There’s still time to sign up for Outdoor Skills Academy classes happening around the state in September. Check out the following offerings:
Night Sky Photography at the Porkies
Two sessions to choose from: 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, or Saturday, Sept. 17
Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park Visitor Center, Ontonagon
Join Marquette photographer Shawn Malone for an evening of night sky photography at the Porkies, at either the Lake of the Clouds overview to photograph the Milky Way over the ridgeline or along the Union Bay beach if the northern lights are present. Covering DSLR/mirrorless camera bodies, this class will include a one-hour classroom session that leads to a three-hour, hands-on learning session at an outdoor location. For ages 18 and older. Cost is $95 per person.
9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 17
Gillette Sand Dune Visitor Center at Hoffmaster State Park, Muskegon
Want to attract more butterflies, other beneficial insects and birds to your yard but don’t know where to start? This class will cover the basics, including common pollinators and their needs, site selection, plant selection, nonfood design elements and best practices for seasonal garden cleanup. The focus will be on native plants, but we will also highlight annuals that add color to your garden and benefit butterflies, insects and birds. All participants will receive a pollinator packet with pamphlets from Michigan Audubon, a native plant growers list, plant lists and other references. The class will include a tour of the Gillette Visitor Center butterfly garden to look at native plants that successfully draw wildlife. Cost is $35, which includes all materials.
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24
Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center at Mitchell State Park, Cadillac
Joe Duncan of Daggs Custom Calls, state champion caller, will lead this “A to Z” class on how to hunt waterfowl. It will cover everything you need to know to get started, including how to find a location, scouting, calling and gear. The class will run four to five hours, beginning in the classroom and then moving to the hiking trails around the center to demonstrate setting up hunting sites and decoys, calling and more. All students will leave with firsthand experience that will increase their chances for success this upcoming waterfowl season. Cost is $30, which includes lunch.
The DNR Outdoor Skills Academy offers in-depth, expert instruction, gear and hands-on learning for a range of outdoor activities at locations around the state. Learn more at Michigan.gov/OutdoorSkills.
