-Dianne Farner, Deputy Director

Community engagement this year has been a true mix of land protection, environmental discovery, and fun. Each year, we ask ourselves: What events do our members and communities need most? We often put pressure on ourselves to create programs that are both educationally meaningful and packed with attendees. What is the secret to achieving that perfect mix of high participation and maybe even a few new members?

You might think it is the food and libations, or perhaps a captivating speaker with encyclopedic nature knowledge. It is not. The real draw is the experience itself, the destination, and the atmosphere. We are fortunate to have Lake Huron, the Sturgeon River, hardwood forests, cedar swamps, and oak savannahs as our conservation backdrops. People love snowshoeing under the lights on a winter night, kids love being safely spooked in the woods, and curious minds love learning about fungi, fossils, and fish. It takes all kinds to fully appreciate the natural world. In the end, that is our goal: for every attendee to leave with a deeper respect and appreciation for these places than when they arrived.

The annual Mushroom Foray at the Pigeon River Country Discovery Center draws people from all backgrounds to the northern woods. Whether you are an avid forager or a curious newcomer, a foray is a great place to learn. One might assume it is an adults-only event, but kids love the thrill of finding fungi in any form. While this year was relatively dry, we were still able to identify at least 20 species. Notably, we found an intact specimen of the blue elf cup (Chlorociboria aeruginascens). These tiny cup fungi stain the decaying wood they grow from. Oftentimes, you’ll see the bluish teal stain but not the mushroom itself. Every year we find something new to me, a reminder that there is always something to discover.

In late summer and fall, our adventures took us out to Lake Huron. In September, we toured flower enthusiasts through the Hess Nature Preserve. With hard cider from Presque Isle Farm Cider LLC in hand, we spent a sunny afternoon exploring the late-season blooms along the coast. Though the lady’s slippers had long since withered, the grass-of-Parnassus and Kalm’s lobelia were in full display. There could be no better place to experience the silver tufts of little bluestem catching the sunlight as they rustled in the lake breeze. Maybe it was the cider, maybe it was the fresh air, but that day felt like something out of a Seurat painting.

October took attendees on a journey through time at our Shaping the Lakeshore Geology event. Our amazing speaker, Michael Shelton, Senior Geologist with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) – Geological Resources and Mapping Division, led participants on a hike through the Hess Nature Preserve, revealing how ancient forces shaped the Lake Huron shoreline we see today. He explained how glaciers, waves, and shifting water levels carved out the region’s dramatic contours, while also uncovering the subterranean geology beneath this part of Michigan, including layers of limestone, shale, and other formations that continue to influence local ecosystems, groundwater flow, and even the vegetation that thrives above. His insights connected the unseen world below our feet to the living landscape around us, deepening our understanding of how geology continues to shape life along the lakeshore.

Back at the Sturgeon River Preserve, we hosted our 3rd Annual Haunted Boardwalk. While it may appear to be just a fun walk filled with jump scares and eerie sounds, the real goal is to get people out into the preserve and immersed in nature. The boardwalk came alive with the soft glow of carved pumpkins lighting the way, their flickering faces guiding visitors through the dark woods. There’s something magical about walking under the trees at night, hearing the crunch of leaves underfoot, and catching the occasional whisper of the river nearby. The real animals tend to keep their distance from all our noise, but knowing they’re out there in the dark is enough to send a shiver down the spine. We’re grateful to everyone who came out to make this spooky evening such a success, and a special thank you to State Savings Bank for sponsoring the event and helping us bring the Haunted Boardwalk to life once again.

We hope you had a chance to join us at one of our events this year. If not, we hope this inspires you to take part next year! If events aren’t your thing and you prefer a quieter connection with nature, our preserves are open from dawn to dusk. Hike along the Sturgeon River Preserve, wander the lakeshore at Hess, meander through the rolling hills of Porcupine Run, or simply sit by Big Lake and listen to the sounds of the wild. After all, even if you’re not engaging with the human side of HeadWaters, the land itself remains at the heart of everything we do.