Michigan Nature Association
The Michigan Nature Association is a nonprofit conservation organization established in 1952. It currently has 176 nature sanctuaries in 58 counties throughout Michigan under its jurisdiction. History. In 1951, a bird study group in Macomb County was formed to protect wildlife, hoping to keep Michigan in a natural state. Their first project was protesting the destruction of a tern colony at Metropolitan Beach. Calling themselves the St. Clair Metropolitan Beach Sanctuary Association, they started weekend nature exhibits, guided tours, and published a study course. In 1955, the Junior Nature Patrol (JNP) was formed. With this growth, the  group began looking to expand and do further conservation work. The first purchase of a sanctuary was made in 1960 and named Red Wing Acres. Further properties were obtained through persuasion with landholders, and by 1965, the group renamed itself to the Eastern Michigan Nature Association. Expansion into Northern Michigan led to the current name change of Michigan Nature Association (MNA) in 1970. That same year MNA helped write and campaign for the Natural Beauty Roads Act in Michigan, now known as Michigan's Natural Beauty Roads Act of 1970. In 1974, founder Bertha Daubendiek was awarded Outstanding Michigan Volunteer  of the Year by Governor Milliken for her work with MNA, and in 1979, the same year the MNA had secured its 50th sanctuary, Daubendiek was honored as Michiganian of the Year by the Detroit News. Twin Waterfalls Nature Sanctuary, acquired in parts throughout 1986 and 1987, became the Association's 100th property. Daubendiek was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame in 1994 for her work. MNA relocated its office in 2002 to the small town of Williamston, just outside the Lansing area, and moved even closer in 2014, to Okemos. 2014 was also the year MNA  received national accreditation by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. Sanctuaries. Below are a few of MNA's sanctuaries listed by county: