Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy Preserving wild and scenic places for today — and keeping them healthy for tomorrow.

SWMLC envisions a southwest Michigan that's environmentally healthy, economically vibrant, and naturally beautiful.

06/12/2026

Not all heroes wear capes… some wear a SWMLC logo on their shirt and have loppers in their hands!

Through heat, cold, rain, humidity – SWMLC’s Stewardship Technicians are in the field saving our preserves from invasive plants like honeysuckle, buckthorn, phragmites, and autumn olive.

They’re tough, trained professionals who can identify native plants, wield a wide variety of power tools, safely work with prescribed fire, monitor vernal pools, and marvel over butterflies and baby turtles.

They’re passionate, frontline environmentalists who care a lot about southwest Michigan’s natural habitats and we’re bleepin’ lucky to have them!

Which preserve will they work at next? Wherever they land, SWMLC’s Stewardship Technicians will meet the challenge!

06/12/2026

Great teamwork!! SWMLC's good friend Gail Walter worked with two public safety officers to catch and help an injured Cooper's hawk in downtown Kalamazoo – and it's all on bodycam footage!

Some eye candy from SWMLC Stewardship staff Mitch and Dave’s 1,000% humidity trip through a Cass County swamp with folks...
06/11/2026

Some eye candy from SWMLC Stewardship staff Mitch and Dave’s 1,000% humidity trip through a Cass County swamp with folks from EGLE. Expedition highlights include Showy Lady’s Slippers and a State Threatened Least Bittern (no photo . . . they’re elusive little cusses)! Stay safe and cool, everybody! 🥵

Walk a little way to turn the page – that’s the idea behind a self-guided storybook hike! SWMLC Outreach Coordinator Ali...
06/08/2026

Walk a little way to turn the page – that’s the idea behind a self-guided storybook hike! SWMLC Outreach Coordinator Alice Dykstra and volunteer Dani Ryskamp recently installed a trailside version of “The Mighty Pollinators” at Hidden Pond Preserve. This picture book tells the stories of bugs and flowers through playful poetry by Helen Frost and stunning closeup photos by Rick Lieder. Enjoy “The Mighty Pollinators” while watching lots of real-live insects visit the preserve’s native wildflowers from now until June 28. Details, maps, and more on our website: https://swmlc.org/storybook-hike-june/

And be sure to check out Dani’s new blog, https://rootedinkzoo.com/ that focuses on “embracing nature for a calmer, cheaper, healthier life”!

Photos by Dani.

06/05/2026

Join Collin for a quick video tour of Hidden Pond Preserve, a real comeback kid of a preserve! At this Barry County gem, you’ll find a sparkling-clear restored stream, wide open skies and all the plants that love them, and of course, a surprising pond full of frogs!

And bring the littles during the month of June to read the trailside storybook "The Mighty Pollinators"!

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy was founded in 1991, so to celebrate 35 years of protecting nature in our region, Collin and Stew Crew colleagues Lukas, Mary, and Jack have teamed up to create a series of videos highlighting SWMLC’s public preserves.

Come explore SWMC’s 18 public nature preserves! They’re open every day from dawn to dusk with no admission fees... and your support keeps them that way.

Find your next close-to-home nature getaway at: https://swmlc.org/public-nature-preserves/

Birdathon 2026 Stats . . .🦉 122 bird species seen by SWMLC Land Larks, a new team record!!!🦩 188 species seen by all par...
06/03/2026

Birdathon 2026 Stats . . .
🦉 122 bird species seen by SWMLC Land Larks, a new team record!!!
🦩 188 species seen by all participating teams
🦚 3 Lifers for the Land Larks: Semipalmated Sandpiper, Canada Warbler, Mourning Warbler
🦤 13.5 hours birding
🦅 108 miles driven
🦜 100,000 steps walked
🕊️ $4,000+ raised for prairie fen restoration at Marc’s Marsh!!!

With full, happy, weary hearts, the SWMLC Land Larks (Dave Brown, Ashley Cole-Wick, Jessica Hagen, Mitch Lettow, and Kaleigh Winkler) glided over the Birdathon finish line having recorded more birds than in any previous year! But that wasn’t the only record broken that day . . . Land Lark supporters ponied up more than $4000 (!) toward purging the rest of the invasive buckthorn from the prairie fen at Marc’s Marsh Preserve. You folks are amazing!!! Thank you for your enthusiastic participation and generous contributions . . . can you hear the snipes and turtles cheering?!

Read Mitch's fun full account of the day's play-by-play and see more of the social media stories that Kaleigh posted in real time on our website:
https://swmlc.org/birdathon-2026-highlights/

Photos by Ashley, Jessica, Mitch and Kaleigh. Previous social media posts with captions reposted here by Kaleigh.

Address

8395 E Main Street
Galesburg, MI
49053

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12693241600

Website

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