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. 

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 

Nia Bicker, 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

Huron-Manistee National Forests,

1755 S Mitchell St

Cadillac, MI 49601 

To Be Announced

Sept. 15

Aquatic Ecosystems: Wetlands

To Be Announced

Autumn Baker, Chippewa Watershed Conservancy

Sept. 24

Aquatic Ecosystems: Rivers/Streams

Big Rapids Library,
426 S Michigan Ave

Big Rapids, MI 49307 

Paul Haan & Grayson Kosak, Muskegon River Watershed Assembly

Saturday,

Sept. 26, 2026

Field Day: Aquatic Ecosystems

Haymarsh State Game Area,

22250 Northland Drive

Paris, MI 49338

Pete Kallig,
MDNR

Sept. 29

Aquatic Ecosystems: Inland/Great Lakes

To Be Announced

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 

Soren Murphy, Mecosta Conservation District

Oct. 13

Break - No Class

Oct. 20

Putting it All Together: Capstone Project Celebration

To Be Announced

To Be Announced

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.