Upcoming Events

Early Morning Bird Watch | Friday, June 6 at 7 AM
Thompson Christmas Tree Ship Park
Join us for a morning bird watch at a site that sees heavy warbler migration activity. New to birding? No worries! All are welcome regardless of skill or experience. Free and open to the public. The park is located just to the east of the Oasis gas station in Thompson.

Native Plant Gardens Workshop | Tuesday, June 17 at 5 PM
Schoolcraft Conservation District Office
​Join us for a class covering the ins and outs of creating your own pollinator-friendly native plant garden. What does “native” mean? What are the benefits of planting native? What species would be best for your unique needs? Learn how to design a garden that’s eye-catching and beneficial for all. This class will take place at our office, in the building across from the Manistique School & Public Library.

Aquatic Invasive Species Workshop | Saturday, May 28 at 1 PM
Gulliver Lake Boat Launch
​Are you passionate about keeping our waters healthy and preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species? Join us to learn how to identify native and invasive aquatic plants, as well as how to keep your watercraft and equipment clean in order to stop invasive spread. 

Help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species! Boating season is just around the corner, and with it comes the potential spread of aquatic invasive hitchhikers like zebra mussels, Eurasian water milfoil, and European frogbit--all of which can do tremendous damage to local ecosystems and quickly outcompete beneficial native species. Help prevent AIS spread by making sure to Clean, Drain, Dry your equipment and watercraft between uses.

This summer, we'll be continuing to work on our Michigan Invasive Species Grant (MISG) project at boat launches throughout Schoolcraft and Delta Counties. Learn more about our efforts to prevent AIS, and where you can find us for a free boat wash, here.

District Activities

Warbler Wonderland
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Another year, another Warbler Wonderland! Each May, at the peak of warbler migration, the district hosts a birding festival featuring guided hikes to different area habitats. Warbler Wonderland, which was started as a way to promote bird and habitat conservation while bringing more sustainable tourism to Manistique, has grown rapidly in its four years of existence. Despite the less-than-stellar weather, we had 70 people who traveled from as far away as Virginia participate in this year's festival, and thrilled to see it continue to grow! 

Warblers are notable migrants for their breathtakingly bright colors and unique patterns. Making trips of up to 12,500 miles each year, these little birds are also remarkable for their endurance and stamina, and it's no wonder people are so eager to see these unique neotropical species.

Meet Us at the Farmers' Market

We're proud supporters of our local Farmers' Market! The Manistique Farmers' Market 2025 season will start on May 28 and run every Wednesday from 5-6:30 PM alongside Triangle Park in Manistique. SCD hosts a booth where we provide educational materials, free seeds through our seed library, and sell canvas bags that can be used to carry market produce. In partnership with the Manistique Women's Club, we'll also be handing out recipe cards featuring ingredients that can be found at the market. Be sure to drop by to say hello and support our local growers. More information on the market and vendors can be found on the market Facebook page.

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Region 2 Employee of the Year

We want to give a huge congratulations to District Manager Ashley Reitter for receiving the Region 2 Conservation District Employee of the Year Award from the Conservation District Employees of Michigan! Ashley joined SCD in 2020 and has breathed new life into the district in the four years since. Among a myriad of other accomplishments, she initiated our Community Conservation Grants Program, spearheaded our Warbler Wonderland birding festival, led the district in acquiring over $203,000 of grant funding, established our annual native plants sale, and shared her extensive knowledge through everything from workshops to site visits. In her role as district manager, she has navigated both professional and personal struggles with aplomb, bringing true passion to her work while also serving as a paragon of kindness, compassion, and generosity. We want to extend a very sincere thank you to Ashley for her years of service; both the district and wider Schoolcraft community have truly been blessed by her knowledge, enthusiasm, and dedication.

​Emerald Elementary School Pollinator Garden

Earlier this year, we were fortunate enough to be awarded a grant from the Wildflowers Association of Michigan to fund the establishment of a new pollinator garden outside Emerald Elementary School's front entrance. We were busy earlier this summer preparing the site (formerly an unused strip of lawn), and most recently had fourth and fifth grade classes from both Emerald and St. Francis Elementary School to help us with planting. 

We still have a bit of work to do before the garden will be complete, including creating the sign (which will be bordered by pictures of pollinators as drawn by all of Emerald's students), but we're thrilled with how it's looking so far! Thank you to our amazing volunteers, as well as Emerald's staff and faculty, for helping us bring this project to life.

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