News Digest – Week of Feb. 2, 2026

smiling little girl in purple jacket and snow pants and a pink hat with google eyes walks through a snowy forest trail

Here are a few of this week’s stories from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources:

See other news releases, Showcasing the DNR stories, photos and other resources at Michigan.gov/DNRPressRoom.

Larger, higher-res versions of some of the images used in this email (or similar substitutions) – lighthouse, bedroom, Kirtland’s warbler, fishing hole, park volunteers and wood duck – are available in the DNR’s public online image collection. Other images (deerskin gloves, HFM logo) are in this folder.

Become a lighthouse keeper at Tawas Point! Apply now

The white tower and red keeper's quarters of Tawas Point Lighthouse set against a bright blue spring sky dotted with fluffy clouds

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a lighthouse keeper, we’ve got a dream destination! Grab three friends and apply to the 2026 Lighthouse Keeper Program at Tawas Point Lighthouse, located in Tawas Point State Park (about 75 miles northeast of Saginaw). Opportunities are available from early May through late October.

This program is perfect for enthusiasts of history, lighthouses or Michigan (or a combination of all three). Enjoy a two-week stay along the beautiful Lake Huron shoreline, immersed in the history of Tawas Point.

Equipped with training and knowledge from the lighthouse’s historian, keepers serve as guides, greeting visitors and leading tours. Keepers also are responsible for basic facility maintenance and cleanliness. The total service commitment is about 30 hours each week. The keeper schedule includes plenty of free time to explore the state park, nearby communities and surrounding area.

“We get up, we take a great bike ride, we swim and then we’re here for about five hours with the tours,” said Heidi, a 2025 Tawas Point Lighthouse keeper. “The people here are spectacular. We’ve met people from different countries, from different parts of Michigan, and they’re all interested in lighthouses, just like we are – so it has been a terrific experience. We really appreciate the opportunity!”

Colorful quilts and nautical pillows on beds, knotty pine floors, a dresser in a bedroom of Tawas Point Lighthouse keeper's quarters

The lighthouse might be nearly 150 years old, but the living quarters feature modern accommodations. The second floor includes two bedrooms that can sleep four adults, a fully equipped kitchen and a full bathroom. Free on-site parking is also provided.

Keepers apply in teams of four; the cost is $250 per person. All team members must be at least 18 years old and able to climb the 85 steps to the top of the tower.

Applications are due by 11:45 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28. There is a $10 nonrefundable application fee. Successful applicants will be notified no later than March 31.

Learn more at the Michigan History Center’s Lighthouse Keepers webpage or email DNR-TawasKeepers@Michigan.gov.

From deer donations to deerskin gloves, hunters help

a cardboard box overflows with dozens of pairs of black, tan and camouflage-patterned deer-skin gloves

The DNR’s Hunters Feeding Michigan program is already making inroads into efforts to feed needy families through hunters’ donations of harvested deer. Recently, the program yielded another deer-related benefit: Early last week, five dozen pairs of insulated deerskin gloves were delivered to the Shelter of Flint (a provider of emergency shelter and transitional housing in Flint, Michigan) to share with its clients.

“We are grateful for the support, and the gloves are integral to helping those without a home in this brutal, cold weather,” said Shelly Hoffman, Shelter of Flint vice president and chief operating officer.

The idea started with a conversation. Joe Presgrove, Hunters Feeding Michigan program specialist, approached Grand Rapids Hide Co. after learning the company worked with a number of participating HFM processors: “I just facilitated the conversation,” he said, “and they took it from there and agreed to work together to get the gloves.

“While deer processors typically will sell hides from hunter-harvested deer to companies like Grand Rapids Hide, in this case a few deer processors decided to get donated gloves instead of money for the hides.”

Grand Rapids Hide Co. is a locally owned and operated Michigan business and a trusted name in the hide industry since the late 1800s. It receives donated deer hides from HFM processors throughout the deer season.

“We wanted to partner with the Hunters Feeding Michigan program by providing warm gloves to distribute to our neighbors in need,” said Grand Rapids Hide Co. owner David Hendrix. “We can make a positive impact at our shelters and warming centers.”

The palms of the gloves are made of a deerskin suede, and the insides are insulated with a Thinsulate material. All white-tail hides used in the gloves come from HFM-donated deer and other U.S. sources.

“Michigan hunters know well the uncomfortable feeling of having cold hands in the deer stand or blind, and how much a good pair of warm gloves can make a difference,” Presgrove said. “This initiative wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of hunters, program processors and Grand Rapids Hide Co.”

The DNR received 12 dozen pairs of gloves. Presgrove said the remaining seven dozen will go to shelters in other areas of the state, yet to be determined.

Since 2007, Hunters Feeding Michigan has contributed more than 3.4 million servings of ground venison to those in need throughout the state. Each deer donated (at no cost to the hunter) will provide an estimated 160 high-protein, nutritious meals.

Questions? Contact Joe Presgrove at 517-643-3809.

Enjoy ‘up north’ birding bliss June 1-3 at Camp Warbler

More than a dozen people in T-shirts and long pants, some with binoculars, on a trail in a sunlit, shadowed forest area

Calling all birders: the DNR’s third annual Camp Warbler is set for June 1-3, and registration is underway.

This two-night, three-day adventure, designed for adults and featuring presentations and guided birding activities, takes place at the DNR’s Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center, or RAM Center, near Roscommon. Camp Warbler is an all-inclusive event, providing lodging as well as five meals and motor coach transportation from Belle Isle Park in Detroit.

“This getaway is perfect for individuals or couples seeking to enjoy the best parts of Michigan and meet new friends,” said Melissa Guigue, manager of the RAM Center, which offers a unique blend of rustic lodging and modern meeting facilities on the northern shore of Higgins Lake. “You’ll enjoy a stay where the options for outdoor fun are endless.”

Event highlights

Participants will be treated to presentations and activities led by interpreters and staff from state parks and the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center, the latter of which gives visitors a taste of Michigan’s great outdoors in the heart of Detroit. Camp Warbler activities include:

An interpretive, guided wildlife drive through the Shiawassee Wildlife Refuge, with stops along the way for additional birding. Shiawassee is one of just three wildlife refuges in the state.
A stop at Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling.
Presentations on birding that will inspire both experienced and beginner birders.
A visit to a Kirtland’s warbler breeding site.

A male Kirtland's warbler is shown, one of Michigan's successes in recovering threatened and endangered species.

Once living on the brink of extinction, the gray-and-yellow Kirtland’s warbler – one of the rarest songbirds in North America – has made significant steps toward recovery, due to careful habitat management practices and raised public awareness. However, it is on Michigan’s threatened species list. A true habitat specialist, this warbler breeds primarily in young jack pine forests in a few Michigan counties. In recent years, nesting pairs have been recorded in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Wisconsin and Ontario.

Each all-inclusive Camp Warbler ticket costs $450 per person. Add a guest ticket and share a room to save $20 per person. Visit the registration page to learn more and book your spot.

Questions? Contact Melissa Guigue at 989-821-6200.

Find frosty fun all February long

Now that winter has set in, why not make the most of it? There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy Michigan’s great outdoors this month – here are a few highlights. For a full list of events, see Michigan.gov/DNRCalendar.

Enjoy Free Fishing Weekend

a thin, black fishing rod perched over a heart-shaped fishing hole cut into several-inches-thick, blue-white ice

During the winter Free Fishing Weekend, Feb. 14-15, families and friends can enjoy one of Michigan’s premier outdoor activities for free! All fishing license fees will be waived for two days, when residents and out-of-state visitors can fish on both inland and Great Lakes waters for all species of fish. Plus, a Recreation Passport will not be required for entry into state parks and boating access sites. All fishing regulations will still apply.

Check out Free Fishing Weekend events like the 2026 Ice Fishing Derby at Seven Lakes State Park in Holly and the Fresh Water Fishing: Ice Fishing class at the Outdoor Adventure Center in Detroit, both on Feb. 14.

Take in fresh air, scenic views

Embark on a snowy adventure – on snowshoes, cross-country skis or boots, often by lantern light – at several state parks and other sites this month. Locations hosting winter trail events include Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling, Island Lake Recreation Area in Brighton, Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area in Metamora, Mitchell State Park in Cadillac, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in Ontonagon, Tawas Point State Park in East Tawas, Van Riper State Park in Champion and Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery in Mattawan.

And don’t miss the Porkies Winter Snowburst Carnival, a day of outdoor fun for all ages, at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park Feb. 21.

Explore the DNR events calendar for details.

Learn to ice fish, build snowshoes

The DNR Outdoor Skills Academy offers a chance to lace your own pair of wooden-framed snowshoes during the Snowshoe Building Workshop, Feb. 21-22 at Hartwick Pines State Park Visitor Center in Grayling. You also can learn how to ice fish with professional anglers during Hard Water School, Feb. 28 at the Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center in Cadillac’s Mitchell State Park. This in-depth ice fishing experience, designed for anglers of all skill levels, will focus on techniques for targeting panfish, walleye and pike.

Bike the dunes

two adults in helmets standing with their fat-tire bikes, nearly silhouetted atop a large sand dune, against a cold, pale blue sky

Cyclists can enjoy 450 acres of open sand dunes, elevation changes of 80-100 feet, access to Lake Michigan and sunsets over the lake from the top of the dunes during the fat-tire biking season at Silver Lake State Park in Mears, continuing through March 15. There is no cost or registration required.

Unwind with a winter weekend

The self-guided Snowshoe and Cross-Country Weekend Getaway at the Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center in Roscommon, Feb. 20-22, is perfect for couples, friends, community groups and families looking for a weekend of winter fun. Explore miles of evergreen-lined trails on-site or visit nearby Hartwick Pines State Park’s old-growth forest.

Experience up north in downtown Detroit

If you’re in the Detroit area, check out the Outdoor Adventure Center activity schedule for fun, educational programs for all ages, from kids to seniors, both indoors and outdoors. The February calendar features archery, yoga with a wildlife twist and much more, with special events including the Birding Expo Feb. 15 and Invasive Species Awareness Expo Feb. 22.

Lend a hand at state parks, game areas

Each month, the DNR offers opportunities to help take care of Michigan’s natural and cultural resources. Here are a few ways to get involved in February.

For more opportunities to volunteer, contribute and provide input, visit Michigan.gov/DNRVolunteers.

Pitch in at park stewardship workdays

Man and woman dressed in winter hats, coats and pants, holding pruning shears, volunteering to clean up state park natural areas

Several state parks in southern Michigan will host stewardship workdays, where volunteers are needed to help remove invasive plants that threaten high-quality ecosystems.

Workdays will take place at:

Waterloo Recreation Area (Jackson County), 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7.
Yankee Springs Recreation Area (Barry County), 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7.
Muskegon State Park (Muskegon County), 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, Feb. 8.
Bald Mountain Recreation Area (Oakland County), 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14.
Grand Mere State Park (Berrien County), 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 14.
Fort Custer Recreation Area (Kalamazoo County), 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 21.
Highland Recreation Area (Oakland County), 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21.
Saugatuck Dunes State Park (Allegan County), 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, Feb. 22.
Pinckney Recreation Area (Washtenaw County), 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28.

Find more workday details and registration information on the DNR volunteer events calendar.

Help out with races at state parks

Volunteers are needed for races – handing out water and gels, checking in runners and giving out hard-earned finisher medals – taking place at state parks this month:

Island Lake Recreation Area (Livingston County) – Winter Trail Fest Half Marathon and 5 Mile – Eastside, Saturday, Feb. 14.
Yankee Springs Recreation Area (Barry County) – Winter Trail Fest West Half Marathon and 5 Mile – Westside, Saturday, Feb. 21.

Improve waterfowl habitat

A wood duck, with a deep-violet breast, deep-green head and orange eyes perches on a small wooden platform

On the Ground, Michigan United Conservation Clubs’ volunteer habitat improvement program in partnership with the DNR, is looking for people to help maintain nest boxes for wood ducks at two state game areas in February. Lunch and a free appreciation gift will be provided to all registered volunteers. Events will take place at:

Maple River State Game Area (Gratiot County), Saturday, Feb. 7.
Shiawassee River State Game Area (Saginaw County), Saturday, Feb. 28.

Marquette, Michigan Calendar; Ishpeming Calendar; Negaunee Calendar; Gwinn Calendar; Negaunee Calendar and Events; Upper Peninsula Calendar of Events; Escanaba Events and Calendar

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DNR PSA | Camp Warbler, deerskin gloves, lighthouse keepers and more!

News Digest – Week of Feb. 2, 2026

Become a lighthouse keeper at Tawas Point! Apply now

From deer donations to deerskin gloves, hunters help