A Turning Season for Conservation Education With MACD
Quarterly Education Newsletter — Issue #5
MACD Education Newsletter — September 2025
Fall is in the air! As seasons shift, change brings opportunity. Each program, classroom visit, and community event plants seeds of knowledge that last beyond this season. Connect with neighboring districts, collaborate, lend a hand at events, and share ideas—these connections strengthen our network and bring us closer to our goals. Thank you for lighting the path toward a more sustainable tomorrow. Send ideas for future newsletters to the contacts at the end.
Program Spotlight — Envirothon!
Michigan Envirothon is a hands-on, team-based environmental education competition for high school students, challenging youth to think critically about real-world natural resource issues. Teams are tested on five core areas and present an oral proposal:
Competition Topics
- Forestry
- Soils & Land Use
- Aquatic Ecology
- Wildlife
- Current Issue (changes annually)
Who can participate?
- High school students (grades 9–12) — public, private, and homeschool
- Teams of up to 5 students + 1 advisor/coach
- No prior experience required
Funding Opportunities
MAEOE Grants — Fall Cycle
Due: 10/15/2025. Grants for formal & non-formal educators through the Michigan Alliance for Environmental & Outdoor Education.
maeoe.com/grantsMichigan Nature Association — Field Trip Grants
Due: 09/12/2025. $500 grants for K–12 teachers to visit natural areas.
michigannature.org/educationMAEP Grants
Due: 09/29/2025. Supports K–12 schools, colleges, universities, and community orgs; typically $10,000–$15,000 total awarded yearly across multiple small grants for environmental education and hands-on field applications.
maep.org/Grant-InformationCool Fall Things — Check Them Out!
2026 NACD Stewardship Week — “Soil. Where It All Begins.”
Celebrate the foundational role of soil in healthy food, clean water, thriving habitats, and resilient communities—across backyards, forests, and city parks.
- Poster Contest (K–12) — Michigan state posters due Oct 15, 2025 (State Coordinator: Patty McNinch — patty.mcninch@macd.org)
- National Photo Contest (All) — Photos due Dec 1, 2025
- 2026 Education Materials — live at NACD site
Get involved: Work with local schools on submissions, hold a program/event, and spread the word on social media. Celebrate stewardship all year!
Michigan Green Schools
Supports Michigan schools (pre-K–12) in achieving environmental goals through good ecological practices and stewardship—helping protect air, land, water, and ecosystems.
- 358 schools currently certified—will you be the 359th?
- Annual application period: Jan 1 – early March
Contact: Samantha Lichtenwald, MI Green Schools Coordinator — LichtenwaldS@Michigan.gov
Cool Fall Things — Ideas & Stewardship
Fall Craft Ideas (All Ages)
- Early ages — Leaf confetti: use a hole punch for eco-confetti and celebrate fall.
- Middle ages — Nature mobile: natural materials + yarn = easy mobiles.
- Older ages — Monoprinting: print with natural materials for cards and art.
Leave the Leaves — Save the Fireflies
Firefly larvae overwinter in leaf litter. Leaving leaves under trees and around beds preserves habitat—less yard work, more summer wonder.
Native Seed Collecting
Harvest acorns, maple keys, wild bergamot, coneflowers, and more—connect with seasonal cycles while gathering seed for restoration and learning.
CD Educator & District Highlights
Aspen Schupbach — Grand Traverse Conservation District
Aspen, GTCD Education Specialist, received the MAEOE Rising Star Award recognizing early-career leadership, innovation, and best practices in environmental/outdoor education. Congratulations, Aspen!
Allegra Baird — Lenawee Conservation District
New Conservation Specialist bringing experience in environmental science, native plant restoration, agroecology, invasive species management, prescribed fire, and organic farming—focused on partnerships and farm resiliency.
Lenawee ISD — Envirothon
Congratulations to the Lenawee County students who competed at the International Envirothon in Alberta, Canada—placing 49th of 56 teams. Great job!
Featured Fall Activity — Monarch Tagging (Monarch Watch)
Each fall, millions of monarchs pass through Michigan on their 2,000-mile migration to Mexico. Workshops and school programs teach participants to capture and tag monarchs for Monarch Watch, building citizen science skills and wonder.
Announcements & Reminders
September
- 09/04 — National Wildlife Day
- 09/06 — National Play Outside Day
- 09/10 — National Swap Ideas Day
- 09/11 — Day of Service & Remembrance
- 09/22 — Autumnal Equinox @ 2:19 PM
- 09/27 — National Hunting & Fishing Day
October
- 10/20 — National Youth Confidence Day
- 10/25 — National Make a Difference Day
November
- 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
- 11/17 — National Take a Hike Day
- 11/19 — GIS Day
- 11/28 — National Native American Heritage Day; National Buy Nothing Day
December
- 12/02 — National Day of Giving / Giving Tuesday
- 12/04 — Wildlife Conservation Day
- 12/05 — International Volunteer Day
- 12/17 — National Maple Syrup Day
- 12/21 — Winter Solstice @ 10:03 AM
Michigan Deer Hunting Seasons (Check DNR for updates)
White-tailed Deer — 2025/2026
- Liberty Hunt: Sept 13–14, 2025
- Independence Hunt: Oct 16–19, 2025
- Archery: Oct 1–Nov 14 and Dec 1, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026
Extended archery through Jan 31, 2026 (select counties) - Regular Firearm: Nov 15–30, 2025
- Muzzleloading: Dec 5–14, 2025
- Late Antlerless (LP): Dec 15, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026
- Extended Late Antlerless: Jan 2–11, 2026
Always verify dates and rules with the Michigan DNR Hunting Regulations Summary.
Share Updates / Subscribe
Send education updates
Email Rachel Straughen — rstraughen@gtcd.org
and/or Erin Horton — erin.horton@macd.org
Thank you for reading—and for all you do to connect Michigan communities with conservation.