Oakland County

Thank you for your interest in the Michigan State University Extension 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 Oakland County cohort will host their weekly evening sessions from 6-9 p.m. on Wednesdays, from Sept. 13 to Nov. 15, 2023. Weekly evening sessions will meet throughout Oakland county. Exact locations and speakers will be announced once available. Please note, there will not be weekly evening sessions on Nov. 1 and Nov. 8, 2023.

The Oakland County cohort's field trips will be on Oct. 7 and Oct. 21, 2023.

Oakland County Schedule 

Date

Topic

Location

Speaker

Sept. 13

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

Oakland University

Dr. Scott Tiegs, Oakland University; Kristen Wiltfang and Ryan Dividock, Oakland County Economic Development Dept.

Sept. 20

Foundations of Conservation: Society & Conservation

Drayton Plains Nature Center

Ian Ableson, Six Rivers Land Conservancy; Kathleen Dougherty, Oakland Audubon

Sept. 27

Aquatic Ecosystems: Lakes

Living Water Church at Seymour Lake; Independence Oaks County Park

Cleyo Harris, Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

Oct. 4

Aquatic Ecosystems: Streams 

Stoney Creek Metropark Nature Center

John Buszkiewcz, Michigan DNR; TBD, Clinton River Watershed Council

Sat., Oct. 7, 1/2-day field trip

Terrestrial Field Day

Holly Township Library; Lost Lake Nature Preserve

Julie Laughlin, Michigan Natural Features Inventory; Vern Stephens, Designs by Nature

Oct. 11

Aquatic Ecosystems: Wetlands

Addison Township Offices; Lakeville Swamp

Ayden Ehgotz, Michigan Nature Association

Oct. 18

Terrestrial Ecosystems: Forests   

TBD

Gerry Pink, City of Rochester Hills

Sat., Oct. 21, 1/2-day field trip

Aquatic Field Day

Independence Oaks County Park; Shiawassee Basin Preserve

Erick Elgin, MSU Extension; Eric Diesing, Oakland County Parks & Recreation; Mike Losey, Springfield Township Parks & Recreation

Oct. 25

Terrestrial Ecosystems: Grasslands 

Paint Creek Cider Mill

Ben VanderWeide, Oakland Township Parks and Recreation

Nov. 1

No Class

 

 

Nov. 8

No Class

 

 

Nov. 15

Putting it All Together: Capstone Project Celebration

Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center

TBD

For cohort and content related questions, please reach out to Cathy Morris at morri735@msu.edu.

For general questions and registration assistance, please contact Shelby Warner at warner80@msu.edu or 517-884-7076.

Oakland County

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