During the weekend of Earth Day 2024, more than 100 volunteers from several local and regional organizations worked to remove trash and tires from the Huron-Manistee National Forest. More than 90 cubic yards of trash was removed from the forest. To put in perspective, the trash collected in the two days would have filled 30 regular size pick-up trucks, taking up nearly one football field in length, width and height. Nearly 200 tires and thousands of pounds of scrap steel filled two 30-yard dumpsters supplied by Adopt-A-Forest packed with junk dumped on public lands. The Manistee Forest ORV Club’s tractor with bucket and operator was also on hand to help in compacting the large volume of trash collected by the volunteers.
The partnership between many like-minded organizations, starting with the Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau, resulted in bringing together groups to the area. Among those in attendance working to clean-up the Huron-Manistee National Forest was the Great Lakes Four Wheel Drive Association (GLFWDA), Tread Lightly! and Coyote Crossing Resort. Other local groups volunteering included North Country Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area, Twisted UTV’s, Irons Area Tourist Association, Manistee Forest ORV Club, Two Trackers Four Wheel Drive Club, the US Forest Service and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources along with others.
“Coyote Crossing played great hosts to all of these volunteers and we are just so happy when a plan like this comes together. It definitely aligns with our commitment to good stewardship of these natural resources we have here in the Cadillac area,” said Kathy Morin, Executive Director of the Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau.
