Celebrate the UP! 2017 is underway in Marquette through March 25

Wetland of the Chocolay Bayou Preserve Project (Photo © and courtesy Christopher Burnett of the Upper Peninsula Land Conservancy)

MARQUETTE -- The Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition (UPEC) presents Celebrate the UP! 2017 in Marquette this week with evening events and -- on Saturday, March 25 -- an all-day series of presentations, followed by a panel discussion and public reception. All events are free and open to the public.

This year's keynote speaker, writer and naturalist John Bates, will talk about "A Spirit of Place and Learning to Be at Home" at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 25, in the Federation of Women's Clubhouse. Saturday's events will take place in the Federation of Women's Clubhouse (FWC), the Landmark Inn (LI) and the Peter White Public Library (PWPL). Click here for the schedule of presentations on Saturday.

Other highlights for Saturday include the following:

Afternoon Children’s Program, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. (FWC)

Book Discussion: Half-Earth by E.O. Wilson, 11:30 a.m. Join Jon Saari, Dave Allen and Mary Martin in discussion. (PWPL)

Panel Discussion at 4 p.m.: "Making Conservation Work in Communities: Recent Success Stories" (FWC) featuring Pointe Abbaye (Keweenaw Land Trust), Pilgrim River Watershed project (Copper Country Chapter Trout Unlimiited), Chocolay Bayou Preserve (Upper Peninsula Land Conservancy), and the Yellow Dog Community Forest (Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve). A reception will follow the Panel Discussion (FWC). All are welcome for refreshments and hors d’oeuvres.

Evening Events:

Wednesday, March 22:

Putting Wetlands into Words, 6 p.m.- 8 p.m. at FWC: Invitational poetry reading inspired by paintings and photographs of the Wildcat Canyon Creek and Mulligan Creek wetlands. Poets include Esther Ayers, Milton Bates, Rochelle Dale, Lynn Domina, Amber Edmondson, Kathleen Heideman, Janeen Pergrin Rastall, Christine Saari and Russell Thorburn.

Friday, March 24:

UPEC Annual Membership Meeting, 5 p.m.: This public meeting will be held in the Wave Room of the Marquette Arts and Culture Center. (PWPL - lower level)

Sing the Wild UP! Songwriting Competition, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Winners of the competition will perform their compositions live at the Ore Dock Brewing Company.

For more information and maps for locations visit http://upenvironment.org/celebrate-upper-michigan/.

 Click here for the info flyer.