The Michigan Conservation Stewards Program offers eight weeks of instruction delivered between September and November 2025, including weekly online course content, in-person lectures, field instruction, and more.
Michigan State University Extension’s Conservation Stewards Program (CSP) is now enrolling participants for its Fall 2025 programs, which will span eight weeks in September through November. In 2025, CSP will be offered across six cohort locations, including one in Oceana County.
During each week of instruction, the hybrid program will combine virtual, self-paced lessons with in-person evening sessions at various locations within Newaygo County. This cohort will host their weekly evening sessions on Monday evenings, 6-8:30 p.m., from Sept. 8 to Nov. 3, 2025.
Additionally, two Saturday in-person field trips within the region will be held on September 27 at Lake Michigan Family Camp and Oct. 11 at Claybanks and Benona Township Farms. Participants will also complete applied capstone projects related to restoring and conserving Michigan’s ecosystems with guidance provided by a local mentor.
Partner organizations for the Oceana County Cohort include:
• Oceana Conservation District
• Fremont Area Community Foundation
• White Water Watershed Partnership
• Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
• Michigan Natural Features Inventory
• MSU Extension Center for Lakes and
Streams
The last date to register will be Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, with scholarship opportunities available for all. For additional details of the Conservation Stewards Program and to register, please visit events.anr.msu.edu/micsp2025.
About the Michigan Conservation Stewards Program
The Michigan Conservation Stewards Program is an educational program for adult learners offered by Michigan State University Extension and collaboratively planned with many diverse partner organizations. CSP is geared toward those who are enthusiastic about learning science-based ecosystem management principles, getting involved in on-the-ground stewardship efforts, sharing their knowledge and experiences with the public, and empowering others to get engaged in improving their local area.
Through the Conservation Stewards Program, participants learn essential strategies to understand and help restore and conserve ecosystems in Michigan communities. To learn more about CSP and the 2025 cohort locations, please visit the website at canr.msu.edu/csp.
For cohort and content-related questions, please reach out to Laura Ackerman at laura.ackerman@macd.org or Erick Elgin at elgineri@msu.edu.
For general questions and registration assistance, please contact Shelby Warner at warner80@msu.edu or (517) 884-7076.
