Upcoming events
Photo Credit: Leanna Doty
Arbor Day at Lansing Lugnuts Game!
Eaton Conservation District is partnering with the Lansing Lugnuts and the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts to bring a "Conservation District Takeover" to Jackson Field on Arbor Day!
Celebrate Arbor Day and watch the Lansing Lugnuts take on the Dayton Dragons on April 26th. Enjoy some baseball and embrace the spirit of planting and nurturing trees! Everything has a Conservation Theme!
5:00 pm - Gates Open
5:20 pm - Ceremonial Tree Planting in the park to honor Arbor Day.
5:30 pm - Ceremonial First Pitch and Pre-Game Entertainment
6:05 pm - Game ON!
Concurrent - Trivia, videos, and on-field games to honor our volunteers, partners, projects, and more (Maybe you will see your picture or name on the Big Screen!)
At the same time - A full-fledged Conservation Carnival with 18 unique game booths, prizes, and craft table, all included with your ticket. (Scroll to the bottom to see the full listing)
Also - Michigan native species-themed face painting will be available.
And - Visit with Wade the Water Drop and get your picture taken. If you are lucky, you can catch a picture with both Wade and Big Lug at the SAME TIME!
Wait, there’s more - 750 Lucky fans will take home a beautiful White Pine seedling to plant.
In addition to thrilling on-field promotions all themed around trees and nature, your ticket purchase does more than just secure a seat; it also supports the environment. With each ticket, a $2 donation will be made to the Eaton Conservation District, aiding in local conservation efforts.
Don't miss out on this unique blend of baseball and nature. Get your tickets today and be a part of the greenest game of the season!
Want to help make this event a success? We can use your help! Staff a booth, assist with set-up and break down, and more…
Festivities Program:
Many thanks to the DNR for facilitating the tree planting with Van Atta’s Greenhouse & Flower Shop.
Wheel of Origin - Spin the wheel and identify which species is native and which one is invasive to Michigan. Prizes by Michigan Wildflower Farm
Shoot the Invader - Identify and shoot the lesser celandine/ficaria verna pictures with squirt bottles.
Cover Crop Bingo - Which seeds created the plants in the pictures? Learn how cover crops help farmers protect our soil and water. Hosted by MSU Extension.
Clear the River Race - Use the grippers to grab the trash and pull it out of the water. Hosted by Michigan Waterway Stewards with support from River Town Adventures
Pet Waste Cornhole -To prevent E.coli from seeping into water, pick up pet waste and throw it into the trash. Hosted by Paw City Pet Care
Race to the Farmer’s Market - Kids can race matchbox cars on a track to see who will get to the farmer's market first. Hosted by Allen Neighborhood Center
Flush It/Don't Flush It - Protect your pipes and our water... What can you flush and what should you trash or recycle? Hosted by the City of Charlotte
Fishing for Ag Facts - Pull the fish out of the water and learn something interesting about conservation in agriculture. Hosted by Farm Services Administration
Wetland Jeopardy - Scoop a species out of the "wetland habitat" and answer the corresponding question about the services wetlands provide.
Forest Jeopardy - How much do you know about Michigan forests and trees? Any tree-lover can win a prize with a variety of topics relating to our forest ecosystems. Hosted by DNR through Americorps
E.coli, Search & Find - What's the source of the E.Coli in the Grand River? Choose three from the items in the watershed and look underneath to see if they contributed E.Coli to the river. Hosted by the Greater Lansing Regional Committee for Groundwater Management
Native Agriculture is for the Birds - Feed yourself and the ecosystem. All of these plants feed humans but some feed baby birds, too by supporting more caterpillars (lepidoptera). Toss bean bags into the cups and see how many worms you can collect to feed your nest. Hosted by Dragonfly Downs Farm
Bugs in the Water - Learn how clean our water is by finding and identifying bugs. Hosted by Michigan Water Stewardship Program & MiCorps
Conservation Craft Table - Create conservation-related take-home crafts such as native bee homes, tree cookie ornaments, and dragonflies.
Meet Eaton Conservation District - General Info, Donations & T-shirts for Sale
Stream Monitoring Collection & Habitat Assessment
Become a community scientist as you learn to collect and identify macroinvertebrate larvae to monitor the water quality of Eaton County streams! During collection events, volunteers will meet at The University of Olivet for a quick training session before they travel to stream collection sites around Eaton County. All equipment will be provided.
Contact Val Reisen at val.reisen@macd.org or (517) 588-6302 for more information.
Click on the button below to register to volunteer!
Stream Monitoring Collection & Habitat Assessment
Become a community scientist as you learn to collect and identify macroinvertebrate larvae to monitor the water quality of Eaton County streams! During collection events, volunteers will meet at The University of Olivet for a quick training session before they travel to stream collection sites around Eaton County. All equipment will be provided.
Contact Val Reisen at val.reisen@macd.org or (517) 588-6302 for more information.
Click on the button below to register to volunteer!
Stream Monitoring ID Day
Become a community scientist as you learn to collect and identify macroinvertebrate larvae to monitor the water quality of Eaton County streams! At bug identification events, volunteers will work as a team using microscopes and guidebooks to identify the insects collected at a specific stream site. All equipment will be provided.
Contact Val Reisen at val.reisen@macd.org or (517) 588-6302 for more information.
Click the button below to register to volunteer!
Native Plant Sale
10am-11am -Presentation by Cindi Martineau, Native Plant Nursery Greenhouse Manager at Designs by Nature. Cindi will be talking about shade-loving, woodland natives. What are the best woodland natives to bring into your landscape and how can you properly care for them? Bring your questions!
11am-3pm - Browse 'n Buy
Get expert advise and shop a broad selection of native plants including prairie and woodland varieties this year, starting at 11am.
No pre-orders will be taken in 2024. Plants will be available to browse and buy the day of the sale. You can call our office at (517) 543-1512 x5 with questions.
Please make checks payable to "Eaton Conservation District" or "ECD". Cash and credit cards will be accepted.
Science Adventure Camp
Let’s get fired up for science!
This event is a hands-on fun experience for students entering 3rd – 5th grades in the 2022-2023 school year to get fired up about science. The event is open to students throughout Eaton County.
Based on the number of reservations, we are hoping to offer both an AM and a PM session. Students will need to check in 15 minutes prior to the session start time to pick up name badges and learn the site for the day. The event will run rain or shine. There are pavilions and Camp Francis available in case of inclement weather.
Registration will open soon.
2024 Amateur Photo Contest Starts
Photo Credit: Kathleen Hubbard, 2023 Directors Choice and 2nd Place Popular Choice Awards for “Heart Wings Blue Jay”
Cultivating Edible Mushrooms at Home
Join ECD and Chris from Mychophile's Garden for an introduction to cultivating edible mushrooms at home.
This class will focus on explaining the basics behind mushroom cultivation and the best resources for learning more on your own.
Mushroom Growing Kits and Fresh mushrooms will be available for purchase.
This is a Phase 1 MAEAP event.
Registration now open.
Tree Sale Pickup
Pick up the trees you ordered from our Spring Tree Sale, April 12 & 13, 2024.
Tree Sale Order Deadline
Online order or order form with full payment must be received to Eaton Conservation District, 551 Courthouse Dr., Suite 3, Charlotte, MI 48813 no later than March 31, 2024. Earlier orders will have a better chance at being filled. There will be a very small quantity of "extras" available at the pickup site on April 13th.
Adopt a Stream in Eaton County
Join us for an informative session on how the Eaton County Collaborative is working to monitor the water quality in our local streams and rivers. Learn the basics of what we are doing and how you can get involved to monitor a stream in your neighborhood. This session is for anyone who has been curious about our stream monitoring program, but unsure if it’s the right program for you. This is a safe way to get a closer look without getting in or near the water!
Pollinator Habitat Workshop - Trees for Pollinators
When planning for native pollinators, the importance of trees cannot be overstated. Some trees are powerhouses for providing pollinator habitat and food.
Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop
The Eaton Conservation District and the Country Mill invite you to sharpen your pruning skills with Steve Tennes, Owner of Country Mill.
Country Mill has been owned by Steve’s family since 1970. Steve will share tips for tending to fruit trees so they can grow and produce beautiful and tastefully delicious fruit.
Customer Appreciation Day 2024
Williams Farm Machinery is hosting a customer appreciation day and you are invited!
Williams Farm Machinery will donate $20.00 to Eaton Conservation District for every Stihl hand held gasoline powered outdoor equipment sold during the month of February.
Cover Crop Boot Camp
Phase One Event for MAEAP
The first-of-its-kind Cover Crop Boot Camp, brought to you by the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan, the Michigan Soybean Committee and the Michigan Pork Producers Association, will be held at the MSU Henry Center on February 7-8, 2024. The Cover Crop Boot Camp is a deep dive into innovative cover crop use, with topics including cover crop blends, precision technology, integrating livestock, seed production and more! This event is free for farmers to attend, including meals and a complimentary hotel room on-site, but space is limited.
This event is for farmers who have been doing cover crops for awhile now.
Registration: https://cvent.me/yKnP22
Trees for Pollinators
When planning for pollinators, people often miss the importance of trees. Some trees are powerhouses for providing pollinator habitat and food. Join the Grand Ledge Garden Club to get an introduction to using trees to create pollinator habitat in your yard.