Posted on by Bailee Pasienza

Spring Network Meeting

SEMI Wild’s 2023 Spring Network Meeting was held at Belle Isle Nature Center. Thanks to our partners for hosting, and leading a nature walk around Blue Heron Lagoon. Resources shared at the meeting are linked below:

Featured Presentation: Detroit Parks Coalition

Partner Updates

    • GREEN Implementation Team
      The first meeting of SEMCOG’s GREEN Implementation Team will be Tuesday, December 12 from 1 – 2:30 pm at SEMCOG’s office in Detroit. This team will work collaboratively to advance the region’s Strategic Framework for Growing our Resilience, Equity, and Economy with Nature. It aims to coordinate and support local efforts to reach regional targets for green stormwater infrastructure, tree canopy, wetlands, land conservation, and access to nature. Team meetings are open to all SEMCOG member communities, along with partner organizations that manage land and implement green infrastructure in Southeast Michigan.

    • Winterfest at Belle Isle Nature Center
      Bundle up for some seasonal fun with the return of Winterfest, Belle Isle Nature Center’s annual celebration of all things winter on Saturday, January 27, from 11 am – 4pm. Participants will have the opportunity to trek through the trails on snowshoes, make a feeder to care for birds in the winter, learn about animal adaptations and winter survival, and much more. Don’t miss out on this event full of outdoor adventures and cold-weather fun!

    • “Hidden History of Lake St. Clair” Film Premiere
      Macomb County will be hosting the premiere showing  of the documentary film “Hidden History of Lake St. Clair,” on Thursday, February 15, 2024 at 5:30 pm at Macomb Community College – Center for Performing Arts. The event is a fundraiser for the Noble Odyssey Foundation, and the film was produced with a grant from the Michigan Coastal Program through NOAA funds.  It documents the County’s findings of both the St. Felicity of L’Anse Creuse territorial mission site and the lost town of Belvidere.

    • Audubon Great Lakes is hiring!
      There is an open position with Audubon Great Lakes for the Michigan Conservation Manager. This position is responsible for building partnerships, engaging the network, and implementing conservation projects that realize Audubon’s ambitious goals for the region with an emphasis on program delivery across the state of Michigan. 

    • Detroit River Youth Fishing Troop plans for 2024 
      As part of the Refuge’s Visitor Services,The Detroit River Youth Fishing Troop (DRYFT) is actively engaged in providing positive outdoor experiences to underserved communities through partnerships with many local youth serving organizations and the public. Since mid-July, DRYFT has reached nearly 800 community members through outreach programming in the station’s neighborhood, and utilized the mobile DRYFT trailer to serve audiences up to 100 miles away. The DRYFT program will expand outreach to underserved communities in FY24 by continually developing new partnerships with additional youth-serving organizations. The 2024 community engagement plan is informing locations and partnerships to focus these efforts moving forward. In particular, this involves mutually beneficial partnerships with local schools, parks, libraries, and community organizations in Ecorse. Contact Jody DeMeyere for more information about this program.