Annette Byers signed on to be the Preserve Steward of Minnie Skwarek Nature Preserve in 2018. She learned of the opportunity while she was completing a master naturalist training with Michigan State University Extension. A lifelong learner, Annette relished the opportunity to continue expanding her
Like many of you, we’re spending a lot more time video conferencing here at the Land Conservancy of West Michigan. Sheltering in place is hard—especially when all you want to do is go outside and explore. But we have a way you can keep nature nearby, even in
Spring is coming! Now is a great time to start thinking about which native plants you will grow in your yard this year. Find a native plant sale happening in your area below. Why native plants? There are many reasons to landscape your yard with native plants.
For Grace Houseal, volunteering with the Land Conservancy of West Michigan opened up a world of possibility. Houseal moved to Grand Rapids from Midland, Michigan to pursue a degree in English from Grand Valley State University in 2016. She landed a job at Brewery Vivant, and
In this latest issue of the newsletter, we talk about the role community plays in conservation. We speak with a supporter who raised money for the Land Conservancy through a Facebook fundraiser in honor of her late friend. We reflect on how the community rallied
We celebrated the transfer of this property to Ottawa County Parks in October 2019. On a blustery, gray day in mid-October, supporters of Ottawa Sands County Park gathered to celebrate its dedication—the final chapter in a whirlwind collaboration between the Tri-Cities community, Ottawa County Parks and
How neighbors have worked together to protect the Pere Marquette River. Conservation agreements are often viewed as private, individual acts of conservation, where landowners work directly with a land trust to protect their own land from development based on their vision for future use of the
Thanks to the community of Grand Rapids, this former golf course's future as a natural area was secured in spring 2019. The soft breezes and peaceful trails belie an exciting year of transformation at the Highlands. Completion of the acquisition campaign and a series of groundbreaking
Preserving the dunes, and a dear friend's memory, in perpetuity. When 35-year-old Evelyn Stone passed away in 2018, Jessa Ávalos and her friends wanted to find a way to honor her memory and her love for West Michigan’s dunes. “When our friends think about Evelyn, they think
Over the last three weeks, much has changed at The Highlands. Here’s a quick look at what’s been going on. Demolishing the Clubhouse Where once stood a sprawling building, now sits a pile of rubble. To tear down a building of this size takes a great deal