The Giving Tree
A brief conversation about chestnut trees sends a hospice nurse down a rabbit hole that changes his life.
Outdoors
Coverage of parks, camps, trails, river and riverside activities, lake and lakeshore activities during all seasons.
Latest in Outdoors
Chasing Ice: Unpredictable trail and big crowds await racers at the annual Iceman Cometh
Driven by a vibrant community spirit and an unpredictable course, the annual Iceman Cometh Challenge brings over 16,000 visitors to Traverse City.
Michigan species at risk after federal rollbacks to endangered species protections, advocates say
The Trump administration narrowed Endangered Species Act definitions of "harm" and "take" by removing habitat degradation protections and limiting violations to intentional killing. Advocates warn this imperils 26 protected species in Michigan.
State DNR launches new $7 million research vessel on Lake Michigan
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has debuted the RV Steelhead, a new $7 million, 66-foot state-of-the-art floating laboratory moored in Charlevoix to conduct vital fisheries research across Lake Michigan.
From Abandoned Slope to Natural Sanctuary: Sugar Loaf opens a vibrant new chapter
The former ski resort begins a new life with the unveiling of its brand-new Summit Trail and breathtaking 360-degree autumn views.
Centuries-old U.P. forest offers scientists a direct link to Michigan’s past
Lake Superior’s newly documented, centuries-old red pines feature gnarled "alligator bark" and historical fire scars that provide scientists and historians with a rare, direct link to indigenous land management practices.
Preserving the Great Outdoors: Millions targeted for state parks and public lands
Michigan’s state parks and public lands benefit from millions of dollars in the state's 2027 budget and millions of dollars in Trust Fund grants.
$2 million federal grant boosts Benzie and Grand Traverse trail infrastructure
A $2 million federal investment in MDOT projects will pave the final stretch of the historic Betsie Valley Trail in Benzie County and expand Grand Traverse County’s 3-Mile Trail network, driving regional transit and economic growth.
Michigan’s first-of-its-kind endowment rewrites the rules of forest conservation
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources partnered with the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation to establish a first-of-its-kind $670,000 stewardship endowment.
Isle Royale Heritage Alliance formed to scale up historic preservation
The newly formed Isle Royale Heritage Alliance, coordinated by the National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation, has launched a formal partnership to scale up the volunteer-driven preservation of Isle Royale National Park's historic cabins, fisheries, and lighthouses.
Chasing Ice: Unpredictable trail and big crowds await racers at the annual Iceman Cometh
Driven by a vibrant community spirit and an unpredictable course, the annual Iceman Cometh Challenge brings over 16,000 visitors to Traverse City.
Michigan species at risk after federal rollbacks to endangered species protections, advocates say
The Trump administration narrowed Endangered Species Act definitions of "harm" and "take" by removing habitat degradation protections and limiting violations to intentional killing. Advocates warn this imperils 26 protected species in Michigan.
State DNR launches new $7 million research vessel on Lake Michigan
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has debuted the RV Steelhead, a new $7 million, 66-foot state-of-the-art floating laboratory moored in Charlevoix to conduct vital fisheries research across Lake Michigan.
From Abandoned Slope to Natural Sanctuary: Sugar Loaf opens a vibrant new chapter
The former ski resort begins a new life with the unveiling of its brand-new Summit Trail and breathtaking 360-degree autumn views.
Centuries-old U.P. forest offers scientists a direct link to Michigan’s past
Lake Superior’s newly documented, centuries-old red pines feature gnarled "alligator bark" and historical fire scars that provide scientists and historians with a rare, direct link to indigenous land management practices.
Preserving the Great Outdoors: Millions targeted for state parks and public lands
Michigan’s state parks and public lands benefit from millions of dollars in the state's 2027 budget and millions of dollars in Trust Fund grants.
$2 million federal grant boosts Benzie and Grand Traverse trail infrastructure
A $2 million federal investment in MDOT projects will pave the final stretch of the historic Betsie Valley Trail in Benzie County and expand Grand Traverse County’s 3-Mile Trail network, driving regional transit and economic growth.
Michigan’s first-of-its-kind endowment rewrites the rules of forest conservation
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources partnered with the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation to establish a first-of-its-kind $670,000 stewardship endowment.
Isle Royale Heritage Alliance formed to scale up historic preservation
The newly formed Isle Royale Heritage Alliance, coordinated by the National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation, has launched a formal partnership to scale up the volunteer-driven preservation of Isle Royale National Park's historic cabins, fisheries, and lighthouses.
