We will post events here that Sea Michigan is participating in such as Adopt-a-Beach clean-ups, free "Walk a Beach With Mike" invites, etc. Additionally, check out the "More" tab on the home page for Special Interest/private Group Walks.
Please join us and get involved in exploring, protecting, and celebrating Sea Michigan as a natural resource for all to enjoy for generations to come!
NEW:Dune Interpretation Walk: Muskegon State Park !
Mike is inviting you to join him for a first-ever "Dune Interpretation Walk" at famous Muskegon State Park! This is a FREE 90 minute walk providing insight to the park vicinity history, and most importantly....how dunes are formed and how we can protect them. We will meet at 09:30 a.m. at the entrance to the Channel Campground. There is no non-camper parking there, yet there are a few parking spaces near the channel just before entering the campground....or also near the main beach. You need a Michigan State Park sticker to get in for most dates. These dates and others to be announced:
- Friday June 13
- Tuesday June 24
- Friday July 11
- Friday July 25
- Tuesday Aug 5
- Friday Aug 22
- Friday Sep 19
Northern Naturalist!
I invite you to join me as I take on additional environment-related experiences and education in the greater Traverse City area! Most of these will be part of Northwestern Michigan College's "Northern Naturalist" Certificate program. This involves activities and classes that you may be interested in, and along the way eventually earn this certification of hands-on, experiential learning. Check it out at NMC.EDU and search on Extended Education & Training. It is a small fee to register into the Northern Naturalist Program, and then each class has it's own very reasonable tuition amount.
Here is where I am doing next, and I invite you to join me any of these courses:
- 10/21/25 Study the Stream (at Inland Seas Ed. Assoc)
- 11/5/25 Birds Up Close: Fall Edition (at NMC)
- TBD
- and many more dates to come!
2025 Muskegon Lighthouse Tours!
Most folks do not seem to be aware that you can actually go inside the South Pierhead light in Muskegon at specific dates and times during the summer. Mike is serving as a volunteer light tour guide this summer. Here are the dates (below) that he is inviting you to come join him. Tours typically last about 15 minutes in the lighthouse itself, plus additional history is shared pre/post entry.
There is a $5 charge per person that goes directly to the Muskegon Lighthouse Conservancy...the historical preservation organization that hosts the tours, and there is also a gift shop hut to help support the cause further. The tours start near the gift shop, which is next to the NOAA station (prior Coast Guard station...1431 Beach Street) at the north end of Pere Marquette beach.
Please see the following website to learn more about the organization and how you might play a role in restoring/preserving the Muskegon lighthouses.
I hope to see you there and share some of the amazing history of the Muskegon lighthouses!
The 2025 light tours with Mike take place between 1-5 p.m. on these dates and others to be announced.
- Friday June 13th
- Friday June 20th
- Friday July 11th
- Friday Jul 25th
- Saturday Jul 26th
- Saturday August 16th
- Saturday September 20th
- and MORE DATES TO COME IN 2026!
Kalamazoo Nature Center!
Mike Ricco of Sea Michigan invites others to join us on various dates and locations at the Kalamazoo Nature Center ("KNC") for stewardship and other experiences.
Their website is: https//naturecenter.org.
Such stewardship events engage volunteers through hands-on restoration and education at this outstanding nature center. Why not become a member if you have not already done so?
- Oct 22 Tree Planting 4-6 (also available the day before too)
- Oct - 9 Bird Banding 8-noon on selected days
- Jan 15, 2026 - 11-noon. Mike is the invited speaker to discuss Sea Michigan's efforts to protect and learn about our surroundings!
See you at KNC!
Mike
Invasive Species Stewardship: SWLC
Mike Ricco of Sea Michigan invites others to join us on various dates and locations to be advised for invasive species removal or other stewardship efforts in association with the South West Michigan Land Conservancy program.
Their website is: https//swmlc.org.
Such volunteer stewardship workdays engage volunteers through hands-on restoration and education as they help remove invasive plants threatening high-quality ecosystems in natural areas across Southwest Michigan.
See you in the conservancy parks and areas!
Mike
Invasive Species Stewardship DNR- Muskegon State Park Saturday Nov 22, 10 a.m. -noon
Mike Ricco of Sea Michigan invites others to join us at various locations for invasive species removal and other stewardship efforts in association with the Michigan DNR Volunteer Stewardship program.
Their website is: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/about/get-involved/volunteer-stewardship
“Volunteer stewardship workdays engage volunteers through hands-on restoration and education as they help remove invasive plants threatening high-quality ecosystems in state parks across Michigan”. Volunteers learn plant identification, see rare ecosystems, connect with others, etc.
See you on the dunes!
Mike
Walk a Beach with Mike
South Haven's North Beach 1 p.m. , Wednesday October 26
The “Walk a Beach With Mike” is a free event opportunity to actually get out on the shoreline, meet new people, learn about the beach and area, history, and environmental science...any and all topics are open! For example:
Our next beach walk will be at South Haven, North Beach at 1 p.m. Wednesday Oct 26. We will meet at the beach, near the concession stand. There is a charge for parking this time of year, yet it is free after 6 p.m. There are public bathrooms at the beach, yet they may be closed. Look for the Sea Michigan flag (see flag photo above) or I will be wearing Sea Michigan attire. Try to be 10 minutes early so that we can start close to on time.
Wear appropriate and comfortable clothing for you, and if the water temperatures cooperate, feel free to wear a swim suit or shorts!
If participants want to go longer, we can...I am open to what each of you are seeking to experience.
If intense weather is in the forecast, the prior day all attempts will be made to alert everyone to a re-schedule date and/or time.
Formal Release: Sea Michigan is not liable in any way for any harm that may transpire...each participant is there at your own risk. Sea Michigan retains the right to take pictures or videos (unless otherwise discussed and agreed to) of the event and participants to use strictly on the Sea Michigan website/YouTube site, for promotional or informative purposes. Participants agree to these terms and conditions simply through actual participation.
Adopt-a-Beach Clean-up: Muskegon State Park
The only public Adopt-a-Beach clean-ups at Muskegon State Park will be led by Mike this year! We will meet at the south end of the park, near the beach just north of where the Bath House used to be! Start at 10 a.m. and wrap up 11:30 a.m. I will furnish buckets and "grabbers", yet feel free to bring your own too. Please sign up online at greatlakes.org or via these links:
June 17
https://adopt.greatlakes.org/s/cleanup/a2oPm000001BNDd
July 22
https://adopt.greatlakes.org/s/cleanup/a2oPm000001BNFF
August 19
https://adopt.greatlakes.org/s/cleanup/a2oPm000001BNIT
Adopt-a-Beach Clean-up: Pere Marquette Park
Stay tuned for more details on the opportunity for a free hat or t-shirt from Sea Michigan during selected events!
See you on the beach!
- May 19 09:30 Pere Marquette Park
- June 23 09:30 Pere Marquette Park
- July 28 09:30 Pere Marquette Park
- Sep 20 09:30 Pere Marquette Park
Register at greatlakes.org
2025 Past Events
Jan 15 - South Haven - N. Beach: Walk a Beach With Mike
Feb 1 - South Haven - N. Beach: Walk a Beach With Mike
Mar 12 S. Haven- North Beach: Walk a Beach with Mike
Mar 19 S. Haven - North Beach: Walk a Beach with Mike
Mar 22- DNR- Birdwatching- Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery
Mar 23- DNR - Invasive Species - Saugatuck Dunes State Park
Apr 12- Land Conservancy of West Michigan + DNR- Controlled burn practices - Saul Lake Bog Nature Preserve
Apr 25-26 Michigan Lakes & Streams Assoc. Conference
May 17th Kalamazoo River Clean-up
May 19th- Adopt a beach clean-up - Pere Marquette
June 13th Dune Interpretation -Muskegon State Park
June 13th- Muskegon Lights
June 17th- Adopt a beach clean-up- Muskegon State Park
June 20th Muskegon Lights
June 23rd- beach clean up- Pere Marquette
June 24th Dune Interpretation- Muskegon State Park
July 6th- WALK A BEACH with MIKE- South Haven, North Beach
July 11 - Dune Interpretation - Muskegon State Park
July 11- Muskegon Lights
July 22- Adopt-a-beach clean-up: Muskegon State Park
July 25- Dune Interpretation - Muskegon State Park
July 25- Muskegon Lights
July 26- Muskegon Lights
July 28- Adopt-a-beach clean -up: Pere Marquette Park
Aug 3- DNR- Invasive Species - Saugatuck Dunes State Park
Aug 5- Dune Interpretation - Muskegon State Park
Aug 16th- Muskegon Lights
Aug 19th- Adopt-a-beach clean-up: Muskegon State Park
Aug 22nd- Dune Interpretation- Muskegon State Park
Aug 31- WALK A BEACH with MIKE- South Haven, North Beach
Sep 19- Dune Interpretation - Muskegon State Park
Sep 20- Adopt-a-beach Clean up- Pere Marquette Park
Sep 20- Muskegon Lights
Sep 26- WALK A BEACH with MIKE- South Haven, North Beach
Sep 27- DNR- Invasive Species - Warren Dunes State Park
Oct 9 - Kalamazoo Nature Center: Bird Banding!
Oct 22- Kalamazoo Nature Center: Tree Planting!
Oct 29- WALK A BEACH with MIKE- South Haven, North Beach