Our community is made up of all sorts of stewards! Please join us to celebrate our collective efforts in conservation at our Volunteer Appreciation & Conservation Celebration! This is a chance to honor and celebrate you, our community, for your support in time and resources. Are you new to the community and want to get involved? Please join us to learn about our ongoing opportunities for volunteer stewardship and find out how you can be a part of our team. We will enjoy drinks, appetizers and good conversation as we reflect and dream together.

Oceana Conservation District is excited to invite everyone to the grand opening of Stony Creek Nature Preserve!

The preserve’s grand opening will feature time for a guided hikes with interpretive activities along the way, offering visitors the opportunity to learn about the area’s native flora and fauna while enjoying the natural community with fellow like minded enthusiasts. This is a fantastic opportunity to support local conservation efforts and celebrate the preservation of a vital ecosystem for future generations.

The District has been working hard to prepare the preserve for the public by conducting plant surveys, developing a forest management plan, and installing a parking area and trails. The opening of Stony Creek Nature Preserve is a testament to the generosity of our community and the dedication of numerous volunteers!

If you plan to attend, please register below and carpool if possible as our parking lot can only hold so many! Light refreshments provided. If you have any additional comments or concerns contact Emma Waatti: emma.waatti@macd.org.

Join us for an afternoon of exploration at Otto Nature Preserve. We will search for mushrooms, bear corn and beech drops. We will listen for pileated woodpeckers and the waves of Lake Michigan. We will learn a bit about tree identification, but mostly, we will simply enjoy the fall colors with good company.

Join the district and our wonderful neighbor/partner Muskegon Conservation District for a free invasive species 101 workshop! Learn about invaders on Michigan’s Invasive Species Watch List, how to identify them, and what steps to take if you spot them. We’ll also share treatment strategies and control methods to help you tackle some of the invasive species already causing challenges in our region.

This is a FREE workshop, but we encourage you to register so we know how many people to expect. You can register at this link: HERE!

Calling all land and water stewards! If you’re looking for new ways to connect with like-minded locals and participate in meaningful conservation activities, look no further. This month’s Stewardship outing will focus on Michigan’s adopt-a-highway program. Let’s work together to keep litter off our roadsides, limiting the amount of trash and microplastics that find their way into our beloved waterways.

We will meet at the carpool lot located on Polk Rd near US 31. Please sign up using the registration form below.

Calling all land and water stewards! If you’re looking for new ways to connect with like-minded locals and participate in meaningful conservation activities, look no further. This Stewardship outing is centered around International Coastal Clean-up day! Please invite your family and friends to enjoy a beautiful morning on Oceana County public beaches and be a part of the global effort to keep our coastlines clean!

Volunteers will be split up into two groups; one going North and one going South along the beach!

Please sign up using the registration form below.

Learn about the biology, ecology and identification of mushrooms in the forest. Ashten Buxton, our guide, will lead the trip and share a wealth of fungi knowledge with us. Plan to bring a 3 to 6 inch folding or hunting knife, a basket or other small open container that can be easily carried (small paper shopping bag or old onion sack). This will be a two-part session, starting at Oceana Conservation Office and followed by a visit to Otto Nature Preserve.

Dispose of unused, unwanted, outdated cleaners, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, electronics and more, at this annual event, a service provided for Oceana County residents. Visit our HHW page for a complete list of accepted matierals and more information.

Calling all land and water stewards! If you’re looking for new ways to connect with like-minded locals and participate in meaningful conservation activities, look no further. Take ownership of our newest nature preserve on Stony Creek by helping trail build and perform essential stewardship activities.

Workday tasks will include bench establishment and installation of posts and trail signs, invasive species removal, vegetation transplanting, and removing culvert to install a small footbridge!

We will meet at the Conservation District office and carpool to the preserve. Please sign up using the registration form below or email Stewardship Coordinator Emma Waatti at emma.waatti@macd.org for more details.

Beginning Farmer Field Day will be held on July 22, 2025 at the West Central Michigan Research and Extension Center, 5185 N. Oceana Dr., Hart, MI 49420, from 9 am -4 pm with registration beginning at 8:30 am. A full agenda is available here.

Topics covered will include scouting for pests and diseases in fruit and vegetables, identifying invasives and beneficials, choosing varieties and rootstocks, site preparation, produce safety, soil sampling and soil health basics, irrigation, planting pollinators, the importance of cover crops, growing Christmas trees, programs and assistance available from local agricultural agencies & organizations, marketing, making a business plan and more! Most of the program will take place as presentations in the field and equipment will be on- site to view. Indoor presentations will also take place before & after lunch in the conference room.

There is a cost of $20/person and pre-registration is required. The cost includes a catered lunch, a swag item and many handouts.

This field day is a cooperative effort by the Oceana Conservation District, MSUE, and the Oceana County Farm Bureau in partnership with the West Central Research Station. Contact lynda.herremans@macd.org for more information.

To register, complete the enrollment form below.

Calling all land and water stewards! If you’re looking for new ways to connect with like-minded locals and participate in meaningful conservation activities, look no further. This month’s Stewardship outing will focus on Michigan’s adopt-a-highway program. Let’s work together to keep litter off our roadsides, limiting the amount of trash and microplastics that find their way into our beloved waterways.

We will meet at the carpool lot located on Polk Rd near US 31. Please sign up using the registration form below.

ONLINE PRE-REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.

Please call our office at 231-861-5600 if you would like to make a reservation. Thank you!!

The Oceana Conservation District received a grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy to collect and recycle residential tires in Oceana County.

Participation is free although donations and volunteers appreciated.

Important things to know

1. A maximum of 50 tires will be allowed to accommodate the needs of more people in the county.

2. All tires must be mostly clean at the time of drop off. Remove all excess water, mud and leaves, or your tires will be turned away.

3. We accept car and pickup tires only. We do not accept semi tires, tractor tires, airplane tires, construction loader tires, earth mover equipment tires, golf cart tires, or rubber tracks.

4. Rims must be removed.

This year we will have an additional trailer for collection at the Colfax Township Hall. Please indicate your preferred collection site in your registration. We will confirm your drop-off location.

The Summer Solstice marks the longest day of the year. Join staff and community members as we watch the sun set on the longest day of 2025 over the horizon of Lake Michigan. We will explore the dunes, learn about dune grass, play in the sand, and maybe dip a toe in the water. Join us and make every moment of the daylight count.

PLEASE REGISTER BELOW TO ATTEND

Calling all land and water stewards! If you’re looking for new ways to connect with like-minded locals and participate in meaningful conservation activities, look no further. Take ownership of our newest nature preserve on Stony Creek by helping trail build and perform essential stewardship activities.

Workday tasks will include construction of two foot bridges, trail markers, transplanting vegetation, and pulling invasive vegetation!

We will meet at the Conservation District office and carpool to the preserve. Please sign up using the registration form below or email Stewardship Coordinator Emma Waatti at emma.waatti@macd.org for more details.

Lynda Herremans will lead a caravan type field trip within the Walkinshaw Wetlands Preserve of the Manistee National Forest southeast of Walkerville. Participants will see and/or hear several species of meadow and wetland birds which may include bobolinks, savannah sparrows, marsh & sedge wrens, upland sandpipers, sandhill cranes, willow flycatchers, northern harrier, yellow & common yellowthroat warblers, catbirds and rails. Bald eagles and ravens are also common residents here! Bring your own binoculars if you have them; we will have a few extra on hand if needed. The field trip will take place under light rain conditions but will be cancelled in the event of medium to heavy rain. Space is limited to 24 participants. We will be meeting at the US Forest Service Walkinshaw parking area (at the Fox Rd. and 198th Ave. curve) at 8:00 am. We will be carpooling from there to limit the number of cars as much as possible. There are no other access points to the wetland area so we will be stopping along the route to bird along the gravel roads.

Please REgister below

Calling all land and water stewards! If you’re looking for new ways to connect with like-minded locals and participate in meaningful conservation activities, look no further. Take ownership of our newest nature preserve on Stony Creek by helping trail build and perform essential stewardship activities.

Workday tasks will include invasive species removal, tree planting, installation of tree markers, and seedling saving! 

We will meet at the Conservation District office and carpool to the preserve. Please sign up using the registration form below or email Stewardship Coordinator Emma Waatti at emma.waatti@macd.org for more details.

If you are interested in the environmental, economic and aesthetic benefits of native landscaping, we hope to see you at our Native Plant Sale! We will have approximately 40 species representing prairie, wetland, and woodland habitats that are excellent for backyard landscaping. Plants will be sold on a first-come-first-serve basis. We will not be taking pre-orders. Proceeds benefit restoration and educational programs at Oceana Conservation District. Please visit our Native Plant Sale page for prices and a complete species list.

Join Staff and Jim Nicholas on a stroll along a nature trail on the property of Jim and Bonnie Nicholas in Shelby to identify and learn about the cultural history of many of our beloved spring ephemeral wildflower species such as trillium, spring beauty, trout lily, jack-in-the-pulpit, bloodroot and Dutchman's breeches.

Meeting location will be shared with those who registered a few days prior to the event.

please register below

Calling all land and water stewards! If you’re looking for new ways to connect with like-minded locals and participate in meaningful conservation activities, look no further. Take ownership of our newest nature preserve on Stony Creek by helping trail build and perform essential stewardship activities.

Workday tasks will include invasive species removal and the creation of simple natural boardwalks or planks in wet areas

We will meet at the Conservation District office and carpool to the preserve. Please sign up using the registration form below or email Stewardship Coordinator Sky Harsch at sky.harsch@macd.org for more details.

Join Conservation District educator Kiki and members of many other community organizations for fun, hands-on activities for all ages. Don’t miss the composting demonstration by the GVSU Sustainable Agriculture Project beginning at 10:30 and a biochar demonstration with the Montague Commoners. Food vendors Laughing Tree Breads, Dark Water Coffee and The Artisan will be on hand with their yummy wares.

Please plan to pick up your trees, shrubs and dune grass on April 19th near the pig/goat barn at the Oceana County Fairgrounds. Please plan to enter the fairgrounds through the Main St gate, and exit through the Polk Rd gate.

Calling all land and water stewards! If you’re looking for new ways to connect with like-minded locals and participate in meaningful conservation activities, look no further. This month’s Stewardship outing will focus on Michigan’s adopt-a-highway program. Let’s work together to keep litter off our roadsides, limiting the amount of trash and microplastics that find their way into our beloved waterways.

We will meet at the carpool lot located on Polk Rd near US 31. Please sign up using the registration form below.

Children ages 2-6 (and tag-along older siblings) along with a parent or caregiver are invited to come learn and play in the woods on Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9:30-11:30. Register for the 12 week session under the education tab or fill out the registration form below to drop-in on select dates. Daily drop-in is $12 per child. Fee is payable on site or through the shopping cart.

Children ages 2-6 (and tag-along older siblings) along with a parent or caregiver are invited to come learn and play in the woods on Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9:30-11:30. Register for the 12 week session under the education tab or fill out the registration form below to drop-in on select dates. Daily drop-in is $12 per child. Fee is payable on site or through the shopping cart.

The Oceana Conservation District and MSU Extension are offering a West Central Irrigation Day

meeting with resource specialists on many different irrigation related topics on April 8 th from 8:00

am to noon. It will be held at the West Central Michigan Horticultural Research and Extension

Center at 5185 N. Oceana Dr. just north of Hart. Topics will include scheduling, uniformity, water

use reporting, backflow protection, fertigation, apple & blueberry irrigation research update,

discharge permitting and a rainfall simulator demonstration. The topics will encompass both

center pivot and drip irrigation management. Pesticide recertification credits have been

requested. Registration is free & snacks will be provided. Pre-registration is requested by April

7 th . Go to https://events.anr.msu.edu/WestCentralIrrigationDay/ For more information contact

Kelle162@msu.edu or call 231-845-3362.

Calling all land and water stewards! If you’re looking for new ways to connect with like-minded locals and participate in meaningful conservation activities, look no further. Take ownership of our newest nature preserve on Stony Creek by helping trail build and perform essential stewardship activities.

Workday tasks will include the removal of large trees obstructing path (only when absolutely necessary), installation of natural terracing holds and continued terracing efforts, and minimal mechanic work only if necessary.  

We will meet at the Conservation District office and carpool to the preserve. Please sign up using the registration form below or email Stewardship Coordinator Sky Harsch at sky.harsch@macd.org for more details.

Children ages 2-6 (and tag-along older siblings) along with a parent or caregiver are invited to come learn and play in the woods on Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9:30-11:30. Register for the 12 week session under the education tab or fill out the registration form below to drop-in on select dates. Daily drop-in is $12 per child. Fee is payable on site or through the shopping cart.

Children ages 2-6 (and tag-along older siblings) along with a parent or caregiver are invited to come learn and play in the woods on Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9:30-11:30. Register for the 12 week session under the education tab or fill out the registration form below to drop-in on select dates. Daily drop-in is $12 per child. Fee is payable on site or through the shopping cart.

Children ages 2-6 (and tag-along older siblings) along with a parent or caregiver are invited to come learn and play in the woods on Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9:30-11:30. Register for the 12 week session under the education tab or fill out the registration form below to drop-in on select dates. One-time drop-in is $12 per child. Fee is payable on site.

Children ages 2-6 (and tag-along older siblings) along with a parent or caregiver are invited to come learn and play in the woods on Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9:30-11:30. Register for the 12 week session under the education tab or fill out the registration form below to drop-in on select dates. One-time drop-in is $12 per child. Fee is payable on site.