Events

Our Holy Hike for May, before the mosquitos arrive is Echo Lake! Located just a few miles outside of Marquette, Echo Lake Nature Preserve includes high bluffs of exposed granite bedrock, a mixed deciduous and conifer forest, wetlands, creeks, three high rock ponds and Echo Lake itself. Harlow Creek flows from its headwaters at Echo Lake, takes in water from Harlow Lake and empties into Lake Superior. Echo Lake is accessible by car but we will meet at Eagles Nest Rd parking lot off Hwy 550. For more information and to reserve your spot please email lanni@upwild.org.

Express your creativity at our Rock Painting activity on the shores of Lake Superior. What better location then where many "paint the rocks" in the water. All ages and stages are welcome. We will provide some rocks and paint but we encourage you to BYOB: Bring your own brush and/or other materials for the more crafty artist. Our rocks can be put in our gardens, along our own nature paths and our U.P. Wild crew will be making some to put in public spaces. Petroglyphs, Pictographs, and Rock Art is the most ancient form of expression long before writing. We will share some stories of thousand year old Native American pictographs that can be still seen across Lake Superior.TO RSVP: email lanni@upwild.org.
Donations $5-10 are appreciated to cover material costs.

The Tyoga Historical Pathway located in Deerton, MI is a remote 1.4-mile loop trail deep in the woods of northern Michigan. The loop takes you around the remains of an old logging town, where workers from the Tyoga Lumber Company lived between 1905 and 1907. Interpretive signs with photographs relate some colorful and personal tales of the people who once lived here. Three million board feet of timber had been cut and sawmill and town were set up to process the lumber. We will reflect on our stewardship of trees, how they communicate, and our relationship with our bioregion. Mosquito net suits are highly recommended. RSVP for directions/info email lanni@upwild.org.

We will guide our little ones on a mini foraging adventure looking for 3-4 different plants that are native to our area and edible/medicinal. Kids will be given a little adventurer booklet to identify plants and mark which ones they find. We will be guided by a mother of 3 who is excited to share with others her love of and wonder for the plants we often overlook in our own backyard. How is the mystery of God in the seeds that take no effort to cultivate by human hands? Which Saints also loved our little finds? Donations of $10 appreciated to cover costs. Email lanni@upwild.org to register. Gathering @ Lakenenland.

We are organizing groups of people interested in mobile prayer stations that will go out to places in need of prayer or healing. This month's location will be Little Presque Isle and our prayer focus will be the prophetic call to protect the systems of LIFE including water and our Great Lakes Watershed from shoreline industrialization.

We will each be given a candle, reflection will be read and silence to sit/meditate by the lake for the transformation of hearts. Make sure to wear long sleeve/pants in anticipation of the black flies. Little Presque Isle Recreation Area is the 2nd signage/turnoff from Hwy 550 (not Wetmore Landing). We will also be broadcasting live on FB. If you'd like to be included in this monthly group please contact us. Rain or shine- no cancellations we will still meet.

Our nature prayer services take place EVERY LAST Sunday of each month beginning in July and are always located at Presque Isle Gazebo (see photo above). Easy to access with bathrooms available. We gather for an opening reflection on a revolving topic, a couple poems are read by our members, we offer prayers collectively, allow for solo time to explore nature and end in community discussion/tea. All are welcome including children. July's topic is "Why does Wild matter?" To reduce single use products, please BYOM Bring your Own Mug!

We will be offering our first Nature Prayer Service outside of Marquette County - in the Rapid River/Gladstone/Escanaba area. Masonville Township Recreational Area, Cole Street - Rapid River, MI- 4PM EST. We gather for an opening reflection on a revolving topic, a couple poems are read by our members, we offer prayers collectively, allow for solo time for directed exploration in nature and end in community discussion/tea. All are welcome including children. Usually lasts 45 minutes. Bring your own mug.

Our nature prayer services take place EVERY LAST Sunday of each month and are always located at Presque Isle. Easy to access with bathrooms available. We gather for an opening reflection on a revolving topic, a couple poems are read by our members, we offer prayers collectively, allow for solo time to explore nature and end in community discussion. All are welcome including children. *THIS MONTH WE WILL HAVE A MINI POTLUCK AFTERWARDS. Please bring a vegan dish to share and your own plates/utensils. THEN, WE WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTEER AT NMU'S HOOP HOUSE starting at 6pm. If you'd like to meet us there- it is next to located along the side of the Jacobetti Center 2296 Sugar Loaf Ave.

EARTH HEALING 2021: A collaborative tree planting project U.P. Wild Church, The Interfaith Water Stewards II, and the Cedar Tree Institute. Meet at Messiah Lutheran Church Parking Lot 8:45 A.M. 305 W Magnetic Street, Marquette, Michigan for car pooling from MQT. Leaving at 9A.M. Gathering at the Presbyterian Community Church in Big Bay 9:30 A.M. for Orientation and Preparation for planting 500 northern white cedar trees in the Yellow Dog Community Forest. Arriving back in Marquette by 1 P.M. *Trees will be planted with teams of two volunteers. An overview of forestry practices and the vital role that cedar trees play in the tradition of the Anishinaabe peoples of our region and their valuable place in the Great Lakes ecosystem will be a part of the orientation. Bring water & gloves. Questions can be sent to Ken: kenkelley2463@yahoo.com.

Every year, the monarch butterflies make their long pilgrimage south and the Garden Peninsula is one of their sites. We will gather at Stonington Light House to offer them a safe passage. There will be special opening ceremony and then we will collectively offer them blessings and prayers for their long journey. This brings us all together spiritually to celebrate Creator no matter our background. Please join us and invite a friend. Check website for weather cancellations. Please bring a folding chair. For directions and carpooling options email lanni@upwild.org.

Saving for the Practical Gardener: Seed saving helps gardeners have access to the seeds they want to plant and grow – and this practice is an opportunity to delve deeper into the world of plants. In this virtual session, learn how to “read” your garden for seed saving, decide which kinds of seeds you’d like to save, and practice processing seeds for storage with a hands-on activity kit. We’ll also have time for Q&A on gardening and seed saving with seed savers from Queen City Seed Library. Abbey Palmer, Community Food Systems Educator from MSU Extension will facilitate.

Our nature prayer services take place EVERY LAST Sunday of each month beginning in July and are always located at Presque Isle. Easy to access with bathrooms available. We gather for an opening reflection on a revolving topic, a couple poems are read by our members, we offer prayers collectively, allow for solo time to explore nature and end in community discussion/snacks. THIS WILL BE a very special Hallow's Eve edition with Saints Lighting the Way - children can dress up as their favorite Saint and vegan healthy snacks for treats.