Volunteer
Photo: Bob Gilreath.
Like most nonprofit organizations, the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition is only as effective as the people who support it. We are always looking for people willing to provide timely articles, essays, book reviews and even poetry centering on U.P. environmental issues, as well as artwork (including cartoons), for our quarterly newsletter, the U.P. Environment.
Please keep checking back with this page to learn about opportunites to do trailwork and other hands-on preservation activities. We'll list upcoming events to do some meaningful conservation work as we learn about them.
You might also want to check with our fellow conservancies for occasions
to volunteer. Go to "Links" and click on the
various organizations listed there. Like us, they are always grateful
for an extra pair of helping hands!
Get Involved: Central U.P. (CUP) Spring Activities
Looking for something to do when the weather turns nice? Here are some activities to get you outside. There are even opportunities for important hands-on labor meant to preserve the beauty of our wild U.P.
CUP Meeting Place Information
For Water Sentinels:
Water monitoring trips will meet at Huron Mountain Realty in Big Bay at 10 am. Contacts: Dave Allen (906) 228-9453; dallen@nmu.edu, or John Rebers (906) 228-3617; jreers@nmu.edu.Little Presque Isle Cleanups:
Cleanup trips will meet at 10 am in the Little Presque Isle parking lot. Turn off of Big Bay Rd, M550, just before the Harlow Ck bridge. Cleanup takes about 2 hours; we shall walk about the tract after the cleanup, weather permitting. Contacts: Dave Allen (906) 228-9453; dallen@nmu.edu, or John Rebers (906) 228-3617; jrebers@nmu.edu.Trap Hills Activities:
These events are still in the planning stage. For information closer to the event, contact Dave Allen (906 ) 228-9453; dallen@nmu.edu, John Rebers (906) 228-3617; jrebers@nmu.edu or Doug Welker (906) 338-2680. (See end of activities list for information about the Memorial Weekend Hikes)CUP Plans Spring 2008 Clean-Ups, Water Monitoring
Our central Upper Peninsula Chapter of the Sierra Club (CUP) has set its schedule for early season clean-ups at Little Presque Isle in Marquette and water sampling of the streams on the Yellow Dog Plains.
CUP has been cleaning up Little Presque Isle for many years. In the early periods, we would get about a ton of trash per pickup; now we get a couple of decent trash bags full. A clean area tends to stay clean (and I enjoy doing it).
We’ll meet at 10 a.m. in the Little Presque Isle parking lot for a two-hour outing. Often we do an afternoon activity out there as well.
As for water sampling on the Yellow Dog Plains, it is likely that baseline measuring is over and monitoring must be done. We all fervently hope that development on the plains will not bring water pollution. The EPA could still deny a permit or legal efforts to block mine construction may succeed (see article page 10). But the likelihood of no pollution increases if all know that many eyes are watching the streams.
For these outings, we’ll meet at 10 a.m. at Huron Mountain Realty in Big Bay. Bring a lunch. We usually get back to Big Bay about 5 p.m.
Schedule:
Sunday, April 27, 2008: Water Sentinels on the Yellow Dog Plains
Saturday, May 17, 2008: Clean-up at Little Presque Isle
Saturday, June 21, 2008: Water Sentinels on the Yellow Dog Plains
Sunday, June 22, 2008: Clean-up at Little Presque Isle
For more information , you can call me at 906-228-9453 or John Rebers at 906-228-3617.
- David Allen, UPEC and CUP Board Member
Trap Hills Conservation Alliance Memorial Day Weekend Hikes and Campout
Join the Trap Hills Conservation Alliance for a weekend of fun in the Trap Hills of Upper Michigan!
Events:
• Hikes in the Trap Hills, ranging from easy hikes on the North Country Trail to rugged bushwhacks • Spectacular scenery • Possibly some rare plants and animals • Camping in the Ottawa National Forest • Possible canoe trips depending on water level
When:
Friday May 26, 2006 – Monday May 29, 2006
Members of the Trap Hills Conservation Alliance will be camping on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.
Hikes will be led on Saturday and Sunday, and possibly Monday AM.
The first hike will leave from the gravel pit camping area at 10AM Saturday.
You may come for any or all of the events.
Where:
A remote camping option for those wishing to camp will be in a level, abandoned gravel pit on National Forest land. Trap Hills Conservation Alliance members will be camping here. One may also camp at the park on Lake Gogebic in Bergland, though it might be crowded or full on a holiday weekend. That park has toilets, showers, etc.
Directions to the gravel pit:
From the junction of Michigan highways M-28 and M-64 in Bergland, Michigan, go north on M-64 for 2.0 miles. Turn right (east) on Old M-64 (gravel). Stay on Old M-64 for 2.4 miles (Old M-64 will turn sharply north one mile after leaving M-64). The gravel pit will be on the right. The pit has a steep entrance and a gradual entrance. The gradual entrance will be flagged. If camping, set up anywhere in the gravel pit.
What to bring:
• Water. There is no water source in the gravel pit, so bring drinking water and wash water if camping. Water can be obtained in Bergland if you run out.
• Camping gear if camping.
• Toiletries. There is no toilet in the gravel pit.
• Appropriate clothing. Medium-weight hiking boots are recommended.
• Insect repellent. Black flies are out, and mosquitoes may be out by then too!
• Swimsuit? There are a few “remote” swimming sites, and swimming is possible at the park/boat launch in Bergland.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Adopt-a-Trail, Adopt-a-Campsite Program
Pictured Rocks is looking for volunteers to help with the upkeep of over 100 miles of trials and 13 backcountry campsites. A half-day orientation and training is scheduled for Saturday, May 13, 2006, 9a.m. to noon, at Munising Falls Interpretive Center, 1505 Sand Point Road, right across from Munising Memorial Hospital.
Volunteers are asked to visit their section of trail or campsite once a month May through October for light maintenance, including picking up litter, light brushing, cleaning out water bars, and breaking up illegal fire rings. They will also be asked to fill out a brief, one-page summary and to report on any larger issues that need to be followed up or completed by park staff. The park will provide volunteers with a VIP uniform shirt and ball cap, basic tools and gloves, and written guidelines on work to be performed.
For more information about the program, call Pam Baker, the park's Volunteer Coordinator, at (906) 387-3700.