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ADVOCACY
OUR NATURAL RESOURCES ARE OUR LEGACY.
A responsibility of stewardship that we inherited from history's greatest advocates and conservationists.
A calling to preserve and expand outdoor recreation opportunities for generations to come.
Our ADVOCACY content aligns with this mantra.
The articles published here will highlight the most impactful, innovative, and enriching outdoor advocacy opportunities in the Detroit region.
THESE GOODS ARE GOOD FOR MICHIGAN
We are proud to be a featured partner of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources' program
THESE GOODS ARE GOOD FOR MICHIGAN.
As a featured partner, we will donate a portion of revenue made from our online store
to support Michigan's state parks, trails, and waterways.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING MICHIGAN'S STATE PARKS.
ENJOY THE GEAR.
RECENT ADVOCACY ARTICLES
Trail Beers: The Ultimate Drinking Guide to Detroit's Outdoors - March 2025 Edition
Don't be fooling around this April 1st! Several Michigan alcohol restrictions kick in with the turn of the calendar. Don't worry,...
Dan Cooke
Mar 175 min read
0 comments
The March Survival Guide for Metro Detroit's Outdoor Enthusiasts - 2025 Edition
Is it winter or spring..? Nobody in the Detroit region really knows, especially the month of March. Regardless of this month's...
Dan Cooke
Mar 65 min read
1 comment
Dear Detroit: We Cannot Allow a Tariff Trade War to Divide our Outdoors
As tensions mount along the U.S.-Canadian border due to trade war threats, the international Detroit region has the unprecedented...
Dan Cooke
Mar 410 min read
2 comments
The Porcupine Mountains are at Risk. Here's Why It Matters for Detroit's Outdoors.
Tomorrow, the Michigan State Senate Appropriation Committee vote on whether to award a $50 million mining grant on the border of...
Dan Cooke
Dec 17, 20248 min read
0 comments
60 Years Later: The True Impact of the Wilderness Act and Civil Rights Act on America's Outdoors
In this opinion piece, Brandan Freeman of "Shades of the Outdoors" provides critical insights into the broken promises of "The Wilderness...
Brandan Freeman
Dec 11, 20245 min read
1 comment
Vote the Outdoors: How the 2024 Elections Could Impact Outdoor Recreation in Michigan
Elections fundamentally shape the future of outdoor recreation within the Detroit region and across the United States. As Michiganders...
Dan Cooke
Nov 4, 20245 min read
0 comments
Future of the Outdoor State: Key Takeaways from the 2024 Michigan Outdoor Summit
Hailing from the rugged hills of the Keweenaw Peninsula to the wetlands of Metro Detroit, Michigan's foremost outdoor organizations...
Dan Cooke
Oct 28, 20248 min read
0 comments
Hunting Hard Knocks, Pt. 2: Michigan Needs You to Harvest a Doe
In honor of the arrival of peak hunting season in Michigan, we're continuing our series on true - yet controversial - considerations for...
Dan Cooke
Oct 3, 20245 min read
0 comments
The Ultimate Michigan Hunting Cheatsheet - Fall 2024 Edition
Fall means primetime in Detroit's outdoors - especially for the Michigan hunting community ready for crisp mornings and cool evenings in...
Dan Cooke
Sep 30, 20247 min read
1 comment
Tick, Tick, BOOM: Tracking Lyme Disease's Growth in Michigan - and How to Avoid It
Summer in Detroit is BACK with open season for backpacking, gravel biking, hiking...and picking up a tick or two along the way. Have no...
Eric Reilly, DO
Jul 1, 20245 min read
0 comments
Bridging Borders: Enjoy Detroit's Outdoor Future along the Border to Border Trail
With the Detroit region positioned to set the international standard for world-class trail infrastructure, Washtenaw County's...
Dan Cooke
May 13, 20247 min read
0 comments
Michigan's Outdoor Ecosystem is Evolving - and the Headlines are Following
This is not an April Fool's joke! After years of purposeful investment in Michigan's recreational ecosystem, major publications are...
Dan Cooke
Apr 1, 20244 min read
0 comments
Trail Town Spotlight: The Outdoor Guide to Dearborn, Michigan
The sixth installation of our #TrailTownSpotlight series, this edition highlights the natural gems of one of Michigan's most beautiful,...
Dan Cooke
Feb 21, 20248 min read
1 comment
All Grit: 5 Key Outdoor Takeaways from the Detroit Lions' 2023 Season
In the wake of the Detroit Lions' most exciting - and heart wrenching - season in a generation, we're reflecting back on 5 key takeaways...
Dan Cooke
Feb 5, 202413 min read
0 comments
Detroit is Losing Young Professionals. Our Outdoors can Win them Back.
In the fight to retain the Detroit region's Millennial and Gen Z workers, our greatest - and most underutilized - asset for retaining...
Dan Cooke
Nov 22, 20236 min read
0 comments
Hunting Hard Knocks, Pt. 1: The Necessity of Hunting for Michigan
In honor of the arrival of peak hunting season in Michigan, we're launching a two-part series on true - yet controversial -...
Dan Cooke
Nov 10, 20238 min read
0 comments
Hike Further, Live Longer: The Medical Benefits of Hiking Detroit’s Trails
Written by Dr. Eric Reilly, here we thoroughly examine one of the most pressing health risks in the Detroit region - chronic physical...
Eric Reilly, DO
Oct 31, 20236 min read
0 comments
The Most Important Takeaways from the 2023 Michigan Outdoor Summit
Hailing from the rugged hills of the Keweenaw Peninsula to the wetlands of Metro Detroit, Michigan's foremost outdoor organizations just...
Dan Cooke
Sep 29, 20239 min read
0 comments
Expedition Essentials: Forest Wildfire Prevention Skills 101
In light of the toxic fumes engulfing the Detroit area right now, here's a short guide on how to effectively and safely enjoy a campfire ...
Dan Cooke
Jun 8, 20237 min read
0 comments
Five Ways to Strengthen your Resiliency Skills in Detroit's Outdoors
Grit. Tenacity. Resilience. Detroiters take pride in these attributes when applied to our work ethic, sports, and generational "we will...
Dan Cooke
May 8, 202310 min read
2 comments
Top Ten Outdoor Events near Detroit throughout May 2023
The trees are green. The trails are groomed. The campgrounds are open. May means that all systems are firing for Detroit's outdoors, and...
Dan Cooke
May 1, 20237 min read
0 comments
Michigan Turkey Hunting Cheatsheet: Guide for Spring 2024
Spring's arrival includes a symphony of bird songs - including the coveted turkey gobble for Detroit's conservationists. Here is...
Dan Cooke
Apr 21, 20234 min read
0 comments
Freedom on the Horizon: Rediscovering the Underground Railroad, Pt. II
In honor of Black History Month, we are exploring the complexity, bravery, and utmost historical significance of the Underground Railroad...
Dan Cooke
Feb 28, 20239 min read
0 comments
Journey to Midnight: Rediscovering the Underground Railroad, Pt. I
In honor of Black History Month, we are exploring the complexity, bravery, and utmost historical significance of the Underground Railroad...
Dan Cooke
Feb 17, 202310 min read
0 comments
Outdoor Collaboration in Action: The Metroparks are Coming to Detroit
While the Detroit region experiences this gilded era of outdoor recreation expansion, certain projects stand out from the rest as...
Dan Cooke
Feb 10, 20235 min read
0 comments
Blood on the Ice: Remembering the Battle of River Raisin
Two hundred and ten years ago today, the bloodiest battle ever fought on Michigan soil came to a close, resulting in the United States'...
Dan Cooke
Jan 22, 202310 min read
0 comments
Expedition Detroit's Review of the Michigan DNR's Strategic Plan
As the Michigan Department of Natural Resources finalizes its "Parks and Recreation Division Strategic Plan" for 2023-2027, the Michigan...
Dan Cooke
Jan 13, 20238 min read
0 comments
Top Ten Outdoor Events near Detroit throughout January 2023
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Just like waking up to fresh snowfall, January provides a perfectly clean slate for pursuing your wildest outdoor goals...
Dan Cooke
Dec 31, 20227 min read
0 comments
Aim to "Leave No Trace" this (and every) Hunting Season
Michigan's preeminent hunting event - firearm whitetail deer season - is in full swing, meaning that generations of hunters are making...
Dan Cooke
Nov 20, 20225 min read
0 comments
Polluters Paying for Their Pollution: A Simple Solution that Michigan's Congress Refuses to Adopt
Michigan House Bill 4314 will hold polluters accountable for their pollution of our beloved and fragile natural resources - unless our...
Dan Cooke
Nov 4, 20223 min read
0 comments
The Attack on Michigan’s Right to Bike (and how you can fight back)
Senate Bill 1191 threatens mountain bike access to Michigan's vast trail network. Here's a breakdown of what's at risk and what we can do...
Dan Cooke
Oct 5, 20224 min read
0 comments
Welcome to Expedition Detroit: Your Guide to our World-Class Outdoors!
Introducing Expedition Detroit - who we are, what we do, the areas we explore, and why you should join us on this expedition.
Dan Cooke
Sep 30, 20226 min read
0 comments
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