Mission
Developing Leaders in Conservation
About Us
The Huron Pines AmeriCorps program has been developing leaders in conservation in communities across Michigan since 2007. Huron Pines AmeriCorps members strive to enhance Michigan’s natural resources and foster environmental stewardship by engaging local volunteers, community groups and schools in service projects, hands-on learning opportunities and educational workshops.
We’ve seen over 150 Huron Pines AmeriCorps members come through the program over the last decade and their accomplishments have been staggering. Huron Pines AmeriCorps members have restored over 1,000 miles of river, improved over 22,000 acres of public land and reached over 73,500 students across Michigan.
In 2015, we were honored to receive the Governor’s Service Award for Outstanding National Service Program. This is an award we share with all of the members, organizations and funders who have partnered with us to make this program a success.
The program places college graduates for a 10-month term of full-time volunteer service with conservation organizations across Michigan. Through service Huron Pines AmeriCorps members receive real‐world experience, networking and training opportunities, a living stipend, health coverage and, upon completing their service, an education award to pursue advanced degrees or courses. Huron Pines AmeriCorps is a program of Huron Pines and is supported in part by the Corporation for National and Community Service, Michigan Community Service Commission, Huron Pines and contributions from host sites.
Hosting a Huron Pines AmeriCorps member provides tremendous value for our host sites and due to high demand, selection of host sites is a competitive process. Host sites for each year are selected based on the merit of their application and the level of impact members would have on natural resource conservation in Michigan.
Huron Pines AmeriCorps members both serve with the Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative and act as partners to GLSI projects.
Gaylord, MI 48735
Projects
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7th and 8th grade students are visiting multiple sites along the upper waters of the Thunder Bay River to monitor river health. | Info | |
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Students from Au Gres-Sims Elementary have joined interested community partners to monitor the health of the East Branch of the Au Gres River from head waters to its outlet in Lake Huron. | Info | |
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4th grade students from Besser Elementary visit Duck Park/Island Park twice a year to learn and monitor river health. | Info | |
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Au Gres-Sims Students Conduct Research on Threatened Pitcher’s Thistle | Info | |
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Students use chemical and aquatic invertebrate tests to determine health of Hubbard Lake. | Info | |
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Alpena High School industrial arts teachers Scott MacKenzie and Zach Grulke are getting their students involved in the local community through placed based education. | Info | |
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Students provide stewardship for Island Park by removing invasives, preventing marine debris and more. | Info | |
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Students use chemical and aquatic invertebrate tests to determine health of the Thunder Bay River | Info | |
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NOAA's B-WET program is an environmental education program that promotes locally relevant, experiential learning in the K-12 environment. | Info | |
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Raising Awareness about the Danger of Plastic Bags in the Great Lakes | Info | |
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Oscoda Middle School students are stepping up and becoming natural resources leaders in their local watershed through place based education. | Info | |
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The Owl Green Team is a school garden club. This student led garden functions in many ways. Students plant and maintain a perennial flower and grass garden. Students grow seedlings in the school greenhouse in the Spring and Fall. | Info | |
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Roger City High School welding and woodshop instructor Mandy Munger is getting her students involved in the local community through placed based education. | Info | |
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Alcona Elementary students raise salmon and take care of their shoreline by preventing marine debris | Info | |
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Alcona seventh and eighth graders are working to educate their local community on threatened and endangered species that can be found at Negwegon State Park. | Info | |
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6th Grade students utilize the school's Outdoor Education Site to learn about the diverse ecosystem near their school and have a positive impact on the creek habitat through environmentally conscious management | Info | |
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The Adopt-a-Beach Program is more than just a beach sweep. Teams conduct litter removal and monitoring, and also complete a beach health assessment form that includes science-based observation and testing. | Info | |
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Monitoring seasonal wetlands across northern Michigan | Info |