Mi Nature

09/02/2026

Incredible resources just in time for the new school year! Incorporate indigenous teachings into your repertoire with Learning Modules, Lesson Plans and even Continuing Education Credits.

As many educators prepare their classrooms for a new school year, we wanted to share the Essential Understandings for Michigan—a FREE resource within Step Into Our Stories!

These foundational concepts illuminate the histories, cultures, and experiences of the Indigenous Peoples of the land now known as Michigan, with a particular focus on the Anishinaabek—Ojibwe, Odawa, and Bodwéwadmi Nations.

Designed to support respectful and relationship-centered teaching, the Essential Understandings help educators build learning experiences that reflect the living histories, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous communities.

Parents, students, and community members can help, too! Share these free resources with your local schools and encourage the use of Indigenous-authored, community-informed educational materials in classrooms across Michigan.

📚Find this guide and more at https://ieimi.org.

08/28/2026

Honey Bees, Back in action at the Gerald E. Eddy Discovery Center.

Throughout the time that the visitor center in the Waterloo Recreation Area has been open visitors have often encountered small fuzzy creatures buzzing around the sky. Honeybees or Apis mellifera, who have been residents at the visitor center in the open-faced viewing hive for years. This allowed visitors to see the productive community and specific roles of bees in a colony. However, the health of the colony was never optimum in this hive due to a lack of space to store honey for winter! So the past two years have been spent planning and Now the bees are back in action in a hive located just outside the bird viewing window, allowing us to view the hive and colony without cramming them into the small indoor space. Hapy bees and Happy viewing!

Although not native to Michigan, honeybees are kept by a trained “bee keeper” to increase pollination in a surrounding area which can often result in increased plant growth and plant surface area. With the bonus of honey production!

08/24/2026

Often mistaken for spicier species, northern water snakes are non-venomous native residents of Michigan’s wetlands. Sometimes seen basking on shore, they are never far from the water they call home. When in the water they will dip below the surface for a few minutes at a time while moving between cattails and fallen logs making it difficult for predators to track them. In the face of danger they can stay submerged for an hour or more. Northern water snakes eat a variety of fish, amphibians and crustaceans. Anglers shouldn’t be too quick to blame them for bad day at the lake though; by eating slower and weaker fish they help to control illnesses within fish populations. In healthy ecosystems, every species plays an important part!

Check out the cutie we saw at Bald Mountain Recreation Area doing its best to stay still and not be seen!

08/21/2026

What an impact Dr. Tanner has had on the Great Lakes fishery! 🐟🐟🐟

08/19/2026

4th Grade Teachers!! It's time to register for your FREE Nature Awaits Field Trip at a Michigan State Park!
Join us this fall by registering for the date, time and park that suits your students best. If you don’t see a date or location that works for your class, reach out at [email protected] or call 1-833-660-6300.
https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/education/educators/nature-awaits

08/18/2026

Teachers! A NEW school year is here, and we can think of nothing more 'kinda chic' than letting the Michigan DNR help you with your planning. Here's a link https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/education/educators to learn about field trip opportunities, virtual classes, lesson plans, activities and professional development! Have a GREAT school year and help us connect Michigan kids to the outdoors!

08/12/2026

Know your State Parks!

Did you know a Michigan Recreation Passport can get you to the shores of Lake Erie? Sterling State Park is a gem less than an hour from Detroit with something for everyone looking to enjoy the outdoors.

Fishing is a highlight of Sterling State Park. Sterling State Park has a boat launch for access to Lake Erie’s fisheries. If on-shore fishing is more your speed, there are plenty to catch in the wetland from the shore or from one of the fishing piers.

Of course, there’s always walking on the beach, wading and swimming in Lake Erie, and beachcombing. Look for “Lake Erie lucky stones”—small, quarter-sized otoliths of the drum fish.

To round out your trip, head to the Marsh Trail to enjoy some time in nature, where 4 miles of trail has been repaved and renovated. Whether you’re looking to bird, bike, or kayak, the restored wetlands are a great place to explore.

Visit https://www.michigan.gov/recsearch/parks/sterling for more information about visiting.

08/10/2026

Join us on Belle Isle State Park for a full day of Metro Detroit Youth Day festivities! From 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on August 11, the island will be filled with fun, learning, and celebration.

Here’s what to look forward to:
• Field games and outdoor activities
• Technology simulations
• Career exploration stations
• Arts and culture programming
• The Youth IDOL Competition featuring singing, dancing, spoken word, acrobatics, and magic!

Youth ages 6–17 can audition to be part of the Youth IDOL Competition, with finalists performing right here on opening day.
Interested in joining? Register at the link in our comments.
Come celebrate our youth, our community, and the tradition that started it all. See you on the island!

08/08/2026

Ever wondered what it's like to learn in the heart of the Upper Peninsula? Our latest Academy of Natural Resources-North cohort went deep into the UP's rich history and natural wonders. From mines to hatcheries, these educators are bringing hands-on knowledge back to their classrooms! What's your favorite UP natural resource?

08/02/2026

Are you on the Paleo diet like a brook trout, eating scuds and crayfish for protein and mayfly, caddies and stonefly larvae for fat? Or are you on a more “what’s in the fridge?” diet like a brown trout, eating whatever is available, sometimes for days on end?