The National Park Service is seeking a qualified individual to work as an Outdoor Recreation Planner on behalf of the North Country National Scenic Trail.  The Outdoor Recreation Planner will participate in Statewide Trail Protection Planning, perform and/or coordinate local Optimum Location Reviews and other related planning efforts and documents as necessary. Compliance involves following NPS/Midwest region compliance (NEPA and Section 106) processes where required/warranted.

Outreach and Partnerships call for considerable tact and engagement with primary partners, trail volunteers and local governments, and preparation of formal documents as necessary.  Collateral duties include Trail Design and Construction training and document preparation, and coordination of aspects of the Land Acquisition process.  For more information, please visit:  https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/390317300

POSITION FILLED.  The Cadillac Area Land Conservancy is seeking a part-time Community Development Director to build its member base and build community relations.  This part-time position has the possibility of growing into full-time work.  Please click here for more information about the position.

The Walloon Lake Association and the Walloon Lake Trust and Conservancy seek an Executive Director to serve both organizations located in northern Lower Michigan.  Heart of the Lakes is sad to say goodbye to long-time director Betsy Lieberman, but wishes her all the best on behalf of Michigan's land conservancy community  as she moves on to new endeavors.  Please click here for more information about the position.

Six Rivers Regional Land Conservancy seeks a part time Landowner and Community Outreach Coordinator.  This is a temporary position with potential to transition to permanent full or part time.  POSITION FILLED AS OF JANUARY 2015.

POSITION FILLED. The Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy (SMLC) seeks a motivated and experienced Stewardship and Outreach Specialist to support land protection activities with a focus on improving and expanding SMLC's stewardship and outreach programs.  Find more information here.

Heart of the Lakes is pleased to announce that its member land conservancies are protecting 588,000 acres of natural, scenic and working farms and forest lands in Michigan.   Based on data collected from 27 organizations in its annual Protected Lands Survey, the total cumulative acreage reflects an increase slightly less than 10,000 acres since the last survey conducted at this time in 2013.

“These protected lands support a wide variety of critical conservation purposes, including improved water quality, wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation, local foods and healthy forests, “ said Jonathan Jarosz, Heart of the Lakes’ Executive Director.  “Moreover they contribute to the economic vitality of our communities and regions, creating exceptional places to live and work.”

Heart of the Lakes Center would like to congratulate the Michigan Nature Association and Chikaming Open Lands—both the nonprofit land conservancies achieved first time national accreditation and accreditation renewal, respectively.

“We applaud both these organizations on these significant accomplishments,” said Jonathan Jarosz, Executive Director of Heart of the Lakes Center for Land Conservation Policy, a statewide organization that strengthens the collective efforts of organizations dedicated to the conservation of Michigan’s environmentally and economically significant lands. “Accreditation means that these groups meet national standards of excellence and uphold the public trust with the organizational strength and ability needed to ensure the permanence of the important lands they work to protect.”