REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED

Registrants, please check your e-mail (check you spam/trash for emails from EventBrite and/or sdiep@naturecenter.org) for details and agenda with virtual links. Sessions will start promptly at 9:00am (EST) Feb 7 & 8

Contact info@firecouncil.org for any technical issues.

This annual prescribed fire workshop is designed to enable land managers, researchers, resource specialists, biologists, ecologists and fire practitioners an opportunity to hear and learn from different areas of expertise in a format designed to identify gaps in knowledge and communication, and work toward solutions to issues that complicate our collective wildland fire and ecological restoration work.

The event will include presentations, panel discussions, and interactive sessions geared toward protecting, conserving, and expanding the safe use of prescribed fire on Michigan’s landscape and beyond.

IN-PERSON LOCATION: Camp Grayling, Building 601 H, Grayling, MI

ATTENDANCE ONLINE or IN-PERSON: $90 per person

Deadline for in-person registration Jan 22, 2023

Deadline for online registration Jan 29, 2023

This year's event will be in-person with an online live interaction option. Both in-person and online will have the same attendance fee. This event functions as our annual revenue generating event. All profits support the efforts of the Michigan Prescribed Fire Council and allow us to maintain free council membership for a variety of professionals that volunteer their time to collaborate and push initiatives to further prescribed fire safety and capacity in Michigan. We appreciate your support!

STUDENTS & FINANCIAL NEED:

Speakers and panelists will be given a promo code to register for free. Students and individuals with financial need can contact info@firecouncil.org for a promo code for free online participation or 50% off in-person cost.

LODGING:

Limited free lodging is available at Camp Grayling military billets (Building 654Q) upon request, email info@firecouncil.org with names, emails, and phone numbers for all guests requesting to stay to reserve your spots. We have 50 rooms available first-come first-serve. Rooms have 2 beds and a private bathroom with key entry. Bring your own bedding, pillow, towels, soap, toilet paper, etc. and clean your room prior to check out. Check in available Feb 6-8 or Feb 7-8. There are not kitchen or cafeteria facilities so you will need to go into town for dinner.

OR arrange your own lodging at nearby hotels or AirBnB in the Grayling area.

SCHEDULE:

DAY ONE (8:00am-4:00pm) will include presentations by professionals in the non-profit, private, state, and military sectors on the following topics. Panel sessions will include a brief presentation by each panelist followed by a Q&A with all panelists on that topic.

• KEYNOTE: Game Bird Habitats

  • Don Bonnette, Forester MI DNR

• Panel 1: Birds and Prescribed Fire

  • Mike Monfils, Michigan Natural Features Inventory

  • Mitch Lettow, Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy

  • Rich Keith, Director of Kalamazoo Valley Bird Observatory

• Panel 2: Oak Savanna Management

  • Jesse Lincoln, Conservation Ecologist at Michigan Natural Features Inventory

  • Justin Heslinga, Conservation Director of Land Conservancy of West Michigan

  • Mary Parr, Stewardship Manager at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute

• Panel 3: Prescribed Fire Monitoring and Research

  • Brian Stearns, US Forest Service Huron-Manistee National Forest

  • Todd Aschenbach, Professor at Grand Valley State University

  • Tyler Allyn-White, Research Biologist at Kalamazoo Nature Center

• Panel 4: Prescribed Fire in the Urban Interface

  • Katie Carlisle, Natural Resources Coordinator at Huron-Clinton Metroparks

  • Dave Borneman, David Borneman, LLC - Restoring Nature with Fire

  • Lee Osterland, Fire Specialist MI DNR

4-6pm Social Networking, Silent Auction, and Libations led by Ryan Koziatek, Stewardship Field Director at Kalamazoo Nature Center Wine and beer provided free of charge. Silent Auction winners will be announced at 5:00pm

DAY TWO (8:00am-3:00pm)

• Public Strategic MI PFC Annual Meeting All MI PFC Steering Committee members and representatives of organizations involved with fire throughout Michigan are highly encouraged to attend to discuss barriers to implementing fire in Michigan and potential solutions. (A link to this session will be sent out separately to include those not attending Burning Issues).

• Introduction to Burn Plan Writing Skill-Building Workshop: an introductory walk through of the NWCG 484-1 Prescribed Fire Planning Form aimed towards entry-level prescribed fire participants interested in learning more specifics of planning how prescribed fire is implemented. This workshop is not an official certification program but will help attendees build more advanced skills. This session is highly encouraged for those that plan to participate in the upcoming TREX.

MENU:

We encourage everyone to bring your own thermos/mug and a water bottle to reduce waste!

Both days will have coffee and grab-and-go breakfast/snacks (such as fruit, granola bars, donuts, etc.) available throughout the morning.

Lunch Day 1: Fajita Bar

Beer and Wine will be provided during the Social Networking

Lunch Day 2: Breakfast Burrito Bar

*If you have dietary restrictions that you are concerned about, please leave notes in your registration or contact info@firecouncil.org before Jan 30 and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

CALL FOR SPONSORS: Financial or In-Kind Items (for silent auction fundraiser)

The Council is seeking organizations to sponsor this event. Sponsors can choose a session to sponsor (covering the cost of speakers and panelists), contribute to student attendance scholarships, or donate to the event/council in general. Depending on the level of support, sponsors will have their logo displayed on the slideshows and event program and in social media, e-mail notifications related to the event and a free ticket to the event. Please contact info@firecouncil.org for more information on the different levels and benefits.