As the white pick-up truck bounced down the old two-track, deer flies wasted no time bombing the windows as Dane and I made our way closer to the river. Ten minutes down the old overgrown road we reached our destination where we were to launch the canoe. When the truck door opened, muggy hot [...]
Author Archives: jprins
August 20, 2010 – 12:06 pm
Peepers will be returning to the Boardman River Nature Center this fall! This fun & educational program is designed to foster the exploration of nature in preschoolers. They explore a different seasonal nature theme every session with experienced early childhood educators & naturalists. Each morning will include indoor and outdoor activities – [...]
Teaming up to Repair an "Impaired" Creek
August 2, 2010 – 12:29 pm
Kids Creek is a major tributary to the Boardman River, emptying into GT Bay near the Holiday Inn and is the most urbanized of the Boardman River watershed. Unfortunately it is on a list we would rather it not be. It is on the State of Michigan's "Impaired Waters" list because of it's [...]
Summer Adventures - GTCD Staff Favorites
July 8, 2010 – 11:20 am
Lew Coulter:
The Grand Traverse Commons - I enjoy stick walking in the hills at Grand Traverse Commons. Great training for cross-country skiing and good way to enjoy the work we (GTCD), the Youth Corps, volunteers and others have done over the past 10 years.
Rebecca Teahen:
Floating the Boardman - I enjoy exploring many of the [...]
GTSI Launches with Five-Day Summer Institute for Teachers
July 7, 2010 – 12:44 pm
Twenty very dedicated – and energetic! – area teachers from four schools spent an event-filled week at the Boardman River Nature Center from June 28-July 2: hiking trails, doing stream and pond sampling, meeting with environmental and other experts, canoeing the Boardman River, sailing on West Bay, and learning about water-associated issues here in northwestern [...]
Killer on the Loose!
July 2, 2010 – 3:40 pm
Shade lurker. Rapid reproducer. Fast grower. Species diversity killer. Sounds like the begnining of a bad horror movie, doesn't it? Well, unfortunately what is being described is close to home and not nearly as entertaining. What we are describing is the introducation of a non native species to our [...]
Meet the Summer 2010 Land Management Technicians
June 2, 2010 – 9:50 am
Dane Moeggenberg is currently a student at Indiana University studying Freshwater Resource Management, Underwater Resource Management, and Geography. He will finish up his degree in December. Dane enjoys playing bass guitar, cooking great food and chatting with whomever about whatever. He plans to move to Chicago this fall to help stop the Asian Carp as [...]
Meet the Summer 2010 Education Assistants
June 1, 2010 – 3:11 pm
The GTCD's Environmental Education team is excited to welcome two new Education Assistants for the 2010 summer season.
Michelle Handke is returning for a second season with us here at the Boardman River Nature Center. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison this spring with a Bachelor of Science in Biological [...]
May 6, 2010 – 10:33 am
Join us at the Boardman River Nature Center for this day of fun-filled activities designed to celebrate the wonders of nature in the Grand Traverse region. This celebration will bring together a variety of area organizations devoted to environmental education, outdoor recreation and natural resource management. Admission is FREE and there will [...]
Take a Kid Fishing Day on May 15 at Kid's Creek Park!
May 5, 2010 – 11:17 am
Garfield Township, the Grand Traverse Conservation District, Great Wolf Lodge, and the Michigan DNRE have announced the inaugural Take A Kid Fishing Day at Kid's Creek Park in Traverse City from 10:00AM to 2:00PM on May 15! All are invited, and kids are encouraged, to test your luck in the recently reconstructed fishing pond [...]
Trail Stewards Lead the Way!
May 5, 2010 – 10:38 am
As with many programs here, the number of Trail Stewards continues to grow each year. Trail Stewards adopt a trail section in a specific parkland and commit to monitoring and addressing general maintenance issues that arise on that section. Two trail stewards of the Natural Education Reserve, Steve Rouse and Heather Peyton, took [...]
2010 Boardman River Fly Rod Raffle
April 7, 2010 – 4:16 pm
PROCEEDS SUPPORT BOARDMAN RIVER RESTORATION!
Win: R.W. Summers Model 735 (7’3” 5wt) Fly Rod (Don't fly fish, but still want to support the Boardman? Win $1,700 if you are not interested in the rod!) Pictures below
R.W. (Bob) Summers is world renowned for his bamboo fly rods. R.W. Summers bamboo fly rods are highly [...]
FREE Workshops for Farmers
March 24, 2010 – 11:08 am
ATTENTION FARMERS!
Please join the Grand Traverse Conservation District for a series of Farm Workshops at the Boardman River Nature Center on Friday, March 26 and Monday, March 29. Both workshops will incorporate information about the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP), USDA/NRCS Conservation Programs, Farm and Cropping Assessment tools, Water sampling and [...]
Tent Caterpillar & Gypsy Moth Workshop: April 7
March 5, 2010 – 2:36 pm
When:Wednesday, April 7th, 6:30-7:30 pm
Who:Recommended for homeowners and township personnel
Description:
Last summer our area trees were being eaten alive! Can you distinguish a gypsy moth caterpillar from a tent caterpillar? What kinds of trees do they eat? What can you do at home to help with the nuisance problem? Join Dr. Duke Elsner, Grand Traverse County [...]
Ground Applicators for Gypsy Moth Control
March 5, 2010 – 12:14 pm
Following is a list of local businesses in the Grand Traverse area that provide services for controlling gypsy moths. This list is provided as a public service and does not constitute an endorsement by the Grand Traverse Conservation District. Homeowners are encouraged to obtain several quotes and references for suppression services.
Cobb’s Pest Control
3277 [...]
Gypsy Moth Information
March 3, 2010 – 5:10 pm
History
Life-Cycle
Caterpillar Comparison
Natural Enemies
Host Species
Tent Caterpillar & Gypsy Moth Identification & Natural Controls
Methods for Controlling the Gypsy Moth
BT for Suppression
Don't Move the Gypsy Moth!
For Teachers: Gypsy Moth Cirriculum
Ground Applicators
Pesticide Applicators
Keeping the Environment & Your Food Healthy
March 3, 2010 – 2:28 pm
Most of you are aware of the hard work of our farming neighbors to overcome hail, wind, drought, pests and low prices, just to put food on our tables. However, it is likely that few of you are familiar with the efforts they make to keep our environment and food healthy. The GTCD has been [...]
Leslie Mertz, GTSI Program Coordinator
March 1, 2010 – 2:48 pm
Leslie Mertz joined the staff of the GTCD in February 2010 as the program coordinator of the Grand Traverse Stewardship Iniative. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication, and a master’s of science and Ph.D. in biological sciences. She has done population surveys of amphibians and reptiles in Michigan, has been part of a scientific [...]
Nurture your Child's Connection to Nature
February 18, 2010 – 11:16 am
Your child can explore nature this summer at Nature Day Camp!
Each program will include indoor and outdoor activities, and will provide a unique combination of content-rich programming and complementary games and crafts. All programs are designed to encourage the curiosity of the natural world, allow exploration of natural areas, and promote a sense of [...]
Rotary Charity Grant Awarded!
February 3, 2010 – 3:40 pm
We are excited to announce that the Grand Traverse Conservation District recently received a grant from Rotary Charities of Traverse City. The funding will support "Nature Education for Students and Teachers" (NEST) here at the Boardman River Nature Center. This program will help us address the needs identified by local teachers: [...]
Local Farmers Protecting the Environment & Us
February 2, 2010 – 3:45 pm
Most of you are aware of the hard work of our farming neighbors to overcome, hail, wind, drought, pests and low prices, just to put food on our tables. However, it is likely that few of you are familiar with the efforts they make to keep our environment and food healthy. The Grand [...]
Don't Poo in the Park!
February 2, 2010 – 12:00 pm
ATTENTION DOG OWNERS...
We need your help! Many of us here at the GTCD are dog lovers, like you, who also enjoy frequent romps at the beautiful parklands we manage. But, over the past few years, times have gotten tough for some of our dogs, not to mention clean shoes! We've got some [...]
2009 Fall Digital Photo Contest Winner
February 2, 2010 – 10:50 am
We have been holding digital photography contests this year to determine the future banners that will be displayed behind the Boardman River Nature Center’s welcome desk. The contest for next Fall's banner has come to a close and winner has been selected by the community.
Sandy "Sam" Bodjack's photo entitled "Island on Brown Bridge Pond" [...]
2009 Digital Photo Contest WINNER Wrapup
February 2, 2010 – 10:46 am
The Grand Traverse Conservation District (GTCD) asked you to shoot nature this year…and you responded. We held a digital photography contest to determine the future banners to be displayed behind the Boardman River Nature Center’s welcome desk. Many, many amazing pictures were posted on our Flickr group for the contests. The community [...]
Vote for the GTCD at Oryana!
February 2, 2010 – 9:56 am
In 2008, Oryana created the Oryana Community Grant Program that gives to non-profit organizations that "work for the sustainable development of communities through policies and programs accepted by their members.” Each profitable year Oryana and its members have made a pledge to donate up to 10% of all end-of-year proceeds (pre-tax) to a non-profit organization [...]
Michigan Envirothon Teams Needed
January 8, 2010 – 11:30 am
The Michigan Envirothon is a statewide environmental education competition designed to inspire environmental stewardship in Michigan’s high school students. It is team based and uses the outdoors as a classroom. Teams of five students and up to four alternate members utilize resource materials and local resource professionals to address natural resources including: Agriculture, [...]
Grand Traverse Stewardship Initiative
January 6, 2010 – 10:02 am
The Grand Traverse Conservation District is proud to announce the new Grand Traverse Stewardship Initiative (GTSI), one of only eight regional hubs for the Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative (GLSI).
The Grand Traverse Stewardship Initiative (GTSI) will provide leadership, training and support to help teachers, students and community partners work together on water-related issues in [...]
Don't Hibernate, Get Outside!
January 4, 2010 – 2:41 pm
With winter in full force it’s easy to want to stay inside and keep warm. Instead of cursing out the snow this year, how about embracing it?! There are many fun things to do outside and several great parklands to enjoy them at. Below are a list of winter activities and our favorite [...]
Coming to a Parkland Near You!
December 10, 2009 – 3:38 pm
Many of the parklands we manage are getting a new look thanks to several grants (a few still in the works) and support by the parkland property owners. The goal is to have an 32”x 44” educational display on the backside of all the 25 information stations in the parklands we manage that rotate [...]
Join the Drink Pouch Brigade
December 10, 2009 – 1:50 pm
Terracycle, an ecologically and socially responsible company, accepts used drink pouches and energy bar wrappers through their Drink Pouch and Energy Bar Wrapper Brigades, and the GTCD has just signed up! Here's how you can help: bring your used drink pouches such as CapriSun, Honest Kids, and Kool Aid pouches (must be pouches [...]
Favorite GTCD Staff Green Gift Ideas!
December 2, 2009 – 11:01 am
Yes, it is that time of year again… All of us are hoping you had a very happy Thanksgiving. For some, this also means a kick-off to the holiday shopping season. Well, here are some gift ideas that will help minimize your impact on the environment and maximize your impact on our local economy. [...]
LMS Team Honored with Awards
November 12, 2009 – 11:02 am
The Grand Traverse Conservation District's (GTCD) Land Management Services Team was honored with a couple of awards recently. It caps off a great 2009 field season.
Steve Largent, Director of Land Management Services, was awarded the 2009 Frank Purvis Stewardship Award. This award was established in 1983 and honors "those individuals who have demonstrated [...]
GTCD Staff Runs with the Zombies
November 3, 2009 – 4:29 pm
This past Halloween, some of the GTCD staff decided to show their support for another local organization by dressing up as zombies and taking to the streets of Traverse City. All proceeds from Halloween morning's Zombie Run benefit TART Trails. We had a great time running in our various costumes. One of [...]
2009 Clean Sweep Completed
November 3, 2009 – 4:27 pm
Every year our Groundwater Stewardship Coordinator, Dan Busby, works with the local agricultural community to collect thousands of pounds of pesticides. This year, over 9,000 lbs of pesticides were collected! The Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program (MGSP) pays for the disposal costs of these chemicals. These collections, called “clean sweeps,” are coordinated with [...]
2009 Halloween Spook-tacular
November 3, 2009 – 12:00 pm
CLICK HERE to see the GTCD staff at the Zombie Run!
Obstacles to Fish & Stream Health Removed from Boardman Watershed
November 3, 2009 – 11:54 am
On its way from the Kalkaska area to west Grand Traverse Bay, the Boardman River gains in size as it gathers flow from numerous streams called tributaries. These tributaries serve as the primary spawning grounds for trout, especially brook trout. Over the years many culverts have been installed on these tributaries. [...]
Hook in the Mouth and Foot
November 2, 2009 – 4:47 pm
While out doing her weekly monitoring at Brown Bridge Dam, Land Management Specialist, Robin Christensen spotted a bird struggling in a small creek. On closer inspection, she noticed the bird had a lure attached to both its webbed foot AND its bill. "The poor thing was hopping on one foot trying to get [...]
Spark
November 2, 2009 – 3:17 pm
It was a dewy summer morning in Traverse City, when a class full of 4th and 5th grade students piled off of a school bus in front of the Boardman River Nature Center. They were well behaved and filed into neat lines at the instruction of their supervisors. Quiet anticipation was in the [...]
2009 Conservation Celebration Recap
October 5, 2009 – 1:19 pm
The work of the Grand Traverse Conservation District would not be possible without the support of dedicated donors and volunteers. Hundreds of volunteers step forward to serve as Nature Center docents, hike guides, Native Plant Rescuers, and more. Tens of thousands of charitable dollars and gifts come in every year to help fund [...]
R.W. Summers Fly Rod Raffle Winner Drawn!
October 2, 2009 – 1:06 pm
The 13th Annual R.W. (Bob) Summers fly rod raffle drawing took place on Sept 17, at the Conservation Celebration. A Grand Traverse Conservation District donor drew the winning ticket in front of a small crowd of hopeful ticket holders. The name was read and there was no immediate reaction from anyone present. [...]
Halloween Spook-takular
October 2, 2009 – 1:03 pm
The Spook-tacular is back again this year Wednesday, October 28, 6p-8p. Come join us at the Boardman River Nature Center (map) for an evening of ghoulish games, creepy crawly activities, fun nature crafts and a haunted trail. There will be a section of the haunted trail for younger kids and older kids, so [...]
Riparian Buffers Planted at Mayfield Pond & Arbutus Lake
October 2, 2009 – 8:52 am
October 2, 2009
The Land Management Services (LMS) team installed nearly 400 feet of riparian buffers this week at Arbutus Lake #5 Park and Mayfield Pond Park. A survey of public parks bordering lakes, rivers, and streams in the Grand Traverse Bay Watershed, done in conjunction with the Watershed Center of Grand [...]
New Healthy River Exhibit at the Nature Center!
September 30, 2009 – 8:47 am
Stop in to check out the new River Life exhibit at the Boardman River Nature Center, courtesy of the DTE Energy Foundation. A healthy river is abundant with a variety of plants and organisms! The presence and abundance of certain river organisms is a way to measure of the health of the river. [...]
2009 Spring Digital Photo Contest Winner Announcement
September 11, 2009 – 9:02 am
We have been holding digital photography contests this year to determine the future banners that will be displayed behind the Boardman River Nature Center’s welcome desk. As it is the BOARDMAN RIVER Nature Center, the photos must be of the BOARDMAN RIVER!! The contest for next Spring's banner has come to a close and [...]
Brown Bridge Quiet Area Invasive Workbee a Success!
August 28, 2009 – 11:18 am
By Robin Johnson, Land Management Specialist
The latest addition to the City of Traverse City’s Brown Bridge Quiet Area, Grasshopper Creek, got some attention as volunteers worked to pull the invasive spotted knapweed from a native little bluestem field. The 70 acres of Grasshopper Creek was purchased in 1992 with a Michigan Department of Natural [...]
Bringing "Lunkers" back to Kids Creek
August 28, 2009 – 10:51 am
On Saturday, August 22nd, several volunteers from the Traverse City based Adams Chapter of Trout Unlimited came out to restore the banks of Kids Creek behind the former Grand Traverse Auto, now Fox Motors. Three tons of stone and eight tons of topsoil were brought in to restore 65 feet of the Creek. [...]