Made Possible By
YOU
The Moments That Remind Us Why Our Work Matters
Dear Huron Pines Community, I’ve asked people many times to reflect on their best days from the past year and, in our circles at least, those days almost always involve a cherished experience outdoors. Some of my own best days in 2026 have come from the privilege of taking staff and board members to Potters Point for the first time. Seeing their sense of awe as they take in the connected landscape of Misery Bay — the shoreline, forests and wetlands, and the ever-changing influence of Lake Huron — has been a reminder of the impact a place can have on a person. It’s been incredible to experience Potters Point through others’ eyes and see them form their own connection to this special place. One of the perks of working at Huron Pines is that our team gets to have some pretty remarkable experiences outdoors. We spend our days protecting land, restoring rivers, working alongside communities and caring for the places that make Northeast Michigan special. As this year’s field season winds down, we asked our staff to reflect on a moment from 2026 that reminded them why they do this work. In the pages ahead, you’ll hear some of those stories in their own words. I hope you enjoy seeing this work and this corner of Michigan through their eyes. Your support helps make these days possible. It gives our team the opportunity to protect and restore the places we all care about and to create more opportunities for people to experience them for themselves. Thank you for being part of this work. If you’d like to get out and see a project or lend the team a hand, let us know. Experiences in the outdoors are something we love to share.
Brad Jensen
To learn more or support our work, visit huronpines.org
Executive Director
COVER: Huron Pines Preserve Manager Ken Bauer, Associate Director Lisha Ramsdell, Development Director Brenda Herman and Executive Director Brad Jensen (l-r) explore the frozen shores of Potters Point, Feb. 19. Six months later, the property would be permanently protected as the result of a $1.52 million fundraising campaign. 2 | Huron Pines
Nick Theisen
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Life Black Sandshell Beneath the Surface One of my favorite days this year took me snorkeling down the Black River in search of native lampreys. Almost as soon as I slipped underwater, I was greeted by a five-foot lake sturgeon. As my team and I continued downstream, we encountered spawning fish, native mussels and even a state-threatened black sandshell, a species not previously recorded in the watershed. It was an incredible reminder of just how much life exists beneath the surface of the rivers we work to protect. 2026 — Made Possible By You | 3
A New Connection to the Great Lakes Many of the National Civilian Conservation Corps members who helped us clean up ice storm debris at North Point Nature Preserve this spring had never seen a Great Lake. Seeing the wonder and joy on their faces reminded me of my own first visit to North Point, and it was special to share that experience with them. Together we cleared trails, pulled invasive plants and cared for the preserve — a reminder that the work we do here is interconnected with the people who make it possible.
Ken Bauer
PRESERVE MANAGER 4 | Huron Pines
Josh Leisen
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Trout Return to Beechwood Creek A decade after first seeing the ruins of the old Sanback Dam in Rose City, it was fulfilling to show off the restored stream channel at our board and staff retreat and conduct a final walkthrough with key project partners. Seeing trout ascend Beechwood Creek through Metcalf Park for the first time in more than 160 years — and knowing the risk of a dam failure at this location is gone — affirms why we pursue this work and why I enjoy doing it. 2026 — Made Possible By You | 5
Bryant Eddy
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Returning Fire to the Landscape After decades without fire, watching flames creep gently across the glade at Emily Min Hunt Nature Preserve was an exciting moment. Prescribed burns take an incredible amount of planning, skill and teamwork, and seeing all of that come together to return fire to this landscape felt like a huge accomplishment. It was especially rewarding knowing our first burn as an organization will restore the open character of this ecosystem and create better conditions for the native plants and wildlife that depend on it. 6 | Huron Pines
The Places That Shape Us One day this summer, I came across two kids spending their time off school exploring the Huron National Forest. Seeing them out there brought me back to my own childhood summers in Mio and the memories I made exploring Northern Michigan. It was a simple moment but a meaningful reminder of why I do this work: to ensure future generations have the same opportunities to explore, connect with nature and create meaningful memories which will shape their own path in life.
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Shelby Bau
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2026 — Made Possible By You | 7
le Chris Eng S S O C IAT E AT IO N S A
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A First Look at Potters Point “We knew Potters Point was special even when it was under two feet of snow.” That’s an excerpt from my field notes on Feb. 19, the first time I set foot on the peninsula, locked in ice and brimming with potential. Through the stinging spray blowing off Misery Bay, I could already see why this place was worth protecting. After spending much of 2026 helping make that vision a reality, I can’t wait for the community to have their own first experience at Potters Point when it opens as a nature preserve next summer. 8 | Huron Pines
A Rare Discovery on Round Island In June, I partnered with Hiawatha National Forest and Three Shores CISMA to initiate a large-scale invasive species management project on Round Island Wilderness Area. During our first trip to the island in the heart of the Straits, we discovered several occurrences of fairy-slipper, a tiny native orchid that had not been formally observed there since the 1940s. Finding these special plants and knowing our work can help protect threatened species like these is one of the most rewarding parts of my role at Huron Pines.
Amber Hubbard
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O JE CT M AN AG ER 2026 — Made Possible By You | 9
A Forest Transformed After several days treating invasive Japanese barberry along the Tittabawassee River, our field crew returned to an area we had worked in just a few weeks earlier. As we came over a ridge, we could immediately see the impact of our efforts. What had been acres of dense, nearly impenetrable barberry was now reduced to bare skeletons, opening up the forest understory for native forest species. Watching the crew take in the transformation and see their impact made for an incredibly rewarding moment.
Daniel Judd
H A BI TAT SP EC 10 | Huron Pines
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Amy Nowakow
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The Next Chapter for Thunder Bay Watershed My favorite moments at work are always spent on the river. In July, we celebrated a major milestone two years in the making: the completion and approval of the Thunder Bay Watershed Management Plan. I marked the occasion with a kayak trip alongside members of the Thunder Bay Watershed Advisory Committee and our dedicated natural resource partners. Their involvement and support throughout the planning process helped shape a shared vision for future restoration efforts across the watershed. It was incredibly rewarding to reflect on what we’ve accomplished so far — and to look forward to what’s ahead — as we floated together down the Thunder Bay River. 2026 — Made Possible By You | 11
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