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Good Afternoon!
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For those of you receiving this e-newsletter for
the first time, WELCOME! We recently updated our distribution list from
a different software program and added a significant number of new
contacts. We hope you enjoy this monthly e-newsletter!
What an awesome holiday weekend! The weather gave plenty of reason to get outside. We hope that you had a chance to enjoy it. All of this heat makes us thankful to be living so close to such an amazing water resource.
We hope that everyone had a great time at the Nature North Festival this past month. We have a bunch of great things going on this month as well. Take a look below to see what has been going on and what is to come.
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 Community Programs
| GTSI launches with 5-Day Summer Institute for Teachers
Twenty very dedicated - and energetic! - area teachers from four local schools spent an event-filled week at the Boardman River Nature Center from June 28 - July 2: Hiking trails, doing stream and pond sampling, meeting with environmental and other experts, canoeing the Boardman River, sailing West Bay, and learning about water-associated issues here in NW MI (click here for some photos). The week long Summer Institute was part of the Grand Traverse Stewardship Initiative (GTSI), which is helping teachers work with community partners to develop water-related projects that will enhance watershed knowledge and encourage environmental stewardship among students, while also providing a real benefit to the community. Read more
Smiles all around at this year's Nature North Festival
 The weather held for the Nature North Festival & many came out to celebrate nature in Northern MI. From kayaking to raptors to face painting to music, there were smiles all around. Click here for a link to pictures from this super fun event. Thanks to the UpNorth Media Center, kids were able to make their acting debut in some some nature scenes. Some may not want to relive this experience, but we suspect that most of you do. Click here for a link to the videos.
Thank you awesome partner organizations & volunteers who helped make this event possible!
Focus on the Watershed Nature Videos now Available online! Volunteer video producers were recruited as part of UpNorth Media's Focus on the Watershed project. The GTCD (us), The Watershed Center and Inland Seas Education Association all participated. The result was a bunch of awesome videos focused on the precious water resources of our area. Some of you may have made it to the Green Carpet event at the State Theatre where these videos were shown last month, but if not here is a link to it. We also are uploading the videos produced for the GTCD separately to our NEW YouTube channel (we have some up already).
Sign your Child up for Nature Day Camps by July 16 and receive 10% off! Mention this email when calling to register and receive 10% off your registration. Our sessions for 4-6yr olds are already filled up! There is still room for the other age groups (6-8, 8-10 & 10-12). Call 231.941.0960 and register your little natural resource steward today! Click here for details on the Summer Nature Day Camps.
We are looking for volunteers for Nature Day Camp! If you are interested in helping out, please contact Colleen Masterson-Bzdok at cmasterson@gtcd.org or 941-0960 ext. 25. July Programs at the Nature Center: Come Kayak with us!
This month we have a special opportunity to take a guided kayak tour of Sabin Pond. There is a cost associated with it and space is limited, so you must RSVP. We have plenty of other great things going on as well this month. Programs take place every Saturday and some evenings. Click here for the
full schedule and more information on kayaking.
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Land Management Services
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Killer on the Loose!
Shade lurker. Rapid reproducer. Fast grower. Species diversity killer. Sounds like the beginning of a bad horror movie, doesn't it? Well, unfortunately what is being described is close to home and not nearly as entertaining. It's a non native species that is invading one of our natural areas. These species are often planted in landscaping because of their pretty flowers, but their effects on our environment are anything but pretty. On a hike through the Commons last fall, a botanist from Wisconsin noticed a new invader - Bigleaf Periwinkle (Vinca major). This could be the first recorded sighting in Michigan. Read on
Volunteers Needed: Boardman River Invasive Species Workbee
We are holding monthly Invasive Species Workbees. This month's is coming up on Sat, July 17 and will be on the Boardman River just upstream from Brown Bridge Pond. If you are interested in helping out, contact Robin Christensen at rchristensen@gtcd.org or 231.941.0960 ext 20
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Private Land Services
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Pesticides from last year's collection safely packaged and ready for disposal. |
We want your Hazardous Waste!
Our Groundwater Stewardship coordinator, Dan Busby, will be collecting some nasty pesticides again this year in conjunction with Grand Traverse County's Resource Recovery Department's summer Household Hazardous Waste collection. You can bring in your household hazardous materials as well. The collection will take place on Thursday, July 29 (1-7p) and is by appointment only. Click here to schedule an appointment and find more information on what you can bring.
Another Great Spring Native Plant Rescue Season
Our spring Native Plant Rescue season has come to a close and a lot of native plants are breathing a sigh of relief. In addition to a large residential land development, the group of volunteers rescued over 500 plants from the road widening project on S. Long Lake Rd. We would like to thank the GT County Road Commission for their help and cooperation on this project. Over 3,500 plants total were rescued this spring! Click here to see a new video made by one of the Native Plant Rescue volunteers about the program. If you are interested in becoming a Native Plant Rescue volunteer, please contact Jon Prins at jprins@gtcd.org.
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A Tribute to Wally
|  Last weekend we celebrated the life of a long time conservationist, beloved coworker, and friend. Wally Chappel passed away at his home last week. He worked at the Grand Traverse Conservation District for more than a dozen years. During that time, he inspired children, families, young adults, and the entire community to explore nature and become stewards of the earth. It is largely thanks to Wally's passion that the GTCD began the children's discovery hikes program that ultimately led to the creation of the Boardman River Nature Center. Wally's work is visible and lasting in the hiking trails, boardwalks, bridges, and scenic overlooks he helped construct throughout the Grand Traverse County. His passion for conservation will live on in all of us who knew him and in all the children he inspired to explore, appreciate, and conserve the natural world.
His family has asked that contributions made in his memory be given to the Boardman River Nature Center that he so passionately helped inspire.
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Support the GTCD
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Sponsor an Upcoming Event or Program
We recently kicked-off an exciting new sponsorship program! Are you looking for a way for your business to reach your target audience and do your part to protect the natural resources of Northern Michigan at the same time? Well, this is the right opportunity for you! Click here or contact Jon Prins at 231-941-0960 or jprins@gtcd.org to learn more.
A Delicious way to Donate
Don't forget if you're looking for a sweet treat, you can stop by Firefly (downtown TC) to enjoy a delicious desert. Firefly gives $1 to the GTCD for each desert sold... Yum!
The work of the GTCD would not be possible without your support. We depend on friends like you to help us ensure we are able to deliver vibrant programs now and into the future. There are many opportunities to get involved with the GTCD by donating your "time, talent, and treasure!" Contact Rebecca Teahen ( rteahen@gtcd.org) to learn more about ways to give to the GTCD. |
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| Feel free to give us feedback and forward this onto your friends!
Sincerely,
Jon Prins
Outreach Specialist
Grand Traverse Conservation District
NatureisCalling.org
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Inspiring exploration, appreciation, & conservation of our natural world |
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