Newaygo County

Thank you for your interest in the Michigan Conservation Stewards Program (CSP), an educational program for those who are enthusiastic about learning science-based ecosystem management principles and sharing this knowledge with others to help improve their local communities. Through this program, participants will learn essential strategies to understand and help restore and conserve ecosystems in Michigan communities. 

The Newaygo County cohort will host their weekly classes from 6-8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, from Sept. 9 to Nov. 4, 2025. Weekly classes will meet throughout Newaygo county at the locations listed in the chart below. Location details and more information will be distributed to registered participants in the end of August. Please note, there will not be class on Oct. 28, 2025. 

Newaygo County's field days will be on Saturday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Newaygo County Schedule 

Date

Topic

Location

Speaker

Sept. 9

Program Orientation; Foundations of Conservation: Ecological Foundations; What is a Natural Community?

United Church of Christ, 
432 Quarterine St., Newaygo, MI 49337

Tyler Bassett, Michigan Natural Features Inventory

Sept. 16

Foundations of Conservation: Society & Conservation; Conservation Heritage; Indigenous Perspectives on Conservation

Muskegon State Game Area,
7500 Messinger Rd., Twin Lake, MI 49457

Amanda Paige, Muskegon River Watershed Assembly, and Corey Wells, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians

Sept. 23

Aquatic Ecosystems: Lakes

To Be Announced

Erick Elgin, MSU Extension

Sat., Sept. 27

from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Field Day: Lakes

Fremont Park,
955 Cottage Grove, Fremont, MI 49412

Amanda Paige, Muskegon River Watershed Assembly, and Ashley Elgin, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Erick Elgin, MSU Extension

Sept. 30

Aquatic Ecosystems: Streams

White Cloud County Park,
680 E Wilcox Ave, White Cloud, MI 49349

Jake Lemon, Trout Unlimited

Oct. 7

Aquatic Ecosystems: Wetlands

Camp Newaygo, 
5333 S. Centerline Rd., Newaygo, MI 49337

Alexis DeGabriele, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians

Oct. 14

Terrestrial Ecosystems: Forests

Kropscott Farm Environmental Center,
6523 W Baseline Rd., Fremont, MI 49412

Rod Denning, Newaygo Conservation District

Sat., Oct. 18

from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Field Day: North County Trail Ecosystem Tour

Brooks Prairie, 
5600-5998 S Poplar Ave, Newaygo, MI 49337

Sarah Pregitzer, and Randy Butters, Newaygo County Environmental Coalition

Oct. 21

Terrestrial Ecosystems: Grasslands 

Fremont Area Community Foundation, 
4424 W. 48th St., Fremont, MI 49412

Lucas Dykstra, Land Conservancy of West Michigan

Oct. 28

Program Break - No Class

Nov. 4

Putting It All Together: Capstone Project Celebration

Farr Farm,
Ashland Township, MI 

Terry Farr, and Lorri Farr

For cohort and content related questions, please reach out to Sarah Pregitzer at spregitzer@sbcglobal.net or Sally Wagoner at sally.w@nc-ec.org.

For general questions and registration assistance, please contact Shelby Warner at warner80@msu.edu or (517) 884-7076.

Newaygo County Environmental Coalition logo MSU Extension Center for Lakes and Streams logo
Muskegon River Watershed Assembly logo
Fremont Area Community Foundation logo
Newaygo Conservation District logo Little River Band of Ottawa Indians logo Michigan Natural Features Inventory logo Michigan Nature Association logo