Promoting Environmental Education, Research,

 

Preservation, and Appreciation

 

Set on 661 acres in Southwest Michigan, Pierce Cedar Creek Institute provides visitors with an exposure to a blend of diverse habitats including wetlands, forests, marshes, streams, lakes, and prairies.

 

The Institute is open to the public, year-round, free of charge. Visitors may explore over seven miles of nature trails.

 

The Institute, a mix between a nature center and biological field station, offers programs to serve the community while also building partnerships with area colleges and universities to serve their faculty and students.

 

Whether you come to take a class, explore the trails, attend an event, or participate in research, your experience at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute will be a rewarding one.

 

 

Volunteer Work Days in May   

 

Have fun with other Institute volunteers by pulling the invasive plant garlic mustard. Every Friday morning in May, volunteers are needed to pull garlic mustard

from 9 am - Noon. For more information about volunteering, contact Marketing Coordinator Barb Lancaster at (269) 721-4190.

Volunteers who donate nine or more hours towards invasive plant removal will be awarded a Pierce Cedar Creek Institute Weed Warriors shirt designed by Stewardship Assistant Dan Auer.

Invasive plants are non-native plants that, once

introduced, have a negative impact on our environment, economy, and/or human health. At Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, invasive plants have been identified as a

serious threat to our natural ecosystems. Once established, they out-compete native species, reducing biodiversity and altering ecosystem structure and composition. We make significant efforts each year to remove non-native plant species that pose a threat to our natural areas. While early detection and rapid responses are crucial for keeping newly established invasive plant populations in check, it is important to use appropriate control strategies and timing when controlling the more established invasive plants. At the Institute, the land steward and stewardship volunteers regularly work to control autumn olive, garlic mustard, spotted knapweed, phragmites, purple loosestrife, and multiflora rose.

Thank you to all who signed up to volunteer in April. As you know, the cold spring weather has postponed the garlic mustard growing season. Fridays in May promise to offer many opportunities to get outside and help control invasive plants on Institute property.      

Welcome Artist-in-Residence Doet Boersma

 

Doet Boersma, the Institute’s first Artist-in-Residence, was warmly welcomed by a large group of art and Institute enthusiasts at her opening reception on Sunday, April 28. Doet arrived from the Netherlands earlier in April and moved to Batts Cottage on the Institute’s property. At her reception, guests learned about Doet’s background and experiences, and were inspired by her passionate explanation of plans for her stay at the Institute.

 

She is available to present special programs for groups and organizations. Anyone interested in a program with Doet may call Marketing Coordinator Barb Lancaster at (269) 721-4190 to make arrangements.