Conservation News

In October, Ypsilanti High School hosted the first local pilot of The Tree Lab, a mobile, hands-on STEM experience that introduces students to forestry, agroforestry, and ecological restoration careers. The pilot brought together WCCD staff and community partners for various educational demonstrations.

The Farm at Trinity Health has a Native Demonstration Prairie that is a space for community education about native ecosystems. In this project they expanded these efforts to include more public engagement and native plantings. Multiple establishment methods have been used in the Native Demonstration Prairie. Read this post-install report to learn more.

Before the snow, a local community member successfully transformed a section of their lawn into an efficient rain garden. As a solution to managing stormwater runoff, the project was executed using tools from our tool lending library and successfully absorbed a 1.5-inch rainstorm immediately after completion.

Ann Arbor STEAM Northside leveraged the School and Community Habitat Grant to develop an incredible project at their school. Utilizing class participation, they applied for and installed a native pollinator garden on school grounds. They were engaged with real problems like erosion, enhanced plant diversity, and put on a showcase of the diverse native plants found in Southeast Michigan.

The EMU Children’s Institute successfully utilized the SCHG to create an interactive Rain Play Garden. Supported by partner Feral Flora, the project mobilized over 40 community volunteers and students to dig and install "mini-raingardens" directly into the nature playground. This hands-on initiative exists as an educational space that inspires environmental curiosity while improving the resilience of the school's landscape.

This holiday season consider gifting conservation: Trees & Shrubs, Native Plants, Rain Barrels, Tools & more with the WCCD Conservation Gift Card!
These gifts keep giving back providing a healthier environment for our human and natural communities!

In 2024 volunteers from the City of Saline applied to install a pollinator garden in Risdon Park. During 2025 they successfully turned a corner of their neighborhood park into a vibrant key-hole style garden.

The School and Community Habitat Grant award announcement for 2025. The SCHG aims restore wildlife habitat at our schools and community spaces, learn more about this year's projects.

Do you have old plastic lying around your farm? Are you tired of paying for a dumpster just to send it to the landfill? We want to help!
We're organizing our first Agricultural Plastics Recycling Collection Event, planned for Spring 2026, and your input is vital.
Please take 10 minutes to complete our survey.