Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy The Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy conserves natural land and open space -- including forests, wetlands, meadows, agricultural lands, and places of scenic beauty -- to provide habitat for wildlife and to enrich the lives of people.
Many Thanks! A special thanks to all of our donors, funders, partners and supporters for all of the gifts you gave to Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy of your time, talents and contributions last year (2020).
We are especially grateful to the following SMLC funders and partners for their continued support and recognition that Conservation is in our Nature:
Amazon Smile Foundation
Boisvenu & Company
Busch’s Fresh Food Market
Capstone Tax & Financial
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
Country Garden Club of Northville
Couzens Lansky
DePorre Family Foundation
Domino’s Pizza
EarthShare of Michigan
Firespring Foundation
Jackson-Lenawee-Washtenaw Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area
James A. and Faith Knight Foundation
Kresge Foundation
Kroger Community Rewards
Michigan Nature Association
Niswander Environmental
Oakland County Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area
Pfizer Foundation Matching Gifts Program
Pittsfield Township Government
Plymouth Orchards & Cider Mill
Red Ventures
Reynolds Water Conditioning Co.
Six Rivers Land Conservancy
Speckhard-Knight Charitable Foundation
Superior Township Government
The City of Ann Arbor’s Greenbelt Program
The Green Ribbon Initiative
The Nature Conservancy
Toyota Motor Corporation
US Fish and Wildlife Service – Partners for Fish and Wildlife
US Small Business Administration
Washtenaw County Natural Areas Preservation Program
We would also like to express appreciation to all of the renewed and new members of SMLC's Eco-Logical Leadership Club (ELLC). Thank you for your initiative, generosity, and friendship. Through your leadership, you are demonstrating that sustaining SMLC's capacity to do the work of our mission is Elevating Local Land Conservation. Thank You!
Finally, we feel the sense of hopefulness as we enter 2021 and look forward to seeing you out on the preserve and at SMLC events in the future - when it is safe to gather again. Thank you for helping take care of nature!
Winter hiking at SMLC. Photo by Mark Even.
Lost Lake Virtual Fall Frolic
Did you miss the premiere of our first-ever virtual hike? Check out the recording of the event below, for exclusive access to parts of this nature preserve never before seen by the public, an update on the prairie and wetland restorations, epic drone photography and video of this amazing landscape!
Like many of you, SMLC is looking forward to returning to our normal operational activities when it is safe for our staff, volunteers, and event participants to do so. This past summer, SMLC created a Safely Re-Open Plan and a COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan to help guide our return to work and events. Unfortunately, due to the continued case situation in Michigan we made the tough decision to cancel all remaining planned events and public volunteer activities for 2020. SMLC's office also continues to be closed to the general public until further notice and some of our staff are primarily working remotely.
If you need to reach a staff person, please call our office at 734-484-6565 but note that it could take a few days to receive your message or email:
Finally, SMLC's nature preserves continue to remain open to the public daily from dawn until dusk. If you visit an SMLC preserve, please practice social distancing (6 feet apart) and don't visit if you are sick.
Thank you.
Snap The Season Results
Congratulations to the winners of our first ever Snap the Season Virtual Fundraiser:
Alexis Dahl, Jill Estrada, Timothy Pollard, Tara Ransom, and Mark Viergutz!
Thank you to everyone who participated in our first-ever virtual fundraiser, Snap the Season, to support SMLC and keep nature open! SMLC raised $6,184! Although we didn’t quite meet our event goal of $7,000, we understand that the pandemic has been hard on folks and we appreciate the support we received for this event and throughout 2020! Every dollar counts and helps preserve, steward and maintain protected lands in southeast Michigan. If you would still like to donate in 2020 to support conservation of local natural lands and SMLC,please click here.
Give to SMLC
"Southeast Michigan: a beautiful place where people and nature
coexist in healthy, sustainable balance."
SMLC's vision statement expresses how we feel about this special place we call home. Preserving natural areas and farmlands is good for all of us. SMLC is doing our part: more than 3,400 acres have been protected in this region through our efforts. You too can do your part by giving to the SMLC "We Care" Campaign.
To make a safe and secure online donation to SMLC, click here
To download a printable form you can mail to our office along with your personal check made payable to "Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy" click here
You can continue the momentum and help SMLC become even stronger:
LeFurge Woods Nature Preserve, Superior Greenway, Washtenaw County.
Photo by Mark Even.
SMLC Acquires 80 acres in the
Northern Superior Greenway at end of 2019
We are excited to announce that SMLC completed the purchase of 80 acres of woods, wetlands, and open space at the end of 2019. Through our partnership with the City of Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission, we have added this significant piece to the Superior Greenway, a 2,800-acre wildlife and public recreation corridor.
From the Press Release: SMLC acquired the property from the Marissa A. Stepien Living Trust and Washtenaw County acquired a conservation easement on the property. The City was a major funder of both acquisitions. SMLC intends to name the new preserve, the Secrest Nature Preserve, in honor of a local family who have been instrumental in supporting land protection efforts in Superior Township and across the region for many years.
Interested in volunteering? Opportunities include: stewardship workdays at nature preserves, mailing parties at the office, and helping maintain our historic farmhouse. Here are some other ways you can get involved:
Stewardship Assistant – Assist SMLC Stewardship staff with management of our Superior Greenway nature preserves. Includes trail upkeep, invasive species management, grounds maintenance, and more.
Conservancy Farmhouse Beautifying and Upkeep – Responsibilities include monthly and annual cleaning and upkeep of our historic Conservancy Farmhouse. SMLC will provide cleaning supplies and direction regarding historic house elements.
Preserve Watcher – Monitor SMLC nature preserve property conditions, assist with minor trail maintenance, and report findings bi-monthly. Needed at: Morris-Reichert, Heritage Oaks, Lost Lake, and Sibley Prairie nature preserves.
Contact Julie McLaughlin, Stewardship and Outreach Specialist, to discuss volunteer interest at jmclaughlin@smlcland.org or734-484-6565.
Local Chapter News:
Superior
Township
Chapter
The Superior Township Chapter is dedicated to supporting SMLC's conservation efforts in Superior Township.
Sign up for SMLC Events, keep up with the latest SMLC news, and hear stories about the benefit of SMLC's work at our new Facebook page. If you are new to Facebook, signup is free. If you are already on Facebook, you know what to do - "like" us and see what's new at SMLC.
Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy | 8383 Vreeland Road, Superior Township, MI 48198 | (734) 484-6565
