Conservation Stewards Program - Newaygo County

September 9, 2024 - November 4, 2024

Registration Deadline: August 18, 2024 - 12:00AM


Contact: Shelby Warner , Bindu Bhakta , Julie Crick

Participate in the Michigan Conservation Stewards Program (CSP) and explore the foundations of conservation in Michigan and its diverse terrestrial, wetland and aquatic ecosystems. Learn how you can apply your knowledge at the local community conservation level.

2024 Hybrid Program

  • 8 weeks of instruction delivered between September – November 2024 consisting of the following components: 
    • Weekly online course content to review and complete on-your-own via the course web site
    • Up to three hours of weekly, in-person lecture and field instruction with local cohort
    • 1 – 2 Saturday field experiences to explore ecologically diverse natural communities with local cohort
  • Selection of a Capstone (Applied) Project related to restoring and conserving Michigan’s ecosystem, completed with guidance provided by a local mentor
  • Certification of Completion

The Newaygo County cohort will host their weekly sessions from 6-8:30 p.m. on Mondays, from Sept. 9 to Nov. 4, 2024. Weekly sessions will meet throughout Newaygo county at the locations listed in the chart below. Location details and more information will be distributed to registered participants in the end of August. Please note, there will not be a weekly session on Oct. 28, 2024. 

Newaygo County's field days will be on Saturday, Sept. 28 and Oct. 19, 2024. 

Newaygo County Schedule 

Date

Topic

Location

Speaker

Sept. 9

Program Orientation; Foundations of Conservation: Ecological Foundations; What is a Natural Community?

Graves Lodge, 
4684 Evergreen Dr., Newaygo, MI 49337

Jesse Lincoln

Sept. 16

Foundations of Conservation: Society & Conservation; Conservation Heritage

Graves Lodge, 
4684 Evergreen Dr., Newaygo, MI 49337

TBD

Sept. 23

Aquatic Ecosystems: Lakes

Camp Henry, 
5575 S Gordon Ave., Newaygo, MI 49337

Erick Elgin

Sat., Sept. 28 at 9 a.m.

Field Day: Lakes

Fremont Lake, 
955 Cottage Grove, Fremont, MI 49412

Ashley Elgin and Erick Elgin

Sept. 30

Aquatic Ecosystems: Streams

TBD

Jake Lemon

Oct. 7

Aquatic Ecosystems: Wetlands

TBD

Jeremy Hartsock

Oct. 14

Terrestrial Ecosystems: Forests

Kropscott Farm Environmental Center,
6523 W Baseline Rd., Fremont, MI 49412

Rod Denning

Sat., Oct. 19 at 9 a.m.

Field Day: North Country Trail Ecosystem Tour

Croton Boat Launch (Starting Location), 
C8MM+XJ, Croton Township, MI 49337

Sarah Pregitzer

Oct. 21

Terrestrial Ecosystems: Grasslands 

Croton Township Hall, 
5833 Division St., Newaygo, MI 49337

Tyler Bassett

Oct. 28

Program Break - No Class

Nov. 4

Putting it All Together: Capstone Project Celebration

Camp Newaygo, 
5333 S. Centerline Rd., Newaygo, MI 49337

Melanie Manion

For cohort and content related questions, please reach out to Sarah Pregitzer at spregitzer@sbcglobal.net, or Sally Wagoner at sally.w@nc-ec.org.

For general questions and registration assistance, please contact Shelby Warner at warner80@msu.edu or (517) 884-7076. 

Registration for this event has closed.

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