The Michigan Department of Conservation – now the Department of Natural Resources – was created March 30, 1921. For the past century, the DNR has worked to conserve Michigan’s unparalleled natural and cultural resources and ensure outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities for residents and visitors.

We’re excited to celebrate 100 years of taking care of Michigan’s great outdoors, where fish, wildlife and forests thrive and opportunities to enjoy and connect to nature and our state’s heritage are diverse and plentiful.

Throughout 2021, and especially in March, we’re commemorating the DNR’s centennial.

To mark our 100th anniversary, we’ve come up with 100 ways to celebrate by exploring and enjoying Michigan's natural and cultural resources. There is something to try in every season and for all skills, abilities and interests.

Take a look, find your favorite DNR centennial-inspired activities and join in on the celebration!

The DNR Outdoor Skills Academy will offer opportunities to learn more about ice fishing, steelhead fishing and turkey hunting with upcoming classes at the Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center in Cadillac.

March classes include:

• Hard Water School (ice fishing class), March 6
  This one-day, introductory class will be held outdoors on the ice and cover  how to set up equipment, how and where to fish, ice safety, and rules and regulations. The class will focus on techniques for pan fish, walleye and pike. Cost for the class is $35, which includes one-on-one instruction from a pro, lunch on the ice, bait and a goodie bag.
• Turkey Hunting Clinic, March 13
  This class will go over laws, habitat, gear, calling and much more. Students will walk away with the knowledge they need to hunt turkeys on their own. Cost for the class is $30, which includes lunch and door prizes.
• Steelhead Clinic, March 20-21
  The Outdoor Skills Academy pro-staff will present various strategies and techniques for chasing Michigan’s “chrome torpedoes.” Sunday morning, participants will hit the water to learn how to fish and what to look for on the beautiful Manistee River. Cost for the class is $25, which includes lunch Saturday.
• Steelhead Seminar, March 27
  The Outdoor Skills Academy pro-staff will present various strategies and techniques for chasing Michigan’s “chrome torpedoes.” Cost for this class is $25, which includes lunch.

For detailed descriptions, registration and information about COVID-19 precautions, visit Michigan.gov/OutdoorSkills.

The Outdoor Skills Academy offers in-depth, expert instruction, gear and hands-on learning for a range of outdoor activities. Classes coming up later this spring include clinics on walleye fishing, whitetail food plot and habitat management, fly fishing for beginners, and wild mushrooms. 

March is Women’s History Month, when we celebrate the vital role of women in American history.

It’s a great time to learn about the stories of women who have played an important part in Michigan’s history, including:

• Eva Belles (pictured here), a reformer and women’s rights activist involved in a Flint suffrage case in which the Michigan Supreme Court decided women could qualify to vote in school elections.
• Daisy Elliott, state legislator and Michigan Constitutional Convention delegate who worked to improve the lives of Michigan’s African Americans and women and bring their interests to Lansing. Her greatest contribution to Michigan is the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act of 1976.
• Laura Haviland, who fought against slavery and helped enslaved African Americans seeking freedom along the Underground Railroad.

Find other fascinating stories from Michigan’s past at Michiganology.org/Stories.

Learn more about the women who have shaped Michigan history on the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame timeline.