WHY SUPPORT TLC?
The TLC was founded in 2008 to preserve natural areas, protect native species, provide places for outdoor recreation, and to educate the public about our natural environment in Michigan’s Thumb, a largely neglected region with a lot of great natural features, and so much worth protecting, including:
Some Ask How Little Nature We Need.
We Ask How Much Can We Protect.
With very few exceptions, there are no other organizations dedicated to acquiring and preserving land in the Thumb region on the scale that the TLC has in recent years. The best way to protect natural areas is to buy them, and it takes a lot of money. The TLC cannot continue land acquisitions and preserve stewardship without the support of the public. Your support is more important than you might think.
The TLC owns 15 nature preserves, or sanctuaries as we call them, totaling nearly 400 acres. Thirteen are located in Saint Clair County, most being part of the Southern Lake Huron Coastal Park north of Port Huron, one in Lapeer County, and one in Bay County. The TLC holds 6 conservation easements on private land totaling over 200 acres. Two of these easements are located in Saint Clair County, one in Sanilac County, two in Huron County, and one in Oakland County.
The TLC is not done acquiring preserves. We have ambitious goals for the future, including:
- Owning at least one preserve in each county of the Thumb.
Pinnebog River, Huron County
- Adding more land to the Southern Lake Huron Coastal Park with trail connection to Lakeport State Park.
Southern Lake Huron Coastal Park, 2026
- Targeting the highest quality natural areas for acquisition.
Painted Trillium habitat, Saint Clair County
- Establishing scenic, educational, and eco-historical roadside stops across the Thumb.
Black River overlook, Wellman Line Road, Sanilac County
- Establishing an intensive-use outdoor recreation area.
ORV trail, Saint Clair County
- Protecting camps.
Silver Trails, Saint Clair County
- Acquiring more public access to Lake Huron and rivers.
Lake Huron beach, Sanilac County
- Cooperative natural area management with parks and cemeteries.
Lakeside Cemetery, Port Huron
- Acquiring green burial land.
Forest edge, Macomb County
How the TLC Uses Funds
The TLC is all about land acquisition and stewardship to protect our natural areas and provide opportunities for outdoor public recreation in a region where very few groups are working. We are all volunteer except a few contract workers. The TLC has very low administrative costs, averaging about 3% of our annual budget. Over 90% of our annual budget in recent years has been spent on preserve acquisition. Preserve stewardship and improvement cost has averaged about 5%. The remainder of our funds have been spent largely on special assessments, mostly for county drains, events, and promotions.
How to Support the TLC
There are many ways to support the TLC.
- You can make a financial donation to the TLC.
- You can support the TLC by volunteering to help with preserve stewardship.
- You may have skills, knowledge, or interests that would benefit the TLC, such as GIS, photography, videography, artwork, writing, research, species inventories, seed collection, transplanting, crafting, or just about anything.
- You might have materials or equipment that would benefit TLC projects.
- You can help us promote the TLC through your posts on social media and other web sites.
- You could take the lead on a land protection project.
- You can help the TLC further its mission of ecosystem support and restoration simply by creating or restoring a native habitat area on your property.
- You can donate land or a conservation easement.
The easiest way to support the TLC may be through your financial contribution. You can do that easily by clicking on our Givebutter donation link below.
You can also mail a check to the TLC to the address below. Make checks payable to “Thumb Land Conservancy”. Indicate whether your donation is in honor of someone or something. Please provide your e-mail address so that we can send you our newsletter. A phone number is helpful but not necessary. The TLC does not distribute your personal information.
The TLC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed.
