UPCOMING EVENTS!

January 14, 11 am
February 4, 11 am
X-Country Skiing at Love Creek Nature Center in Berrien Springs.  
Hoping to have snow on the ground on at least one of these two dates for an outing on some of the best cross-country trails in the area.  We'll meet at Love Creek at 11.  Bring your skis or rent them there.  After time on the trails, join us by the fire in the Center for potluck lunch.  COL will provide vegetarian soup or chili.  If you'd like to participate, please bring a dish to pass.  (Parking, trail and ski rental fees apply.)

Dear friends,

Summer may be over, but it's far from quiet at Chikaming Open Lands!  We're working diligently to protect two properties totalling about 50 acres before the end of the year.  That means surveys and environmental assessments and lawyer's reviews...  Lots of due diligence to keep track of. 

We hope you've received our Fall newsletter by now -- it's also posted on our website.  Once you've read it, please pass it along to someone who might not know us!

The Board and Staff of Chikaming Open Lands

Dayton Wet Prairie Burn.  Yesterday (November 17) our restoration of Dayton Wet Prairie in Bertrand Township continued with a prescribed burn, done by our partners Cardno JFNew.  About ten acres of invasive cattails, common reed and reed canary grass were removed, as well as young woody plants.  The restoration will continue with the removal of the larger trees and shrubs that have crowded into the property.

You can view a slideshow of the Dayton Wet Prairie Burn and read more about it on our website by following the link and selecting "Dayton Wet Prairie Burn"!

Stewardship Day at Grand Beach Marsh. On a recent brisk November Saturday, our trusty Stewardship Committee were joined by a number of generous volunteers to whack at the invasive bittersweet that climbs up the trees at GB Marsh.  While we have not achieved total eradication (and it does sometimes seem that for every plant lopped out here, another appears over there...), these dedicated workers have made a serious dent in the population, cutting out vines to save the native flora.

The Stewardship Committee will be taking a couple of months off as we brace for snow and cold, but they will be hard at it again in the spring.  Need to whack something?  Join them!

Beth Moves On, Outreach Coordinator Sought.  Our dear friend Beth Denton has decided to resign the COL staff in order to have more time for other activities.  But she's staying involved by joining the Stewardship Committee so she'll still be around.

Beth ran COL's outreach programs, seeking out interesting opportunities to take you, our members, into the community to learn about the nature of Harbor Country, the people who earn their living from the land, and the fascinating creatures (like raptors and bats) that inhabit this area.  She also acted as our communications manager, creating informative newsletters and press releases to keep you all apprised of our activities!  We will miss her good spirit and creativity.

We are now seeking applications for her replacement as part-time position of Outreach Coordinator.  The job description is posted on our website.  If you or someone you know would be interesting in applying, please let us know!

Chikaming Open Lands is here for now, and for tomorrow. 
We all share this land, and we share these values -- preserving southwest Michigan's natural resources for everyone's good health, recreation and peace of mind.

We come to you twice a year to ask for your investment in our work, and in the next week or so COL's annual year-end campaign letter will arrive at your home.  Please take a moment to reflect on these shared values, then give generously! 

Thank you, for now, and for tomorrow!