Newaygo County Environmental Coalition

08/25/2026

We invite you to join us on Saturday, September 26 for a very special event: “Garden of Dreams: If You Plant It, They Will Come”

During this 2nd annual NCEC Fall Gala Fundraiser you will:

* Be introduced to local native bees, butterflies and other insects who live in Newaygo County's protected habitats.

* Learn why time is of the essence for all of us to help support these threatened pollinators.

* Receive guidance and resources in planning and planting your own "Garden of Dreams" with native plants that will attract and support the very same pollinators that are found in our local habitats.

* Understand that we are all KEY to helping our native bees, butterflies and other pollinators survive, and thrive!

3:00pm Doors Open, Hors d'oeuvres, Silent Auction begins!
Come early to meet with with regional Native Plant Nurseries & Garden Design Landscapers to help you plan your Garden of Dreams

4:00pm Featured Presentations:
Jim Dunn, NCEC Board Member, Professor Emeritus & Entomologist.
“Newaygo County’s Native Bees, Butterflies & Pollinators"

Alysia Babcock, "The Garden Guru", Advanced Master Gardener & Master Naturalist.
“Plant for Pollinators: How to Choose & Grow the Best Native Plants for Your Yard”

5:30pm Silent Auction Ends
Plus optional tour of the Tall Grass Prairie at Fremont Area Community Foundation

We promise you a great afternoon of fun and inspiration!
And you will come away knowing how to:

*Nurture our threatened pollinators with native plants on your property
*Help protect, restore and keep our natural habitats and wildlife healthy

08/13/2026

Hey Kids! Bring your family and join us on an easy going guided hike to identify friendly plants and poison ivy! Learn how this plant protects the woods, how to avoid it, and what plants near by can relieve its itching!

This event is for kids, older youths & their families. Youth must be accompanied by at least one adult.

Instructions on what to bring and what to expect will be provided upon registration.
Space is limited so Register now!
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/friendly-plants-and-poison-ivy

Questions?
​Contact: [email protected]

08/13/2026

Poison ivy for dinner?!

Which of these birds snacks on poison ivy berries during the lean times in winter?

Poison Ivy is a plant to be understood and respected, and it plays an important ecological role, too! Plants with persistent fruit (that stays on the plant into the cold season) are a critical food source for the birds who stick around through winter!

Join us on Saturday at Branstrom Park, to learn how to recognize poison ivy and some friendlier plants that like to grow nearby!

Registration in the comments.

08/12/2026

Can we enjoy our outdoors by identifying and removing the invasive shrubs that fuel tick populations?

Join us on Saturday, Aug 22nd to discover the power of informed land management and empower your community to create healthier habitats that are less friendly to ticks!

08/12/2026

Nmé, also called Sturgeon in English, are very important fish -- to our waterways, and to the people who lived here on this land long before it was colonized by European settlers.

NCEC is looking forward to partnering with MRWA to bring the Nmé Way Story Walk to life. Join us to learn about Nmé: why and how do they help the water? What is the story of Nmé and the Anishinaabe people?

More information can be found here: https://mrwa.org/event/nme-way/ and on our events page!

08/10/2026

Not just for monarchs! Milkweed is a vital food source for milkweed tussock moth caterpillars.

Some of us who are new to learning native pollinators have seen this tussock moth larvae chewing up our milkweed. Of course the first reaction is to think they might be bad actors, stealing the food out from under the monarch butterfly caterpillars. Not true! They share the milkweed buffet and both add to our healthy ecosystem.

More info: https://bygl.osu.edu/node/440

08/10/2026

Hey Kids! Bring your family and join us on an easy going guided hike to identify friendly plants and poison ivy! Learn how this plant protects the woods, how to avoid it, and what plants near by can relieve its itching!

This event is for kids, older youths & their families. Youth must be accompanied by at least one adult.

Instructions on what to bring and what to expect will be provided upon registration.

Space is limited so Register now!
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/friendly-plants-and-poison-ivy

Questions?
​Contact: [email protected]

Join us on an easy going guided hike to identify the many friendly plants in Branstrom Park and to connect with the beauty of nature.This outdoor event is for…

08/08/2026

Did you know lichens are not plants?

A lichen is actually a composite organism made up of a fungus and an algae or cyanobacterium living together in a symbiotic relationship. The fungus provides structure and protection while the algae or cyanobacterium photosynthesizes and produces food for both partners. Neither organism could survive alone the way it does as a lichen, which is part of why they were so difficult for early scientists to classify correctly.

Lichens are generally sorted into growth forms based on their shape, and this graphic shows three of the most common types.

Leprose lichens look like they are painted directly onto a surface, forming a powdery, crust-like layer with no distinct edges or structure. They are often the first type people mistake for algae or mold rather than a distinct organism.

Foliose lichens look like leaves, with flattened, lobed structures that can be peeled away from the surface they are growing on. This growth form gives them a more plant-like appearance than the other types, which is often why they get misidentified as moss.

Fruticose lichens hang down or grow upright in branching, shrub-like structures, resembling tiny trees or hanging fibers depending on the species. This is the growth form most people picture when they think of "Spanish moss" or similar draping growths, even though true Spanish moss is actually a flowering plant, not a lichen at all.

One of the most useful things to know about lichens is that they are considered bioindicators of air quality. Because they absorb moisture and nutrients directly from the air rather than through roots, they are extremely sensitive to air pollution, and a healthy, diverse lichen population on trees in your area is generally a good sign of clean air.

08/07/2026

Poison Ivy Alert!

Which of these plants will make you itchy?

It helps to be certain when you're exploring, so you can frolick without care!

Join us at our Friendly Plants and Poison Ivy nature walk, where we'll get to know this plant, as well as some tasty forest treats!

Registration link in the comments, or find the event on our page!