News & Blog

Tips for participating in the Holiday Hike Challenge

This season, the Land Conservancy is once again hosting its Holiday Hike Challenge! Before you embark on your search for the holiday bows we’ve hung in our nature preserves, we've prepared some tips for how to safely explore nature nearby this season. 1. Plan your visit Research

Letter from the Executive Director: Fall 2024

Dear Cherished Community Members,  Michigan is known widely for its striking natural environments. They’ve been a draw for people from all over for centuries. They drew me here from Colorado. Though I have lived in many places with iconic natural features, in my opinion, few match

Meet the Oak Savanna

Oak savannas occur in between two other habitat types, where a dense, shaded oak woodland gradually opens into sunny prairie. In an oak savanna, mature oaks are spaciously scattered in an open field, free to stretch and grow wide crowns. They are joined by a modest

Indigenous Fire Shaped Oak Savannas

An interview with land manager Mary Parr Growing up in Grand Rapids, Mary Parr knew from a young age that she wanted to work for the environment. She obtained an undergraduate degree in Natural Resources Management from Grand Valley State University and then traveled around the

Welcome New Staff and Board Members!

Rory Thibault, Land Protection Specialist  Growing up along the Lake Michigan Shoreline, Rory considers himself privileged to call these critical and rare ecosystems his proverbial backyard. This youthful engagement with nature nearby grew into a penchant for the design and provision of space. Rory holds a

Restoring the Oak Savanna

Oak savannas present a unique opportunity to make a big impact for preserving and restoring biodiversity, health, and resilience to the West Michigan landscape. Once abundant in Michigan, oak savannas are now incredibly rare, and they are a regional and national priority for protection and

Chuck and Pat Bloom Commit to Nature Nearby

Chuck and Patricia Ann, ‘Pat,’ Bloom have lived in Grand Rapids their entire lives. Chuck worked as a Certified Public Accountant and Pat practiced and taught nursing. The pair know a thing or two about commitment. This September, they celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary.   Chuck