Washtenaw 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 Washtenaw County cohort will host their weekly classes from 6-9 p.m. on Wednesdays, from Sept. 3 to Nov. 12, 2025. Weekly classes will meet throughout Washtenaw 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. 29 and Nov. 5, 2024.

Washtenaw County's field days will be on Saturday, Oct. 4 and Saturday, Oct. 18, 2024 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

Washtenaw County Schedule 

Date

Topic

Location

Speaker

Sept. 3

Program Orientation

Scio Township Hall, 
827 N Zeeb Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Catie Wytychak, Washtenaw County Water Resources

Sept. 10

Foundations of Conservation: Ecological Foundations, and Conservation Heritage

Matthaei Botanical Garden, 
1800 N. Dixboro Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105

Sheila Schueller, University of Michigan

Sept. 17

Foundations of Conservation: Society & Conservation

Matthaei Botanical Garden, 
1800 N. Dixboro Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105

To Be Announced

Sept. 24

Aquatic Ecosystems: Lakes

Saginaw Forest and Third Sister Lake, 
3900 W. Liberty, Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103

To Be Announced

Oct. 1

Aquatic Ecosystems: Streams 

To Be Announced

Catherine Riseng, University of Michigan

Sat., Oct. 4, 
from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Field Day: Aquatic Day

Independence Lake, 
3200 Jennings Rd., Whitmore Lake, MI 48189

To Be Announced

Oct. 8

Aquatic Ecosystems: Wetlands

Mary Beth Doyle Park, 
3500 Birch Hollow Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48108

Montibeller Park,
4305 Ellsworth Rd., Ypsilanti, MI 48197

Kate Laramie, Huron River Watershed Council

Oct. 15

Terrestrial Ecosystems: Forests   

To Be Announced

Julie McLaughlin, Huron-Clinton Metroparks

Sat., Oct. 18, 
from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Field Day: Terrestrial Day

West Scio, 
317 Dino Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Jacqueline Courteau, NatureWrite, LLC

Oct. 22

Terrestrial Ecosystems: Grasslands 

Independence Lake County Park, 
3200 Jennings Rd., Whitmore Lake, MI 48189

Mary R. Parr, Michigan Natural Features Inventory, and Faye Stoner, Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation

Oct. 29

Program Break - No Class

Nov. 5

Program Break - No Class

Nov. 12

Putting It All Together: Capstone Project Celebration

Blackbird Lodge, 
7734 Plymouth Ann Arbor Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105

Bindu Bhakta, MSU Extension, and the Washtenaw Conservation Stewards Team

For cohort and content related questions, please reach out to Jason Frenzel at jfrenzel@hrwc.org or Catie Wytychak at wytychakc@washtenaw.org. 

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

Huron River Watershed Council logo Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum logo City of Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation logo Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner logo Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission logo