Friends of Grand Rapids Parks was founded in 2007 to support and enhance Grand Rapid’s parks and urban forest canopy. We continue to exist to leverage volunteer engagement and philanthropic investment with existing city resources to achieve our vision of…
Read More Friends of Grand Rapids Parks- you belong out here!
The Newaygo County Invasive Plants (NIPP) was established in 2010 by the husband-and-wife team of Randy Butters and Sarah Pregitzer. NIPP’s creation was in response to increased sightings of invasive plants on the area wild lands and private holdings of…
Forest Hills Public Schools is home to nearly 200 acres of forested land. Over the years, teachers from many schools have used their school grounds as teaching “labs'' to help students connect with their local watershed, discover the issues of invasive…
Read More Forest Hills Schools Invasive Species Forest Weaving
In the fall of 2020, the City of Kentwood and its Department of Parks and Recreation discovered that invasive species were threatening the biodiversity in many of its parks. Determined to address these important concerns and feeling the need to…
The Calvin Ecosystem Preserve & Native Gardens’ mission is to conserve, restore and interpret native ecosystems to inspire people to value and protect the wonder of creation. Located on the campus of Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Calvin Ecosystem Preserve & Native Gardens has…
The Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds (LGROW) is an agency of the Grand Valley Metropolitan Council (GVMC), formed in 2008 to address regional water issues facing the Lower Grand River Watershed. A watershed is an area of land, defined…
The Native Plant Guild (NPG) is an alliance of local businesses and organizations that offers West Michigan a variety of ecological landscaping services. It began as an idea, a seed. A Seed GerminatesNative plants begin small, but work together to improve water quality, provide habitat,…
Did you know that Michigan's Conservation Districts are unique local units of state government that utilize state, federal and private sector resources to solve today's conservation problems? Each Conservation District encourages landowners, citizens and governing communities to turn to it…
Imagine students whose classrooms are their communities, who do hands-on projects that demonstrate their important role in creating change right where they live. Picture teachers who can nurture those students because they have the resources and support they need to…
Read More Groundswell: Connecting Students and Stewardship in West Michigan
There is an interesting story about how Ottawa Sands County Park became the newest addition to the Ottawa County Parks system. The 345-acre property, tucked between North Ottawa Dunes County Park and City of Grand Haven Open Space, was formerly used…
West Michigan Conservation Network 