Agenda
January 22nd, 2026 // Thursday
7:45 am - 8:30 am
Make this your first stop
Enjoy a bite to eat, maybe grab a cup of hot coffee, and get ready for a great day
8:30 am - 8:45 am
Join us for orientation and opening remarks by Lisa Brush, CEO of The Stewardship Network
8:45 am - 9:45 am // Keynote
Staying the Course: Sustainability, Climate Action, and Environmental Justice to Meet the Moment
KEYNOTE PRESENTER:
Anjuli Jain Figueroa – University of Michigan
9:45 am - 10:15 am // Break
10:15 am - 11:15 am
Click on session titles below for more information
*This presentation qualifies for MDARD seminar recertification credit
Mission in Motion: Growing Events That Matter
PRESENTER:
Renee Fultz – Lake Erie Islands Nature & Wildlife Center
What if your small program could become a highlight of your community calendar? Join Renee Fultz, Director of the Lake Erie Islands Nature & Wildlife Center, as she shares the inspiring journey of transforming a small monarch tagging program into Put-in-Bay’s vibrant Monarch Fest—scaling from just 20 attendees to 400, and hopefully more in the future! Now in its second year, Monarch Fest has already become a community favorite, despite a few bumps along the way. In this session, you’ll explore the wins, lessons learned, and the next steps for Monarch Fest, while building a roadmap to elevate your own outreach efforts. Renee will guide you through a hands-on worksheet designed to spark ideas and help you scale a small program into a larger, more impactful event. You’ll leave with a personalized to-do list and a clear plan to grow your event in ways that benefit both your audience and your organization.
Participatory Methods: Pathways for Restoring Canopy Cover and Quality of Life in a Detroit Neighborhood
PRESENTERS:
David Henderson – Michigan State University
Sasha Lepeschkin-Noel – Michigan State University
Asia Dowtin – Michigan State University
In urban forestry, community-led participatory strategies can be used to help restore diverse, resilient tree cover and quality of life in areas where blight and related decline have occurred. This presentation will explore the impacts that different participatory techniques have had in restoring tree cover and quality of life in a once-declining Detroit neighborhood, with this work led by a local non-profit and advanced through collaboration with academic and federal partners. Participatory methods from 2024-25 resulted in the establishment of a nursery for sustained local sourcing of plant material, workforce development for 100 area youth, and planting of approximately 75 trees on vacant lots. Preliminary impacts include decreased crime, positive learning outcomes for community youth, and increased local engagement with spatially expansive green spaces. We will share lessons learned about fostering community stewardship of urban forests through collaborative participatory efforts.
Using Drones as a Tool in the Ecological Restoration Process
PRESENTERS:
Clay Christian Kusbach – Davey Resource Group
Jacob Peters – Davey Resource Group
Sites with poor access or sensitive environments are difficult to manage with traditional tools, which can increase costs, create safety risks, and damage ecosystems. Davey Resource Group, Inc. (DRG) has introduced a fleet of drones equipped with aerial imaging, seeding, and herbicide application capabilities to address these challenges. This technology allows efficient data collection, precise vegetation management, and restoration implementation with a limited footprint, even across large or hard-to-reach areas. Drones reduce disturbance, improve safety, and enhance accuracy while supporting well-timed, strategic ecological restoration. When combined with boots-on-the-ground expertise, they expand DRG’s ability to deliver targeted and cost-effective restoration solutions. This presentation will highlight case studies showing how drone technology complements fieldwork, enabling better monitoring, seeding, and invasive species control while promoting resilient ecosystems.
*Attendees of this presentation earn one MDARD recertification credit (2, 6, AE)
Breaking Down Silos to Manage Lake Erie HABs: Evaluating the First Two Years of the WLEB Community Advisory Group
PRESENTERS:
Alison Bressler – University of Michigan Water Center
Margot Frendt – University of Michigan
Analeigh Majewski – University of Michigan
Harmful algae blooms remain an urgent, annual hazard for Lake Erie, primarily driven by nutrient pollution from agriculture. In 2023, the University of Michigan Water Center convened the Western Lake Erie Basin Community Advisory Group to bring together rural, agricultural, and municipal stakeholders in the watershed to work with state agencies to inform Michigan’s Lake Erie Domestic Action Plan (DAP). After over two years of facilitated community engagement in the watershed through the Advisory Group, a new DAP has been published; conferences, member meetings, field tours, small group meetings, and webinars have occurred; and the community has formed stronger connections across silos. During this session we will explore the impact of the Advisory Group’s feedback on revisions to the 2025 DAP, farmers’ motivations to participate in the Advisory Group, and how farmers perceive gaps and progress on phosphorus management in the WLEB in 2025 compared to before participating in the group.
The Restoration of Midwestern Oak Ecosystems
PRESENTER:
Lars Brudvig – Michigan State University
Jack Pritchard – Michigan State University
Tyler Bassett – Michigan Natural Features Inventory
Clay Wilton – Michigan Natural Features Inventory
Oak ecosystems cover a broad zone from the Eastern deciduous forests to the Great Plains, including a mosaic of forests, woodlands, and savannas in southern Michigan. Unfortunately, these ecosystems and the species they support are imperiled due to fire suppression and other human-caused ecosystem changes. In turn, oak ecosystem restorations that employ prescribed fire and other management techniques are widespread. But, how well do these approaches work for achieving goals such as open canopy structure, oak regeneration, and high ground layer plant diversity? We provide an overview of Midwestern oak ecosystems, including their ecology and natural history, threats, and approaches to restoration. We then describe findings and ongoing projects from our research, evaluating the efficacy of different restoration approaches, including a multi-state survey and projects in southern Michigan. We conclude by considering what we view as important open questions in oak ecosystem restoration.
11:15 am - 11:35 am // Break
11:35 am - 12:35 pm
Click on session titles below for more information
Growing Trees Where There Are People
PRESENTER:
C. Samuel Works – The Morton Arboretum
Our Roots’ Tree Ambassador Program (TAP) provides Chicago residents and community groups with training, resources, and funding to plant trees in their neighborhoods and build community support for trees. With our unique framework, the program connects community members directly to the City of Chicago, allowing for prioritized decision making around public tree plantings and green infrastructure in historically under-resourced areas. Through TAP, The Morton Arboretum’s Chicago Region Trees Initiative and local organizations work in direct collaboration with the City of Chicago, creating systems to request trees, supporting dialogue between community members and municipal staff and enhancing the accessible, well-attended Tree Equity Working Group. Throughout the 18 month program, partners receive funding to provide tree resources to their communities and financially support their operations and staff. We will present our approach to community-based engagement and partner collaboration.
Remote Sensing of Northern Wild Rice (Zizania palustris) Using an Unpiloted Aerial Vehicle
PRESENTER:
Andrew Monks – Michigan Wildlife Conservancy
Zizania palustris is an annual grass native to wetlands and lakes of the Upper Great Lakes that is a culturally important resource to indigenous peoples of the region. Populations of Z. palustris have declined across Michigan, with approximately 1% of historic beds remaining. Monitoring and mapping Z. palustris is crucial to its conservation, but conducting fieldwork in remote wetlands in remote areas is challenging. Thus, remote sensing is a promising strategy. We investigated the feasibility of identifying northern wild rice among four other classes of wetland vegetation growing in a northern Michigan lake using imagery obtained by an Unpiloted Aerial Vehicle (drone) outfitted with a multispectral camera. We used a machine-learning classifier to discern between vegetation classes and found classes were identified at an overall accuracy of 80%, with NDVI being the most important driver. Overall, this demonstrates the potential of remotely identifying a critical wetland resource.
Delineation of Michigan Critical Dunes
PRESENTERS:
Brian Majka – GEI Consultants
Tyler Bassett – Michigan Natural Features Inventory
Michigan has long recognized the importance of protecting its freshwater sand dunes. In response to development pressures and the recognition of the need to protect especially important dunes, the Michigan legislature passed the Sand Dunes Protection and Management law in 1989. Under this law and after approval by the legislature, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy designated critical dune areas (CDAs) in 1989 that would have special protections. From 2024-2025, EGLE contracted with GEI Consultants, Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Michigan Technological University, and Michigan State University to update the 1989 CDA atlas. The effort combined desktop reviews and field-based assessments to recommend additions, removals and corrections to the atlas based on geomorphological and ecological conditions. This presentation will provide an overview of the methodology used to assess the morphology, coastal processes, and ecology of Michigan’s dunes.
Homegrown Habitats: Inspiring Private Landowners to Take the Next Step
PRESENTERS:
Jon Cross – Zenvironment Nature
Susan Cross – Zenvironment Nature
Private landowners are key participants in stewardship of the earth. Professionals simply can’t shoulder this burden alone. The good news is that interested parties don’t have to be environmental experts. The challenge is connecting them to resources that educate, inspire, and champion their efforts – big and small. Jon and Susan Cross have restored their own 20 acres of rare woodland, sand barren, and wet prairie, located in The Oak Openings Region of Southeast Michigan and Northwest Ohio. Their property now provides a home for 14 rare and state-listed species. Key learnings from their experiences, sharing their story with various audiences, and connecting with local resources and like-minded people, offer insight into overcoming barriers to engage private landowners in environmental stewardship. Join them to learn about their restoration experience and frontline efforts to increase native plant landscaping and gardening on private property.
Reimagining Our Dam Story: Removal of the Brooklyn Dam in the River Raisin Watershed
PRESENTER:
Carley Kratz – Lenawee Intermediate School District
Lydia Lopez – River Raisin Watershed Council
Man-made dams have been a part of Michigan for hundreds of years. They have left a heavy impression on our collective psyche; offering a mill pond to skate on in the winter, or a favorite fishing spot in the outlet downstream. Unfortunately, dam failure can have catastrophic consequences. Dams also fragment the ecology of a healthy river. The Brooklyn Dam was constructed on the River Raisin in 1939 to provide hydroelectric power for the Ford Motor Company factory. The River Raisin Watershed Council has been working in partnership with countless organizations to remove the dam, restore surrounding wetlands, relocate native fauna, and above all else monitor and maintain the health of the river. We aim to provide updates on this project including the progress that has been made and lessons learned. Benthic macroinvertebrate surveys show hope of a recovering ecosystem. Above all else it is the human element that gives us hope and allows us to reimagine our riverine landscapes.
Sanback Dam Removal: A Multifaceted Project Approach
PRESENTER:
Josh Leisen – Huron Pines
Dam removal is a complex topic often requiring a great deal of community engagement, technical expertise, and environmental considerations. Beyond the technical aspects of removing a dam to restore river process and function, many questions arise. Huron Pines is currently working with the City of Rose City, MI to remove the Sanback Dam, which will be used as a case study for this presentation. Interrelated topics to be covered will include dam removal, river restoration, community engagement, invasive plant management, park space renovation, and long-term monitoring and management of the project area long after the dam is removed. Each dam removal project is unique, but our goal is to share an approach and generate discussion about how to best approach such projects while balancing the needs of local communities, the environment, and financial and technical constraints of a project.
Student Pathways Session
All students and young professionals are encouraged to attend this session that will explore early career development and issues unique to the next generation of professionals.
PRESENTERS:
Asia Dowtin – Michigan State University
Mary Parr – Michigan Natural Features Inventory
David Henderson – Michigan State University
Mitch Lettow – Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy
The landscape of careers in stewardship and sustainability is diverse and rapidly changing. How can you identify and form your career path? What professional development do you need to grow or transition among the options, from academia to business to government and non-governmental organizations? This session provides a supportive environment to share questions and learn best practices from each other and from professionals with different experiences.
12:35 pm - 1:45 pm
Enjoy a meal and connect with friends (old and new!)
Grab a tasty lunch and bring it over to Red Cedar for a discussion on this popular topic …
Roundtable Discussion: How to Inspire Private Landowners to Embrace Native Plant Habitats on Their Properties
PRESENTERS:
Mark Ballering – Green Forest
Jon Cross – Zenvironment Nature
Susan Cross – Zenvironment Nature
Wayne Oliver – River Bend Gardens
Inspiring private landowners to landscape with native plants and embrace stewardship of the earth is a challenging task. With two thirds of the land in the United States under private ownership, however, it is a critical one to restore biodiversity and improve overall ecological health. Join four private landowners with extensive experience in habitat restoration and conservation on their properties to discuss lessons learned and how to increase private landowner stewardship on properties of two-500 acres through education, direct engagement, and collaboration. Topics may include: What will motivate landowners? What tools do they need to incorporate native plant landscapes on their property? What resources exist for support? What is the role public entities play in this effort? What are the barriers to success? How can we make efforts easier? Planet, place and people all win when everyone does their part – whether large scale or small.
1:45 pm - 2:45 pm
Click on session titles below for more information
Why Conservation?
PRESENTER:
Jennifer Kleitch – Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Last year marked the 50th anniversary of the State of Michigan’s Endangered Species Protection Act. To celebrate, I embarked on a journey exploring what motivates conservationists do their work to understand: “Why Conservation?” The goals of the project were to 1) better understand the range of experiences that drive conservationists in their efforts and 2) share out common themes and quotes to inform others spread the conservation ethic. The project included interviews with land managers, consultants, regulators, leaders of non-profits, and past DNR endangered species specialists. In the interviews I asked about personal and professional experiences and perspectives. We explored thoughts on current and future opportunities and challenges, how they first became interested in nature, and even came up with a few elevator pitches. In this talk, I will highlight some commonalities that emerged from these conversations and outline ways we can all inspire others to engage in conservation.
Michigan Forest Association’s Forest and Water Fund: Cost Share for Private Forest Landowners
PRESENTER:
Vic Lane – Michigan Forest Association
This is an overview of the new Forest and Water Fund, which can provide up to $25,000 of cost share funding to private forest landowners throughout Michigan, with unique payments of 80-100% of actual costs for certain climate-smart practices. The presentation will include descriptions and examples of funded practices and also the processes for enrollment.
Guarding Treasures: A Guide for Assessing Habitat Conditions to Inform Your Management Responses
PRESENTER:
Derek Shiels – Little Traverse Conservancy
Brad Von Blon – Little Traverse Conservancy
Joshua Gabriel Cohen – Michigan Natural Features Inventory
Protecting land provides the opportunity for conserving habitats and connecting with nature, but stewardship is needed to complete and act on those opportunities. Stewardship can be defined very simply as “wise care” and wisdom requires considering all the facts. Inherent then in stewardship, is the need to have deep knowledge of the lands that are being cared for. We can conserve what we know. This session aims to help land managers with large land holdings develop a framework for gathering ecological knowledge to steward wildlife and their habitats. You are busy and have many responsibilities; being an ecologist is not easy, but we will show why it is necessary and provide examples, ideas, and techniques for how to increase your awareness about the ecological health of the lands you manage and engage in larger landscape-scale conservation. Knowledge-is-key, while a cliché, is vital to identifying degraded lands and then restoring them.
The Deer Dilemma: Methods of Managing Urban Deer in Southeast Michigan
PRESENTERS:
George Ackerman – University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
Andy Metz – University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
Tristan Compton – University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
Zach Cavanaugh – University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
Muzi (Chelsea) Yang – University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
Lauren Jones – University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
Mike Kost – University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum
Bryan Farmer – State of Michigan Deer Management Initiative
Managing the impacts of overabundant urban deer populations has become a priority for many municipal governments and land management organizations in Southeast Michigan. This project served to advance current and future urban deer management by producing a standardized guide for new programs and providing technical support for the implementation of the first regional deer management program in Farmington Hills, Farmington, and Southfield. Three pillars of urban deer management were used as a framework for the project: ecological, social, and program development. Project elements included conducting interviews with city employees and land managers, providing recommendations for ecological monitoring programs, and developing a variety of materials to support deer management programs in Southeast Michigan. Moving forward, we offer recommendations for municipalities interested in implementing urban deer management programs.
Communicating Beaver Coexistence
PRESENTER:
Andrea Knutson – Oakland University
As beavers reclaim spaces after their near extinction in the 19th century, they’re showing up in places that challenge our ability to coexist with them. After centuries of erasure not only from our landscapes, but also from our memories and ecological imaginaries, they’re forcing us to confront the paradigms and worldviews that drive everything from our conservation models to our modes of extraction that cohered around their long absence. This session will provide updates on coexistence efforts in Michigan and discuss the central role that communicating beaver coexistence plays in changing a culture that, because of their erasure, tends to perpetuate that erasure. The presentation will outline where these efforts stand, educate our audience about what coexistence can look like, and discuss the necessary reform needed in our regulatory agencies. The focus will be on strategies have been employed to advance the conversation and open a discussion to strengthen the process moving forward.
The Green Ribbon Initiative: a New TSN Member Community!
PRESENTERS:
Matty Watkins – The Nature Conservancy
Pete Blank – The Nature Conservancy
The Oak Openings Region is a globally distinct ecosystem spanning across Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. It has been designated by The Nature Conservancy as “One of the 200 Last Great Places on Earth.” Sadly, the Oak Openings Region is disappearing at an alarming rate as natural areas within the region are converted to agriculture and by urban sprawl. Of the roughly 833,000 acres in the Oak Openings region, ecologists have identified 6,000 (~7%) acres of high-quality greenspace running like a ribbon through the area. The Green Ribbon Initiative (GRI), formally recognized in 2000, is a shared vision of public and private organizations, landowners, and individuals working to preserve, enhance, and restore critical natural areas in the Oak Openings Region. We engage community members through our quarterly newsletter, volunteer programs, landowner registry, site visits, and more. In 2025, the GRI joined The Stewardship Network as a new Member Community.
Empowering Citizen Scientists: The Newaygo County Vernal Pool Patrol Initiative
PRESENTER:
Katie Clark – Newaygo County Environmental Coalition
In Newaygo County, despite its 234 lakes, 635 miles of river, and 10,000 acres of Manistee National Forest, no vernal pools were recorded until Katie Clark of the Newaygo County Environmental Coalition (NCEC) joined the Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) Vernal Pool Patrol (VPP) program. As the Newaygo Region’s VPP Coordinator, Katie has led efforts to map vernal pools, crucial for biodiversity, akin to the “coral reefs” of forests. Through workshops, field sessions, and community engagement, the NCEC team has made significant strides, making Newaygo the region with the 2nd highest number of mapped vernal pools in Michigan. Partnering with the Newaygo Conservation District, they’re expanding their reach, offering free monitoring kits. This initiative showcases the power of citizen science in environmental conservation, highlighting the partnership between NCEC, the community, and local organizations in preserving these vital ecosystems for future generations.
2:45 pm - 3:05 pm // Break
3:05 pm - 4:05 pm
Click on session titles below for more information
CHIPs! Funding Community Habitat Improvement Projects: Implementation, Data Streamlining, Case Studies, and Lessons Learned
PRESENTERS:
Patrick Caniff – Oakland County Parks
Sarah Cook-Maylen – Oakland County Parks
Lindsey Scupholm – Oakland County Parks
Megan Schildberg – Oakland County Parks
Initiated in 2021, Oakland County Parks’ annual grants through the Community Habitat Improvement Projects (CHIPs) have been taking a bite out of the urgent local conservation and restoration needs one year at a time. CHIPs assists Oakland County municipalities and CISMA partners to tackle local invasive species and restoration priorities through indirect funding, coordinating contractor management, and directing staff capacity to maximize impact.
This presentation will showcase the successes and pitfalls of this multi-pronged program from organizational development and coordination, GIS applications and data streamlining, impact and work completed, and implications for management innovations and recommendations from case studies. Types of projects that have been implemented through this program include: invasive species treatment, winter forestry mowing, turf-conversion projects, and native seed/plug plantings. Check out the webpage here for more information
Our Backyard Detroit: Empowering Residents to Transform Parks and Neighborhoods
PRESENTERS:
Kamryn Gardner – Green Living Science
Madison Gladney – Green Living Science
Our Backyard Detroit (OBD) transforms parks into living classrooms, empowering Detroit residents to lead environmental stewardship in their neighborhoods. Through a contractor model, we hire local residents as Champions who facilitate hands-on education, host events, and reinforce recycling and sustainability behaviors citywide. OBD combines youth engagement, school programming, and multi-family recycling initiatives to strengthen community leadership, intergenerational collaboration, and equitable access to resources. By embedding sustainability into daily routines and providing standardized materials, training, and partnership support, we enable resident-led initiatives that foster neighborhood pride, lasting environmental change, and deeper connections between Detroiters and their green spaces.
Life Ways of Great Lakes Anishinabeg: Sustainable Land Management for Manoomin and Maple Sugar
PRESENTERS:
Roger LaBine – Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Environmental Department
Cortney Collia – CC’s Natural Arts
We will take a look at how traditional Anishinabeg preparations for Manoomin and Maple Sugar seasons yield sustainable land management practices.
Beaver-Human Coexistence: Dam Worth It!
PRESENTERS:
Cooper Offord – University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
Mel Shea – University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
Sydney Lubeck – University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
Teresa Li – University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
Evyn Ladendorf-Lilly – University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
Mike Kost – University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum
Jason Frenzel – Huron River Watershed Council
Kate Laramie – Huron River Watershed Council
Beaver are ecosystem engineers that alter the physical structure of riparian ecosystems and create new wetland habitats. Humans and other species benefit from the many ecosystem services beaver and their wetlands provide, including increases in biodiversity, water quality, carbon sequestration, and fire and drought resistance. Historically extirpated from Lower Michigan, beaver are now returning and bringing their many ecological benefits with them. However, beaver alteration of the landscape can cause conflict with human infrastructure and land use. Our project seeks to address these conflicts by providing science-based coexistence strategies. We utilized the Beaver Restoration Assessment Tool to predict where beavers are likely to colonize, performed a policy analysis to assess current beaver regulations, and engaged with land managers and property owners to understand current challenges and provide recommendations for coexistence strategies.
Updates to the Flora of the Huron Mountain Club
PRESENTER:
Scott Warner – Michigan Natural Features Inventory
The Huron Mountain Club is a large property in Marquette County supporting many natural communities in a nearly pristine condition, most notably a large network of granite bedrock glades and a vast old-growth mesic northern forest. Further, there are 11 inland lakes, 13 rivers and streams, and 13 miles of Lake Superior shoreline. Across 2024 and 2025, I spent 35 days botanizing the Club and documented more than 600 vascular plant species, including more than 25 county records and 10 species that are tracked as Threatened, Endangered, or Special Concern in Michigan. I will share photographs, notable finds, and descriptions of the unique natural communities and geological features encountered.
4:05 pm - 4:30 pm // Break
4:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Water Ceremony
LEADERS:
Beatrice Jackson – Three Fires Midewewin Lodge
Panoka Walker – The Otter Creek Lodge
Join us as Beatrice Jackson and Panoka Walker lead us through this traditional practice that continues to be a deeply cherished and meaningful part of our annual gathering. You will be guided through the mental, physical, and spiritual connection to water as we collectively honor this sacred gift through song, movement, and contemplation. As we dedicate our lives to the betterment of the natural world and connections with one another, we take this time to appreciate water’s role in the universe, flowing endlessly through ourselves and everything around us. “When a prayer is said and a song is sung, the water becomes sacred, and can heal body, mind, and spirit.” Dress warmly as this will take place outside on the banks of the Red Cedar River and note that photography is prohibited.
5:00 pm - 5:15 pm // Break
5:15 pm - 6:00 pm
This is your opportunity to visit with the presenters of the posters you may have read throughout the day! Get to know their work and have your questions answered.
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Enjoy a meal and connect with friends (old and new!)
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Click on session titles below for more information
Trivia Night
LEADER:
Ian Ableson – Six Rivers Land Conservancy
A beloved TSN Conference tradition returns! Join in the fun, camaraderie, and assorted shenanigans as Quiz Master Ian Ableson hosts an evening of nature-themed trivia. Build your roster or come solo and we’ll help you find a team – there’s room for everyone!
Decompress from a busy day with plenty of room to relax, chat, or enjoy playing a casual game with fellow attendees.
January 23rd, 2026 // Friday
7:45 am - 8:30 am
Not required if you attended Thursday
Enjoy a bite to eat, maybe grab a cup of hot coffee, and get ready for a great day
8:30 am - 8:35 am
Join us for brief orientation and day two opening remarks by Lisa Brush, CEO of The Stewardship Network
8:35 am - 9:35 am // Keynote
The United by Nature Initiative: Knowledge for Thinking Big About Local Stewardship
KEYNOTE PRESENTER:
Phil Levin – University of Washington
9:35 am - 10:00 am // Break
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Click on session titles below for more information
*This presentation qualifies for MDARD seminar recertification credit
Keeping Pace with Forest Health Pests
PRESENTERS:
Heidi Frei – Michigan Department of Natural Resources (Parks and Recreation Division)
Rahat Rafiq – Grand Valley State University Center for Applied Computing
Oak wilt and forest health diseases and pests continue to spread and impact our natural areas, often outpacing the capacity of field crews. Ground detection methods for oak wilt have remained largely based upon chance and aerial surveys with fixed wing aircraft remain out of reach for many land managers. With other threats, such as hemlock woolly adelgid and beech leaf disease, threatening forest communities, new techniques are needed to keep pace with the rapid changes to forest health. By adding UAV surveillance powered by machine learning at select sites, teams can nimbly respond using rapid response techniques and increase the likelihood of successful management.
*Attendees of this presentation earn one MDARD recertification credit (2, 6, AE)
Igniting Growth: Ecological Assessment of Blueberry Response to Forest Management Treatments on the Menominee Reservation
PRESENTER:
Tanikwah Lang – University of Wisconsin-Madison & Klamath Tribal Member
Wild blueberries hold cultural significance for the Menominee people, who have harvested them for generations. Of the 26 Vaccinium species in North America, lowbush (V. angustifolium) and velvetleaf (V. myrtilloides) are most common on the Menominee Reservation. Fire suppression has reduced the productivity of these fire-adapted species, which thrive in nutrient-poor, acidic soils where disturbance maintains suitable conditions. This study examines how forest management strategies influence blueberry growth and regeneration. Using ecological field methods, I measured berry weight and count, stem density, percent cover, canopy cover, species inventory, soil pH, and leaf tissue nutrients. Results will inform the Menominee Tribal Enterprises Forestry Center on how four management techniques affect blueberry health and yield. Findings aim to guide decisions that enhance abundance, reinforce cultural connections, and promote tribal food sovereignty.
Slop ’em up! Lessons and Questions in Bog Restoration
PRESENTER:
Robb Johnston – Stantec
Over the past few years, Stantec has been conducting ecological restoration at Bishop’s Bog Preserve in Portage, MI. The bog is a treasured, beloved jewel in the crown that is the city’s parks system. It’s a fascinating case study where the fragility and resilience of this increasingly rare natural community are on full display. In his role as restoration ecologist with Stantec, Robb Johnston has had the pleasure of trying to wrap his head around management of this precious 150-acre preserve. In his presentation, he’d like to share his thoughts, experience, lessons learned, and enduring mysteries in the hope that they might prove useful to others who would slop ’em up ‘mongst the blueberries and glossy buckthorn.
The Citizen Scientists of the Wolf-Moose Project
PRESENTER:
Jeffrey Holden – Wolf-Moose Foundation
Jeffrey Holden has spent a quarter century leading groups on Isle Royale in support of the world’s longest running predator-prey study. Join this session for: a high-level discussion of Isle Royale and its history; the history of the Wolf-Moose Study including how it got started; The Winter Study, including what it entails and how it sets the stage for the Summer Study; The Summer Study, including how the project depends upon volunteers to find dead moose year-in and year out; what volunteers do when they find a dead moose; science of the study; some examples of findings; moose and wolf bone show-and-tell; and a one-chapter book reading.
Seeding Change: Leveraging Principles from Design and Psychology to Advance Native Plant Landscaping
PRESENTER:
Isabella Shehab – University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
In the United States, over 40 million acres of lawn dominate residential landscapes, fragmenting habitat and disrupting local food webs. To strengthen ecological connections and support biodiversity, a growing national movement is calling for the reintroduction of native plants into yards and neighborhoods. However, homeowners’ landscaping choices are highly influenced by neighborhood norms, aesthetics, and social pressures. This presentation explores how insights from social psychology and landscape design can be applied to encourage wider adoption of native plant landscaping. By combining psychological principles with practical design strategies, practitioners and advocates can reframe native plant landscapes as not only ecologically responsible but also socially desirable.
Restoring Islands and Shorelines: Landscape-Scale Conservation in Northeast Michigan
PRESENTER:
Nick Theisen – Huron Pines
Amber Hubbard – Huron Pines
Northeast Michigan’s islands and shorelines support globally rare species and natural communities, yet face mounting threats from invasive species, pollution, and development. Huron Pines is advancing a landscape-scale strategy to restore ecological function across 11 Lake Huron islands and sensitive coastal habitats. In this presentation, we will share how our collaborative approach is driving coastal conservation in the region, including supporting the recovery of the endangered Great Lakes piping plover. We will provide an overview of our efforts to ground truth and enhance piping plover’s marginal and historical nesting habitats and how, combined with active monitoring, these efforts are building community support and fueling their recovery.
The Living Skin of the Earth: the Difference Between Magnifying or Mitigating Climate Change
PRESENTER:
Scott Dierks – GEI Consultants, Inc.
The consensus around climate change is that excess carbon from fossil fuels is ratcheting up global temperatures and the intensity of weather phenomenon. Research suggests that the earth’s albedo – its reflectivity – is decreasing, driven by fewer aerosols from air pollutants like sulfur dioxide and decreasing cloud cover. This is accelerating heat gain and the loss of soil moisture. This presentation will show how land use change helps drive weather variability. Converting forest to agriculture or hardscape inhibits the land’s ability to soak up water and limits its ability to return that moisture to the atmosphere. That return of continental moisture to the atmosphere, along with the production of biogenic particles that act as condensation nuclei for rain, are diminishing due to land use change. I will make the case that nature-based solutions have a role to play in helping mitigate climate change impacts from both extreme precipitation as well as from drought.
11:00 am - 11:20 am // Break
11:20 am - 12:20 pm
Click on session titles below for more information
*This presentation qualifies for MDARD seminar recertification credit
Measuring What Matters: A Rapid Assessment Toolkit for Prioritizing Areas for Conservation and Stewardship
PRESENTERS:
Camryn Brent – University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
Travis Blume – University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
Brad Davis – University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
Olivia Freer – University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
Sara Kinney – University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
Mike Kost – University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum
Many universities hold undeveloped lands that are critical to maintaining biodiversity in increasingly urbanized landscapes. These fragmented natural areas face threats from climate change, invasive species, pollution, and reduced species diversity. The University of Michigan recognizes both the opportunity and responsibility to be a leader in stewarding its natural areas for ecological and community benefit. To support this goal, we developed a suite of field and GIS metrics for scoring and ranking the ecological integrity of natural areas. The results of our project will enable the University of Michigan to integrate existing natural areas into its sustainability goals and educational experiences. The framework we present can be applied to a wide variety of institutions and landscapes for conservation planning.
Ecological Inventory and Monitoring for Biodiversity Conservation
PRESENTERS:
Brendan Arnold – University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
Ally Audia – University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
Siyu Luo – University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
Linnea Lyons – University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
Mike Kost – University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum
Inventory and monitoring are essential components of adaptive management, providing key metrics to guide management decision-making for biodiversity conservation. For effective management, land managers need to be aware of biodiversity as well as shifts in ecosystem dynamics. However, managers often make decisions with limited data. To rectify this, we designed and implemented a replicable inventory and monitoring protocol based on the needs of Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum (MBGNA). Our protocol includes mapping and monitoring invasive plants, conducting experimental oak plantings, and performing a Floristic Quality Assessment in a prairie managed with prescribed fire. We also utilize bioblitzes and iNaturalist to assist with insect inventory on the properties. Overall, our ecological inventory and monitoring efforts provide crucial data for informing land management decisions at MBGNA and other conservation organizations across southeast Michigan.
Coalesce: Science and Art Collaborations to Foster Environmental Engagement
PRESENTERS:
Jacklyn Brickman – Western Michigan University
Lisa Trapp – Western Michigan University
Rachel Laurenz – Western Michigan University
Loghan Scheonrock – Western Michigan University
Sharon Gill – Western Michigan University
In a challenging environmental landscape, unconventional approaches to engage people in conservation are urgently needed. Our panel of science and art students and professors will share perspectives on teaching and research practices to provide new insights into environmental issues and creative conservation solutions. As educators, we’ve created an interdisciplinary program that provides students with experiences that bridge science and art, fostering creative problem solving. Science students learn to communicate not only facts but also stories and data visualizations that engage audiences. Art majors learn about ecological processes and ideas that can be fertile ground for artistic exploration. As researchers, we use scientific and conservation evidence, artificial intelligence, and kinetic imaging to tell stories of bird extinctions. Together, we practice making our disciplines more relatable to each other and by extension, more relatable to the public.
Double Threat: Beech Bark Disease and Beech Leaf Disease
PRESENTER:
Heidi Frei – Michigan Department of Natural Resources (Parks and Recreation Division)
Beech is now under threat by both beech bark disease and beech leaf disease in Michigan. Learn how to identify them and discuss some of the ramifications in Michigan forests.
*Attendees of both this presentation AND “Evicting Invasive Species” earn one MDARD recertification credit (2, 3b, 5, 6)
Evicting Invasive Species: The Realities of Suburban Stewardship
PRESENTER:
Elizabeth Vincent – Six Rivers Land Conservancy & Lake St. Clair CISMA
Land stewardship and invasive species management within a densely populated suburban environment presents unique challenges for our small, grant-funded CISMA. Fragmented site locations, inconsistent land access, and limited gear are all restrictions that we operate under, while navigating rotating priorities on multiple grants to fund us, each with their own timelines. With a small field crew and only 1 field vehicle, logistical hurdles are inevitable. Yet, suburban work also offers some surprising silver linings, such as increased visibility and more opportunities for community outreach and collaboration. This presentation explores the realities of suburban stewardship and invites discussion on scalable solutions. Current and relevant projects that we will provide data and content on include Red Swamp Crayfish, phragmites, water primrose, and other terrestrial and aquatic invasive species. We will focus on our main service areas of Clinton and Oakland Counties.
*Attendees of both this presentation AND “Double Threat: Beech Bark Disease and Beech Leaf Disease” earn one MDARD recertification credit (2, 3b, 5, 6)
Seeds, Community Data Access, and New AI Tools
PRESENTERS:
Jonathan Parker – Seeds To Community
How do we make complex native plant knowledge usable for the public? In Seeds To Community, we’ve been building simple, shareable tools—spreadsheets, posters, and seed guides—that help volunteers and the general public know when and how to collect, process, and store seeds. At our events, people often ask simple questions. Having clear, compiled information would make participation easier and more rewarding.
This past year we began experimenting with Large Language Models, asking “seedy” questions of ChatGPT, testing limitations, and exploring whether agent-based systems could compile reliable guidance across 200+ native species. Our talk will describe this ongoing project: its objectives, early results, and the practical lessons learned from working with new tools. We’ll share successes and failures openly, highlight how AI might support—but not replace—community-driven knowledge, and ask you if we have yet reached a tool that scales with the human community we hope to enable.
Setting the Straits on Fire – Part II
PRESENTERS:
Joshua Gabriel Cohen – Michigan Natural Features Inventory
Mary Parr – Michigan Natural Features Inventory
Mae Wright – Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians
Derek Hartline – Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians
Kurt Kipfmueller – Department of Forestry at Michigan State University
Through a cooperative agreement with the USFWS, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians (LTBB), MNFI, & MSU Department of Forestry are reconstructing fire histories in culturally significant sites in MI’s Straits Region. Last year our team provided a broad overview of our research. This year we will prove that sequels can be as compelling as the original. After a full field season of dendrochronological sampling, we will dig into the results for forests with unique fire histories in Waganakising, LTBB’s homeland. Mae Wright, LTBB’s Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, will join us & provide an overview of the cultural context of the study area & interpretation of the results based on oral histories & archival research. Through collaborative sampling we are increasing literacy about cultural burning, fire ecology, & dendrochronology with the goal of returning Good Fire to the Straits to increase landscape resilience, ecological integrity, co-management, & cultural heritage.
12:20 pm - 1:50 pm
Enjoy a meal and connect with friends (old and new!)
1:50 pm - 2:50 pm
Click on session titles below for more information
Seeding Relationships, Stewarding Stories: The Reciprocal Nature of Manoomin
PRESENTER:
Sagen Lily Quale – University of Wisconsin-Madison & Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe
Manoomin, the good berry, is the Ojibwe word for wild rice. Tribal Nations of WI have held a relationship with Manoonin since time immemorial. Manoomin for Ojibwe people and other Indigenous people of WI has been core to Tribal food sovereignty practices. That relationship and a Tribal Nation’s ability to rely on Manoomin as a food source has been attacked by violent settler colonial forces, including land theft and alteration for the industrialization of larger society. Conducting social science interview research with those people who hold a relationship to Manoomin can shine light on stewardship practices, community connection to place and plants, as well as present Ojibwe cultural ways of being. By having conversations with both Indigenous, Ojibwe people and non-Indigenous people within the Ceded Territory of Northern WI, one can understand and uplift the stories regarding the past and present in hopes to integrate those conversations into future practices of Manoomin stewardship.
The Restoration of the Golden Preserve
PRESENTER:
Ethan Teranes – Lake St. Clair CISMA & Six Rivers Land Conservancy
The Golden preserve is a 31 acre nature preserve owned and managed by six rivers land conservancy and located in Springfield Township Michigan. This preserves composition of prairie fen, upland oak forest, and proximity to known eastern massasauga habitat elevates the importance of stewarding this property as potential Eastern Massasauga habitat. Despite its high potential, this preserve faced ecological challenges, primarily from encroaching woody invasive species, but also herbaceous invasive species establishment in the prairie. This presentation will cover the multi year effort to restore sections of the Golden preserve. Restoration efforts for this property were funded through a variety of sources, and employed help from volunteers, CISMA staff and Six Rivers Staff. The pros and cons involved in conducting restoration efforts in chunks over many years rather than as one large contiguous project will be explored and results of this multi year effort will be showcased.
Mowing Woody Invasives at the Botanical Gardens
PRESENTER:
Steven Parrish – University of Michigan Botanical Gardens
Dormant season + frozen ground + a big grinding mulching head on an excavator or a skid steer means turning acres of buckthorn into mulch. Is it working? Should you consider it in your fen, floodplain, savanna or prairie? Hear about our experience after several years of work. We can explore several follow-up options including live staking.
Natural Communities of Wilderness State Park: Insights from a Summer of Vegetation Mapping
PRESENTER:
Manuel Eduardo Anderson – Michigan Natural Features Inventory
Steven Woods – Michigan Department of Natural Resources
As part of an ongoing effort to create natural community maps of Michigan state parks, scientists with Michigan Natural Features Inventory conducted wall-to-wall vegetation surveys of Wilderness State Park during the summer of 2024. Manuel Anderson, an ecologist with MNFI, will discuss how the park’s landscape—shaped by ancient seas, glaciers, and wind—supports a diverse mosaic of high-quality natural communities. The park features extensive coastline, calcareous poorly-drained lake plain, and Nipissing-age aeolian dunes. This varied geomorphology influences vegetation patterning and provides for a range of community types, from boreal and dry-mesic northern forests to fens and swamps. The talk will highlight high-quality examples of natural communities found in the park and discuss how the mapping effort can inform conservation priorities, guide management decisions, and reveal the ecological complexity embedded within Michigan’s coastal landscapes.
Should We Burn Mesic Forests? Placing Management Considerations into the Ecological Context in Morris-Reichert Nature Preserve and Springhill Nature Preserve
PRESENTER:
Robert Ayotte – Michigan Botanical Society
Prescribed fire is widely recognized as a key management tool for regenerating and sustaining southern dry and dry-mesic southern forest ecosystems in lower Michigan. Since 2005, some land management agencies have considered extending its use to mesic southern forests to enhance biodiversity – despite traditional ecological perspectives that classify these forests as neither fire-prone nor fire-adapted. This study compares the dry-mesic southern forest of Morris-Reichert Nature Preserve with the mesic southern forest of Springhill Nature Preserve, examining ecological processes and the potential implications of prescribed fire. Each forest was evaluated based on landforms, soil characteristics, drainage class, species composition, structural dynamics, and historical fire regimes. Findings indicate that fire suppression has led to mesophication in the dry-mesic southern forest at Morris-Reichert, whereas the mesic southern forest at Springhill is naturally regenerating without fire. These results suggest that while prescribed fire may be beneficial for restoring dry-mesic southern forests, its application in mesic southern forests could be ecologically disruptive.
The Poetry of Stewardship: Finding Language for the Work We Do
(Keynote Session)
PRESENTERS:
Phil Levin – University of Washington
David Hassler – Kent State University
2:50 pm - 3:10 pm // Break
3:10 pm - 4:10 pm
Click on session titles below for more information
Restoring River Resilience: Habitat Restoration on Delaware, Horseshoe, and Clark Islands in the Maumee River
PRESENTER:
Laurel Blackwell – GEI Consultants
The Maumee River, a vital waterway in the Great Lakes Basin, has long faced ecological challenges due to sedimentation, habitat loss, and anthropogenic disturbances. In response, a comprehensive island restoration initiative was undertaken on Delaware, Horseshoe, and Clark Islands, three critical natural features within the river corridor. This presentation outlines the implementation and monitoring phases of this multi-site restoration project, highlighting collaborative efforts among government agencies, local stakeholders, and ecological experts. Key project components included invasive species removal, native vegetation reestablishment, bank stabilization, and in-channel habitat enhancements designed to support native fish, mussel, and bird populations.
Designing with Native Plants: Getting People to Like Them
PRESENTER:
Shannan Gibb-Randall – InSight Design Studio
If we are going to spread the gospel of native plants in pockets all over, then we need to design gardens addressing both ecological health and human acceptance. Landscape architect Shannan Gibb-Randall has been designing with natives in a wide range of settings, scales and clients for 27 years. Hear about the hard-won lessons learned from InSite Design Studio that bridge the worlds of ecological integrity, beauty and acceptance for a wide audience.
Managing with Data: GIS Based Natural Community Assessment and Course Metrics at Oakland County Parks
PRESENTERS:
Kegan Schildberg – Oakland County Parks
Megan Schildberg – Oakland County Parks
Over the past ten years Oakland County Parks has endeavored to assess, manage, and track management activities within its parklands. This presentation will cover our data collection and tracking methods, baseline natural community assessment, ecological restoration work, and follow-up assessment metrics. We will discuss what has worked, what hasn’t, and other practical considerations for field staff and data managers.
Citizen Science: Michigan Prairie Chicken Project
PRESENTER:
Wayne Oliver – River Bend Gardens
We hunted the Prairie Chicken in 82 of 83 Michigan counties into the 1930s. We turned their habitat into tilled land, and we neglected them until they were extirpated from Michigan. From The Birds of Washtenaw County regarding the Pinnated Grouse or Greater Prairie Chicken. “The few historical county records from Washtenaw County were all from Manchester and Sharon Twps. In the southwest corner of the county, the last a bird heard by L. Walkinshaw on 21 May 1940 (Burrows 1954:33).” River Bend Gardens is that ground in Washtenaw County where Manchester Township borders of Sharon Township. After an 82 year absence from Washtenaw County, the Greater Prairie Chicken is back at River Bend Gardens. Learn the Michigan Prairie Chicken Project story from 2017 concept to 2023 proof, from prairie restoration, to the study of grouse husbandry, from building aviaries, to securing permits and acquiring specimens…and sadly the failures along with the success. What’s next?
Rewilding Soil: Regenerative Landcare Practices for Ecosystem Health
PRESENTERS:
Bridget O’Brien – Garden Juju Collective & Gateway Farm Hub
Charlie Brennan – Garden Juju Collective & Gateway Farm Hub
As land stewards face growing challenges from soil degradation, habitat loss, and climate instability, regenerative practices offer a hopeful, grounded path forward. Garden Juju Collective shares a hands-on, place-based approach to landcare that centers soil as the living foundation of ecological resilience. When harmful interventions cease, living systems can self-heal—and humans, as part of ecology, can accelerate this process. Drawing on work in Australia, England, and Michigan, this session explores methods to rebuild soil structure and fertility, restore biodiversity, and foster resilient ecosystems—from small urban plots to large farms. Participants will learn regenerative techniques including soil rejuvenation, low-disturbance cultivation, and dynamic mulching. The session invites a deeper relationship between people, place, and soil. Geared toward landowners, educators, and practitioners, this presentation supports a shift beyond sustainability toward regeneration.
4:10 pm - 4:30 pm
Come together to celebrate another year of knowledge, connection, and replenishment while the Traveling song wishes you a safe journey home.