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School Field Trips
As a university professor, Mike fully appreciates the importance of effective school field trips and the great learning value that they present. Mike will collaborate with you the educator, in designing a learning experience that aligns with your subjects, learning objectives, and state standards. One example is a Lake Michigan shoreline science event that combines geology, water, and botany related topics. Another good option is to investigate vernal pools (spring event) that can be local to your school’s region. Rock hunting and identification is another great option. Reach out to Mike at info@seamichigan.com to arrange a meeting to discuss how your deliverables can be achieved together.
Beach Clean-ups!
A great community or school opportunity to learn about water/beach pollution and prevention, while making a direct impact on helping the environment. The event would also be an official Adopt-A-Beach events via the Alliance for Great Lakes. (Mike is an official Ambassador for the Alliance in the state of Michigan). The event can be a private one, limited just to your group’s participation and not open to the general public. Locations are normally on the Lake Michigan shore, or else nearby.
Official Leave No Trace education
This is an outdoor, environment protection education framework that can be presented in a variety of locations, including your own school or local park. This seven principle, hands-on training can be accomplished over multiple sessions, or condensed into a single 3-4 hour event. Mike is a certified LNT instructor, and participants that complete the training will earn an official LNT certificate of completion!
Sea Michigan is now proudly an official “Leave No Trace Community Partner” too!
Dune Interpretation Walks
Mike tends to use Muskegon State Park as the basis for a dune interpretation walk, given it’s outstanding array of dune formations and access. Often, these are 90 minute walks that weave in a variety of topics to provide perspective to this amazing natural environment and resource. Other locations may be an option too. The topics can be tailored to your group’s interest.
Vernal Pool Patrol experiences
Vernal pools exist throughout the state. These are unique habitats that are often small in scope, the pool’s water mainly exists in the spring and early summer, supporting a wide variety of unique and common creatures. They are a localized “center of life”. We learn to collect and identify species, and log the data, reporting it to a centralized state repository.
We become active “citizen scientists”! These experiences can lead to a life-long hobby, and supports the development of science interests among children and adults.
Mike is a certified Vernal Pool Patrol data collector.
Muskegon Lighthouse Tour
Mike is an experienced Keeper at the Muskegon South Pierpoint Light. Private group tours can be arranged. The time frame is generally May through September, yet we may be able to weeks outside of that time range. There are additional convenient add-on activities/points-of-interest in the Pere Marquette Park area that can be combined with this tour. The lights are operated by a non-profit conservancy, with the goals of restoring both lights and sharing their glory with the public. The organization’s small fee per person goes completely to the restoration.
Muskegon has a legendary historical story as it relates to commercial maritime trade, the lumber industry, Native American history, water safety pioneers, and more. The port continues to be a world class active port, often having large ships passing immediately next to the light.
And, it’s on a beautiful beach!
Water / shoreline safety
Water safety is critical, and especially where we are so lucky to be surrounded the Great Lakes. They can be as dangerous as they are beautiful. Too many people have under-estimated the power of large bodies of water. Mike can offer a session on beach, shoreline, and swimming safety that is meaningful to children and adults. These are best done on location, and there are multiple beach options to select from.
One additional option is to combine this safety focus with perhaps another one of Sea Michigan’s field trips such as a Dune Walk, an Adopt-A-Beach cleanup, etc.
Special Interest Events
A wide variety of special interests (like rock hunting) or special events: private (family reunions, graduations, etc.)
corporate/organization (sales meetings or incentives, team-building outings, education, etc. )
....your event may lend itself to also weaving in options listed in these group pages, new unique ones that are fitting for your occasion, or become a portion of your own program. Just reach out to Mike at info@seamichigan.com and we can discuss what you have in mind! ;o)
Speaking Engagements and Conferences
Mike has done a variety of presentations in the past, and continues to seek spreading the word on our wonderful Sea Michigan natural resource...learning about it, observing it, enjoying it, and protecting it. He is open to doing presentations, serving on panel discussions, etc. at your conferences, classrooms, or events. For example this year, he did a presentation at Kalamazoo Nature Center, and also at the National Association for Interpretation’s Great Lakes Regional annual conference.
As an Ambassador for the Alliance for Great Lakes, Mike is also open to doing table top/vendor representation at appropriate conferences on their behalf.