Students in the Field: The Story of the Biological Field Station
On a summer morning at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, the prairie hums with life. Students step into the field with sampling gear, notebooks, and sketchbooks in hand.
This is the quiet magic of a biological field station.
Students and faculty working side by side.
Science unfolding in real time.
Curiosity leading to discovery.
For more than two decades, the Biological Field Station at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute has welcomed students from across the country to live, learn, and conduct research in one of the most ecologically diverse landscapes in southwest Michigan.
Surrounded by forests, prairies, wetlands, and working lands, students engage in research that matters—both locally and globally.
Some study rare and threatened species or document native prairie plants. Others focus on research that directly impacts human health.
One team, affectionately known as the “tick crew,” is studying tick populations and the diseases they carry across West Michigan.
As Environmental Research Fellow Jocelyn Nieze (Calvin University) shares:
“Hello, I’m Jocelyn, and I’m part of what has been affectionately named the ‘tick crew.’ The goal of our project is to understand tick populations, where they’re moving, and what diseases they carry. By collecting ticks across West Michigan and testing them in the lab, we help improve public understanding of tick-borne disease.”
Other fellows focus on the stewardship of the land itself.
Our Steeby Natural Resource Fellows work across forests, prairies, and lakes to care for the landscapes that make research possible.
“This summer I’m working to care for the land and lakes at PCCI,” says Ryan Bieneman (Western Michigan University). “On the lake side, we monitor water quality. On the land side, we maintain trails and manage habitat. It’s an exciting hands-on experience where I’m learning skills I can take into my future career.”
At the Institute, science is only part of the story.
Understanding the natural world also requires creativity and interpretation. Our Creative Arts Fellows spend their summers translating the landscape into writing, visual art, and storytelling – helping others see and feel the importance of these ecosystems.
One fellow reflected:
“Spending time creating art in the landscapes of Pierce Cedar Creek changes the way you see the natural world. The prairies, forests, and wetlands become more than scenery. They become stories worth sharing.”
Together, these fellows deepen our understanding of the natural world while helping our community connect more meaningfully to the landscapes around us.
A Moment of Opportunity
Over the past three years, support from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s STEAM Ahead program has helped expand these hands-on learning experiences.
As we look ahead, we are focused on sustaining and strengthening this work through a more diverse, community-supported model.
This year, we are seeking to raise $30,000 to support our next cohort of Environmental Research Fellows, Steeby Natural Resource Fellows, and Creative Arts Fellows.
These funds provide stipends, mentorship, and research support so that talented and hardworking students can spend their summer immersed in discovery and stewardship.
Thanks to a generous leadership commitment of $10,000 from the Douglas and Margaret DeCamp Foundation, this effort is already underway.
We are now inviting our broader community to help complete the circle of support.
Support Students in the Field
Where It All Comes Together
At a biological field station, research, learning, and lived experience are not separate – they unfold together.
Here, young scientists, educators, and artists begin to see themselves as stewards of the land.
At Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, the field station connects wild lands, working lands, and the wonder of discovery.
We invite you to be part of that story.
Join Us
We also hope you will join us on August 5 from 6:30–8:30 pm, when our summer fellows share their discoveries, artwork, and stories from the field. It is one of the most inspiring evenings of the year at the Institute.
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