The Chippewa Luce Mackinac Conservation District’s annual Conservation Week will be held from Aug. 10 through Aug. 15. Conservation Week is a week-long series of events celebrating local conservation and natural resources. Each staff member is responsible for hosting and helping to facilitate a conservation-themed event. All events and activities are free to participants and most do not require registration.
Kicking off the week will be a Garden Party in Sault Ste Marie at Alford Park from 6:30pm to 8pm on Monday night. Visitors are invited to stop by the new park and learn about the park’s stormwater infrastructure. Attendees will learn how the park’s native plants help to absorb rainwater, reduce runoff, and prevent flooding. Light refreshments will be provided.
Tuesday, Aug. 11 is Monarch Day in Curtis. The morning portion of the event is geared towards children and will be held at Curtis Public Library from 10:30am to 12pm. Children will learn about the life cycle of Monarch butterflies and participate in a related hands-on activity. The afternoon portion of Monarch Day will begin at 1pm at the Erickson Center for the Arts and is targeted to adults. Presentations on monarch butterfly migration, native Michigan bees, and native plants will be given throughout the afternoon.
The District’s Forester, Logan Ferguson will be hosting a North Country Trail Hike and Mushroom Foray on Wednesday of Conservation Week. Participants will meet at the parking lot across the street from Naomikong Overlook, at the North Country Trailhead at 3pm. He will guide attendees through a portion of the trail, stopping to identify and gather mushrooms along the way. The event is open to participants of all ages and skill levels. The event will involve hiking for multiple hours, so proper hiking footwear is encouraged.
Thursday will be busy with two events: Lake Conservation Day and a Fairy House Building workshop.
Lake Conservation Day is in partnership with Michigan State University Extension. The event will be held in Curtis, again at the Erickson Center for the Arts from 1:30-5pm. Curtis was chosen as the location due to its close proximity to both Big Manistique and South Manistique Lake. The format of the event will include four presentations, each addressing an aspect of lake conservation: fisheries, water quality, shorelines, and aquatic plants.
The Fairy House Building Workshop was a fan favorite event last year that is back for another Conservation Week. It will be hosted at Sherman Park from 1pm-3pm, and all materials will be provided. Participants will create whimsical fairy houses using natural materials to build an enchanted forest. Fairy houses will be left on site for everyone to enjoy. This event does require registration; RSVP by emailing marquita.mullen@macd.org.
The District will be hosting a pop-up Tap Talk at Soo Brewing Company on Friday, Aug. 14 at 6:30pm. Molly Engleman from Michigan State Extension will give a talk centered on native aquatic plant appreciation. It will explore the ecology and structure of aquatic plant communities, as well as human dimensions and public perceptions of aquatic vegetation.
Conservation Week will culminate with the District’s presence at the Soo River Fest on Saturday, Aug. 15 from 11am-3pm. The Conservation District and Three Shores CISMA will have a table at the event, educating attendees on aquatic invasive species and steps that can be taken to prevent their spread.
Join the Conservation District’s staff and community members for a week of conservation-centered events. For more information on Conservation Week, visit the District’s Facebook page, @ChipLuceMackCD.
