Snow Portraits For Wildlife- Kid's Winter Craft

snow mosaic (photo from Family Fun)

from the Family Fun Newsletter

Grab some seeds and veggies, spray bottles of colored water, and take the kids outside to create a portrait for fun and wildlife.

Good materials include birdseed with various textures such a sunflower seeds, cracked corn, and mixed seeds. Also gather fruits and vegetables such as carrots, greens, apples, etc. Often, good deals can be found on discount tables.

You'll need to mix some food coloring with water and put each color in a spray bottle.

Now bundle up and take the kids outside. Let each one create a body print in the snow. You might want to do this in a location where the portrait will be in view of a window, so you can observe which critters come to "eat you."

Use the materials to fill in the details of the portrait... use your imagination to create features, clothing, etc.

See Family Fun
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Kal-Haven Trail to Host Polar Bear Run

a news release of Southwest Michigan Planning Commission

The Friends of the Kal-Haven Trail are excited to introduce their First winter event: Kal-Haven Trail Polar Bear Run. The event will be held on Saturday January 29, 2011 from noon to 4:00 p.m. at the Driftbusters Snowmobile Club (710 Hughson Court, Gobles, MI 49055). The 5K event is only $10.00 a person and the youth fun run is $5.00.

The 5K Run begins at 1:00 p.m. (ages 14 and up). Registration can be done on site at 12:30 p.m.

While the run is taking place kids activities will include
1:00 p.m.- Birds of Prey Education Program by the Lake Milton Raptor Education Program
1:45 p.m.-Registration for the Youth Fun Run (ages 10 and under)

Awards will be held at 2:30 p.m. and a team snowman building contest will be held at 3:00 p.m. Enjoy the bonfire, food, friends and some winter fun!

This event is being sponsored by the Dristbusters Snowmobile Club, Gazelle Sports, David and Joan Rumery and Wahmhoff Farms.

Bring your running shoes and warm weather clothing to spend an afternoon on the Kal-Haven Trail.

Visit Friends of Kal-Haven Trail, or contact Suzann Flowers
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New Snowshoes and Lanterns for Young State Park- Charlevoix

a news release of the Michigan DNRE

A recent grant from the Charlevoix County Community Foundation will help Young State Park enhance its winter programming by purchasing new snowshoes and lanterns. The park is located at 02280 Boyne City Rd., near Boyne City, Michigan.

Young State Park will work with a Boyne City outfitter called No Boundaries, to procure the snowshoes. Staff from No Boundaries will provide assistance with the winter programs at the park.

Certified Heritage Interpreter, Maureen Stine, will guide the free and educational snowshoe hikes for park visitors. These hikes are geared toward families or anyone interested in learning more about the winter ecology in the park. The snowshoe hikes will be held in Young State Park at 1 p.m. on Saturdays, Jan. 15 and 29 and Feb. 12, 19 and 26.

Registration is not needed for the snowshoe hikes. There will be a warming fire and hot beverages to enjoy before and after the hike. Additionally, when the hike is complete, visitors are invited to attend an information session on the sports of snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Other activities at Young State Park during the winter include hiking, dog walking and cross-country skiing, and Lake Charlevoix is great for perch and walleye fishing.

For more information about these programs, call 231-582-7523.
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Student Biological Science Technician Positions

male and female Karner Blue butterflies (photo from the National Forest Service)

received from Heather Keough, District Wildlife Biologist, USDA Forest Service

The Baldwin/White Cloud Ranger District, located in western lower Michigan, will be hiring four student biological science technicians to assist with various fish, wildlife, and vegetative surveys between mid-May and mid-August 2011. Technicians will work as a member of a survey team to:

1) inventory endangered, threatened, and sensitive wildlife species;
2) assess habitat suitability for various wildlife species;
3) conduct counts to estimate abundance of Karner blue butterflies, a federally listed endangered species, within designated management areas;
4) conduct vegetative surveys to estimate acreage of suitable Karner blue butterfly habitat within designated management areas;
5) conduct vegetative surveys to assess the effectiveness of different management treatments for restoring openings, savannas/barrens, and Karner blue butterfly habitat; BR>6) conduct electrofishing surveys to assess the status of various fish populations and assess the effectiveness of aquatic habitat improvements; and
7) identify management concerns for use in developing management plans. The data collected will be used by professional staff to develop management plans and conservation measures. Technicians also will assist with fish and wildlife management activities, complete detailed field reports, enter data into various databases, and participate in outreach activities to educate the public about wildlife conservation issues.

Application materials must be submitted by March 15, 2011. Please feel free to contact Heather Keough for and application and more information



See Heather Keough
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Only $30 to Learn to Ski in January

(photo by JHY)

from a news article in On the Snow News

For the 17th year, ski areas across the state have teamed up with Michigan McDonald’s restaurants to offer a popular and very affordable introduction to the sport of skiing and snowboarding, called Discover Michigan Skiing.

The motto is "Humans Were Never Meant to Hibernate." For prices ranging from $20 to $40, during January 2011, you can rent equipment, get a lift pass or trail pass, and basic lessons. The program is aimed at beginners.

Twenty-three ski facilities are offering the package, which will be honored from January 3 through January 31, 2011. The program is open to everyone 7 years and older.

The lesson normally covers basic maneuvering on skis or snowboards, including stopping, turning, riding the lifts, and getting up from a fall.

To sign up, interested beginners must have a Discover Michigan Skiing Value Voucher. They are available in December at participating Michigan McDonald’s restaurants and MSIA retail ski stores while quantities last. A printable voucher is also available online. The voucher lists all ski facilities offering the program. Participants choose the place they wish to visit and then must call to pre-register. Program times differ from ski area to ski area.

As a special bonus, everyone who completes the program will receive a packet of ski information in the mail, including a coupon valid for $20 off the purchase of $100 or more in ski-related merchandise at participating MSIA retail ski shops.

See Go Ski Michigan
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Ludington Lincoln Hills to Create X-C Ski Loop for Jan 2

skiers (photo by JHY)

by JHY

Ludington's Lincoln Hills Golf Course will welcome cross-country skiers on Sunday, January 2, 2011 as part of the Light Up the Lake New Year's Celebration. The course will be open from 9 am till noon, assuming sufficient snow.

Manager Don McCann states that a single loop will be groomed on the "front nine." This will give skiers better access to the Clubhouse, and also offer some protection from lake winds, which can be blustery on the "back nine."

There is no charge to ski, but participants will need to bring their own equipment. There are two places in downtown Ludington to rent skis, for those who do not have their own. Coffee, hot chocolate, and soda will be available for purchase at the Clubhouse.

The Ludington Area Visitors and Convention Bureau web site indicates that snowshoers are welcome as well. Since the ski trail will be groomed, it is assumed that shoers will be asked to walk beside the trail.

Lincoln Hills is located on rolling hills, surrounded by woods. McCann stated that the ski trail will be in the open, not through trees. They are in the stages of planning the course, but it is expected to be at the novice to intermediate level. The address of the course is 1527 N Lakeshore Dr, Ludington, Michigan.

McCann added, "We hope everyone will take this opportunity to tour the course and enjoy the community during 'Light Up the Lake.'"

The overall festival includes events such as the New Year's Eve ball drop on the beach, a 5K run, snowman decorating, and a try for the Guinness Book of Records win at concurrent snow angel making.

See Lincoln Hills
See Light Up the Lake
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Idlewild Park

pier at Idlewild Park (photo from the Ludington Daily News)

based on a news article in the Ludington Daily News

The culmination of a three-year project was realized on October 25, with the dedication and opening of public access to Idlewild Lake. The project, named Idlewild Lake Access Park, has been part of the dream of those who are seeking to restore Idlewild. The village was formerly a preferred vacation spot for African-Americans, before civil rights and equal access.

The new park is located on about 10 acres of land at the south end of the lake. Facilities include an accessible fishing pier, picnic tables, a sandy canoe beach, and water pump. Most of the park is on a bluff overlooking the lake, with a paved ramp leading to the water.

The park's creation has been a partnership between the Michigan DNRE and Yates Township. Ron Olson, DNRE recreation division chief, said, "The no-fee park will be a good place symbol for Idlewild and a functional place for people to enjoy the lake."
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Holland Downtown Will Have Temporary Ice Rink

family skating (photo by JHY)

from various sources

Holland, Michgan, City Council has approved $6000 for the creation and maintenance of a temporary outdoor ice rink, as an experiment. The exact location is still under consideration, but two possible sites are between College and Columbia Avenues, on 7th or 8th St. The other location is Riverside Park.

The money will be used for a liner, 18-inch high boards, brackets, a resurfacer, and other construction needs to prepare the site and maintain the rink. Although the usability of the rink will depend completely upon the weather, Councilwoman Nancy DeBoer calls this an “experiment.” To build a permanent rink would cost in the neighborhood of $1-4 million dollars. This option is a very inexpensive way to test the idea, and gauge local interest.

The temporary rink will be 70 feet by 100 feet. The Council plans to determine the exact location within two weeks, and materials should be on-site in a month.

See WHTC
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Michigan AG Rules Highways Open to All Modes of Travel

by JHY

Complete Streets Coalition seeks to promote better planning for highways and streets, so that all users have a good chance of safe passage. Not everyone agrees with the idea of building streets with bicycle and pedestrian lanes included. The concept has been challenged on the basis that these non-motorized uses are not included in "highway purposes."

On October 21, 2010, the Michigan Attorney General's Office handed down a ruling which states that all such uses are, definitely, included in "highway purposes."

The conclusion states, "A pedestrian and bicycle pathway may be established within the right-of-way of a county road built on an easement granted for highway purposes, without first obtaining the consent of each owner of property abutting the highway."

Many historical rulings were referenced in the decision. It was noted that although easement uses must be confined to the purposes for which it was reserved, that all modes of surface transportation, and public communication/ utility transmission have historically been included in those purposes.

When a highway is not restricted in use (such as an Interstate federal highway), it is open to all suitable uses. The Court added that the uses to which highway easements may be put evolve over time, in recognition of technological developments.

This is great news for the future of transportation in Michigan.

See Michigan AG Ruling
See Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance
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See Grand Rapids Opens First Complete Street

State Forest Facilities Face Yet More Budget Cuts

tenting (photo by JHY)

based on a news article at M-Live

This year, yet again, there is less money to maintain State Forest facilities in Michigan. Another $300,000 has been taken from the forest recreation budget, leaving just $240,000 for maintenance of 133 rustic state forest campgrounds and more than 60 miles of non-motorized trail.

"We’re going to have to go in a different direction," said Lynn Boyd, chief of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Forest, Mineral and Fire Management division.

Trails, including ski trails, will only be maintained where there are contractual agreements, or arrangements with volunteer groups in place. Money from the new recreation Passport program (the voluntary $10 fee associated with license plate purchases) will not begin to trickle down to the agency, for use, until 2012.

As a result of budget cuts, 12 State Forest Campgrounds were closed in 2009. These will remain closed. Half may be turned over to the recreation division of the DNRE for management as mini-state parks.

Only the The VASA Trail in Acme, Ogemaw Hills in West Branch and Blueberry Ridge in Marquette will be groomed for skiing this year, as they are worked under contracts. All other trails will remain open, but unmaintained.

A recent hike at Sheep Ranch Pathway, near Baldwin, bore evidence of the no-maintenance status. Selective logging over the past two years has left portions of the trail in bad shape. The treadway is obliterated. In one day, a handful of volunteers could restore it, but for now, the state has no means to provide the quality of recreational opportunities that it advertises.

See Sheep Ranch Pathway
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Grass Fire at Nordhouse Dunes

Nordhouse Lake (photo by JHY)

based on a news article in the Ludington Daily News

A small grass fire was contained at the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness in Mason County last week. A hiker discovered that an abandoned campfire on the northwest shore of Nordhouse Lake had spread, and began to knock the fire down even while summoning the U.S. Forest Service.

Carol Nilsson, USFS Fire Information Officer, reported that the fire was pretty much under control when crews arrived. The area burned was small, about 0.2 acres. Nordhouse Dunes is a popular federal Wilderness. If a fire would have gotten a hold the area could have been devastated.

Nilsson added that they are seeing fires burn quite deep this fall. The area is rich in peat, and fires tend to burn underground. This allows them to spring up, on the surface, at a distance away from the point of origin. Always douse fires to prevent this from happening, rather than simply breaking them up.

See Nordhouse Dunes
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Hudsonville Hiker Dies in New Hampshire

Wilfred Chalut (photo from obituary notice)

based various news stories, and the obituary

Will Chalut, age 64, of Hudsonville, MI, is described by friends as fun-loving and generous, but he died October 1, in a tragic accident in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

Chalut was hiking Friday afternoon in Waterville Valley, along Sabbaday Falls on the Swift River. It was raining, and the trails were slick. He slipped into the river, and was carried out of sight by the current.

Fish and Game Department spokesman, Lt. Jim Goss, reported that they were unable to find the man, but his body was recovered the following day, caught in brush near the middle of the river.

Fox 17 News spoke with Chalut's son who said, "The fact that he was enjoying life to its fullest when he died is the only comfort we have in this moment of profound shock and tragedy."

See Hudsonville Man Dies In New Hampshire
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