Environment
2023-2024 Co-Chairpersons: Joan Wire & Ruth Perino
The Environment Committee works to promote the health and beauty of our local environment; through recycling, litter pickup, gardening, and attention to local environmental issues. By providing education and action ideas regarding current ecological issues facing the greater Gun Lake Area, clubwomen are better prepared to make a difference.
Township Park Gardens
A dozen or more clubwomen – particularly those who enjoy gardening – work year round maintaining gardens at the Yankee Springs Township Park. GFWC-Gun Lake Area has a contract with the township to plant and maintain the berms and flower gardens for the enjoyment of the community. The park’s walking trail winds past several attractive berms covered in lovely combinations of flowers and plants. Club members have also donated their artwork to the site. Each Berm has a captain and a team of helpers. Depending on the season, there is always a need for more helpers.
In 2014, clubwoman Audrey Bartlett arranged for a beautiful weeping cherry tree to be planted in the Memorial Garden section on one of the Township Park berms. Here are a few pictures from that event:
2023-2024 Co-Chairpersons: Joan Wire & Ruth Perino
The Environment Committee works to promote the health and beauty of our local environment; through recycling, litter pickup, gardening, and attention to local environmental issues. By providing education and action ideas regarding current ecological issues facing the greater Gun Lake Area, clubwomen are better prepared to make a difference.
Township Park Gardens
A dozen or more clubwomen – particularly those who enjoy gardening – work year round maintaining gardens at the Yankee Springs Township Park. GFWC-Gun Lake Area has a contract with the township to plant and maintain the berms and flower gardens for the enjoyment of the community. The park’s walking trail winds past several attractive berms covered in lovely combinations of flowers and plants. Club members have also donated their artwork to the site. Each Berm has a captain and a team of helpers. Depending on the season, there is always a need for more helpers.
In 2014, clubwoman Audrey Bartlett arranged for a beautiful weeping cherry tree to be planted in the Memorial Garden section on one of the Township Park berms. Here are a few pictures from that event:
In the spring of 2021 a dogwood tree, donated by President Katie Ambrose in support of National Arbor Day, will be planted next to the Township sign at the entrance to the park. Thanks go to many local gardeners who have donated bulbs and plants, and to all the member-gardeners who work to keep our community beautiful!
The GFWC Gun Lake Area Gardening Group meets the first Wednesday of the month May - September.
Road Pick-up
Three times a year (Spring, Summer, and Fall) women from the Gun Lake Area GFWC club don protective vests, gather up tools and bags, and tidy up one-and-a-half miles along M-179. A volunteer clubwoman coordinates the dates and time with the Michigan Department of Transportation, and then recruits volunteers from the club for the approximate hour and a half needed to beautify this link to local lakes and a state park.
Our region has a section of The North Country Trail going right through it! This National Scenic Trail is the longest of the National Trails System, stretching 4,700 miles across eight northern states from Vermont to North Dakota, traversing forests and farmlands, and passing by small communities. Many members enjoy hiking the “Chief Noonday” portion of the trail which winds through Yankee Springs Township and Barry County. Some ladies join and support the NCT Association.
In 2019, members participated in the “Happy Little Trees” fundraising campaign. Sponsored miles walked by the members raised funds which were donated to this project to plant new trees in several Michigan State Parks in memory of the painter Bob Ross.
The GFWC Gun Lake Area Gardening Group meets the first Wednesday of the month May - September.
Road Pick-up
Three times a year (Spring, Summer, and Fall) women from the Gun Lake Area GFWC club don protective vests, gather up tools and bags, and tidy up one-and-a-half miles along M-179. A volunteer clubwoman coordinates the dates and time with the Michigan Department of Transportation, and then recruits volunteers from the club for the approximate hour and a half needed to beautify this link to local lakes and a state park.
Our region has a section of The North Country Trail going right through it! This National Scenic Trail is the longest of the National Trails System, stretching 4,700 miles across eight northern states from Vermont to North Dakota, traversing forests and farmlands, and passing by small communities. Many members enjoy hiking the “Chief Noonday” portion of the trail which winds through Yankee Springs Township and Barry County. Some ladies join and support the NCT Association.
In 2019, members participated in the “Happy Little Trees” fundraising campaign. Sponsored miles walked by the members raised funds which were donated to this project to plant new trees in several Michigan State Parks in memory of the painter Bob Ross.