The Stewart L. Udall Parks in Focus Program

Our Programs - Michigan

Each summer since 2007, Parks in Focus® has partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Newaygo County and other TrueNorth Community Services youth programs to introduce Newaygo County youth to Michigan parks and public lands.

Participants explore bogs, search for salamanders, and canoe and trek miles of stream and trail on six-day photo safaris to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Seney National Wildlife Refuge, and other scenic sites in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. An active alumni program provides additional opportunities throughout the year for past Parks in Focus® participants to stay involved, including advanced summer camping trips to places like Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Isle Royale National Park.

Parks in Focus® has partnered with University Outreach at the University of Michigan-Flint since 2011, introducing middle school youth from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Flint to natural areas in and around Genesee County. Each summer, participants take a series of educational day trips to nearby sites including Bluebell Beach County Park, For-Mar Nature Preserve and Arboretum, Seven Lakes State Park, and Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge. The program concludes with a three-day camping trip to Bay City State Recreation Area and a visit to the University of Michigan–Flint where participants learn about pre-college programs and create digital stories of their summer adventures.

View photo highlights from all of our Michigan programs.