Welcome To The New Conservation District Education Newsletter!

Welcome

Welcome to the new Conservation District Education Newsletter! Developed by the MACD Education Committee to connect district educators with outdoor and environmental education tools, updates, and partners across Michigan. Share your ideas, stories, and wins—contact info below.

Program Spotlight

Envirothon Returns

Michigan Envirothon is back—a team-based environmental education competition using the outdoors as the classroom. Congratulations to participants including Vandercook Lake, KRESA/Kzoo Nature Center, and Cass City FFA. Special thanks to Steve Schaub and Patty McNinch and all who make this program possible.

Funding

Funding Opportunities

MAEOE Grants

Grants for formal & non-formal educators through the Michigan Alliance for Environmental and Outdoor Education.

maeoe.com/grants

Michigan Nature Association

$500 field trip grants for K-12 teachers visiting natural areas.

michigannature.org

Friends of NACD — District Grants

Support for individual Conservation Districts; over $76,000 awarded since FY2020.

nacdnet.org

MAEP Grants

Funding for schools & community orgs; typically $10k–$15k per year across multiple small awards.

maep.org/Grant-Information

Highlights

CD Educator & District Highlights

Aspen Schupbach — Grand Traverse CD

Education Specialist supporting Nature Day Camp, NEST field trips, and more—12,000+ visitors hosted this year at the Natural Education Reserve. Way to go!

Sarah Schroeder — Kalkaska CD

Community Engagement Specialist leading canoe trips on the Upper Manistee with the Substance Free Coalition, youth hiking camps, and weeknight hikes for families.

Genesee Conservation District — Tree Planting

On April 26, 2024, partners and volunteers planted 500 trees at Broome Park (Flint, MI). Collaborators included Earth Scouts, Keep Genesee County Beautiful, Consumers Energy, Carman-Ainsworth HS Garden Club, City of Flint, and Delta Kappa Gamma Mu Chapter.

Featured Activity

Every Tree for Itself — Project Learning Tree (PreK–8)

Active modeling lesson where learners embody trees competing for sunlight, water, space, and nutrients. Extend with variables like invasive species, fire, or pesticides to simulate a “classroom forest.” Missaukee CD recently ran this lesson—students were “planted” with paper-plate roots and collected resources before reflecting on how their tree felt.

Get certified with Project Learning Tree →

Dates

Announcements & Reminders — Oct–Dec

October

10/26 — National Make a Difference Day
10/31 — State Poster Contest Deadline

November

11/01 — National Family Literacy Day
11/02 — National Play Outside Day
11/06–11/08 — MACD Fall Conference
11/08 — National S.T.E.M. / S.T.E.A.M. Day
11/11 — Veterans Day
11/13 — World Kindness Day
11/15 — National Philanthropy Day; America Recycles Day
11/17 — National Take a Hike Day
11/18–19 — Renewable Roots Convention
11/20 — GIS Day; National Child’s Day
11/29 — National Native American Heritage Day; National Buy Nothing Day

December

12/03 — Giving Tuesday
12/04 — Wildlife Conservation Day
12/05 — International Volunteer Day
12/07 — National Play Outside Day
12/17 — National Maple Syrup Day
12/21 — Winter Solstice

Michigan Deer Seasons (check DNR for updates)

Independence Hunt: Oct 17–20, 2024
Archery: Oct 1–Nov 14; Dec 1, 2024–Jan 1, 2025
Extended archery through Jan 31, 2025 (select counties)
Regular Firearm: Nov 15–30, 2024
Muzzleloading (Zones 1–3): Dec 6–15, 2024
Late Antlerless (LP): Dec 16, 2024–Jan 1, 2025
New Extended Late Antlerless: Jan 2–12, 2025 (select counties)

Share Updates / Contact

Send news, stories, funding updates, or features

Rachel Straughen — rstraughen@gtcd.org

Erin Horton — erin.horton@macd.org

Subscribe

Sign up for the quarterly Education Newsletter and share the QR code with partners.

Thank you to Michigan’s educators—formal and non-formal—for advancing conservation learning across our communities.

Conservation District Education Newsletter — October 2024