http://greatlakesstewardship.org/

Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative, Lowell, MI (2026)

05/29/2026

The 2026-27 Place-Based Educators Fellowship program is now accepting applications!

Last night, we wrapped up year one of this new GLSI program with an incredible first cohort of 15 teachers from throughout Michigan. This program seeks to connect teachers from across the GLSI Network and beyond who have developed into teachers with advanced place-based stewardship education experience in their practice, and who are ready to grow as school and community leaders through their work with students and local stakeholders.

A reflection from one of the teacher fellows at the Fellowship Showcase last night:

"Thank you for creating this space. A lot of the time, we feel like lone wolves trying to do things that people think we are crazy for trying to do because maybe it takes a little bit of extra effort or time. Maybe our classrooms are loud and chaotic looking. [The Fellowship] keeps me going and pushing through those hard times because I know that's what we have to do to trail blaze. And that's what we are doing here."

If you're ready to join a community of passionate, inspired peer educators from throughout Michigan and take the next step as a place-based teacher-leader, we invite you to apply for the 2026-27 Place-Based Educator Fellowship cohort!

Learn more and apply today. Link 👇

05/28/2026

Happening this afternoon! Join us via Zoom at 4:30pm ET for insights and inspiration from the 2025-26 Place-Based Educator Fellowship program! This cohort of incredible educators, each deeply invested in place-based approaches to their teaching, have spent that past year working with one another and GLSI to deepen their practice, develop their leadership, and support one another from across Michigan.

Many of these educators have participated in professional development, student projects, and school-community partnerships with their local GLSI Hub for many years, and took the step this past year to connect with and learn from peers across the state with similar experience.

Can't make it this afternoon? Register anyways and we'll send you the recording!

SEMIS Coalition
Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative
Discovering PLACE
Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative
Groundswell Stewardship Initiative

05/26/2026

Announcing the School Year 2026-27 Place-Based Educators Institute! This annual educator professional development program supports K-12 teachers throughout the Great Lakes Basin to learn about, and begin implementing, GLSI's model of Place-Based Stewardship Education with their students and communities.

This program blends peer community support and collaboration, practical implementation resources and strategies, and year-round mentorship from GLSI's institute facilitators - former classroom teachers and school principals with deep place-based teaching and project design expertise!

Learn more and apply below. Limited cost-free slots available - applications reviewed on a rolling basis until the program reaches capacity!

Grant funding support for this program is provided by the Great Lakes Fishery Trust and NOAA Great Lakes B-WET.

05/26/2026

JOIN US THIS THURSDAY: the Place-Based Stewardship Educators Fellowship Showcase!

This free virtual event will showcase K-12 classroom educators working with GLSI and one another throughout the past year to deepen their leadership of place-based stewardship education efforts in their classrooms and communities.

These amazing teachers have come together to learn from one another and guide fellow educators to get started connecting students to place and purpose in their communities!

Join via Zoom this Thursday, May 28th, from 4:30pm–6:00pm ET as we celebrate this fellowship cohort and gather insights and inspiration for guiding students to apply their learning to meaningful stewardship of the Great Lakes Basin! Register 👇

05/07/2026

You're invited to a special upcoming GLSI virtual event: the Place-Based Stewardship Educators Fellowship Showcase!

This free event will showcase a cohort of K-12 classroom educators from throughout Michigan who have been working with GLSI and one another throughout the past year to deepen their leadership of place-based stewardship education efforts in their classrooms and communities. Each deeply experienced in implementing place-based student learning (many having worked closely with their local GLSI Hub over the years), these amazing teachers have come together to learn from one another and guide fellow educators to get started connecting students to place and purpose in their communities!

Join via Zoom this May 28th from 4:30pm–6:00pm ET as we celebrate this fellowship cohort and gather insights and inspiration for guiding students to apply their learning to meaningful stewardship of their communities and the Great Lakes Basin! Register 👇

05/06/2026

Continuing with the announcement of GLSI's newest leaders joining the organization by serving on the Board of Directors, we are thrilled to welcome Amanda Weinert to the GLSI leadership team!

Amanda Weinert grew up in Garden, MI, and now lives in Carp Lake, MI. She’s a citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa and descendant of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa (LTBB). Amanda is just wrapping up serving the LTBB Niigaandiwin Education Department as their PK-12th Grade Academic Services Student Advocate (formally the Ishkaakimikwe Kinoomaagewinan (Teachings of the Earth) Coordinator and Curriculum Specialist).

Amanda's involvement in Indigenous land-based/place-based education began while student-working at the Center for Native American Studies at Northern Michigan University about 16 years ago. Amanda specializes in integrating decolonized, land-based pedagogies and perspectives into PK-12th grade curricula.

Over the past several years, Amanda has worked closely with two of the GLSI Hubs, Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative (NEMIGLSI) based in Alpena, and the Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition (SEMIS Coalition) based in Ypsilanti.

05/04/2026

Continuing with the announcement of GLSI's newest leaders joining the organization by serving on the Board of Directors, we are thrilled to welcome John Vincent to the GLSI leadership team!

John, on why he is committed to serving GLSI as a board director: "For the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to stay closely connected with GLSI as we collectively work to build stronger systems across Michigan that advance outdoor and place-based learning. During that time, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for both the organization and the individuals who lead and shape its work. Stepping into a role on the board is an exciting next chapter, allowing me to stay engaged in this work from a new perspective. There is something powerful about being connected with like-minded individuals who are collectively striving to make a positive impact in their communities."

John Vincent serves as Chief of Early Childhood Education for the ODC Network, where he leads five nature-based early childhood sites and advances outdoor education initiatives across Michigan. He is passionate about connecting young children to the natural world and building strong foundations for lifelong learning.

At the state and national levels, John contributes to advancing nature-based early childhood education through policy, program development, and leadership. He helped develop Michigan’s Integrating Nature-Based Instruction in GSRP Guidebook and was selected to support the state’s technical guidance on nature-based licensing. He also represents Michigan through the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), focused on integrating nature-based approaches into public PreK.

John began his career in special education and remains committed to inclusive early learning environments. He holds a degree from Grand Valley State University and previously served in leadership with a Head Start organization, overseeing preschool programs across 21 counties. He lives in West Michigan with his wife and three children.

05/04/2026

What an awesome opportunity educators had with the Northeast Michigan hub of GLSI to learn about, and teach through, Michigan geology, watershed dynamics, and our inland connections to the Great Lakes!

05/03/2026

We are so excited to welcome Susan Dundon to the Board of Directors as GLSI builds toward the next 20 years of connecting people, place, and purpose throughout the Great Lakes Basin!

Susan shared the following regarding her motivation to serve on the GLSI Board: "I have dedicated much of my career to increasing access to clean water worldwide. I’ve always been struck by the fact that the Great Lakes hold 20% of the world’s freshwater, and I am thrilled to join GLSI’s Board because I strongly believe in its mission to help young people learn about, enjoy, and protect this precious resource. Through my board service, I hope to help the organization connect with new funding sources and forge new partnerships across the Great Lakes region. Although I now live in Chicagoland, I remain a Detroiter at heart!"

Susan is currently a Director at the Osprey Foundation, where she works with a range of grantees and partners to improve access to sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in developing countries. From 2017 to 2023, she served as Director of the Young Adults and Working Families grantmaking at the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, where she made workforce and economic development investments across Southeast Michigan and Western New York. From 2015 to 2017, she was a Detroit Revitalization Fellow at EcoWorks, where she supported the Youth Energy Squad (YES) and Reclaim Detroit. Susan is an alumna of Oberlin College, Northwestern University, and Trinity College Dublin.

04/30/2026

As GLSI prepares to celebrate 20 years in 2027, we are engaged in a strategic process to build on our strong foundation for the next 20 years of connecting people, place, and purpose throughout the Great Lakes Basin. As part of that process, we are growing our leadership community by expanding the board of directors, and we are thrilled to announce the first of several new directors joining the organization this spring!

Hira Ahmad is the Great Lakes Philanthropy Fellow at the Erb Family Foundation where she is supporting Great Lakes grantmaking and the Foundation’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

Prior to joining the Erb Family Foundation, Hira served as an Oak Ridge Institute Fellow at the Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes National Program Office in Region 5. There, she helped advance environmental justice grantmaking, supported community engagement efforts, and made scientific research accessible for public audiences. She also contributed to water quality and children’s lead safety projects in Michigan and managed a federal database tracking environmental progress in the Great Lakes region.

Hira earned her bachelor’s in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from DePauw University and her Master of Science in Conservation Biology and Environmental Justice from the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability. Her commitment to environmental equity was recognized with the River Network’s Emerging Leader Award.

Hira is inspired by young leaders working toward a more just and sustainable future. Outside of work, she enjoys reading fiction, spending time along Midwest lakeshores, and experimenting with new baking recipes.

"I am incredibly honored and excited to serve on the Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative Board. Environmental education has been a long-time passion of mine and the opportunity to contribute to an organization committed to inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards and advocates is so meaningful to me. I am excited to work with such a passionate group of individuals!"

Please join us in welcoming Hira to the GLSI leadership team!

Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative

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