Help protect the park from invasive plants like garlic mustard and spotted knapweed! We’ll cover the basic plant identification and then pull plants near the trailhead. This event is being hosted by the Friends of the Ludington State Park.
Meet at the small parking area at the intersection of Piney Ridge Rd and 19th Street, which is just north of the Hobby Crest Resort. Parking area coordinates: 44.018014, -86.473231
Long sleeve shirts, long pants and closed-toed shoes are highly recommended.
Get registered or for more information contact Emily Leslie at LeslieE1@michigan.gov.
Help treat and remove a variety of invasive plant species at Cartier Park. We’ll be pulling the challenging shrub Japanese Barberry with the Uprooter tool. A discussion to help identify these plants will take place before we start.
Help treat and remove a variety of invasive plant species at Cartier Park. We’ll be cutting and treating Oriental Bittersweet. A discussion to help identify these plants will take place before we start.
Learn about both invasive and native plants at Cartier Park with Dave Dister, local botanist and author. Dave will take us on a walking tour of the fall growth in the park. He’ll give information on a variety of invasive species, highlighting the progress that was made last year near the gazebo. He’ll also talk about the native plants that were added last fall. Meet by the Bark Park at the end of Rath Ave. by Lincoln Lake.
AFFEW is excited to share a variety of in-person presentations during our Earth Day Celebration! The theme for 2023 is 
Over the past several years, employees of the Mason-Lake Conservation District and North Country Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (NCCISMA) have been working diligently to combat the invasive plant species challenge at Cartier Park in Ludington. Volunteers with AFFEW also assist with this ongoing project. 
AFFEW Board Member Sharon Edgar considers herself an active transportation (amateur) expert. Her rule of thumb is: if it’s under 5 miles you walk it or bike it (unless there’s bulky cargo involved!) Sharon biked 4,600 miles last year — most of them around town. Sharon will tell you about her experiences walking and biking in Ludington and hopes you will also share yours!!! Whether for recreation, fitness, or love of the planet, getting there under your own steam can be very rewarding.
current conditions. Dave has helped shape conservation and Great Lakes policy for 30 years and is an author and co-author of six conservation books. As a leader within the Kresge Foundation, Lois focuses on helping communities build resilience in the face of climate change while attending to racial justice. An informal conversation between Dave and Lois (moderated by AFFEW Board member Sharon Edgar) as they talk about their professional and personal history in environmental protection with a focus on the Great Lakes, climate change and Michigan’s history as a (former) environmental leader.
Dave Dempsey has helped shape conservation and Great Lakes policy for 30 years and is an author and co-author of six conservation books. He is currently a policy advisor for 
Lois DeBacker serves as managing director of The 
Sharon Edgar is retired from 32 years of state government service in Michigan and Ohio, 18 of those years at the upper management level. She worked in the areas of transportation and natural resources management. She is a Ludington resident and member of the AFFEW Board of Directors.
Help treat and remove a variety of invasive plant species at Cartier Park. A discussion to identify these plants will take place before we begin. AFFEW partners with the 
Our annual Earth Day Celebration will be an interactive, in person all day event! We’ll have a variety of speakers presenting and informational booths representing the community and our partners. The day will include activities for children including a live reptile show and a guided hike. We’ll also have tours of the U Dig It Community Garden located behind the church. Visit our