shoes and bring a change of clothes.
Make sure you have the prerequisites listed below. In addition there will be a required Zoom session before and after the event with a date to be determined.
Find an overview of what the course covers on the ACA website. It is highly recommended to start your learning now by registering for The Connected Paddler online course ($99 lifetime access).
Course prerequisites:

Successful completion of a Level 1 or Level 2 Skills Assessment (see our course offering in June)
Urban first aid and CPR certification
Purchase and read ACA Community Paddlesport Leader workbook before the course.
Acknowledgment of personal compliance with the ACA Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC)
Be a current ACA Member
Agree to comply with the ACA Code of Conduct

Instructors: Deb and Paul Gelderblom (American Canoe Association certified instructors)
**There is no cost, but limited spots are available, please only register if you intend to participate!
For more information, contact Erica Anculle at clites1@msu.edu.

Saginaw Bay 4-H Fish Camp: Bay City
2026-07-07 09:00 - 2026-07-08 16:00
Bay City State Park, Bay City
Save the date for the 2026 camps (registration opens May 1)
When: July 7-8, 2026
Calling all 8–13-year-olds interested in learning how to fish and protect our Great Lakes! Campers learn about knot tying, tackle crafting, casting, stopping aquatic invasive species, and fishing.
MSU Extension, 4-H, Michigan Sea Grant, Project FISH, and many local partners host these camps to recruit the next generation of anglers and Great Lakes stewards.
Open to Michigan 4-H members ages 8-13, as of Jan. 1 2026. Not a current 4-H member but want to attend camp? Enroll in 4-H for FREE.

Houghton’s Mi Fresh Fish Sail
2026-07-10 08:30 - 12:00 | Chassell, North Entry Road, Chassell, 49916, United States
Come aboard to learn about Mi Fresh Fish!
Start the day with a Mi Fresh Fish sail aboard the Inland Seas Education Association tall ship schooner. Sail the Great Lakes and experience Mi Fresh Fish as you learn about our local watershed, fish identification, benefits of seafood, and seamanship. Registration is $20 per person. Register here by July 8: https://events.anr.msu.edu/MiFreshSailHoughton2026/
Houghton Mi Fresh Fish Sail: Friday, July 10, 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. ET
The boat will launch from the Portage River Harbor of Refuge (also known as South Entry) located at N. Entry Road in Chassell.
What is Mi Fresh Fish?
Mi Fresh Fish uplifts all fish produced in Michigan—whether from farmed or wild harvests—and whether destined for food, bait, stocking, fee‑fishing, or ornamental markets. The goal is to educate and bring awareness to Michiganders the many values of our local fisheries: food, fun, finance, function, and fellowship. If you would like to learn more, dive in and visit Mi Fresh Fish online.

Houghton’s Mi Fresh Fish Fry
2026-07-10 16:00 - 19:00
Learn about and eat Mi Fresh Fish! The Mi Fresh Fish Fry is free and open to the public with food, cooking lessons, fishing activities, and more for the whole family. Join us outside the library at Huron Street Waterfront Park for this community celebration.
Friday, July 10, 2025, 4pm-7pm
58 Huron Street, Houghton
What is Mi Fresh Fish?
Mi Fresh Fish uplifts all fish produced in Michigan—whether from farmed or wild harvests—and whether destined for food, bait, stocking, fee‑fishing, or ornamental markets. The goal is to educate and bring awareness to Michiganders the many values of our local fisheries: food, fun, finance, function, and fellowship. If you would like to learn more, dive in and visit Mi Fresh Fish online.
