Little Forks Conservancy

10/13/2026

Thank you to Wildfire Credit Union for helping us care for Nelson Woods and maintain healthy habitats for wildlife. We appreciate your support! 💚

10/12/2026

Congratulations to Madison O'Hara who recently got Conservation@Home certified!

In 2025, Madison got started by planting five native plants, by 2026 the number of native plants planted jumped up to 250 plugs. From installing rain barrels and composting to adding native plants and creating habitat for wildlife, Madison has been hard at work creating a more sustainable and wildlife-friendly home.

Your yard could be next! Learn more about Conservation@Home at littleforks.org/conservationhome

10/09/2026

Forestview Natural Area was highlighted on a field trip during the Michigan Wetlands Association conference! What a joy it was to welcome wetland and conservation professionals from across the state and share some of the unique natural features that make this preserve special.

10/08/2026

We had a HOOT at the Owl Prowl this week! 🦉

Thanks to the Chippewa Nature Center for partnering on this event and leading the hike at our Nelson Woods preserve. It was a beautiful fall night, made even better when we heard and saw Barred Owls on the property!

09/30/2026

Our annual Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt begins tomorrow and runs through the end of October at Riverview Natural Area! Visit the preserve throughout the month and check out the scarecrows along the trail. 🍁

If you send a photo of you or your group with a scarecrow to [email protected], you can be entered into a drawing to win a nature-themed gift bag! A big thank you to Garber Chevrolet Midland for sponsoring this event!

09/24/2026

What a wonderful evening celebrating 30 Years of Little Forks Conservancy!🎉🌿

Thank you to everyone who joined us and to the many landowners, volunteers, supporters, partners, and friends who have helped make our work possible over the past three decades. We’re grateful for all who have been part of our journey and look forward to continuing to protect the lands and waters of mid-Michigan for generations to come. Here's to the next 30 years!

09/22/2026

We had a great time partnering with our Preserve Steward volunteers and the Central Michigan Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area - CISMA to control invasive shrubs in the floodplain forest habitat at Forestview Natural Area! Continued management of invasive plants helps the long-term success of the 1,000+ native tree and shrubs we've established at this preserve over the last two years.

Preserve Stewards care for our nature preserves in various ways, including planting trees, managing invasive species, and building and maintaining trails. Interested in helping out? Visit https://www.littleforks.org/volunteer.html to learn more!

09/21/2026

Next week is Neighboring Week! Join us and the Great Lakes Bay Hiking Club on Wednesday, September 30th at 6pm for a guided hike of the Averill Preserve.

09/19/2026

Be sure to stop by our table today and say “hi”!

🚨 IMPORTANT LOCATION UPDATE! 🚨

The Celebrate Abilities Parade is still happening this Saturday, September 19, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., but we are moving indoors to Dow High School!

Michigan weather may have changed our location, but it will not stop this incredible celebration of people with disabilities, families, friendship, and belonging!

Join us for the parade, free hot dogs, giveaways, prizes, entertainment, and so much more. The event is completely free and open to everyone!

Please share this post widely so everyone knows about the new location. We can’t wait to celebrate with you on Saturday!

📍 NEW LOCATION: Dow High School
📅 Saturday, September 19
⏰ 1:00–4:00 p.m.

A tremendous thank-you to Midland Public Schools for opening its doors to our community and making it possible for the celebration to continue!

09/16/2026

A huge thank you to the volunteers who came out to help with our Cedar River Stream Sampling event this past Saturday! It was a beautiful day spent collecting macroinvertebrates from the Cedar River.

We have been hosting these events for over a decade, and the data gathered helps us to learn more about the health of the river. Macroinvertebrates have different sensitivities to pollution - some can only handle very clean waters, while others can tolerate more polluted conditions. By looking at the types and numbers of macroinvertebrates we find, we can get a better picture of the river's health over time. Interested in learning more about stream sampling or our other volunteer opportunities? Contact our office to get involved!