Learn About Natural Resources in Southeastern Michigan During New Wayne County MSU Extension Program
7/16/08
Contact: Laura Probyn
517-432-1555, ext. 175
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- People interested in the outdoors, natural resources, water quality, conservation and the region’s environmental issues are invited to attend the Michigan Conservation Stewards Program that will run from August through October in southeastern Michigan.
The 40-hour short course, hosted by Wayne County Michigan State University (MSU) Extension, in partnership with the Michigan Sea Grant College Program, will run from Aug. 16 through Oct. 9. Most sessions will take place on Thursday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m., though several Saturday field events are also planned.
The first session will run from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Wayne County Regional Education Service Agency (RESA) Education Center at 5454 Venoy Road. It will include an overview of conservation and Michigan’s natural resources, and an introduction to the Conservation Stewards Program.
An Aug. 21 session from 6 to 9 p.m. at the same location will focus on ecology, natural resource management decisions, forests, grasslands, stream ecosystems and management, wetlands and land use.
The course will also include a volunteer expo highlighting conservation opportunities across southeastern Michigan.
Additional Saturday field sessions are scheduled for Sept. 20 (at Lake Erie Metropark and Humbug Marsh) and Sept. 27 (at the University of Michigan, Dearborn) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. These will include detailed field experiences highlighting Michigan’s natural features, as well as hands-on activities related to plants, trees, forest ecology, prairies, invasive species, wetlands, streams and rivers in the region.
Participants will:
** Network with others and get to know people in their communities.
** Learn about local resources and how all ecosystems are connected.
** Explore the landscape of the region as they learn about nature.
** Experience the fun of being outdoors in nature.
** Be involved in improving their communities and consider important local conservation issues.
Modeled after MSU Extension’s Master Gardener Volunteer Program, Conservation Stewards is open to young professionals, students, parents, retirees and others, and requires those who complete the 40 hours of educational sessions to complete 40 hours of volunteer service to receive certificates of completion.
Instructors include MSU faculty and Extension staff members, representatives from the Michigan Natural Features Inventory, naturalists and scientists from the region, and Michigan Department of Natural Resources biologists. Additional presenters include conservation-minded people from various organizations and agencies responsible for natural resource management in the area.
The $245 registration fee is due Aug. 1. A program brochure and registration materials are available at the Wayne County MSU Extension Web site at www.msue.msu.edu/wayne.
For more information about the program, call Kristine Hahn, MSU Extension educator, at 734-727-7234.
The Wayne County Conservation Stewards Program was made possible with support from U.S. Steel Great Lakes Works.
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