Healthy Water. Protected Places. Vibrant Communities.
Board of Directors Staff
Greg Bator
Chair
Jennifer Hill
Vice Chair
Meaghan Gass
Secretary
Chip Erwin
Treasurer
Samuel Burckhardt
Ned Caveney
Alex Code
Rich Castle
Katherine Erwin
Joe Jarecki
Dan O’Connor
Christie Perdue
Tony Pitts
Ty Ratliff
Jerry Rucker
Donette Spiekerman
Brad Jensen Executive Director
Lisha Ramsdell
Associate Director
Ken Bauer Preserve Manager
Shelby Bauer
Senior Conservation Coordinator
Julia Butch
Conservation Specialist
Bryant Eddy
Habitat Project Manager
Chris Engle
Communications Associate
Abigail Ertel
Director of Community Engagement
Our Mission
Logan Hawley Ecologist
Brenda Herman Development Director
Amber Hubbard Stewardship Project Manager
Daniel Judd Habitat Specialist
Maddie Khuri Community Educator
Paige Lackey
Communications Manager
Josh Leisen
Senior Project Manager
Abby Macek
Restoration Specialist
Samantha Nellis Director of Conservation Science
Amy Nowakowski Senior Project Manager
Tonya Ouillette Office & Data Manager
Nick Theisen Watershed Technician/GIS Specialist
Amanda Vanaman Community Project Manager
Jennie Zoll Director of Finance & Administration
The mission of Huron Pines is to conserve and enhance Northern Michigan’s natural resources to ensure healthy water, protected places and vibrant communities.
Our Vision
Conservation driven by engaged, empowered communities.
Cover: Senior Project Manager Amy Nowakowski holds a brook trout ahead of the restoration of Beavertail Creek. Photo courtesy Michael Schindler, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Above: Huron Pines staff gather on the steps of Alpena City Hall in December.
Dear friends,
At Huron Pines, we champion community-driven conservation by building lasting partnerships with local leaders and decision makers. Our success stems from bringing diverse stakeholders together around shared environmental goals. Rather than implementing projects “for” communities, we work “with” them—engaging residents and leaders to protect, restore and enhance natural resources in ways that reflect local priorities. This collaborative approach, though challenging, ensures our projects have broad support and create lasting impact.
With your help, we’re expanding both our geographic reach and impact across Northern Michigan. Your continued investment maintains our strong community presence and helps identify new opportunities to enhance local lands and waters through technical assistance, strategic planning and direct funding. Your investment in Northern Michigan benefits generations to come.
Huron Pines is excited about the future. With your support and more than 50 years of hard work under our belt, Huron Pines is ready to confront emerging issues and withstand evolving government priorities. Federal, state and local partners know that Huron Pines is a trusted and capable partner to manage and improve the region’s lands and waters. We are proud and thankful to pursue this mission with you!
With gratitude,
Brad Jensen Executive Director
Greg Bator Board Chair
Projects With Purpose
Restoring Habitats for Michigan’s Rare Species
The wooded dune and swale wetlands of the Black River area in eastern Alcona County are a hotspot for Blanding’s turtles, a species of special concern in Michigan. Infrastructure bisects this ecosystem, disrupting the movement of these turtles as they travel miles across land to feed or nest, and we are exploring the potential of installing crossing structures to reconnect habitats for this rare turtle.
Farther north, the state-threatened grizzled skipper butterfly flitters among the limestone glades of Presque Isle County. We are restoring this habitat type at Emily Min Hunt Preserve by clearing overgrowth and reestablishing a diverse community of native plants, and are working with our partners on similar efforts on nearby state and federal lands.
By focusing our restoration efforts on these vulnerable ecosystems, Huron Pines is preserving crucial biodiversity, protecting the unique character of Northern Michigan and the resilience of the broader Great Lakes basin.
Connecting People & Nature
Beyond protecting habitat for wildlife and offering opportunities for recreation, our preserves showcase the power of land stewardship and serve as outdoor classrooms for regional conservation leaders.
In May, Huron Pines hosted the International Joint Commission at North Point Nature Preserve. In addition to touring the preserve, these leaders from Canada and the U.S. got to hear about local efforts to protect Lake Huron and the unique coastal habitats found in the Alpena area. In August, we welcomed members of the Michigan Invasive Species Coalition for two days of networking and visits to successfully restored project sites. Representatives of more than 20 agencies from across the state toured the limestone glade at Emily Min Hunt Preserve where ongoing restoration efforts are promoting biodiversity on this unique landscape.
In all, we hosted 44 in-person and virtual events in 2024 and engaged nearly a thousand people in conservation activities throughout Northern Michigan.
Promoting Biodiversity, One Seed at a Time
A native plant propagation site taking shape at a remote crossroads in the heart of the Lower Peninsula will help Huron Pines and our partners restore biodiversity to the Mio Prairie. This site will serve as a source of wildflower and grass seed for the restoration of Northern Michigan’s once dominant jack pine prairie ecosystem. By propagating seed sourced directly from this landscape, we are taking advantage of plant genetics adapted to life in a region with arid summers and bitterly cold winters. Restored ecosystems with high biodiversity are more resilient to climate change, insect pests, invasive species and other environmental changes.
We are also equipping volunteers to identify and collect native seed for propagation across our service area. Huron Pines is hosting training opportunities for the public in 2025 where volunteers can learn how to identify, gather and clean seed in support of our restoration efforts.
Restoring the wooded dune and swale landscape of coastal Alcona County will support habitat for Blanding’s turtles, a rare species in Michigan.
Dylan, Kelley and Chris Rose (l-r) visit North Point Nature Preserve during our Exploration Day in July.
Huron Pines staff construct a buck-and-rail fence around a seed propagation site on the Mio Prairie, Oscoda County.
Obtawaing Biosphere Region Partnership
In 2021, the Obtawaing Biosphere Region (OBR) was designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a globally significant ecological and cultural landscape at the convergence of the Great Lakes’ Upper and Lower peninsulas. The name “Obtawaing” comes from Anishinaabemowin, meaning “the half-way or meeting point,” reflecting the region’s unique position and rich cultural heritage.
Throughout 2024, the OBR Partner Network has been making significant strides in collaborative conservation efforts. A key focus has been coastal resilience planning, bringing together local communities, Tribal Nations and conservation groups to develop targeted strategies for sustainable development and ecological protection. The network has been working to synthesize local and regional planning efforts and create OBR-specific tools. These tools are being used to catalyze projects that support ecologically sensitive areas, cultural conservation and mindful community development.
Looking ahead, the OBR continues to build cross-sector partnerships and focus on the collaborative spirit driving this innovative conservation approach.
A Healthy Watershed for Clean Drinking Water
The Thunder Bay Watershed encompasses 1,382 square miles of forests, farms, wetlands and waterways and empties into Lake Huron, the source of drinking water for Alpena. The sustainability of this freshwater resource is threatened by land use, climate change, invasive species and other pressures occurring throughout the watershed.
Huron Pines is developing a watershed management plan to identify these threats and help leverage funding for conservation and community partners to implement projects that support water quality. An initial plan produced in 2003 identified road/stream crossings as having significant negative impacts and guided our 20year focus on restoring this watershed. Since then, we’ve removed 18 stream barriers within the Thunder Bay Watershed, reducing erosion and reconnecting 167 river miles (see page 6). An updated plan will support Huron Pines’ efforts and those of our partners to keep this watershed healthy.
Additionally, Huron Pines has engaged with the City of Alpena on its Source Water Intake Protection Plan and is helping educate community residents about where their drinking water comes from and what can be done to protect it.
Protecting Rare Habitats on Big Charity Island
Huron Pines staff made their annual trek to Big Charity Island in August where they spent several days surveying and restoring its sensitive coastal habitats. As part of Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Big Charity is home to rare species including the threatened Pitcher’s thistle found only along the Great Lakes, and its shorelines once served as nesting grounds for endangered piping plovers which are returning to their historic range along Lake Huron.
Our team targeted a variety of noxious invasive plants to protect the island’s fragile ecosystems. Between long days of stewardship work, our crew overnighted in a lighthouse and enjoyed other perks of being on a remote island.
“We get to see the sun rise and set over Lake Huron each day while we work to protect this hub of biodiversity away from the mainland,” Stewardship Project Manager Amber Hubbard said. Trips to the island are granted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Dennis McDougall, Mike Smalligan, Dave Dillon, Amy Nowakowski, Nick Theisen and Emily Kemp (l-r) plant trees on Dillon’s property along the Thunder Bay River.
Lake Huron coast, Presque Isle County
Stewardship Project Manager Amber Hubbard holds a massive purple loosestrife, an invasive species, pulled from the shoreline of Big Charity Island during our restoration efforts there this summer.
Restoring Coldwater Streams for Habitat & Lake Huron Health
Our mission to restore aquatic ecosystems and protect water quality across Northern Michigan continued in the watersheds of the Pigeon and Thunder Bay rivers in 2024 and, for the first time in the history of our organization, expanded northward to the Eastern Upper Peninsula.
Well-connected streams are essential for brook trout, freshwater mussels and aquatic insects, all of which are sensitive to environmental changes and rely on clean water for every stage of their life cycles. The condition of these humble streams—sometimes small enough to cross with a running jump—influences the overall health of a watershed and ultimately Lake Huron.
In the last two decades, Huron Pines has leveraged millions of dollars to remove more than 150 stream barriers across the Northern Lower Peninsula to benefit our water resources and the natural and human communities which rely on them. Here’s a look at three projects we completed in 2024 in support of that mission.
Making the Thunder Bay River Whole
Sheridan Creek winds through forested hills west of Atlanta in southwest Montmorency County. This spring-fed stream is an ideal spawning habitat for brook trout by providing their eggs with clean, cold water until they hatch.
Along with cold water, fish need the ability to move freely throughout their river ecosystem and this is where Sheridan Creek fell short. A set of culverts perched above the creek blocked fish from moving further upstream and accelerated river flows, eroding sediments into the channel where they buried important spawning beds. Huron Pines replaced those culverts with a bottomless arch this summer to restore the river’s natural function and grant trout access to eight miles of upstream habitat.
These benefits extend to humans. Well-connected rivers are more resilient to change, reduce maintenance for road commissions and lead to cleaner water overall. The Thunder Bay River Watershed drains 1,250 square miles of land into Lake Huron—the source of municipal drinking
water for Alpena—and supports fisheries, recreation and tourism in communities throughout the Great Lakes Basin.
Since 2020, Huron Pines has invested more than $2.1 million to reconnect the Thunder Bay River by installing new bridges and structures at six sites across the watershed. Another $1.3 million is on hand for two similar projects slated for 2025 and 2026.
Top: Beavertail Creek winds through the forests of Chippewa County in the Eastern Upper Peninsula.
This restored crossing of Sheridan Creek reconnected 8 miles of high quality, coldwater habitat in the upper Thunder Bay Watershed.
The perched culverts at the former crossing of Sheridan Creek blocked fish passage and contributed to erosion.
This native brook trout was captured and released during an electrofishing survey of Beavertail Creek. Photo courtesy Michael Schindler, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
This freshwater mussel was one of many collected during a survey ahead of restoration at Beavertail Creek. All native mussels are protected in Michigan and are part of a healthy aquatic ecosystem.
Beavertail Creek Reconnected
Seventeen miles of an Upper Peninsula trout stream are now flowing freely with the restoration of Beavertail Creek in Chippewa County. Home to brook trout, native freshwater mussels and many other fish species, this waterway had long been hindered by a series of troubled road crossings that created maintenance and safety issues for the Chippewa County Road Commission.
Undersized culverts at three crossings caused South Prentiss Bay Road to flood during spring thaws and storms, presenting a significant risk of road failure while washing sediment into the river and Lake Huron. Fast-flowing water at these bottlenecks also degraded river habitats and kept trout and other river life from moving upstream. Larger structures were built at two of these crossings this summer, and a 20foot bridge was installed by the Chippewa County Road Commission which used a massive crane to finesse each of its four, 16-ton concrete sections into place.
This project marked the successful completion of Huron Pines’ first river restoration in the U.P. and supports our organizational focus on building a healthier, more resilient future for Lake Huron.
Ahead of the Beavertail Creek project, members of our staff joined a crew with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to conduct an electrofishing survey of its trout population, the results of which will help measure the project’s impacts when compared to future surveys.
“It was exciting to see these beautiful, healthy brook trout in their native habitat,” said Amy Nowakowski, Senior Project Manager for Huron Pines (pictured on cover). “Not only did this project restore the critical coldwater ecosystem of this stream but having a safer road provides better access to the public lands which surround it.”
‘Years in the Making’:
Upper Pigeon Fully Restored
Our years-long effort to reconnect the upper watershed of the Pigeon River concluded this summer with the restoration of Duck Creek.
A severely undersized culvert at Wilkinson Road in Otsego County was replaced with a much larger structure in August, rejoining the coldwater tributary to the rest of this beloved Northern Michigan waterway. This was the fifth in a series of restoration projects by Huron Pines in the watershed since 2021 which have collectively restored 68 miles of high quality habitat for fish, wildlife and recreation.
“It’s been rewarding to bring people together to accomplish so much on-the-ground restoration work that benefits everyone,” said Josh Leisen, Senior Project Manager. “These projects have eliminated some major issues for the Pigeon River and greatly improved the health of the Pigeon River for many generations.”
These river restoration projects were funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Fisheries Division and Fish Habitat Program, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s National Fish Passage Program, Great Lakes Fishery Trust, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Sustain Our Great Lakes Program, Walters Family Foundation, and in-kind labor and equipment by the Chippewa, Montmorency and Otsego county road commissions. MacArthur Construction was a contractor, with project design by Huron Engineering & Surveying, Inc. and contracting by Three Shores Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area.
Not only did this project restore the critical coldwater ecosystem of this stream but having a safer road provides better access to the public lands which surround it.
- Amy Nowakowski Huron Pines Senior Project Manager
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The Chippewa County Road Commission uses a crane to set a concrete bridge section into place over Beavertail Creek in October.
Piping Plovers Rebound on the Lake Huron Coast
Two pairs of piping plovers nested on the shores of Tawas Point State Park last summer where they fledged the next generation of this endangered shorebird. By restoring more of its breeding and stopover habitat and coordinating a team of volunteer plover monitors to watch over these sensitive birds, Huron Pines is assisting in the recovery of one of Michigan’s rarest species.
Piping plovers are small migratory shorebirds that nest on northern sand and gravel beaches in summer months and migrate to the southern Atlantic and Gulf coasts for the winter. There are three distinct populations in North America, all of which are protected, including the Great Lakes population which was listed as endangered in 1985. There are only 81 unique breeding pairs of Great Lakes piping plovers in existence, their low numbers due in part to habitat loss and predation.
Lyla was one of two plover chicks who fledged from a single nest at Tawas Point in 2023. She returned as an adult to the same place in June 2024 along with her father—dubbed Hero—where they found mates and fledged a total of 7 chicks. This success story is a testament to the dedication of the volunteer plover monitors we train and coordinate to keep watch over these birds and educate park visitors about their presence on its shores. At the same time, the return of the plover to the Lake Huron side of Northern Michigan is a sign that Huron Pines’ ongoing efforts to restore and protect its coastal dunes are having a positive, lasting impact.
Tawas Point is the southernmost critical habitat for plovers along the Huron coast. Defined by the Endangered Species Act, critical habitats are open dune areas of at least 5 acres, provide vegetative cover for chicks to hide from predators and have low human disturbance, among other criteria. Five more critical habitat areas have been identified in Presque Isle, Cheboygan and Chippewa counties. Huron Pines is focusing its surveying and invasive species removal efforts in those places, including private lands and state parks, with the goal of protecting more habitat for plovers and other species native to Northern Michigan’s dune ecosystems.
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Working with volunteers on piping plover recovery is a rewarding experience and proves the importance of community science. Without their watchful eyes, there would have been reduced success this year at Tawas Point.
- Nick Theisen
Huron Pines Watershed Technician/GIS Specialist
Top: A piping plover, dubbed “GiNGer,” with a chick she reared in 2024 at Tawas Point. Another is nestled under her body. Photo courtesy Gary Nelkie
Huron Pines AmeriCorps member Taylor Shay assists members of the Great Lakes Piping Plover Conservation Team as they collect a cheek swab from a plover chick for genetic lineage tracing.
Plovers earn their names according to the pattern of colored bands on their legs, with each color corresponding to a capital letter—“GiNGer,” another female plover, has two green bands separated by a brown “N” band on one of her legs. Great Lakes plovers also get an orange flagstyle band. Attached by researchers when the hatchlings are just days old, these bands help volunteers and researchers identify individual birds as they migrate to their wintering grounds and ultimately return to nest the following summer, and are used to track family lineages in a population that numbers in the low hundreds. In July, Huron Pines staff assisted members of the Great Lakes Piping Plover Recovery Team in banding a nest of chicks at Tawas Point, an experience Huron Pines AmeriCorps member and birder Taylor Shay called “a once-in-alifetime experience.”
Volunteers begin their daily monitoring efforts as soon as plovers return to breed and nest, typically in April or May. Using highpower spotting scopes, they observe the birds from a safe distance while watching and recording potential threats including off-leash dogs, humans entering the cordoned-off area or predatory merlins circling overhead. Daily monitoring and reporting continues for several months until the chicks fledge and all plovers leave the area. Volunteers conducted daily monitoring for three months—a combined 220 hours—at Tawas Point in 2024.
As Huron Pines continues to support plover recovery efforts, more volunteers will be needed to monitor potential nesting sites for adults and keep watch over any new nests. Because plovers come back to nest in the general areas where they hatched, the coming years hold great potential for their return to the northern Lake Huron coast. Those interested in becoming a volunteer plover monitor can email Maddie Khuri, Community Educator, at maddie@huronpines.org, and a virtual training opportunity will be held April 15.
Special thanks to AuSable Valley Audubon, monitors Gary and Tess Nelkie, Marge Pestka, Bill Roth, Nan Ulman, Martha Withers and Maryann Wojahn, and those who submitted eBird reports during the 2024 season. Thanks also to the Great Lakes Piping Plover Conservation Team which has been working for decades to coordinate monitors throughout the Great Lakes Basin.
Funding for this work is provided in part by the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. All banding was conducted under a federally authorized permit issued by the U.S. Geological Survey in accordance with USFWS permits.
Meet the Plovers of Tawas Point
Hero
Hero (leg band code Of,YR:X,O), male hatched in 2022 at the Maritime Museum at Sleeping Bear Dunes, fledged two chicks in 2023 and three in 2024 at Tawas Point.
GiNGer
GiNGer (Of,GN:X,G), female hatched in 2023 at Leelanau State Park, nested with Hero in 2024.
YoYo
YoYo (X,O/B:Of,YY), captive-reared male hatched in 2023 at U-M Biological Station in Pellston from an egg rescued in Erie, Pa., released at Tawas Point in 2023 and fledged four chicks in 2024.
Lyla
Lyla (O,O/L:X,L [Ydot, L326]), female hatched in 2023 at Tawas Point State Park, fledged four chicks in 2024.
Stephanie Schubel, Great Lakes Piping Plover Conservation Team Lead, holds a plush plover used for training volunteers to identify colored leg bands.
2024 volunteer plover monitors Marge Pestka, Tess Nelkie, MaryAnne Wojahn, Gary Nelkie and Bill Roth (l-r, Martha Withers not pictured)
Photos by Gary Nelkie
Oscoda Township Pledges to Protect Lake Huron Forever
Charter Township of Oscoda joined the Lake Huron Forever (LHF) initiative in 2024, becoming the sixth Michigan community pledging to protect Lake Huron’s water quality by reducing stormwater runoff, preserving natural areas and engaging its residents and municipal staff in local conservation efforts.
The LHF initiative was developed in 2019 by shoreline community foundations and conservation partners from the U.S. and Canada to advance water quality protection and sustainability on both sides of the lake. Led by Huron Pines, the initiative supports efforts which strengthen the health of residents and natural resources of communities across Northern Michigan. In joining the initiative, Oscoda Township gains access to the technical expertise of our staff and partners while also opening more opportunities to fund local projects that advance the protection of Lake Huron.
“Lake Huron Forever is a collective of partners who listen to the needs of our shoreline communities and those with connections to Lake Huron,” said Abigail Ertel, Director of Community Engagement. “When we see a gap that needs to be filled in order for communities to achieve their goals, it kickstarts a two-way conversation to make that happen. We have a strong relationship already with Oscoda Township and now we’re able to accomplish much more together through the initiative.”
We have a strong relationship already with Oscoda Township and now we’re able to accomplish much more together through the initiative.
- Abby Ertel
Huron Pines Director of Community Engagement
Situated on the coast where the Au Sable River meets Lake Huron— and as a longtime partner of our organization—the community of Oscoda is a natural fit for the LHF initiative. Water is central to the community’s economy and character, and township officials are actively integrating water protection into their decision making. In addition, Huron Pines has been working with the township to protect lands for public recreation and is training its staff and community residents how to identify, report and manage invasive species and other threats to natural ecosystems.
Huron Pines and the township collaborated to permanently protect the 42-acre Hull Island property, featuring wooded hills and 3,300 feet of river frontage, as the AuSable River Scenic Preserve. We acquired the property in 2023 and will transfer ownership in 2025 to the township which will manage and steward it for public recreation, wildlife habitat and water protection.
Top: With the support of the Lake Huron Forever initiative, Charter Township of Oscoda plans to restore dune habitats to Oscoda Beach Park.
Volunteers and municipal staff learn to identify invasive plants from a distance along the Lake Huron shoreline.
Huron Pines is also training Oscoda Township staff and residents to monitor for invasive plants and changes in the Lake Huron shoreline through our Introduction to Invasive Species Training and Coast Watchers programs. By knowing how to recognize invasive plants, report infestations to our stewardship team and implement their own control measures, township staff are able to protect against the damaging effects of invasive species on native ecosystems, particularly those near water. Additionally, volunteer Coast Watchers conduct weekly shoreline visits and report occurrences of erosion, litter, invasive species or other changes which threaten water quality. Huron Pines will host additional volunteer training opportunities for these programs in 2025.
By taking the pledge and becoming an LHF community, Oscoda Township is committing to these efforts and more. Adopted by the Oscoda Township Board of Trustees in October 2024, the pledge outlines specific actions it plans to take.
Among them:
• Explore the use of nature-based solutions for coastal resilience and stormwater capture while balancing maintenance needs and aesthetics.
• Work with LHF partners to restore dunes at Oscoda Beach Park.
• Initiate a stormwater assessment—with a focus on the Bayou—to better understand and address known stormwater impacts on local waterways.
• Advance plans for the AuSable River Scenic Preserve (Hull Island) with signage, trail improvements and parking access, and include maintenance in annual budgets.
In 2025, Oscoda Township will implement a project to restore dunes to Oscoda Beach Park, an expanse of sugar sand popular with swimmers and sunbathers a short walk from downtown. By installing temporary sand fencing and planting native dune species, the township will reestablish the natural dune shoreline and make it more resilient to erosion from strong storms and high water while preserving public access. This project is supported in part by the Resilient Coastal Projects Initiative.
“The Township takes pride in all their parks and recreation facilities, especially the ones that front Lake Huron,” said Township Engineer Rick Freeman, P.E. “Managing beach erosion, stormwater runoff and invasive species are all critical to the future of this shoreline. Projects that take these issues into account are, and will continue to be, a priority.”
Huron Pines is leading the effort to inspire lakeshore communities in Michigan to join the Lake Huron Forever initiative with continued support from Bay Area Community Foundation, Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan, Community Foundation Grey Bruce, Consumers Energy Foundation, Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network, and Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
Daupert
Debbie
overlooks the Au Sable River from Hull Island in Oscoda.
Participants explore Oscoda’s Hull Island during our Wildflower Walk in summer 2024.
Downtown Oscoda is nestled between the Au Sable River and Lake Huron, both of which shape the community’s identity and values.
Celebrating 18 Years of Conservation Service
Since 2007 the Huron Pines AmeriCorps program has developed new conservation leaders in communities across Michigan.
In all, 317 members took part in the program, fostering environmental stewardship by engaging volunteers, community groups and students in hands-on projects that promote lasting, positive change for our state’s natural resources.
After 18 years and 100 Michigan communities served, the Huron Pines AmeriCorps program came to a close at the end of 2024. As we shift our organizational focus, we remain immensely proud of the program’s accomplishments and all who supported its mission, many of whom now lead successful conservation careers in Michigan and beyond.
Shelby Gentle served in Midland as Land Steward at Little Forks Conservancy in 2020, a year which presented unique challenges for our members. For Gentle, it brought the added impacts of a devastating flood which hit the community that spring and she organized a workday to restore public access at Riverview Natural Area which had been severely damaged by floodwaters. Due to the pandemic, this was the only opportunity all members could come together on a shared project and they did so with vigor, clearing trails of fallen trees, rebuilding boardwalks and collecting a mountain of debris throughout the preserve.
Gentle is now the Land Conservation Specialist at Little Forks where she works with landowners to permanently protect their farms and forest lands through conservation easements.
“The skills I gained through my service directly prepared me for this job,” Gentle said. “I had the privilege of becoming our AmeriCorps supervisor at Little Forks which allowed me to grow as a leader and mentor. I’m deeply grateful for the tools, confidence and professional connections my service helped me build which laid the foundation for my career in conservation.”
2020 was also the year Amanda Vanaman took the helm as Program Manager. In that role, Vanaman onboarded members for a 10-month term of full-time volunteer service with host sites all over the state. She arranged numerous professional development and engagement opportunities for members including team-building retreats, training events at Ziibiwing Center in Mount Pleasant to experience Indigenous culture and heritage, and gatherings with program alumni who now work in conservation or community service.
I’m deeply grateful for the tools, confidence and professional connections my service helped me build which laid the foundation for my career in conservation.
- Shelby Gentle
Huron Pines AmeriCorps alum
Top: Members of the 2024 cohort relax at a sinkhole lake in the Pigeon River Country State Forest during the second day of Huron Pines AmeriCorps camp.
Emma Cianek, Kahlan Robinson and Izzy Wejrowski (l-r) build a trail at the Grayling School Forest during the 2024 Russ Mawby Signature Service Project.
“These were all really important connections for these young professionals to make early in their careers,” Vanaman said. “They were meant to make members feel connected to a supportive, statewide network as they move on from AmeriCorps.”
Teamwork has always been fundamental to the program. In May 2023 our cohort came together again in response to a natural disaster, this time in Gaylord which had suffered a direct hit from a tornado one year earlier. Working alongside volunteers, Otsego Community Foundation and ReLeaf Michigan, our members planted more than a hundred trees to restore the canopy in public spaces and at homes impacted by the storm. That day served as Huron Pines AmeriCorps’ Russ Mawby Signature Service Project, an annual day of service for all AmeriCorps members serving in Michigan to tackle pressing needs in communities across the state.
During the 2024 day of service in Grayling, our members built new trails in the school forest, removed trash from state lands, planted native species at the Crawford County Commission on Aging, restored infrastructure at the educational Grayling Fish Hatchery and expanded the community garden, all in an ongoing effort to boost local outdoor recreation.
Members aso had their own projects to complete on behalf of their host sites. Emma McCarthy, Nicolette Sexton and Izzy Wejrowski served together at Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) in Lansing and spent their days venturing into remote wilderness areas to document rare animals and ecosystems. Working alongside our wildlife partners at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, they captured and tagged elusive eastern massasauga rattlesnakes— marking their rattles with red nail polish before release—while contributing valuable population data on Michigan’s only venomous reptile.
“I still think it’s insane we got to do that,” Wejrowski said. “It was pure excitement. Sometimes we went days without finding a snake but when you heard one rattle, or saw one cross your path, that feeling came right back.”
All three members have since joined the staff of MNFI to continue supporting its mission to preserve biodiversity and natural heritage.
“I knew pretty quickly this was my dream job,” Sexton said.
Emily Kemp was one of two Huron Pines AmeriCorps members serving at our Alpena office in 2024 and immersed herself in a wide range of projects to support our mission. She led public events at our nature preserves to connect visitors to native ecosystems, gathered valuable stream data to develop the Thunder Bay River Watershed Management Plan (see page 5) and assisted fellow member Taylor Shay in efforts to manage invasive sea lamprey at Hammond Bay Biological Station.
“I got to do a little bit of everything, from public outreach to habitat assessments in remote places,” Kemp said. “I really learned a lot from doing so many different things and that’s something I’ll keep with me for years after I’m gone from AmeriCorps.”
Our sincere thanks go to the staff of the Michigan Community Service Commission for supporting the Huron Pines AmeriCorps program for nearly two decades, our host sites and supervisors for their mentorship, and to every member who has served for the betterment of our natural resources. We look forward to seeing you all again.
Huron Pines AmeriCorps By the Numbers
317 57 100
11,766
38,164 81,137 725 1,905
Members enrolled in 362 service terms (some completed two or three terms)
Host sites served across Michigan
Communities served by the program
Volunteers engaged in 53,076 hours of collective service
K-12 students reached
Acres of public land and 4,649 acres of private land improved through restoration activities
Miles of shoreline surveyed or restored
Miles of trail built or improved
Nicolette Sexton holds a wood turtle captured and released while surveying a population of the threatened species in Northern Michigan.
Projects on the Horizon
The scope and scale of our conservation work relies on the support of individual donations. The key projects below are ready for implementation, each offering a unique opportunity to protect and restore our region’s natural heritage. By investing in these initiatives, you’ll help create healthier ecosystems, cleaner water and more resilient communities.
For more information on these projects, please contact Associate Director Lisha Ramsdell at lisha@huronpines.org or (989) 448-2293 ext. 29.
$368,000 — Trail and Access Improvements at North Point Nature Preserve
Renowned for its four miles of undeveloped shoreline and rare ecosystems found only along the Great Lakes, North Point Nature Preserve was established in 2023 through a partnership with The Natural Conservancy and Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Huron Pines aims to further enrich experiences for all who visit the preserve by developing trails that improve access while protecting sensitive wetlands, bird habitat and coastal fens. New signage, programming and amenities will create a better experience for visitors at this 1,400-acre natural destination. Phase 1 of this project, planned for 2025-2026, includes site assessment, engineering design, signage and restroom facilities.
$2,000,000 — Sanback Dam Removal in Rose City
Located in Ogemaw County
Huron Pines and the City of Rose City are pursuing the removal of Sanback Dam. Located at Metcalf Park at the north end of Rose City, the dam previously powered a sawmill and a gristmill. For the last half century, though, the crumbling concrete structure has served no use. Its deteriorating condition poses an environmental hazard for Houghton Creek, a tributary of the Rifle River which is one of Michigan’s 16 designated Natural Rivers. Following the dam removal, park improvements like trails, fishing platforms and a pedestrian bridge will enhance recreational access while increasing the overall value and usability of this community space. We’ve currently secured 50% of the total project cost, estimated at $4 million.
$150,000 —
Restoring Habitat for the Rare Blanding’s Turtle
Along the coastal wetlands of northeast Michigan, the Blanding’s turtle, a species of special concern, navigates a challenging landscape. In Alcona County’s Black River area, infrastructure fragments their wooded dune and swale habitat, impacting these rare turtles as they move between feeding and nesting grounds. We are currently in the information gathering and early design phase to evaluate potential solutions that could help wildlife safely navigate through this landscape. We are also treating invasive species that impact crucial wetlands. These restoration efforts protect not just the Blanding’s turtle but the rich biodiversity that makes Northern Michigan’s ecosystems unique and resilient.
$225,000 — Community Science Efforts
From monitoring piping plovers and Lake Huron’s shoreline to conducting salamander surveys and collecting native seeds, our community science programs engage volunteers in vital conservation work. Through initiatives like our “Big Sit” birding event at North Point Nature Preserve, we’re building a network of trained citizen scientists who contribute meaningful data while fostering environmental stewardship. This funding is essential for us to expand these programs, enhance training resources and provide essential equipment—ultimately strengthening our ability to conserve and protect Northern Michigan’s diverse ecosystems.
Located in Alpena County
Organizational Sustainability
We continue to be grateful to the many donors, agency project funders, foundations and business partners that generously support our work. In 2024 you helped us reach a landmark $1 million fundraising goal to support public recreation opportunities, protect wild lands, improve water quality, and build deeper connections to nature through our Community-Driven Conservation Campaign. Your remarkable support extended even further, enabling a successful year-end campaign for our land protection fund. Thanks to our donors and a matching grant from The Carls Foundation, we are better equipped to cover critical early project costs including surveys, title work, legal fees, option to purchase, landowner meetings, and environmental assessments—essential investments that will help secure more land conservation victories in the years ahead.
Program Expenses graph to the right shows expenses related to projects in each of Huron Pines’ priority categories: healthy water, protected places and vibrant communities. Shifts in major projects such as acquiring a nature preserve or removing a dam can affect the resources applied from year to year.
Revenue and Expenses graphs demonstrate the composition of funding sources and distribution of these funds. Huron Pines employs public grants as a major revenue source, however the support we receive in private funding is often used to match or leverage additional public funding. Both forms of revenue allow us to carry out initiatives important to our mission.
Five Year Net Assets Trends graph demonstrates the growth of land, endowment and cash assets. Land assets currently make up approximately 80%, endowments make up approximately 15% and cash assets make up 5%. We continue to focus on permanent land protection while also remaining committed to long-term sustainability.
*Huron Pines is audited annually by an independent firm. Additional financial information is available upon request.
Program Expenses
$8,000,000
$7,000,000
$6,000,000
$5,000,000
$4,000,000 $2,000,000
$3,000,000
$3,854,796 2024 Total Revenue
2024 Total Expenses
856,567
Leave a Legacy
Your legacy gift to Huron Pines will create lasting impact by supporting the conservation of Michigan’s natural landscapes, wildlife and water resources. Your contribution ensures vital efforts will continue across the Great Lakes region, fostering healthier environments and thriving communities for generations to come.
Become a member of our Legacy Society and join a community of forward-thinking conservationists whose planned gifts ensure the long-term sustainability of our mission.
Legacy giving plays an important role in the long-term success and growth of Huron Pines and helps ensure our mission continues for generations to come. If you are interested in this aspect of support, we would love to talk with you further. Please reach out to Development Director Brenda Herman at (989) 448-2293 ext. 32 or brenda@huronpines.org.
Gifts Through Your Estate
Bequest
A bequest is one of the easiest and most flexible gifts to make. With the help of an advisor, you can include language in your will or trust specifying a gift to Huron Pines as part of your estate plan.
Benefits of a bequest:
- Receive an estate tax charitable deduction
- Reduce the burden of taxes on your family
- Leave a lasting legacy to charity
Life Insurance Policies
You can name Huron Pines as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy just as you can name people beneficiaries. Because you can name more than one beneficiary, you can divide the benefit among your loved ones and a charity.
Gifts During Your Lifetime
Gifts of Cash
Donations of cash can reduce tax liability if you itemize deductions.
Gifts of Stock
Donating appreciated securities, including stocks or bonds, is an easy and tax-effective way for you to make a gift to Huron Pines.
Gifts of Retirement Assets
Making a qualified charitable distribution from an IRA, 401(k) or 403(b) is an excellent way to support Huron Pines while avoiding any potential income tax liability.
Other Gifts
- Land
- Real estate
- In-kind gifts
- Joe Jarecki “ “
We’ve watched Huron Pines be the catalyst for largescale projects involving many partners with great success. Things change quickly and Huron Pines is the organization that knows how to address change. We know our gift will be something that can help the organization adapt, investigate new solutions or be an investment in a brand new project.
2024 Donor List
Gifts received between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024 are acknowledged below. If your name has been omitted or listed incorrectly, please contact Tonya Ouillette, at (989) 448-2293, ext. 21 or tonya@huronpines.org.
Elizabeth Abood-Carroll and David Carroll
Keith Abrahamson
Guy and Angela Adamec
The Adamo Family
Ruth Addis and Marj Schloff
Gerard and Kathleen Albanese
Alpena County Horseman’s Club
Sergey and Marina Altynov
The Americana Foundation
Bill and Debra Anderson
Kirk and Carol Anderson
William Andrew
Robert Andrus
Anonymous (27)
Bob and Cathy Anthony
Au Sable Dunes Homeowners Association
Awakon Federal Credit Union
Michael Azure
Richard and Marilyn Bachelor
Back Country Horsemen
Pigeon River and Beyond
Christine Baker
Martin and Michelle Baker
Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund
Eric Bankhead
Gary and Gale Bardos
George Barker
Al Bartow
Gregory and Cecilia Bator
Don and Liz Bauman
Kristen Bauman
Judy Beissel
Ryan Bender
Katherine Benedict
Bennethum’s Northern Inn Restaurant
Janet Benson
Pat and Judy Benson
Jeff Bentley
Pete Berdovich
William Bergren
Big Bear Lake Association
David and Elaine Billmire
Sally Binard
Black Lake Sportsmen’s Club
Mary and Timothy Blackwood
Patrick Blanzy
Donald and Gail Block
Barbara and Kenneth Bollin
Richard and Jeannine Boyce
Kathleen and David Boyd
Richard and Marie Bracci
Carolyn Jean and Dan Braden
Carol Brand
Kurt and Deborah Brauer
Paul and Mary Bray
Melissa Brazier
Norm and Valerie Brecheisen
Douglas and Kathryn Brehm
Brew Krew
Christopher Brierley
Joseph Brincat
Geoffrey Brousseau
Don and Patricia Brown
Timothy and Kelly Brown
Ernest Brumbaugh and Carole Mueller-Brumbaugh
Irene Bryne
Carl Buchner
Mike Bugenske
Sam Burckhardt and Richard Wilson
Jim and Gina Burke
Don Burkley
Elaine Butts
Patrick and Laurie Byle
Tigger Calhoun
Al, Pat and Doug Cambridge
Christine Cameron
Tom and Marcia Cardelli
The Carls Foundation
Don Carpenter
Darrin Carter
Richard Castle
Catalyst Fund of the Network for Landscape Conservation
Anne and John Cauley
Cam Cavitt
Cheboygan Brewing Company
Cheboygan Brewing Company
- Give Back Program
Chicago Community Foundation
Colby and Tim Chilcote
Terry and Susan Childs
Larry and Debra Clark
Scott Claxton
Jacob Coats
Jim and Sandy Coats
Donna Cochrane
Robert and Elizabeth Code
Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan
Mr. & Mrs. O.B. Eustis Memorial Fund
Kellogg Youth Fund
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
Community Foundation Grey Bruce
The Conservation Fund, Saginaw Bay
Watershed Initiative Network (WIN)
Pam and Tom Conquest
Conservation Partners LLP
Consumers Energy
Consumers Energy Foundation
Katie Cook
Tom Cook and Anna Owens
Cook Family Foundation
McCabe Coolidge, Karen Day and Anne Jonas
Frank and Kathy Cordray
Michelle and Eric Cornish
Corporation for National & Community Service
Coyote Co. Bikepacking Club
Ann and Richard Craig
Kathy Crawford
J M and R E Croff
Norma Crouch
Jim Culberson
Mary Culik and Robert Sharrar
Barb Curtis
Michael and Terri Cwik
Anne and Daniel Danosky
Karen Darner
Robyn and Brad Davie
Gary and Judy Dawley
Steve and Elizabeth Day
Susan Day
William and Donna Deckett
Mark Delaney
Dan and Kandy Dennis
Diane Dennis
Zachary Denniston
Sandy Dent
William R. and Mary Elizabeth Derwin
Christine Devereaux
Mark Devereaux
Thomas Devereaux
Janiene DeVinney
Patrice DeVinney
Carla DeVoll
Nancy Dextrom
Antonio and Teresa Dorta
Rosemary and Donald Downer
Cecilia Droz
Katherine Duffy
Tim Dunaway and Ed Koehler
Samuel Duncan
Susan Duncan and Larry Van Wagoner
Andrea Dutcher
Mrs. Jane E. Dutton
Laurie Dyke
Jeanne Eddy
Rudi and Sandi Edel
Brian Edelman
Elizabeth, Allan & Warren Shelden Fund
Kelly Ellis
Chris and Chelsea Engle
Rick and Sharon Engstrom
The Chip and Betsy Erwin Family
Kathy Erwin and Dirk VanKoughnett
Rick and Dixie Erwin
Dale and Norma Ewart
Larry and Pat Farris
Karl & Doreen Fava
Roger and Mary Fechner
Fidelity Charitable
Larry and Vickie Fields
Michael and Cathryn Fields
Jane Fitzpatrick
Robert Flickinger
Valerie Flood
Christopher and Laura Fluke
Mike and Maureen Foresman
Sharon Fortner
Scott Foster
Jim and Sue Francis
Pattie Fraser
William and Carol Frederick
Susan Freel
John Freeman
Friend’s of Thompson’s Harbor State Park
Belinda Friis
John and Wendy Frye
Karen Funke
Dennis Gallagher
Paul Gambka
Jeff and Kristin Gandy
Carol and James Garlo
Meaghan Gass
Judy and Catherine Gatewood-Keim
Elizabeth Gauthier-Rabaut and Gerard Gauthier
Judy Gee
Sarah and Garan Geror
Dale Giddings
Zachary Giegler
Kim and David Gildner
Mark and Kelly Gilling
Jacquelyn Girard
William Glass
GM Giving
Neal Godby
Leo Goddeyne
Curtis Goldsborough
Jay Goldsborough
Rusty and Elizabeth Gowland
Robert and Jennifer Grace
Chris and Elaine Graham
Graham Electric Company
Christine Grant
Jim and Shirley Graves
Great Lakes Fishery Commission
Great Lakes Fishery Trust
Danielle Green
Scott Green
Tom and Joann Green
Jeff Greene
Ken and Elizabeth Gribble
Mark and Susan Griffin
Matthew Guerin
Nancy Guregian
Peter and Virginia Gustafson
Beverly and James Haas
Jan and Talbot Hack
Rick and Robin Hagopian
Beach Hall
Noah Hall
William Hallenbeck
Richard Hamilton
Michael and Jo Ann Hamm
Diane and Michael Hammond
Dr. Brian and Belinda Hanna
Mark Hansen
David Harrison
Allan Hascall
Nicholas Hathaway
Steve Hathaway
Mary Haws
HCS Foundation
Blair and Sandra Marie Headrick
Hearst
Howard E. Hedlund
James and Rebecca Heindl
Jerry Heinrich
Cathy Heller
Sue and Eric Helsel
Chris Henning
Dick and Judy Henry
Henry E & Consuelo S Wenger Foundation Inc
Mark and Brenda Herman
Don and Joann Hester
Higgins Lake Property Owners Association
Scott and Cynthia Hill
Jennifer, Jason, Ezekiel and Xavier Hill
Robert Hill
Sheryl Hilliker
Felicity Hirsh and Matt McAmmond
Frank Hoese
Dennis Holden
Donald Holzhausen
Anne Honhart
Frances Hoobler
Wally Hook
Daniel Hornacek
Hougen Foundation
William Houston
Kristin Howland
Stan and Theresa Hubbell
Carl and Vicki Hueter
Heather Huffstutler and Shaun Ulrich
Lynda Hughey
Linda Hunt
Huron Engineering and Surveying, Inc.
Steve Hutchinson
Timothy and Kristine Ianitelli
David Irani and Laurel Moore
Mark Isken
Kurt Jagoda
Joe and Judi Jarecki
Brad Jensen and Rebecca Benson
Jerry Jensen
Beverly Johnson
John Johnson
Judith Johnson
Marty and Ellen Jones
Gail Juppenlatz
Elizabeth Juziuk
Jessica Kane and Alexander Code
Loreen Keeth
Charles and Judith Kellerman
Brenda Kelley
Jan and Tom Kellogg
Emily and Bob Kemnitz
Ron and Patti Kenyon
Ramzi Khuri
Carlynn and Stanley Kidd
Kelly Kier
George and Linda Killat
Bernard and Denise King
Jim and Kathe Kirchner
Klye Kleersnyder
Mr. and Mrs. Herb and Linda Klingel
Jason Knorr
Susan Kocisky
Charles Koehler
Bruce and Tammy Kohnert
Wayne and Marcia Koppa
Jennifer and Michael Koralewski
Julie Kortas
Gary Kovelle
Deb Kraft
Krenn Timber Bridge, Inc.
Mary K. Krigbaum
Kevin Krussell
Michael Kupris
Jim and Barbara Kurbel
Peggy Kusnerz
Tom Kuszak
Margy Kutzera and Bob Kennedy
Paige Lackey
Lake Horicon Corp.
Joseph LaLonde
Bernie and Nancy Lamp
Christina Lane
Sabrina Lanker
Allan and Betty Larsen
Jerry and Susan LaVanture
David and Joanne Lawless
Kathleen and Duncan Lawrence
Jamie Lawson
Kristina Layman
Joshua Leisen
Brett and Denise Lewandowski
Kathy and Mike Lewis
Eric Lewis
Kathy and Mike Lewis
Elizabeth and Frank Limban
John R. Lindsay
Kimberly and Scott Lingo
Bob Linsenman
Elizabeth Littler
Jenny and Anton Llakmani
David and Julianne Lockwood and Family
Robin-Marie and Terence Loucks
The Love Family Cottage
Guy and Barbara Lovelace
Victor Lukasavitz
Carol and Michael Lund
Frank W. Lynch and Roberta Jane Lynch
Endowed Family Fund
M&M Excavating Inc.
Murray MacGready
Donna and Michael Maddin
Grant Malone
Kim Margherio
John and Nancy Marshall
Masco Corporation
Trudy Maves
Laura and Bruce Maxwell
Mayfair Plastics
William McClay
Greg and Diana McComas
Stephen Mccubbin
Fred and Sandra McDonald
David McKay
Shaun McKeon
Steve Meersdom
Paul and Deborah Megge
Meijer Store #250
Kimberley and James Menzie
Deb and Mark Merrill
James and Andrea Mertz
Roger and Mary Ann Meyer
Michigan Community Service Commission
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)
Coastal Management Program, Water Resources Division & National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Coastal Management Program, Water Resources Division with funding through the National Coastal Zone Management Program & National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association
Nonpoint Source Program by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
Water Resources Division
Water Resources Division
- Dam Risk Reduction
Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Dam Management Grant Program
Fisheries Habitat Grant Program
Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program
Wildlife Division
Wildlife Habitat Grant Program
Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget
William D. Middleton
Trent Millay
Alan D. and Rita E. Miller
William Miller
Allen and Jean Moberly
Henry Moczul
Mike Monroe and Candace Henig-Monroe
Richard Moreau and Diana McKenna Moreau
John and Connie Morgan
Jenny Morton
Guy C. Moulthrop
Jane Moulthrop
Glenn Muhr
Thomas G. and Rosemary Mullaney
Sandra Murphy
Peter and Nancy Mutch
Melanie Myers
Phil and Lora Myers
Sharon Myers
Lawrence Nanni and Kathryn Frisby
National Christian Foundation Michigan
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
Sustain Our Great Lakes Program
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Philanthropic Trust
David and Nancy Neal
Gary and Tess Nelkie
Patty and Jed Neuman
Gary Neumann
News Corp
Susan Nicholas
James Nihls
NOAA’s Community-based
Restoration Program
Lynne Noll
Northern Family Dentistry PLLC
Mark and Fidelia Notman
Amy Nowakowski
Dana Nutt
Heather and Casey Nutt
Daniel and Ashlie O’Connor
Timothy O’Donnell
Sally Okray
Chad and Sue Okuly
Kristine Olson
Opal Lake Association
Janet Opdyke
Oscoda Canoe Rental, Mark and Adam Hume
Otsego Community Foundation
Otsego County
Otsego County Mounted Division
Rebecca Owsley
Destiny Paciorek
Mr. and Mrs. William D. Palmer
Jack and Sally Papp
Kris Parrottino
Doug and Jane Parsons
Paul Paske
Mark Passick
Jim and Laura Paulson
Donald and Dorothy Peacor
Scott Pearson
John Peppler
Christie Perdue
Ryan Perry
Wesley Perry
James and Marge Pestka
Robert and Mary Lou Petrach
Charles Pfeffer
Rico Phillips
Don and Sis Pierce
John and Ruth Pilon
Ben and Kristine Pinti
Tony and Melanie Pitts
Joseph and Carole Plunkey
Steve and Susan Pollack
Darryl Pomarzysnki
John and Martha Pregler
Jeremiah Prentice
Renee Priest
Floyd Prospero and Nancy Krompotich
Allan Puplis
Robert and Jean Radin
Susan and Chad Radka
Keith Radwanski and Erin Fanning
Lisha and Mark Ramsdell
Kurt Ranka
Ty Ratliff
Raymond James Charitable Donor
Advised Fund Program
Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund
Recreation Fishing Club
Diane and Robert Reeve
Douglas and Dianne Reeves
Arch and Marilyn Reeves
Margie Reh
Robert and Charlene Rentz
Gregg S. Resnick, D.D.S. and Yuko Fellows
Randy Reszka
Laura Reynolds and John Richardson
Karen Rice
Mark Rice
Rice Family Foundation
Theresa Richter
Richard Ritter Jr.
Christina Roberts
Katie and Bill Robertson
Sarah and Rose Robichaud
George and Jeanette Roe
Roscommon Auto Recyclers, Inc.
Paul Rose and Carol Moncrieff Rose
Keith Ross
Phillip Roti
Denise Rousseau
Dr. and Mrs. Nathaniel H. Rowe
Susan Ruckle
Jim Rutledge
Nellie M. Sabin
Mary Sanders
Sanilac County Sheriff Posse
Neil and Joni Satovsky
Christine Saurini
Ivan Savitsky
Tony and Jill Scarzo
Patrick and Kathleen Schaefer
Marsha and Thomas Schaper
Sandra Schmidt
Jorg Schueler
Schwab Charitable
Sara Scott
Greg Seaman and Heather McNamara
Robert and Marcia Seaman
Todd See
Pete and Kimberly Sermo
Jim and Pat Shaffer
George Shaw and Bonnie Marsh
Jacob Shea
Jacob and Darby Shinners
James and Judi Shinners
Louise and Ronald Shoksnyder
Steph Shoup
Eric R. and Laura Showalter
Jeff Silagy and Beth Chan
Jeffrey and Janney Simpson
Edward Skarbek
Pamela and Stephen Skillman
Jean Smith
Martha Smith and Bob Rutledge
Robb and Christine Smith
George and Elizabeth Smojver
Arran Smolarz
Soils & Structures
Ronald H. and Kristin A. Sorgenfrei
Michael and Suzanne Sorrentino
Renee Soultanian
Ms. Joey Spano
Robert and Jane Sparks
Elizabeth and Randy Spedoske
Bob and Jane Spence
Donette Spiekerman
Walter Stansbury
Stephen and Anne Steep
Bill and Charity Steere
Sindy and Ray Steffner
Joe Stevens
Daniel and Jeanne Stock
Philip and Janet Straley
Straley Lamp & Kraenzlein PC
Amanda Streby
Alex and Anna-Marie Struble
Bob and Debi Stuber
Melinda Study
Sunrise Gardening Club
Sunrise Realty of Oscoda, Inc
Sunrise Side Master Gardener Association, Inc.
Andrew Swan
Fred and Carole Swinehart
Gregory Symons
Susan Szczukowski
Robert and Mary Louise Tarkowski
Goldenrod covered in hoarfrost
Nanci Richards Tayler
Bill Taylor and Kim Delauter-Taylor
Todd and Melissa Taylor
Chuck and Karen Tetzlaff
Stephen and Jamie Tews
The Laidlaw Foundation
Jeanne M Thomas
Mary and Paul Thomas
Michael Thome
Charles Thompson
William and Billie Thompson
Peter and Suzanne Thomson
Bob and Kim Thorsen
Thunder Bay Audubon Society
Lisa Marie and James Tobin
Joe Tolkacz
Tom Trevillian
Tri County Horse Association
Jay and Bev Trucks
Nancy Trupiano
Kathryn Tumbarella
Twin Lakes Property Owners Association
Alicia Ulrich and John Ratey
United Parcel Service
Oasis Supply Corporation
Patricia and Randy Urban
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Coastal Program
Endangered Species Conservation –Recovery Implementation Funds
Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
National Fish Passage Program
Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration
Sea Lamprey Control Program
U.S. Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture
Good Neighbor Authority
Hiawatha National Forest Huron-Manistee National Forests
Landscape Scale Restoration Program through a grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources
In Honor Of
Gifts made in honor of the names in bold
Maebel and Aeden Adamo
From The Adamo Family
All the workers - volunteers and paid
From Ross Nave
All those that have been carrying the torch for the rest of us
From James and Therese Vuke
Alpena County Horsemen’s Club
From Kerry Mase
Randy Ayers
From Michael David
Ember Bauer
From Kenneth and Shelby Bauer
Shelby Bauer
From Floyd Prospero and Nancy Krompotich
Kevin Biglin
From Brian Biglin
Bob, Milo & Sam
From Gregory Seaman and Heather McNamara Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable
Will Cersovsky
From Steven Cersovsky
Kyle Valade
Evan VanBeelen
Karen VanCura
Douglas and Deborah Vandenberg
Vanderbilt Area School
Aaron and Jackie VanderWall
Robert and Cheryl VanderWall
Eric VanPoucker and Ronald J. Smith
Paul and Suszanne VanSickle
Verizon Foundation
Terri Vizina
Robert and Elena Wakeman
Walters Family Foundation
Larry and Marjorie Warner
William Warner
Carlton and Diana Weier
Judd and Mary Ann Wellard
David Wentworth II, Beth Jensen and William and Charlie Wentworth
James Wessel
Terry and Susan Westfall
Chuck and Janice Wheeker
Barbara White
Blair Wickman
Gary Wilkie
Cheryl Willie
Peter and Lynn Wilson
Tammy Wise
Mary Ann, Edward and Kevin Wojahn
Richard Wolff
Tom Wolshon
Sharon Woodbury
Brian Wright
Donald Wright
Stanley and Linda Yolkiewicz
Marjorie Young
Gilbert Zachariah
Rishi Zaveri
Jennie and Mike Zoll
Alan Zoltowski
Conservationists Everywhere
From Susan Duncan and Larry Van Wagoner
Joe and Sharon Czaika
From Marian and Norman Charters
Howard Becky Ferguson
From Robert Ferguson
Steve Ferguson
From Lisha and Mark Ramsdell
Grace, Ella, Violet, Charleigh, and Lincoln
From Ivy Lange
Karen Gritter on her Birthday, and for her work and passion in the Great Lakes Region
From Beth Veltman
Brenda Herman
From Thomas and Lisa Hilberg
Huff Family
From FSC Kayak Club (GR)
Heather Huffstutler & Shawn Ulrich
From Heidi Shaffer
Huron Pines invasive species
cost share program
From Bradd Chisholm
Thank you to the Huron Pines staff for their work at Acorn House on our phragmites!
From Acorn Family Retreats
Huron Pines work at Tawas Beach Club
From The Love Family Cottage
Hull Island - Oscoda
From Steve and Susan Pollack
Daniel Judd
From Sabrina Lanker
James and Kathe Kirchner
From Anonymous donor on behalf of a donor-advised fund account at Schwab Charitable
Helga Lentner
From Yvonne Lentner
Sherry Libka, Sherrie Rifenberg, and Vicki Habitz
From Judith Cooper
Phillip Morse
From Phillip Morse
My deceased brothers
From Mark and Lori Carter
Our 55th Anniversary
From Janet and Jerry Stange
Our grandchildren, Eliana & Everett
From Gary and Ruth Barnes
Our 3 kids who love fishing at Cornwall Dam every summer
From Krisite Hall
Christie Perdue & Lisha Ramsdell
From Bob and Gay Courtois
Robert and Rae Pierce
From Rebecca Ketchum
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Puplis, Jr.
From Allan Puplis
Lisha Ramsdell
From Bob and Gay Courtois
Arch Reeves
From David and Carol Gearhart
Save Cornwall
From Melanie Scott
The Charles Koehler Family
From Charles Koehler
The Spedoske Families
From Elizabeth and Randy Spedoske
Wildwood Lake Dam Team
to the Cornwall Dam Team
From Anonymous
Painted turtle
In Memory Of
Gifts made in memory of the names in bold
Charlotte Adams
From William R. Adams
John & Carol Arnold
From Suzanna Davis
Edward Bender
From Leanora Bender
Larry Bilby
From Ralph & Nancy Rucinski
Paul Bodalski
From Carol & John Zinser
Ed & Delores Bozynski
From George & Janet Bozynski
Al, Keith & Nyla Buehler
From Jessica & Keith Troyer
Alex Buehler
From Jessica & Keith Troyer
Keith Buehler
From Jessica & Keith Troyer
Keith & Alex Buehler
From Maddison Buehler
Keith & Nyla Buehler
From Hillary Koslakiewicz
Nyla Buehler
From Jessica & Keith Troyer
Jon Carter, Brother
From Mark & Lori Carter
Clair Christiansen
From Margaret Hunt
Aaron Eliot Cohen
From Dr. Lynn S. Cohen
& Stephen B. Cohen
Harry Conroy
From Mary Conroy
Kevin Conroy
From Mary Conroy
Robert & Linda Cooper
From Anonymous
From Judith Cooper
Rebecca Counsellor
From Richard Counsellor
Phyllis Dale
From Tom Dale
F Dale David
From Michael David
Jerald Allen Doll
From Kurt & Deborah Brauer
From Cynthia & Dale Hack
Jerald & Patricia Doll
From Kenneth, Shelby
& Ember Bauer
Ted Dunaway
From Tom & Ellen Swengel
Jed Erwin
From Claire Erwin
Dave & Maxine Evans
From Andrew Evans
Daniel Ferguson
From Rene Ferguson
Doug Ferguson, We Love & Miss You!
From Steven & Natascha Graham
Dr. David A Feighan
From Mrs. Pat Feighan
Ralph Ferraiuolo
From Michael Azure
Leo C. Finneran
From Charles, Katherine & Mikayla Finneran
Paul Gaudette
From Valerie Gaudette-Adair
Michael (Mike) Grant
From Anonymous
From Tom Galetto
From Glen & Diane Matthews
From Allen & Jean Moberly
Frank, Martha & Rick Grzesiak
From Robert & Ruth Sawyers
Bill Harman
From Erin McLean
Roy Clark Harrison
From Jeanne Eddy
From Mark Harrison
From Preston Krueger
Vernon & Jean Hicks
From Russ & Barb Hicks
Ray Hoobler
From Stewart & Carol Smith
J2
From Karen Rice
Celeste Jensen
From Jerry Jensen
Aili Koski & Margaret Barnard
From Mark & Marie Koski
Norbert & Caroline Koschmann
From Donald & Gail Block
From Jeff & Tina Precup
George & Aili Koski
From Mark & Marie Koski
Bill Kusey
From Ned and Mary Caveney
Donald LaFleche
From Lori Werda
Jhon Lafrance
From Jason Doering
Max Lefevre & Aneka Aumiller
From Cameron Warner
Helga & Kenneth Lentner
From Yvonne Lentner
Vic & Alice Maddox
From Thoralf Hoelzer & Victoria Hoelzer-Maddox
Nelson & Helen Manier
From Linda Manier
Wayne & Marjorie McFall
From April Peacock
Danny McMullen, Afton MI
James & Therese Vuke
Nelson Mead
From Amanda Redman
Harry Medagame
From Steve Ciszewski
Harold Miller
From Tim Cwalinski
Walter Mistak Sr.
From Elizabeth Seymour
Edwin W. Moore, Area
Conservation Officer, Retired
From Deborah Fullford
Rick & Keith Morley
From Cynthia Morley
Jerry Myers
From Glen & Gwen Catt
William Myers
From Sharon Myers
Floyd B. Osgood
From Diane E. Osgood
Guy A. Paolino
From Tianne Jones
Kay Pierce
From Nick & Caryn Brandonisio
Archie Reeves - Forest Tech,
Pigeon River County State Forest
From Ned & Mary Caveney
Connie Schrieber
From George Shaw & Bonnie Marsh
Leonard Sherwood, Sr.
From Connie Dunlop
Glenna & Robert Simpson
From Anonymous
Ted & Jean Skinner
From Valerie Gaudette-Adair
Brian Stamp & Evan Perales
From Deanna Stamp
Ralph Taylor
From Cheryl Willie
TB River
From Thomas G. & Rosemary Mullaney
Brian J. Thomas
From Joel Barnhill
Uncle George
From Anonymous
Voight & Bernadene Van Syckle
From Nancy & Neil Wilder
Phil & Dottie VarnHagen.
Miss you Dad & Mom
From Joni Sackrider
Dick Walle
From Judy Walle
Earl Wolf
From Glen & Diane Matthews
Thomas & Jeanette Worley
From Pat & Judy Benson
Nicholas Zielinski, husband
From Jill Zielinski
Including Huron Pines in my estate planning alongside provisions for my daughter was a significant decision but I believe both are equally vital to our future. - Shelby Bauer “ “ Shelby and Ember Bauer Huron Pines Legacy Society
The Huron Pines Legacy Society honors a special group of individuals who have committed to protecting the future of northeast Michigan’s natural resources through the establishment of a planned gift. By including Huron Pines in their estate plans, these visionary donors will help ensure healthy water, protected places and vibrant communities for generations to come. Contact Development Director Brenda Herman for more information about planned giving opportunities or to add your name.
Eric Bankhead
Gregory and Cecilia Bator
Shelby Bauer
Chip and Betsy Erwin
Jeff and Julie Greene
Heather Huffstutler
Joe and Judi Jarecki
Brad Jensen and Rebecca Benson
Peggy Ann Kusnerz
Lawrence Lee and Nick Pavelich
Robert and Jean Radin
Lisha Ramsdell
Renee Rose
Donette Spiekerman
Upcoming Events
We’re still finalizing our 2025 events, so be sure to check out huronpines.org/events soon for a full schedule and more details about the opportunities listed below.
Invasive Species Identification Training
Help protect Northern Michigan’s natural areas by learning to identify invasive species and report them! In this virtual training, we will teach you how to identify common invasive plant species and then use the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network (MISIN) app to report your findings. Your observations will contribute to a regional database that helps experts detect and respond to invasive threats early.
Survey at Emily Min Hunt
Join Huron Pines for our 3rd annual Spring Salamander Survey at Emily Min Hunt Preserve. This family-friendly event will include a short walk (.15mi) to one of the preserve’s wetlands where participants will assist Huron Pines staff in collecting salamanders and taking measurements. This effort in community-driven science helps us gauge the health of the unique ecosystems found at the preserve by monitoring the abundance of amphibians in their native habitat.
Birding Big Sit at North Point Nature
With Thunder Bay to the south and Misery Bay to the north, North Point Nature Preserve is an optimal location for spotting birds during spring migration. This event is open to people of all levels of birding and outdoor experience, and experts will be on site to help fledgling birders build their skill. Attendees will be in groups and spread out to different locations around the preserve to document the birds they see and hear.
June
28
North Point Nature Preserve Exploration Day
Join Huron Pines for an afternoon of exploration at North Point Nature Preserve. Participants will learn more about North Point’s history, ecology and conservation. Afterwards, participants will be able to visit and explore select locations at the preserve at their leisure.
Glassing for birds at North Point Nature Preserve
Spotted salamander
The flowers of invasive honeysuckle
Karalynne Vitas and daughter Lauren Vitas at North Point
4241 Old US 27 South, Suite 2
Gaylord, MI 49735 (989) 448-2293 huronpines.org
