Your Preserves, Your Community
Protected Lands Build Connections to Nature & Conservation
One generous gift of land in 2018 sparked a legacy of conservation for the communities we serve and established Hubbard Lake Nature Preserve as a place for quiet recreation, learning and stewardship. Huron Pines has added four more preserves since then, safeguarding a combined 2,000 acres of vital wildlife habitat and four miles of Lake Huron shoreline from development. Through ongoing care and a growing slate of public events, these places protect Northeast Michigan’s most remarkable ecosystems while ensuring lasting, meaningful access for people.
Protecting land is only the beginning. As our preserve network expands, so do opportunities for people to experience these places in ways that are personal, memorable and inspiring. From North Point Exploration Days and our annual Birding Big Sit, where visitors wander woodlands in search of carnivorous plants and migrating birds, to crisp Winter Walks with friends and neighbors at Hubbard Lake Nature Preserve, these moments transform preserves into places of connection.
Visitors explore the dune shoreline of North Point Nature Preserve.
Our catalog of public events grows every year, with new ways for visitors to explore at their own pace and thoughtfully curated activities where they can learn from our staff and partners about rare features found only in the Great Lakes region. We teamed up with Michigan State University Extension to bring the Conservation Stewards program to the Alpena area for the first time in 2025, utilizing our nature preserves as outdoor classrooms for 12 budding conservationists to learn and develop the skills needed to help address some of the region’s most pressing environmental challenges.
Providing immersive, meaningful experiences like these is how we’re fostering the next generation of conservation leaders and helping residents better understand their natural world. For a person of any age, a first encounter with a yellow-spotted salamander or the rush of a bald eagle soaring overhead at one of our preserves could be the spark that inspires them to find a lifetime of purpose and pride in conservation.
Bob Fitch looks out over a coastal fen during a North Point Exploration Day in August.
These are your places to explore, to pursue a newfound interest in bird calls, to experiment with a new camera, to exercise body and mind, to ponder nature’s wonders and learn how to become a better steward of the natural world. We work year round to care for and improve our preserves by restoring native ecosystems, removing invasive species, marking trails and adding easy to read signs that help visitors learn more about the land and wildlife around them. When you support Huron Pines, you are investing in places that strengthen your community and ensure these shared landscapes remain protected, welcoming and accessible for all.