Osceola/Lake/Mecosta Counties

Thank you for your interest in the Michigan Conservation Stewards Program (CSP), an educational program for those who are enthusiastic about learning science-based ecosystem management principles and sharing this knowledge with others to help improve their local communities. Through this program, participants will learn essential strategies to understand and help restore and conserve ecosystems in Michigan communities. 

The Osceola/Lake/Mecosta Counties cohort will host their weekly sessions from 6-8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, from Aug. 25 to Oct. 20, 2026. Weekly sessions will meet throughout Osceola, Lake, and Mecosta counties at the locations listed in the chart below. Location details and more information will be distributed to registered participants in the middle of August. Please note, there will not be a weekly session on Oct. 13, 2026.

Osceola/Lake/Mecosta Counties' field days will be on Saturday, Sept. 26 and Friday, Oct. 2, 2026. 

Register for CSP: Osceola/Lake/Mecosta Counties

Osceola/Lake/Mecosta Counties Schedule 

Date

Topic

Location

Speaker

Aug. 25

Foundations of Conservation: Ecological Foundations; What is a Natural Community?

Idlewild Cultural Center,
7025 S Broadway Street
Idlewild, MI 49642 

Amanda Paige, Muskegon River Watershed Assembly, Mike Reid, Detroit Zoological Society, and Nia Moses Becker, Dovetail Partners

Sept. 1

Foundations of Conservation: Society & Conservation/Conservation Heritage; Indigenous Perspectives on Conservation (Past and Current) 

Card/Riley Conservation & Wildlife Education Center,
820 Campus Drive
Big Rapids, MI 49307 

Scott Herron, Ferris State University

Sept. 8

Terrestrial Ecosystems: Grasslands

22689 12 Mile Rd, Big Rapids, MI 49307

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Service Center,
18260 Northland Drive, Big Rapids, MI 49307

Jennifer Taylor, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)

Sept. 15

Aquatic Ecosystems: Wetlands

Twin Creek Nature Area,
104 5th Street, Evart, MI 49631

Arlene Anderson-Vincent, Primo Brands and Marty Boote, Environmental Consulting & Technology (ECT), Inc.

Sept. 22

Aquatic Ecosystems: Rivers/Streams

Former Buckhorn Dam Site/White Pine Trail Parking Lot
22436 Northland Dr, Paris, MI 

Card/Riley Conservation & Wildlife Education Center,
820 Campus Drive
Big Rapids, MI 49307 

Paul Haan & Doug Workman, Muskegon River Watershed Assembly

Saturday,

Sept. 26, 2026

Field Day: Aquatic Ecosystems

 Former Buckhorn Dam Site/White Pine Trail Parking Lot
22436 Northland Dr, Paris, MI 

Paul Haan & Grayson Kosak,
Muskegon River Water Assembly

Sept. 29

Aquatic Ecosystems: Inland/Great Lakes

Big Bass Boat Launch,
44.075611, -85.988932,
Irons MI – off of W. 6 Mile Rd

Sauble Township Hall,
8906 W 6 Mile Rd, 
Irons, MI 49644

Emily Fredericks, Mecosta Conservation District

Friday, 

Oct. 2

Field Day: Terrestrial Ecosystems

Peterson Natural Area,
11100 180th Ave
Stanwood, MI 49346 

Mike LaValley, Chippewa Watershed Conservancy

Oct. 6

Terrestrial Ecosystems: Forests 

White Pine Valley Recreation Area,
20001-20501 22 Mile Road
Paris, MI 49338 

Green Charter Township Hall,
21431 Northland Dr, Paris, MI 49338

Soren Murphy, Mecosta Conservation District

Oct. 13

Break - No Class

Oct. 20

Putting it All Together: Capstone Project Celebration

Reed City Depot,
Pere Marquette Trail
Reed City, MI 49677

Michael Ramsey, North Country CISMA

For cohort and content related questions, please reach out to Amanda Paige at amanda@mrwa.org. 

For general questions and registration assistance, please contact Shelby Warner at warner80@msu.edu. 

Register for CSP: Osceola/Lake/Mecosta Counties