January 24, 2025| Issue 15

Brought to you by the Michigan Vernal Pools Partnership

Spring is just around the corner! While you are cozy & nestled underneath a solid layer of leaf litter, you can look forward to vernal pool season. In this Pool Report, you will find... 

• the 'Save the Date' for the 2025 Annual Meeting,
• a reminder to request any outreach materials needed for the spring, and importantly,
• Registration for the Vernal Pool Patrol virtual training series!

Save the Date!

Join the MVPP for the 7th Annual Meeting on April 14th, 2025!

The Annual Meeting is our yearly opportunity to connect the statewide vernal pool community, learn from experts on vernal pool conservation, research, and education, receive feedback from community scientists (Vernal Pool Patrol), and celebrate the latest work of MVPP partners! 

We invite you to join us at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Hastings, MI on Monday, April 14, 2025!

In-person participants are invited to join us in the afternoon for a vernal pool field trip on the grounds of Pierce Cedar Creek!  If you can't make it in-person, a virtual option will be available to those joining from home or the office! 

More details and registration information to come soon!

We hope to see you there!

Registration for the VPP virtual training series is open!

The Vernal Pool Patrol is a community-science program dedicated to mapping and monitoring vernal pools across Michigan. The training will consist of three parts/sessions presented on Tuesday evenings:

March 4, 11, and 18 from 6:00-8:00 pm EST.

This virtual training (via Zoom) will provide information and resources to those interested in participating in the Michigan Vernal Pool Patrol or just interested in learning more about these important wetlands. Current Pool Patrollers and local program coordinators are also welcome to attend for a refresher!

Training sessions will be recorded and made available to all registered participants.

If you are interested in participating in the Vernal Pool Patrol, please plan on attending ALL 3 sessions. It is also highly recommended that you attend a field workshop (dates and registration TBD).

Next week, Wednesday January 29th on Zoom at 1:30-3pm, the Vernal Pool Patrol Program Coordinators will be meeting to prepare for the upcoming monitoring season. You are welcome to join us! Learn more about the responsibilities of a program coordinator, hosting field trainings and more.

Email Courtney Ross, rosscour@msu.edu for more information and to attend.

The mission of the Michigan Vernal Pools Partnership is to increase awareness, understanding and protection of vernal pools through conservation, research & mapping, education & outreach and collaboration.                                     

The Vernal Pool Patrol is a community science and place-based vernal pool mapping, monitoring, and education program consisting of classroom instruction and data collection in the field. Members learn how to follow a standard protocol to help identify, map, and monitor locations of vernal pools within their local communities.