It was such a delight to be at the start of the Charlevoix Marathon and to join organizers and the community for the 20th anniversary of the event!

This was especially true since the marathon almost didn’t happen this year.

The boardwalk where the race usually takes place is closed due to structural concerns. When marathon organizer Jeff Suffolk reached out to me in March, this year’s event was on the verge of being canceled.

My staff and I were able to work with the Department of Natural Resources, the state police, the Charlevoix sheriff’s office, Charlevoix city officials, marathon organizers, and many more to pull together a team that successfully found another route for the race. The culmination of those efforts could be seen by the thousands of runners who showed up to participate.

Thank you to Jeff Suffolk and the race organizers for the honor you bestowed upon me and my office — but make no mistake — to get anything like this done takes a broad coalition of people who are willing to roll up their sleeves and work. I am especially thankful that Ron Suffolk, who helped bring his vision of the marathon to life more than 20 years ago, was there to see this great event and his long-lasting legacy

Today is the last day to vote online for the best designs in the state’s official November 2026 “I voted” sticker contest. More than 2,000 designs were submitted — four times more than the first contest in 2024. Members of the Michigan Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force selected 30 semifinalists in each of three categories.

Three winning stickers will be selected in each category: elementary and middle school (grades K-8), high school (grades 9-12), and general entry, which is open to Michigan residents of all ages. The winning designs will be distributed by local election clerks during the November election.

Online voting is open through 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30. Voters can pick their top three designs in each category. Winners will be announced later this summer.

Click here to vote.

Summer can mean a first job for Michigan teens, which can lead to questions about work permits and employment rules.

The Youth Employment website includes work permit forms for kids younger than 16 and for teens ages 16 and 17. The site also provides helpful information on work-hour limits, minimum wage requirements and restrictions on the types of work minors may perform.

The Michigan Invasive Species Program is partnering with the North American Invasive Species Management Association to promote the PlayCleanGo campaign, which encourages outdoor recreation enthusiasts to help prevent the spread of invasive species.

Whether you hike, bike, paddle, camp, ride horses, climb, fish or visit a local park, you can help protect Michigan’s natural resources by cleaning your gear and learning how invasive species spread.

The steps are easy:

Following these simple steps can help protect our state’s natural resources.

Ninety-seven percent of Michigan state park funding comes from user fees, including the Recreation Passport and royalty revenue.

Over the last few years, state parks and trails have undergone extensive improvements to historic structures, campgrounds, parking lots, restrooms, water and sanitary systems, and other facilities.

Funding for these upgrades came from the American Rescue Plan Act, which Congress approved in 2021. So far, 142 projects have been completed, and another 55 are underway. All 197 planned improvement projects are on track to be completed in 2026.

Michigan is home to countless outdoor opportunities that will provide fun for all ages and skill levels. As we reach the peak summer months, I encourage people to spend time outside and enjoy our state’s unique natural resources, especially in northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. There’s nothing like it!

With 106 state parks and recreation areas and thousands of miles of shoreline, rivers, streams and lakes, Michigan offers countless opportunities to get outdoors.

For ideas and upcoming activities, visit the DNR events calendar, the ‘things to do’ website, or the Get Involved webpage.

Michigan’s 37th Senate District includes Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Leelanau counties and portions of Mackinac and Chippewa counties.