Current News

Announcing: The Michigan Partners in Nature Education Spaces (MiPINES) online map! This online map, created as a collaborative project between Michigan Alliance for Environmental and Outdoor Educators (MAEOE) and the Michigan DNR, will be a living resource for discovering local spaces that can be used as an outdoor classroom. Each site listing more...

"His Boots Are Empty" filmmakers took home first place and talk about their inspiration for their film.

ALPENA — If you’d like to sample the talent of our local youth, this film festival is for you. And if you care about preserving, enjoying and learning more about our waters, from oceans to rivers to the Great Lakes, you might want to stick around for the entire festival, which more...

Thunder Bay International Film Festival Student Film Competition first place winners, in front from left to right, are Alpena High School freshmen Clayton Thomson, Nick Lusardi, Amara Vanwagoner, and Brayden Broad. Their film, “His Boots Are Empty” won both first place and People’s Choice awards Saturday at the film festival, held at Great more...

On a sunny spring day at Lake Esau, just half a kilometer from Lake Huron, 5th grade students searched through the beach sand for lost objects. Now, these weren't the hidden treasures that can be found with a metal detector, they were looking for the presence of broken down plastics and other more...

“When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” — John Muir, author and environmental philosopher “And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air” — Fireworks cap off Alpena’s Fourth of July celebration with “oohs and aahs” from the crowd sitting at Starlite Beach more...

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ALPENA — Two new AmeriCorps members are settling into their positions at the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, where they will continue to connect with the community through educational outreach. Education Specialist Kellie Wasikowski and Education Coordinator Adam Ziani will work at the sanctuary building until November, when their service ends. Both more...

NEMIGLSI Network Coordinator Meag Schwartz and Huron Pines AmeriCorps member Adam Ziani shared about their work with NEMIGLSI with Elijah Baker at WBKB. They discussed some current place based stewardship education projects and ways to get more involved. Want to know more about NEMIGLSI? Check it out!

(Photo courtesy/Darby Hinkley) Winners of the Fourth Annual Student Film Competition at the Thunder Bay International Film Festival were announced Saturday after the finalists’ films were shown at Alpena Community College. Pictured, from left to right, are first place winner Akia Rutherford from Rogers City High School, and second place winners more...

Rogers City student, Akia Rutherford wins Thunder Bay International Film Festival Student Competition POSTED BY: STAR CONNOR JANUARY 28, 2019 Alpena, Mich— The extreme cold didn’t keep residents from enjoying this weekend’s Thunder Bay International Film Festival. Over 100 people gathered at Alpena Community College to enjoy films from all over the world including the student more...

Huron Pines AmeriCorps member to share his passion for the outdoors in Northeast Michigan Adam Ziani plans to apply his Environmental Science and Society degree during service with the Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative network. January 30, 2019 - Author: Brandon Schroeder, Michigan Sea Grant, Michigan State University Extension; Tracy D’Augustino, MSU Extension; and Adam more...

(Photo courtesy/Brandon Schroeder) Why math? Math is the language of science and an essential part of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). However, it can often be confusing and frustrating for youth. Engaging youth in planning and designing a raised pollinator garden can be one way to help youth gain comfort with math. Why more...

(Photo courtesy/Brandon Schroeder) Congratulations to NEMIGLSI teacher Brook Begres on her induction to the Innovative Educator Corps (IEC). Brook, a 4th grade teacher at Au Gres-Sims Elementary, was one of 7 teachers from throughout the state that were recognized for their innovative educational programs by the Michigan Department of Education. The NEMIGLSI more...

(Photo courtesy/Kaitlyn Ryan) November 17, 2019 by Kaitlyn Ryan ALPENA –The increasing production and discarding of plastic is taking a toll on the environment, causing a worldwide problem that desperately needs to be addressed –including along the shores of the Great Lakes. From product materials to packaging, plastic has infiltrated so many aspects of daily more...