For Friday, Aug. 17, 2021

1 – Get outdoors and capture the beauty of nature with your camera. The Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy will teach you how. 

The Bay City-based group is hosting three fall workshops that cover everything from photographing landscapes to wildlife to editing and sharing your images. 

Each session will include detailed one-on-one instruction. You need a camera, but there is no minimum requirement for its specifications, organizers say. Even a smartphone will work. 

The three sessions include wildlife photography on Oct. 7 at the Discovery Preserve on Euclid Avenue in Bay City. 

A landscape photography workshop will be held on Oct. 21 at the preserve. 

The editing your images session is Nov. 4 at the Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy Office at 706 S. Euclid in Bay City. 

The sessions will be led by Executive Director Zachary Branigan, a trained photographer with more than 20 years of experience.

See the Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy’s event page on Facebook to sign up or find more details. 

Or go to https://secure.qgiv.com/for/npo2/event/838009/.

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2 – Applications for 2022 Huron Pines AmeriCorps positions are being accepted.

Huron Pines AmeriCorps members strive to enhance Michigan’s natural resources and foster environmental stewardship by engaging local volunteers, community groups and schools in service projects, hands-on learning opportunities and educational workshops. 

You can apply at huronpines.org/americorps for an opportunity to join others with dedication, passion and enthusiasm for the environment and national service.

The program places college graduates for a 10-month term of full-time volunteer service with conservation organizations across Michigan. Positions are available at 15 host site locations across the state including Gladwin, Gaylord, Alpena and Midland. Benefits include an educational award and living stipend. 

Applications are due by Oct. 15. The full term of service is Jan. 12, 2022, through Nov. 18, 2022.

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3 – Next week, starting Sept. 19, is Michigan Trails Week. 

Natural resource officials encourage people to seek out hiking, biking, horseback riding, snowmobiling, off-roading or paddling options in the state. 

Michigan has more than 13,000 miles of state-designated trails.

The state is holding a Michigan Trails Week Challenge for the second year in a row.

Officials say getting outside on a trail is an easy way to promote good health and take in the outdoors. You can think of Michigan’s resources as part of a “big green gym.”

The challenge involves people signing up online to contribute miles spent on trails toward a statewide, collective goal of 100,000 miles. Prizes including outdoor gear are available. 

See Michigan.gov/TrailsWeek for more. 

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– Mr. Great Lakes is heard Friday mornings in Bay City, Michigan, on Delta College Public Radio 90.1 FM (listen). Follow @jeffkart on Twitter #MrGreatLakes

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