Learn to identify native and invasive aquatic plants with hands-on training
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EmailSummer sessions available on plant identification and kayak safety through Michigan Sea Grant's MI Paddle Stewards program.
Are you a naturalist interested in learning more about the aquatic plants that might be in water bodies near you? Aquatic plants form underwater forests that support invertebrates, fish and turtles. Take a closer look and you can start to see the differences between these unique species. In most water bodies, native aquatic plants are still the most common. Identifying and reporting any invasive aquatic plants is important to stopping their spread across the state. It's also important to do your part by always cleaning, draining, and drying your paddleboat before you transport it to another water body.
After taking the MI Paddle Stewards self-paced online course, participants are invited to join an in-person workshop. These workshops are hosted by local groups, such as watershed councils, paddling clubs, and invasive species management organizations. Participants can meet local paddlers, put course principles into practice, and take home a MI Paddle Stewards goodie bag.
Michigan Sea Grant and partners around the state are hosting free MI Paddle Stewards and kayak safety workshops at multiple locations in June and July.
The MI Paddle Stewards train-the-trainer half-day course is for people who anticipate training others how to identify and report aquatic invasive species and/or how to decontaminate paddleboats to prevent the spread of invasive species.
In the half-day kayak safety training you will learn how to avoid potential dangers, practice self-rescue skills and develop the skills you need to manage minor in-water incidents.
Here are upcoming MI Paddle Stewards 2025 events:
- June 12: Detroit: (Belle Isle)
Register- MI Paddle Stewards Training
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. - MI Paddle Stewards Training
1-4 p.m.
- MI Paddle Stewards Training
- July 19: Alpena:
Register- MI Paddle Stewards Training
9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET - Kayak Skills Safety Training
1:30 – 4:30 p.m. ET
- MI Paddle Stewards Training
- July 22: Traverse City (Ellsworth)
Register- MI Paddle Stewards Training
9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET - Kayak Skills Safety Training
1:30 – 4:30 p.m. ET
- MI Paddle Stewards Training
For questions about any of the events, please contact Erica Clites, (313) 494-4678,
clitese1@msu.edu
Michigan Sea Grant helps to foster economic growth and protect Michigan’s coastal, Great Lakes resources through education, research and outreach. A collaborative effort of the University of Michigan and Michigan State University and its MSU Extension, Michigan Sea Grant is part of the NOAA-National Sea Grant network of 34 university-based programs.
This article was prepared by Michigan Sea Grant under award NA24OARX417C0157-T1-01 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce through the Regents of the University of Michigan. The statement, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department of Commerce, or the Regents of the University of Michigan.
