HeadWaters Land Conservancy
Vanderbilt area schools try out snowshoes!
Video Credit: Arielle Breen/Herald Times
On February 9, 2018 HeadWaters Land Conservancy took the trailer filled with snowshoes, that was purchased through the United Healthcare grant, to the Vanderbilt area schools. We were very excited to give all the students an opportunity to try out snowshoes if they had never been on them before.We had a great time hiking through the school forest. It was a beautiful and fun winter day in northeast Michigan.
HWLC and KOO receive $18,000 grant from UnitedHealthcare
How can you help families and the environment with $18,000? Well, you can get an enclosed trailer and fill it with nets, plastic pans, forceps and magnifying glasses. Binoculars, animal track identification stamps, books and games. Nature focused books, animal and plant ID guides, snowshoes for all ages and winter sleds.
This grant is a first of its kind for HeadWaters Land Conservancy and Kids Outdoors Otsego (KOO) as partners in bringing healthy, nature inspired, year-round outdoor educational activities to northeast Michigan.
$60,000 Match was met!
Thank you to everyone who donated to the J.A. Woollam Match Grant. We had an original match of $45,000 and met that goal very quickly. Then John Woollam “upped” the match to $60,000 and again we were able to reach that goal for the match.
The J.A. Woollam match grant is very important to HeadWaters Land Conservancy. Thank you John Woollam, Together We Save Land Forever!
5th Annual Hotshots for HeadWaters a huge success!
August 26, 2017 was a wonderful day to be a clay shooter at the 5th Annual Hotshots for HeadWaters Fundraiser.
The weather was beautiful and the shish kebab lunch was fantastic. The Lewis class scoring was used for the first time with three winners: Jerry Boron, Jim Supina and Bob Morgner.
All proceeds from this annual event will go towards the HeadWaters Land Conservancy mission of “protecting the diversity and beauty of northeast Michigan”.
Thank you to all the great sponsors, shooters and volunteers. See you again in 2018!
HeadWaters Land Conservancy at Good Morning Gaylord-April 21, 2017
HeadWaters Land Conservancy was the sponsor at the recent Gaylord Chamber of Commerce Good Morning Gaylord held at the Otsego Grand Event Center.
With about 40 people in attendance, Laura Justin-Executive Director, showed a very inspirational video of land conservation from a Conservation Easement owner’s perspective. Laura also explained what a Land Conservancy is and what we have accomplished in the 11 counties of northeast Michigan that we cover.
So exciting to share the story of HeadWaters Land Conservancy!
1st Annual Earth Day Recycling Fair
We celebrated Earth Day by having a Recycling Fair on Saturday, April 22nd at Jay’s Sporting Goods in Gaylord Michigan. Area youth constructed useful items from re-purposed and/or recycled items. Over 70 fantastic exhibits were displayed.
Salvation Army, Habitat Restore and Crossroads Industries also had displays of examples of items that could be re-purposed and reused to keep out of the landfill.
Hourly workshops were held to craft unique items from wood, wine corks, strips of material, wine bottles and plastic bottles.
Our Land, Our Water, Our Future
The key to success in life is planning. Knowing what is on the horizon allows us to predict what the next few weeks, months or even years will look like. But in the world of land conservation, we are often surprised by what walks in the door or calls on the phone. Fortunately, these “surprises” are usually wonderful, in the form of magnificent parcels of land or unexpected opportunities with conservation partners. True, my nature prefers to know exactly what is going to happen next but I’ve learned to be less rigid and go with the flow.
Sometimes the unexpected comes in the form of something that really changes your world. That change for HeadWaters comes in the form of Camp Michi-Lu-Ca, a new land acquisition by the J. A. Woollam Foundation. This former camp is in the process of being restored back to a more natural setting. Through a partnership between the J.A. Woollam Foundation and HeadWaters Land Conservancy we invite you to join us at what will become our next nature preserve and community conservation area. This magnificent property is located in Fairview, Michigan and is the site of this year’s Annual Appreciation Picnic. During the August 1st gathering, we will be unveiling our very ambitious plans for the future and hope to be joined by Dr. John Woollam so that you can hear his story of how all of this came to be.
We are very anxious to share our plans with each and every contributor, volunteer, conservation easement donor and partner. Because of your support throughout the years, because of your diligence and faith, and because of your deep love for the land of northeast Michigan, HeadWaters Land Conservancy now has the opportunity to transform into an organization with endless opportunities and possibilities. There is no better way to express our gratitude to you than to simply say “Thank You” and promise that we will continue to give you our very best.
Laura Justin
Executive Director
HeadWaters Land Conservancy
