Celebrate UP Environment March 19-20, Marquette

MARQUETTE -- The Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition (UPEC) invites the public to a FREE celebration of what’s great about the U.P. on Friday evening, March 19, and all day Saturday, March 20. The event will be held at the three corners where Ridge and Front Streets intersect in downtown Marquette.

The kick-off presentation will feature "The Wolves of Isle Royale" by Rolf Peterson, Michigan Tech Wildlife Biology research professor, at 7 p.m. Friday, March 19, at the Federated Women’s Clubhouse. Peterson's talk will be followed by Winter Study, filmed on Isle Royale in 2010 by George Desort.

Individual presentations on Saturday, March 20, will be as follows:

Peter White Public Library -- Community Room

10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. "Nine-day Moose River Snowshoe Expedition: Moose River Crossing to James Bay on the Arctic Ocean, February '09" -- Michael Neiger, wilderness guide

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Discussion: "Climate Change, Spirituality, and Citizen Campaigns" -- Eric Hansen, author, hiker, activist

1 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Manoomin (Wild Rice): Ojibwe Spirit Food -- a film by Michael Loukinen, NMU professor of sociology and documentary filmmaker, with Roger LaBine, Ojibwe wild rice harvester

The Landmark Inn -- Sky Room

10 a.m. - 11 a.m. "Winging it U.P. and Green Birding" -- Scot Stewart, educator, birder, photographer

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. "The Pictured Rocks Journal: New Media in National Parks" -- Craig Rademacher, NMU professor of outdoor education and leadership management, publisher

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. "Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park: A Perspective on the Origin of Michigan’s Largest State Park" -- Bob Sprague, park manager, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park

The Landmark Inn -- Board Room

10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Walking Paths and Protected Areas of the Keweenaw (Michigan Nature Association, 2009) -- Joan Chadde, environmental educator, author

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. "Making a Birch Bark Canoe" -- John and Victoria Jungwirth, woodwright and herbalist (view a Jungwirth birch bark canoe in the Landmark Inn lobby)

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. "Integrating Solar Energy into your Life" -- Sue Robishaw and Steve Schmeck, homesteaders, artists, solar electric system consultants

Federated Women’s Clubhouse

10 a.m. - 11 a.m. "A Not-Too-Serious Look at Landscape Painting" -- Patrick St. Germain, artist

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. "Mother Tongues/Other Tongues" -- Open Mike Session for UP Celebration Poems and Writings: Mary Kinnunen and Jeff Eaton, writers

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. "Bremner River Journal: A Vignette in Film and Words about Seeking Solitude"-- Steve Pence and Chris Ozminski, wilderness canoeists

Panel Discussion with the Public

Peter White Public Library -- Community Room

3 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. "Protecting the U.P. Landscape: A How-to Guide for Landowners Large and Small"

Panelists:

Bill Davis, Upper Peninsula Land Conservancy; Kim Herman, Forest Ecologist, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE); Justin Miller, Forestry Consultant; Jessica Mistak, Fisheries Biologist, (DNRE)

Moderator: Mary Martin

Public Reception

Federated Women’s Clubhouse

5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Join Current and Past UPEC Board members for wine and hors-d’oeuvres.

Click here for a brochure with details of this event and presenters' bios.