Have fun, lend a hand, learn a skill, make the most of summer: August is full of opportunities!



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"News Digest - Week of July 28, 2025"

four men in vintage base ball uniforms practice on an open grassy field, with bats, balls and other gear around a nearby bench

"Enjoy vintage baseball Aug. 23 [ [link removed] ] at Cambridge Junction Historic State Park in Brooklyn."



Here are a few of this week's stories from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources: 


* Learn about bats, owls and meteors with explorer guides [ #link_16 ]
* August abounds with outdoor summer fun [ #link_17 ]
* Show the great outdoors some love [ #link_2 ]
* Photo ambassador snapshot: Step into 1844 outpost [ #link_1 ]

See other news releases, Showcasing the DNR stories, photos and other resources at Michigan.gov/DNRPressRoom [ [link removed] ].

*Photos:* Larger, higher-res versions of some of the images used in this email – vintage baseball [ [link removed] ], meteor shower [ [link removed] ], off-road vehicles [ [link removed] ], mushrooms [ [link removed] ], volunteer [ [link removed] ] and fall forest [ [link removed] ] – are available in the DNR's online photo collection [ [link removed] ]. The owl photo [ [link removed] ] is courtesy of Michigan state parks photo ambassador Carol LaBelle [ [link removed] ], for the Michigan DNR.

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Learn about bats, owls and meteors with explorer guides

a meteor moves across the blue-black night sky filled with stars, against the forest backdrop at North Higgins Lake State Park

Instead of reaching for a second s’more, take a break from your evening campfire this week and join our explorer guides for family-friendly, nighttime education programs at several state parks – from bats and owls to meteor showers and glowing rocks! 

In the Upper Peninsula, Marquette County’s Van Riper State Park [ [link removed] ] will host a program about bats July 30. Michigan is home to nine different types of bats [ [link removed] ], and unfortunately, five of these are at risk of disappearing. This makes it a timely opportunity to learn about these creatures that are becoming increasingly rare.

Harrisville State Park [ [link removed] ], in Alcona County, will have ultraviolet flashlights available for guests to borrow July 30 and Aug. 3 to aid in searching the beach for yooperlites. Typically found in the U.P., these rocks glow under UV light due to their high sodalite content.



a striking saw-whet owl, with white and tan streaks on chest, gold eyes and cocoa-colored wings, perches on a tree branch

If you are curious about owls and aren't afraid to get your hands a little dirty, join the explorer guide at Houghton County’s McLain State Park [ [link removed] ] July 31 to dissect owl pellets and learn about their hunting habits. You also can try to spot one of Michigan’s 11 owl species in the wild on a guided hike Aug. 2 at St. Clair County’s Lakeport State Park [ [link removed] ].

A double meteor shower featuring the Alpha Capricornids and Southern Delta Aquariids is expected to peak this week, offering a chance to see up to 25 meteors per hour. You can watch the showers at any of our dark sky parks [ [link removed] ], or join a watch party July 31 at Huron County’s Port Crescent State Park [ [link removed] ].

For more information and weekly nature program schedules [ [link removed] ], visit Michigan.gov/NaturePrograms [ [link removed] ]. Questions about the DNR’s explorer guide program? Contact Shaun McKeon <[email protected]> at 989-370-0789. 



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August abounds with outdoor summer fun

The DNR offers a variety of ways to enjoy Michigan’s natural and cultural resources next month, so get ready to soak up some summer fun! Here’s just a sampling – get the full list at Michigan.gov/DNRCalendar [ [link removed] ].

Free ORV Weekend

A single-file line of three off-road vehicles travel a dirt road in an area featuring conifer trees, a pond and blue, cloud-streaked sky

Residents and out-of-state visitors legally can ride Michigan's 4,000 miles of off-road vehicle trails and routes and the state’s six scramble areas on two back-to-back days (Aug. 16-17) without an ORV license or trail permit. The entrance fee at Holly Oaks ORV Park in Oakland County also will be waived this year. Our Free ORV Weekend [ [link removed] ] is a great time to see, experience and test out the state's off-road trails (check out all the places you can ride [ [link removed] ]!), but remember that all other ORV rules and laws still apply, and you must supply your own ORV.

Saginaw Bay Waterfowl and Outdoor Festival

With family-focused amenities including food trucks, bounce houses and activities for kids, the 30th annual Saginaw Bay Waterfowl and Outdoor Festival [ [link removed] ] – Aug. 2-3 at Bay City State Park – highlights the bay’s world-class migratory waterfowl destinations, the sport of waterfowl hunting and the benefits of wetland conservation.

Experience waterfowl hunting traditions such as dog retriever trials, duck species identification and duck- and goose-calling competitions, and the waterfowl and outdoor expo features more than 30 vendors, including a variety of conservation groups, waterfowl hunting artisans and outfitters. Kids can build their own wood duck boxes, give duck calling a try and learn about survival and outdoor skills, and everyone can enjoy carving and blacksmith demonstrations.



Family campout, nature painting and more

Whether you want to relax, get active or learn something new, the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center offers something for everyone in August, with programs in Metro Detroit including archery, nature education for kids and seniors, yoga, fishing, birding and much more. Some highlights:


* Family Campout at Maybury State Park [ [link removed] ], Aug. 15-16.
* Nature at Night on Belle Isle [ [link removed] ] (crafts/activities related to nighttime animals, bat search, bonfire and more), Aug. 21.
* Grown-Up Gatherings: Nature Painting [ [link removed] ], Aug. 22.

See the OAC activity schedule [ [link removed] ] for a full list of events.

Hunting, fly fishing, wild mushrooms and more

two hands, one with a thin, gold bracelet, are upturned and holding a pile of tan, spongy morel mushrooms over a grassy area

If you want to get started with, or get better at, hunting, fishing and foraging, the Outdoor Skills Academy's August opportunities are for you! Get expert, supportive, hands-on instruction and build your confidence with classes such as:


* Wild mushroom clinics Aug. 2 in Oden [ [link removed] ] and Aug. 9 in Cadillac [ [link removed] ].
* Fishing 101 [ [link removed] ], Aug. 23 in Bay City.
* A fly fishing clinic [ [link removed] ], Aug. 23-24 in Cadillac.
* Learn to Hunt Whitetails [ [link removed] ], about trail hunting, wildlife habitat management and staying safe while hunting, Aug. 23 in Cadillac.


Exploring Michigan history

Step back in time and learn more about our state’s past at Michigan History Center sites, with events including:


* At Hartwick Pines Logging Museum in Grayling, a musical tribute to Michigan lumberjacks with It's Daylight in the Swamps [ [link removed] ], Aug. 1; and Forest Fest [ [link removed] ], a chance to meet Smokey Bear and learn about Michigan’s forests with fun activities and crafts, Aug. 9.
* A Tree Party [ [link removed] ] at Higgins Lake Nursery and CCC Museum in Roscommon, Aug. 2, where guests can celebrate Michigan’s forests, hear from DNR archaeologists and enjoy Civilian Conservation Corps reenactors.
* At Cambridge Junction Historic State Park in Brooklyn, vintage baseball [ [link removed] ], Aug. 23, and a quilt workshop [ [link removed] ], Aug. 7-8.
* A series of Tuesday afternoon presentations at the Michigan Iron Industry Museum in Negaunee – The Ancient Caribou Hunters of Silver Lake [ [link removed] ] Aug. 5, Captain Burke and the Steamer Arlington [ [link removed] ] Aug. 12 and A Tale of Two Paternalisms [ [link removed] ] Aug. 19.
* A Future Historians program [ [link removed] ], Aug. 6-8, where visitors can leave the present behind and learn about the life of kids at Fort Wilkins with costumed interpreters from the summer of 1870, at Fort Wilkins Historic State Park in Copper Harbor.
* An Ice Cream Read [ [link removed] ], Aug. 20, a chance to get a free root beer float and read a book in the shade on the lawn of the Mann House in Concord.

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Show the great outdoors some love

State parks, forests and game areas give us room to stretch out, clear our heads and breathe easy, but have you ever thought about how to give back to these incredible natural resources? With just a little time and attention, you can make a huge difference in their health and longevity – and feel great while doing it!

Here are opportunities coming up in August. For more ways to volunteer, contribute and provide input, visit Michigan.gov/DNRVolunteers [ [link removed] ].

Support state parks

a woman in floppy hat, jacket and gloves holds up a handful of invasive garlic mustard with big, broad green leaves and hanging roots

Several state parks in southern Michigan will host stewardship workdays, where volunteers are needed to pull invasive plants, survey beaches, clean up the dunes and help high-quality ecosystems thrive.

Workdays will take place at:


* Saugatuck Dunes State Park (Allegan County), 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, Aug. 3, and Sunday, Aug. 24.
* Waterloo Recreation Area (Washtenaw County), 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3.
* Island Lake Recreation Area (Livingston County), 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10.
* Yankee Springs Recreation Area (Barry County), 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 16.
* Muskegon State Park (Muskegon County), 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, Aug. 17.
* Fort Custer Recreation Area (Kalamazoo County), 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 23.
* Pinckney Recreation Area (Washtenaw County), 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24.
* Brighton Recreation Area (Livingston County), 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31.

Visit the DNR volunteer events calendar [ [link removed] ] for more details about each workday and how to register. Hope to see you there!



Help habitat recover, thrive

On the Ground [ [link removed] ], Michigan United Conservation Clubs’ volunteer program in partnership with the DNR, will host habitat improvement events in August. Lunch, gear and volunteer gifts will be provided.


* Invasive plant removal at Muskegon State Park [ [link removed] ] (Muskegon County), 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 2. Help remove harmful invasive vegetation like Japanese barberry and spotted knapweed from the park’s dunes.
* Ice storm relief in Grayling Forest Management Unit [ [link removed] ] (Oscoda County), 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 9. Remove fallen debris left over from the 2025 ice storm damage in a wildlife opening to allow for habitat improvement and hunter access.
* Invasive species removal at Gourdneck State Game Area [ [link removed] ] (Kalamazoo County), 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 30. Volunteers will help remove invasive species like glossy buckthorn to make room for native plants to grow.

Have a say on state forests

a dense forest in Ontonagon County, Michigan, rich with fall red, amber, orange, green, gold and burgundy colors.

Prescribed burns, timber harvests, tree planting and other activities are carefully mapped out to keep Michigan’s nearly 4 million acres of state forest thriving.

Plans for these activities are currently being made for 2027, but public input is welcome now. Find out what activities are planned and how to offer your input at Michigan.gov/ForestInput [ [link removed] ]. You can submit online comments during designated 30-day periods or attend an open house or compartment review meeting, where plans are finalized.

See all scheduled comment periods, open houses and compartment review meetings for the 2025 season [ [link removed] ].

Due to the effects of the March 2025 ice storm [ [link removed] ] in the northeastern Lower Peninsula, the public review periods for the Atlanta, Gaylord, Grayling and Pigeon River Country forest management units have been postponed. The schedule will be updated when the comment periods and open houses are rescheduled.



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Photo ambassador snapshot: Step into 1844 outpost
An upright wooden fence, dirt road and brilliant blue sky frame historic houses and buildings at Fort Wilkins Historic State Park

See more pictures by Michigan state parks photo ambassadors [ [link removed] ] at Instagram.com/MiStateParks [ [link removed] ]. For more on the program, call Stephanie Yancer <[email protected]> at 989-274-6182. (This photo is by Joe Holley [ [link removed] ], for the Michigan DNR, at Fort Wilkins Historic State Park [ [link removed] ] in Keweenaw County.)

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THINGS TO DO [ [link removed] ]

Heading to your favorite state park? Check out new curated Michigan Field Guides [ [link removed] ] (via a DNR partnership with the Library of Michigan); these handy guides offer insights into local wildlife, native plants and outdoor adventures. 




BUY & APPLY [ [link removed] ]

Use the DNR Hunt Fish app [ [link removed] ] to buy and store hunting, fishing, ORV and snowmobile licenses and permits, report harvests, access guides and digests, and get the latest outdoor recreation updates, all in the palm of your hand.




GET INVOLVED [ [link removed] ]

The Great Lakes are beautiful but powerful water systems prone to dangerous currents that can threaten even the most experienced swimmers. Brush up on beach safety tips [ [link removed] ] and keep yourself and friends and family safe! 

 




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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Michigan Department of Natural Resources · Constitution Hall, 525 W. Allegan St., PO Box 30028 Lansing MI 48909 · 1-800-439-1420