Learning in a Local Environment

Picturesque Grand Island lies just offshore from Munising in Michigan’s upper peninsula. While it’s a short ferry ride from the mainland, only a handful of the young people in this summer’s Life of Lake Superior Youth Program had ever made the trip, much less fished from the shores of Echo Lake.

It was a unique experience for them, says Michigan Sea Grant’s Ron Kinnunen, who led the fishing trip at the island’s largest lake. They enjoyed fishing for smallmouth bass and northern pike, and also learned about some of the important issues currently affecting Great Lakes fish.

That combination—linking exciting, first-time experiences with Great Lakes learning and stewardship—embodies the goal of Great Lakes educational activities and events supported by Michigan Sea Grant. Four of these programs are covered in this issue of upwellings. With help from many collaborating partners, Sea Grant educators help plan and coordinate programs and events, develop curriculum, and lead educational sessions.

New this year was the 4-H Great Lakes Aquatic Academy. As Michigan Sea Grant extension educator Brandon Schroeder says, it was a tremendous opportunity for young people to learn about Lake Huron’s unique coastal resources “right here in our own backyard.”

Also featured in this issue are ongoing programs like Summer Discovery Cruises offered each year on Lake St. Clair and the lower Detroit River. An underwater ROV highlighted this summer’s line-up of cruises. For participants, the experiences often have a lasting impact. Sea Grant extension educator Steve Stewart notes that the cruises foster an almost universal increase in participants’ personal sense of responsibility toward the Great Lakes.

In all, more than 1,330 Michigan youth, teens, and adults participated in Great Lakes education camps, cruises, and workshops, supported by Michigan Sea Grant throughout the summer.

Countless others take advantage of informal education opportunities—whether by attending an outdoor event, visiting their nearest metropark, or enjoying vacation time at a favorite spot along Michigan’s Great Lakes shoreline.

Any environmental educator will tell you that these interactions with our natural world are essential—not only for ourselves but for the health of the remarkable lakes around us.

Joyce Daniels
Editor

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