Michigan Sea Grant

Educator Workshops Aboard the Research Vessel (R/V) Lake Guardian
2022-01-31 17:00 (America/Detroit)
Call for Applications!
Registration/Application Deadline: January 31, 2022
Event Dates: June and July 2022. See below for more details
Event location: Marquette and Alpena, MI
Intended Audience: 4th-12th grade educators, non-formal educators

Ten educators, three researchers, 15 crew, and one 180-foot boat
In June and July 2022, 10 educators will set sail aboard the Research Vessel (R/V) Lake Guardian, a vessel owned by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and conduct research alongside scientists. During the seven day workshop, educators network with one another, scientists, R/V Lake Guardian crew, and Sea Grant staff. Educators work in small teams with a scientist to develop research questions, collect field samples, conduct lab analysis, and generate data to analyze, visualize, and interpret. The workshops typically include two shore stops for educational field trips about locally relevant Great Lakes topics. A primary goal of the workshop is to increase Great Lakes Literacy among the participants. After the workshop, participants will be better able to:

Understand the essential principles and fundamental concepts about the characteristics, functions, and value of the Great Lakes.
Communicate accurately about the Great Lakes’ influence on systems and people in and beyond their watershed.
Make informed and responsible decisions regarding the Great Lakes and the resources of their watershed.

Words from previous workshop participants
To learn more about the workshops from educators’ perspectives, read the 2017 Lake Huron Blog and 2016 Lake Superior Blog and visit this story map. The R/V Lake Guardian usually works on one Great Lake each year, so the last time the R/V Lake Guardian workshop was held on these two lakes was five and six years ago. 2022 is a special year because two educator workshops are being held on two Great Lakes.
One Summer, Two Workshops
Lake Superior Workshop details:

Who: 4th-12th grade teachers and non-formal educators in the Great Lakes States of Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
What: Ten educators will be selected to participate in a week-long research-focused workshop aboard the United States Environmental Agency’s research vessel, R/V Lake Guardian.
Where: Participants will board the ship in Marquette, Michigan to conduct research on Lake Superior. Participants will return to Marquette, Michigan at the conclusion of the workshop.
When:

Workshop begins: 12:00 p.m. Sunday, June 26, 2022.
Workshop ends: 12:00 p.m. Saturday, July 2, 2022.

Why: This once-in-a-lifetime experience provides an opportunity for educators to participate in ongoing Great Lakes research and monitoring, collaborate with scientists, establish relationships with other teachers in Great Lakes states, and bring home Great Lakes educational resources for use with their learners.
For questions about the Lake Superior workshop, contact Marte Kitson at minnesota@cgll.org and 218-726-8305.

Lake Huron Workshop details:

Who: 4th-12th grade teachers and non-formal educators in the Great Lakes States of Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
What: Ten educators will be selected to participate in a week-long research-focused workshop aboard the United States Environmental Agency’s research vessel, R/V Lake Guardian.
Where: Participants will board the ship in Alpena, Michigan to conduct research on Lake Huron. Participants will return to Alpena, Michigan at the conclusion of the workshop.
When:

Workshop begins: 12:00 p.m. Friday, July , 2022.
Workshop ends: 12:00 p.m. Thursday, July 14, 2022.

Why: This once-in-a-lifetime experience provides an opportunity for educators to participate in ongoing Great Lakes research and monitoring, collaborate with scientists, establish relationships with other teachers in Great Lakes states, and bring home Great Lakes educational resources for use with their learners.
For questions about the Lake Huron workshop, contact Meaghan Gass at michigan@cgll.education and 989-895-4026 ext. 5.

Health and Safety
Participants will be expected to adhere to any and all COVID-19 safety protocols required by the US EPA at the time of the workshops.
How do I apply?
Interested and enthusiastic educators can apply here: z.umn.edu/lakeguardian2022. Applications are due January 31, 2022.

R/V Lake Guardian workshops are funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency with funding from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. This article was written by Marte Kitson at Minnesota Sea Grant. Content questions can be directed to mkitson@d.umn.edu, 218-726-8305.

Additional Details
Target audience: 4th-12th grade educators, non-formal educators
Cost? Stipend? Travel costs? Credits?: Travel stipends are provided to cover or offset the cost of participation. In most cases, all expenses are covered, with the exception of two dinners.
For more information: For questions about the Lake Superior workshop, contact Marte Kitson at minnesota@cgll.education and 218-726-8305. For questions about the Lake Huron workshop, contact Meaghan Gass at michigan@cgll.education and 989-895-4026 ext. 5.

Application Materials
View online application

Great Lakes Bowl - National Ocean Sciences Bowl
2022-02-05 08:00 - 17:00
More details to come. Visit www.michiganseagrant.org/educational-programs/great-lakes-bowl-nosb for general information.

Snowshoe the Straits: A Life of the Straits Program, Straits State Park
2022-02-05 13:00 - 15:00
Snowshoe through the Straits of Mackinac
Snowshoe through the Straits of Mackinac. Join 4-H and SeaGrant as we cover snowshoe basics, go on a snowshoe hike, and learn fun winter facts. Youth ages 8-14 and their families are welcome to join. Registration required.
Snowshoes can be rented for $5/pair or you are welcome to bring your own.
Dates

February 5, 1 PM, Mackinac County, Straits State Park
February 11, 6 PM, Emmet County, International Dark Sky Park
February 19, 1 PM, Presque Isle County, Ocqueoc Falls

Register
To register please call (989) 734-2168

Snowshoe the Straits: A Life of the Straits Program, International Dark Sky Park
2022-02-11 18:00 - 20:00

Snowshoe the Straits: A Life of the Straits Program, Ocqueoc Falls
2022-02-19 13:00 - 15:00

2022 Regional Networking Meeting
2022-02-24 15:30 - 17:00
Thursday, February 24, 2022
3:30 PM to 5:00 PM
You are cordially invited to join and participate in our (your!) annual place based education-focused Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative (NEMIGLSI) Regional Networking Meeting on Thursday, February 24, 2022 from 3:30-5pm ET.

Please register online by Wednesday, February 23.

This virtual visit aims to:

Build and enhance relationships among our vast network of educators and partners
Provide an opportunity for you to guide and steer the collective efforts of the network by sharing your feedback with us
Inspire you by having select teachers share place-based stewardship education success stories, and having our team share new resources and upcoming opportunities

Questions or need additional information? Please reach out to Meag Schwartz (meag.nemiglsi@gmail.com)
We hope you will plan to join to celebrate successes and plan together toward an even brighter future for our collective NEMIGLSI network and partnership!

Michigan Science Teacher’s Association (MSTA)
2022-03-04 08:00 - 2022-03-05 17:00
Look for our booth at the Michigan Science Teacher’s Association!
www.msta-mich.org/page/annual-conference

2022 Great Lakes Conference: The Great Lakes, Connecting Science and Management
2022-03-08 09:30 - 15:30
Register at: bit.ly/GreatLakes2022
Conference will take place online through Zoom. Free to attend, but registration is required.
Please join us for the 32nd annual Great Lakes Conference: Connecting Science and Management. This conference will feature presentations on fish consumption and environmental justice, predator-prey ratios, and lake trout recovery; high water levels, freak waves and flooding; environmental surveillance and assessing health; and connecting people to the Great Lakes. A full agenda is below.
Agenda
9:30-11:00 — Theme 1: Great Lakes Ecology
Moderator: Scott Peacor, Professor, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University

9:30–9:50 — Identifying and Addressing Environmental Justice Issues around Fish Consumption
Donna Kashian, Professor & Director of Environmental Sciences, Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit
9:50-10:10 — The Evolution and Management Application of the Lake Michigan Predator-Prey Ratio
Ben Turschak, Research Biologist, Fisheries Charlevoix Research Station, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Charlevoix
10:10-10:30 — The Past, Present, and Future of Lake Trout in Lake Michigan
Rick Clark, Research Professor, Quantitative Fisheries Center, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing
10:30-11:00 — Panel Q/A Session with Audience
11:00–11:15 — BREAK
Featured Presentation
11:15–12:00 — Addressing our Health with Environmental Surveillance from SARS in Wastewater to E. coli on our Beaches: The Impact of The Michigan Network for Environmental Technology
Joan Rose, Homer Nowlin Chair in Water Research, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing
12:00-1:00 — LUNCH BREAK
1:00-2:30 — Theme 2 Great Lakes Water Levels
Moderator: Heather Triezenberg, Program Leader, Michigan Sea Grant Extension, Michigan State University

1:00-1:20 — Freak Waves and Meteo-tsunamis
Eric Anderson, Associate Professor, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado
1:20-1:40 — Water Level Variability and Extremes
Drew Gronewold, Associate Professor, School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
1:40-2:00 — Coastal Community Inundation: Impacts in the High Water Years 2019-2021
Mark Breederland, Michigan Sea Grant Extension, Traverse City
2:00-2:30 — Panel Q/A Session with Audience
2:30-2:40 — BREAK
2:40-3:25 — Wired Great Lakes: Connecting People to the Lakes One Buoy at a Time
Ed Verhamme, Principal Senior Engineer, LimnoTech, Ann Arbor
3:25-3:30 — Final Comments
For more information, contact Dr. Lois Wolfson at iwr@msu.edu or call 517-230-9281.
This conference is sponsored by Michigan State University Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Institute of Water Research, Michigan Sea Grant Extension, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, and MSU Extension as part of ANR Week at Michigan State University. Support is provided by the US Geological Survey Water Resources Research Program.

Michigan Birding 101: Class 1 (of 4)
2022-03-10 06:30 - 19:45

Michigan Birding 101: Class 2 (of 4)
2022-03-17 18:00 - 19:45

Michigan Birding 101: Class 3 (of 4)
2022-03-24 18:00 - 19:45

Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair Fisheries Workshop
2022-03-29
Details TBD

Michigan Birding 101: Class 4 (of 4)
2022-03-31 18:00 - 19:45

Lake Huron: Saginaw Bay
2022-04-12 18:00 - 20:00
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

50th Anniversary of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
2022-04-14 16:00 - 17:00
Please join the Great Lakes Creative Hub and Michigan State University Sea Grant Program in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement through an informational webinar. Discussions will be based on the history of the Agreement and ways the creative arts can foster greater binational connections across the Great Lakes Basin. More information regarding the webinar agenda and registration can be found below.
Register: https://msu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uacqX6F8T_SRmlPDxTqnzg
Meeting Agenda
When: April 14, 2022, 4:00 pm EST.

Introduction, Mary Bohling, Educator/Interim District Director, Michigan State University Sea Grant Program
Meeting Invocation, Lisa M. Denomie – Keweenaw Bay Indian Community
The Legacy of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and visions for the future

Cameron Davis, Great Lakes Czar in the Obama Administration, and Lead Negotiator, U.S. EPA & State Department Negotiating Team, 2012 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
John Jackson, Member of the Great Lakes Ecoregion Network (GLEN) and past-president of Great Lakes United. John will discuss the role that community groups have played over the decades in the development and implementation of the GLWQA

Question and Answer: Facilitated by Dave Dempsey, Author and Senior Advisor with For Love of Water (FLOW).
The creative arts and fostering greater binational connections and public involvement across the Great Lakes basin.

Todd Fleet, Canadian Director, Great Lakes Creative Hub. The case of cultural renewal in the greater Sault Ste. Marie region.
Mark Mattson, Director, Swim, Fish, Drink. Building a coalition with Royal Canadian Geographical Society to commemorate the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement in conjunction with US/Canadian interagency meeting in September of 2022 in Detroit/Windsor.

Question and answer and closing statement, Facilitated by Tom Leonard, US Director, Great Lakes Creative Hub

The signing of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement fifty years ago heralded a new era of binational cooperation and environmental protection. To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of this historic Agreement between Canada and the United States, please join this April 14 virtual meeting to learn about the Agreement’s history and join in a discussion about ways the creative arts can foster greater binational connections across the Great Lakes basin.
A few centuries ago, before European settlement fish and wildlife existed in splendid abundance and waters flowed cleanly, unhampered by dams, throughout the watershed. But the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries saw the Great Lakes undergo tremendous social and economic transformation. Phenomenal growth in population and the ready availability of water and its means of transport rapidly helped to turn the region into a world center for innovation and industrial manufacturing. Conventional wisdom held that the releases of pollutants into Great Lakes waterways were magically made harmless in the face of the vastness of the resource.
Yet by the 1960s, the problems of the Lakes could not be so easily brushed aside. The fires on the Cuyahoga River and ugly algae outbreaks drove home the need for dramatic action to save the Lakes. People with a love of the Lakes looked beyond traditional jurisdictional remedies and sought a vision for the future based on a binational agreement that sought long-term solutions, which saw the ecosystem as a comprehensive living and vibrant whole.
One can only imagine the multiple concerns that will confront a future generation when they approach the 100th anniversary of the Great Water Quality Agreement in 2072. Ongoing binational cooperation, creative solutions, and increased public engagement will certainly play pivotal roles. Indeed, over the past two decades UNESCO has emphasized the need for heightened cultural connection as a prerequisite for achieving truly sustainable communities. Yet recent times have seen the free and unhindered connections across our borders seriously impaired by terrorist concerns and a worldwide Covid pandemic. How better to renew a sense of common destiny and broadened public participation than in actively promoting cross-border cultural arts exchange. Thus, the April 14 meeting will feature creative models and new initiatives that help foster binational connections and a broadened sense of stewardship throughout the Great Lakes region.

Lake Huron: Les Cheneaux and St. Marys River
2022-04-19 18:00 - 20:00

Lake Michigan (South Haven) Workshop
2022-04-21 19:00 - 21:00

Lake Huron: Offshore
2022-04-28 18:00 - 20:00

Fisheries Heritage Trail Conference 2022
2022-05-24 08:00 - 2022-05-25 17:00
May 24-25, 2022
St. Ignace, Michigan
Our valuable Great Lakes fisheries (past, present, and future) can benefit

local museum programs,
enhance coastal tourism development opportunities,
and support community development efforts.

Learn more about Michigan’s Great Lakes Fisheries Heritage Consortium projects and partnerships, including a newly launched regional fisheries heritage trail website.
This educational program is open to everyone interested in promoting maritime heritage tourism and Great Lakes stewardship.
Registration is $50 ($30 students) to participate.

Tuesday, May 24: Activities begin at noon at St. Ignace Cultural Center (500 N State St., St. Ignace, MI 49781) with registration and a picnic. Following the picnic there will be community tours.
Wednesday, May 25: We’ll meet 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at the St. Ignace Public Library (110 W Spruce St, St Ignace, MI 49781) for our Educational Great Lakes Heritage Trails Conference.

Lodging reservations – don’t forget to make your lodging reservations! We have a block of rooms held downtown (near the Cultural Center) at the Driftwood Motel (590 N. State Street, St. Ignace, MI 49781 – 906-643-7744 – block held under “Great Lakes fisheries”). There are plenty of other lodging options in the area, too – but wanted to provide this option, and have a block of rooms held there until early May (so make your reservations early!).

Registration for Fisheries Heritage Trail Conference 2022 is open. Registration closes at 11:59 p.m. on May 19, 2022.

Register Online

Accommodations
Michigan State University is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services and activities. Accommodations for persons with disabilities may be requested by contacting the event contact two weeks prior to the start of the event. Requests received after this date will be honored whenever possible.

Contact Information
For information contact Brandon Schroeder, Michigan Sea Grant, at schroe45@msu.edu or 989-354-9885.

Ecorse Creek Committee Cleanup Events
2022-07-09 09:00 - 12:00, 2022-08-13 09:00 - 12:00, 2022-09-10 09:00 - 12:00
Join the Ecorse Creek Committee at:

Pepper Park (Ecorse)
Council Point Park (Lincoln Park)
Beaver Park (Wyandotte)

Cleanups will take place in July 9, August 13, and September 10, from 9 am-noon. A lunch will be provided in September to celebrate the cleanup season!
REGISTER FOR CLEANUP EVENTS: https://forms.gle/HkieyufjSk1KJ9Bo8

The School of Green interactive stewardship event
2022-07-26 13:00 - 16:00
This will be the first of a planned series of annual interactive stewardship events tailored around the encouragement of native fauna conservation within the Ann Arbor, Southwest Detroit, and Ypsilanti area. The School of Green Event will take place Tuesday, July 26th, 2022 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Burns Park.
The day will begin with a brief introduction of the event, followed by a hands-on indoor activity with live wildlife featuring the Huron-Clinton Metroparks Center, then a short presentation about protecting local herpetofauna (reptiles & amphibians) within our communities and lastly finishing with a nature walk/park clean-up.
There will be FREE food (such as doughnuts, cookies, bananas, oranges, etc) and light refreshments provided as well as the ability to earn volunteer hours and/or Learning Beyond the Classroom Group 3 credit but in order to attend the event, earn community service/LBC credit, and receive the specific details on where to meet within Burns Park, participants must RSVP by filling out the Form below.

Registration Form

If you have any questions or concerns, or if you’re unable to attend the event after signing up feel free to contact kmarti80@emich.edu.

GreenFest at the Detroit Zoo
2022-08-06 12:00 - 2022-08-07 17:00 | Detroit Zoo, 8450 W. 10 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI, 48067, United States
GreenFest: Embrace Your Green Journey
Aug. 6-7 | Noon – 5 p.m.
Full details here

Free with Zoo admission | Free for members
GreenFest 2022, presented by DTE, will open new doors to environmental stewardship for attendees of all ages.
The 2022 theme “Embrace Your Green Journey!” is both a challenge and invitation. No matter where you are in your readiness to adopt new practices, from “green” sympathizer to skeptic, GreenFest is about showing what is possible through fun activities and educational displays. You will leave equipped with resources to live greener, take care of the planet and improve your quality of life. Get ready to “Embrace Your Green Journey!”
Be sure to visit the Michigan State University Extension table — you might even spot new MISG Extension team member Erica Clites!
What can we expect at GreenFest?

An eclectic lineup of live music throughout the entire weekend festival
A variety of green food trucks
A sustainable marketplace shopping experience
Hands-on “green journey” activities
Green education stations
Complimentary nature-based yoga sessions
Access to the Zoo’s naturalistic 125 acres
Animal habitat chats
Themed photo opportunities
Complimentary access to Sayaka Ganz, a reclaimed creations art exhibition
Access to Dinosauria, an immersive walk-through experience featuring 29 life-like animatronic dinosaurs! (additional fees apply)

What’s new at GreenFest 2022
Due to popular demand, GreenFest 2022 is now a two-day weekend festival! New features include live music, a sustainable marketplace shopping experience and more.
How does GreenFest support the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) mission?
Celebrating and Saving Wildlife and Wild Places. Your event admission provides support so that the DZS can continue to demonstrate extraordinary leadership in environmental sustainability. GreenFest will promote sustainability and eco-friendly practices through fun activities and educational displays, encouraging guests to make the world a greener place.

PURCHASE ZOO TICKETS

8450 W. 10 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48067 | 248-541-5717

2022 Michigan Sea Grant Environmental Internship Symposium
2022-08-08 10:00 - 13:00
Michigan Sea Grant’s internship program sponsors undergraduate students to work on specific research questions or projects with Michigan colleges, universities, and community based environmental organizations. Our summer interns have been working around the state on fascinating projects related to Great Lakes stewardship.
Join us on August 8 for presentations, posters, and refreshments. Meet the interns, learn about their projects, and help us spread the word to the next round of potential applicants!
We’ll be in Room 1040 of the Dana Building, home of the School for Environment and Sustainability on the University of Michigan central campus. The symposium begins at 10 am, presentations at 10:30 am, and lunch at noon. If you plan to join in person, please email Mike Fraker at mfraker@umich.edu to RSVP.
Can’t make it in person? Tune in to the presentations at 10:30 am-noon! Email Mike Fraker at mfraker@umich.edu to get the zoom link for the event.

Sturgeon Release into Saginaw Bay Watershed Rivers
2022-08-19 11:00 - 15:00
More sturgeon to be released into Saginaw Bay Watershed during public events on Aug. 19
Local, state, and federal partners invite the public to a lake sturgeon release celebration on Aug. 19, 2022, in the Saginaw Bay Watershed. Releases will reintroduce +100 hatchery-raised sturgeon into each tributary of the Saginaw Bay Watershed (Cass, Flint, Shiawassee, and Tittabawassee rivers). Short presentations may be made at three of the events by local partners.
Public release events on Aug. 19 include:

11 a.m., Tittabawassee River. It will be held at the Bob G. Caldwell Municipal Boat in Midland, MI. For more information, contact Jennifer Kirts at jkirts@chippewanaturecenter.org.
Noon, Shiawassee River. The release will take place at Cole Park in Chesaning, MI, and will be hosted by the Friends of the Shiawassee River. For more information, contact Sarah Baker at sbaker@shiawasseeriver.org.
2 p.m., Cass River. The release is at the parking lot at the Gunzenhausen Walkway in Frankenmuth, MI, and will be hosted by the City of Frankenmuth. For more information, contact Dan Hopp at dhopp@frankenmuthcity.com.

Lake sturgeon are a unique Great Lakes species. They can grow up to 7 feet long and can weigh up to 300 pounds. The slow-maturing fish do not begin reproducing until they are 15-20 years old. Once abundant in many Michigan lakes and rivers, lake sturgeon were nearly eradicated due to overfishing and habitat loss, particularly the destruction of rocky reefs in rivers that sturgeon and other native fish species use for spawning. In recent years, many partnerships and projects are working to restore sturgeon to a self-sustaining level in Michigan. This work includes restoring sturgeon habitat, reintroducing sturgeon into their native ranges, and raising awareness and appreciation for this unique species.
The August 2022 sturgeon release events are supported by a variety of partners including City of Frankenmuth, Chippewa Nature Center, Flint River Watershed Coalition, Friends of the Shiawassee River, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Sea Grant, Michigan State University Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, MSU Extension, Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network, Sturgeon for Tomorrow – Black Lake Chapter, The Conservation Fund, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and more.
Learn more about the lake sturgeon restoration efforts on the Saginaw Bay Sturgeon website (www.saginawbaysturgeon.org).
GENERAL RELEASE EVENT QUESTIONS, CONTACT

Meaghan Gass, Michigan Sea Grant Extension Educator, gassmeag@msu.edu, (989) 895-4026 ext. 5
Mike Kelly, The Conservation Fund, Great Lakes Office, Director, kellym@conservationfund.org, (989) 892-9172

Birding 101 Fall 2022
2022-09-07 18:30 - 19:45
Join Michigan Sea Grant as we explore the wonderful hobby of birding in 2 FREE and FUN virtual classes!
Zoom webinar
We will have instructional time at the start of each class followed by a Q&A session. This a great opportunity for those new to the hobby or looking to get started!

Class will be held 6:30 – 7:45 p.m. ET Wednesdays, September 7 & 14
September 7 – Fall Refresher – Join us as we talk some fall Bird ID basics, how to handle confusing fall plumage, and how to create a happy and healthy backyard habitat in the fall for your bird visitors.
September 14 – Raptor ID – Raptors are one of the most beloved groups of birds by people across the world. In this class we will cover some of the amazing adaptations that make raptors so effective, as well as Raptor ID tips and tricks.

Registration gives you access to both classes!

Register

Contact: Elliot Nelson

Love Fishing? Become a volunteer instructor for kids!
2022-09-09 08:00 - 2022-09-10 17:00
Project F.I.S.H is looking for one or more volunteers to teach youth about fishing. Anyone with an interest in fishing is welcome to join the two-day, hands-on training course September 9 and 10, at the Lost Lake Woods Club Pavilion, in Lincoln, MI Program will start Friday afternoon and pick back up on Saturday. Participants will learn: angling skills, people and fish management, aquatic ecology, and tackle crafting.
Attendees receive curriculum activities, equipment, and access to supplies and resources. With these tools participants will be ready to begin their own successful fishing program or club with youth in the classroom, or in an after-school setting. With contributions from Lost Lake Woods Club and the Alcona 4-H Advisory Council to offset costs, this two-day session is reduced to $50 per person and includes lunch. Overnight lodging for Friday night is available at additional cost.
Register online: www.bit.ly/ProjectFishSept22 by September 2.
If you have any questions about the training contact Mark Stephens, MSU and Project FISH staff, at 517-432-2700 steph143@msu.edu or Les Thomas, Alcona 4-H Program Coordinator at 989-724-6478 thoma322@msu.edu
This opportunity is supported by MSU Extension, Alcona 4-H, Michigan Sea Grant, Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative network as well as the NOAA B-WET supported “Our Fisheries, Our Future” project.
Accommodations for persons with disabilities may also be requested by contacting Les Thomas MSU Extension Alcona County 989-724-6478 by Sept 2. Requests received after this date will be honored whenever possible.

Why we Exercise, and What Happens After: Hazardous Material Transport Outreach Network
2022-09-21 10:00 - 11:00
Join the Hazardous Material Transport Outreach Network for the third installment in our 2022 summer webinar series. This webinar will demystify hazardous material spill preparedness and response exercises and networks. United States Coast Guard Emergency Manager Brian Strichert will answer the questions:

– Who does what on a tribal, federal, state, and local level?
– What takes place before a response?
– What would happen if a spill were to occur within the upper Great Lakes?

Streichert will also take us behind the scenes of the recent U.S. Venture, U.S. Oil, and U.S. Coast Guard Equipment Drill that took place on July 19, 2022 at the U.S. Oil Terminal in Rogers City, Michigan. A live question and answer session will follow the presentation.

Sep 21, 2022 10:00 AM in Central Time (US and Canada)

LAKE STURGEON RELEASE EVENT: SAGINAW BAY WATERSHED
2022-09-24 11:00 - 15:00
Local, state, and federal partners invite the public to a lake sturgeon release celebration on September 24, 2022, in the Saginaw Bay Watershed. Releases will reintroduce +100 hatchery-raised sturgeon into each tributary of the Saginaw Bay Watershed (Cass, Flint, Shiawassee, and Tittabawassee rivers). Short presentations may be made at three of the events by local partners.
Public release events on September 24 include:

11 a.m., Tittabawassee River. It will be held at the Bob G. Caldwell Municipal Boat in Midland, MI. For more information, contact Jennifer Kirts at jkirts@chippewanaturecenter.org.
Noon, Shiawassee River. The release will take place at Cole Park in Chesaning, MI, and will be hosted by the Friends of the Shiawassee River. For more information, contact Sarah Baker at sbaker@shiawasseeriver.org.
2 p.m., Cass River. The release is at the parking lot at the Gunzenhausen Walkway in Frankenmuth, MI, and will be hosted by the City of Frankenmuth. For more information, contact Dan Hopp at dhopp@frankenmuthcity.com.

Lake sturgeon are a unique Great Lakes species. They can grow up to 7 feet long and can weigh up to 300 pounds. The slow-maturing fish do not begin reproducing until they are 15-20 years old. Once abundant in many Michigan lakes and rivers, lake sturgeon were nearly eradicated due to overfishing and habitat loss, particularly the destruction of rocky reefs in rivers that sturgeon and other native fish species use for spawning. In recent years, many partnerships and projects are working to restore sturgeon to a self-sustaining level in Michigan. This work includes restoring sturgeon habitat, reintroducing sturgeon into their native ranges, and raising awareness and appreciation for this unique species.
The August 2022 sturgeon release events are supported by a variety of partners including City of Frankenmuth, Chippewa Nature Center, Flint River Watershed Coalition, Friends of the Shiawassee River, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Sea Grant, Michigan State University Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, MSU Extension, Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network, Sturgeon for Tomorrow – Black Lake Chapter, The Conservation Fund, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and more.
Learn more about the lake sturgeon restoration efforts on the Saginaw Bay Sturgeon website (www.saginawbaysturgeon.org).
GENERAL RELEASE EVENT QUESTIONS, CONTACT

Meaghan Gass, Michigan Sea Grant Extension Educator, gassmeag@msu.edu, (989) 895-4026 ext. 5
Mike Kelly, The Conservation Fund, Great Lakes Office, Director, kellym@conservationfund.org, (989) 892-9172
