À propos de nous
Do you enjoy being outdoors and staying active?
Come join us, we’re outside year-round!
The goal of our Outings Program is to give Metro Detroiters meaningful outdoor experiences that inspire greater care for our natural environment and, perhaps, motivate them to become Sierra Club members and activists. The Sierra Club’s Southeast Michigan Group (SEMG) is part of the Michigan Chapter of the National Sierra Club—one of the oldest environmental organizations in the United States.
Our outings program offers something for everyone: easy walks in local parks, day hikes, camping, birding, wildflower walks, wilderness trips, backpacking and more. Events are typically held two or more times each month. We serve Metro Detroit, including Wayne, St. Clair, Macomb, and Oakland County. Powered by dedicated volunteers, we also host educational programs, activist activities, and conservation meetings that focus on environmental issues affecting access to nature, climate, conservation, and public health.
All Sierra Club activities are open to the public—you don’t need to be a member to join us! Whether you’re passionate about protecting the environment or simply curious about exploring nature, we welcome you to participate in our outings and attend our meetings. Visit our website to learn more at https://www.sierraclub.org/michigan/southeast-michigan.
For questions, please email [sierra.club.semg@gmail.com](mailto:sierra.club.semg@gmail.com). Several members of our SEMG Executive Committee monitor this inbox, making it the best way to connect with us.
If you would like to support our outings and local activities, please follow this link to our online donation link: https://givebutter.com/FKXYFb
Événements à venir
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Beaver-Human Coexistence: Dam Worth It!
BELFORE Office, 28400 Schoolcraft Rd, Livonia, MI, USJoin us May 7 for an engaging talk on beavers, nature’s original ecosystem engineers!
Once gone from Lower Michigan, beavers are making a comeback, bringing powerful environmental benefits like improved water quality, increased biodiversity, carbon storage, and resilience to fire and drought. But their return also raises important questions about how we coexist with these landscape-shaping animals.
Hear from University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) graduate researchers as they share science-based strategies for balancing beaver activity with human land use. Learn how tools, policy insights, and community engagement can help reduce conflicts and support thriving ecosystems.
📍 In person: BELFOR Office, 28400 Schoolcraft Rd, Livonia
⏰ Doors open at 6:30 PM (meet & greet), presentation starts at 7 PM
💻 Virtual option available (Zoom link sent after registration)Hosted by the Sierra Club Southeast Michigan Group — free and open to the public!
Please register on the Sierra Club portal at the link below:
https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=701Po00001eetBFIAY
Photo by @coldbeer from Pexels
15 participants
Highland Recreation Area Hike (Oakland County)
Highland State Recreation Area, Highland Rd & Haven Rd, White Lake, MI, USThis rolling loop hike through Highland Recreation Area will take you through hardwood forests, wetlands, lakeshores, open meadows, and the historic remains of Edsel Ford’s Haven Hill Estate, built in the 1920s. Although the main lodge burned down, participants can still view the gatehouse and other remaining structures at the park's entrance. During the hike, we’ll also pass by the carriage house and the main lodge ruins, offering a glimpse into the estate's past.
Sierra Club Registration Link:
https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=701Po00001ipceOIAQ
Registering via the Sierra Club Portal helps streamline paperwork for our volunteer outings leaders and saves some trees too!Meeting Time and Location:
We’ll meet at 9:15am at the Parking Lot at Haven Road and Moraine Road, Highland, MI. The hike will start promptly at 9:30am, so please don't be late.Hike Leader:
For questions, email sierra.club.semg@gmail.com.Participation Details:
For all our hikes, please remember to bring comfortable hiking shoes, a water bottle, food, and seasonally appropriate clothing. To help prevent tick bites, wear light-colored clothing so ticks are easier to spot, and consider long sleeves and long pants when hiking in grassy or wooded areas. After returning home, check your body, clothing, and pets for ticks, shower soon after coming indoors, and wash and dry your clothes on high heat, which can help kill any ticks that may be present.Participation in Sierra Club activities requires registration and acceptance of a waiver, which you can complete online at the link above. Electronic copies of the required waiver are available online or by request and will be accepted automatically by signing-in to the event.
All hikes are free and open to everyone, but donations are gratefully accepted. Donations from our outing program support both our outings program and conservation projects at the places where we hike, such as a pollinator planting we are supporting at Independence Oaks in Oakland County. Donations may be made online at: https://givebutter.com/FKX
As a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, donations allow us to lobby and sometimes litigate for environmental protections. This tax status gives us a broader ability to enact change, but it also means that gifts to the Sierra Club are not tax deductible. Whether you’re able to give or not, everyone is welcome on our hikes, and your support in any form is appreciated.
Cancellation Policy:
The hike will proceed rain, snow, or shine. However, if an Extreme Weather Warning is issued by the National Weather Service, the hike will be canceled for safety reasons.Park Pass Information:
When visiting a Michigan State Park, a Recreation Passport is required. The cost per vehicle is $14 when purchased during license plate registration renewal through the Secretary of State. Entrance to Metroparks requires a $40 annual pass or a $10 day pass. You may be able to purchase a day or annual pass at the park entrance booth.6 participants
Belle Isle State Park Hike (Wayne County)
Belle Isle Nature Center, 176 Lakeside Drive, Detroit, MI, USThis 3- to 5-mile hike will take us along peaceful trails and to the edge of the Detroit River, where we might see Great Lakes freighters and enjoy stunning views of both Detroit and Windsor, Ontario. We’ll start and end at the Belle Isle Nature Center, where you can explore interactive exhibits, observe native wildlife, and experience the island’s unique ecosystems after the hike. The surrounding area features pollinator gardens, wetlands, and a small deer enclosure—offering plenty of opportunities to spot birds along the way.
We’ll do two loops that begin and end at the Nature Center. The first loop is about 3 miles through the park’s natural areas, while the second loop—about 2 miles—takes us to the tip of Belle Isle for a beautiful view upstream toward Lake St. Clair. Participants are welcome to finish after the first loop if they prefer. This hike offers a perfect blend of nature, history, and scenic views, making it a must-see for outdoor enthusiasts and history buffs alike.
Since the hike concludes around midday, feel free to bring a picnic lunch. If you’d like to extend your visit to Belle Isle, the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory and the Belle Isle Aquarium are nearby. The conservatory—renowned as the oldest continually operating conservatory in the United States—features one of the largest municipally owned orchid collections in the country. Adjacent to it, the Albert Kahn–designed aquarium is the oldest in the continental United States and houses a fascinating collection of aquatic life.
We look forward to exploring the beauty of Belle Isle with you!
Sierra Club Registration Link:
https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=701Po00001d1M7eIAE
Registering via the Sierra Club Portal helps streamline paperwork for our volunteer outings leaders and saves some trees too!Meeting Time and Location:
We’ll meet in the parking lot of the Belle Isle Nature Center, 176 Lakeside, Detroit, MI 48207. Please arrive by 9:15 AM so we can begin the hike promptly at 9:30 AM.Hike Leader:
For questions, please email sierra.club.semg@gmail.com.Participation Details:
For all our hikes, please remember to bring comfortable hiking shoes, a water bottle, food, and seasonally appropriate clothing. To help prevent tick bites, wear light-colored clothing so ticks are easier to spot, and consider long sleeves and long pants when hiking in grassy or wooded areas. After returning home, check your body, clothing, and pets for ticks, shower soon after coming indoors, and wash and dry your clothes on high heat, which can help kill any ticks that may be present.Participation in Sierra Club activities requires registration and acceptance of a waiver, which you can complete online at the link above. Electronic copies of the required waiver are available online or by request and will be accepted automatically by signing-in to the event.
All hikes are free and open to everyone, but donations are gratefully accepted. Donations from our outing program support both our outings program and conservation projects at the places where we hike, such as a pollinator planting we are supporting at Independence Oaks in Oakland County. Donations may be made online at: https://givebutter.com/FKX
As a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, donations allow us to lobby and sometimes litigate for environmental protections. This tax status gives us a broader ability to enact change, but it also means that gifts to the Sierra Club are not tax deductible. Whether you’re able to give or not, everyone is welcome on our hikes, and your support in any form is appreciated.
Cancellation Policy:
The hike will proceed rain, snow, or shine. However, if an Extreme Weather Warning is issued by the National Weather Service, the hike will be canceled for safety reasons.Park Pass Information:
When visiting a Michigan State Park, a Recreation Passport is required. The cost per vehicle is $14 when purchased during license plate registration renewal through the Secretary of State. Entrance to Metroparks requires a $40 annual pass or a $10 day pass. You may be able to purchase a day or annual pass at the park entrance booth.Hikes are free and open to the public. However, sometimes we do activities that require a fee which would be noted in the description of the event and we do accept donations.
4 participants
Événements passés
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