Local Career Technical Center students learn skills while helping DNR
Michigan Department of Natural Resources sent this bulletin at 05/19/2015 12:16 PM EDT|
Students built information stations for Grouse Enhanced Management Sites (GEMS). |
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Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2015
Contact: Katie Keen, 989-385-0336
Local Career Technical Center students learn skills while helping the DNR
Student-built information stations tell story of wildlife, timber management
Students from the Wexford-Missaukee Career Technical Center in Cadillac, Michigan, recently got some hands-on experience building several information stations for the Department of Natural Resources.
“We have areas that have great grouse and woodcock habitat, where we can focus educational material for users,” said DNR wildlife technician Katie Keen. “Information stations like the ones built at the CTC give us a way to connect the users with local businesses and help us to tell the story of wildlife and timber management.”
The information stations currently are scattered across the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula at GEMS, or Grouse Enhanced Management Sites. GEMS are areas where new or experienced upland bird hunters can focus their time to hone in on great grouse habitat. They also are good places to view wildlife, with plenty of birding opportunities. This year will bring several new GEMS, and the information stations built at the CTC will be placed at new locations in northern Michigan.
“The students at the CTC are learning several aspects of the construction field," said Keen. "They are really excited about applying those skills toward a real project they will get to see in Gladwin, Thompsonville and Atlanta.”
GEMS are being developed across the state to offer unique experiences for hunters looking to try bird hunting for the first time and to encourage hunters to try a different area of the state. Hunter walking trails, parking lots and education information are provided to help visitors have a quality hunting experience.
“This project gave students a great opportunity to utilize the skills they have learned and apply them toward a great community service project,” said CTC applied construction technology instructor Brad VanBuren.
Students from several schools within the Wexford-Missaukee Intermediate School District service area, who attend the Applied Construction Trades program at the Career Technical Center, assisted with building the information stations from scratch.
To learn more about the GEMS program, visit www.michigan.gov/hunting.
/Editors, please note: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Suggested captions follow.
CTC.jpg: Left to right, Cadillac Technical Center applied construction technology instructor Brad VanBuren works with high school students Cody Scott of Cadillac, Marvin Dougherty of Bear Lake and Dwight Schneider of Brethren.
CTC 2.jpg: High school students from several schools surrounding Cadillac's Career Technical Center learn construction trades while helping to support DNR programs.
GEMS hunter.jpg: An existing Grouse Enhanced Management Site information station at the Lee Grande Ranch in Cheboygan County during the 2014 hunting season./