KINGSFORD, Mich, (WZMQ) – The Dickinson Conservation District hosted a lively wood burning, or pyrography, workshop at Cowboy Lake Park. This second annual event attracted 19 participants, significantly surpassing last year’s attendance.
Forrester Josh Isaac (the District Forester of Dickinson & Menominee Counties) led the workshop, which aimed to engage the community in a fun and creative activity. Andrew Finkel, the District’s Development Coordinator, expressed his satisfaction with the turnout, highlighting the importance of such events in fostering community involvement. “This is why we do it; this is what it’s all about,” he stated, emphasizing the District’s commitment to staying connected with the community. The event was such a huge hit last year, that it was heavily requested by the community.
Finkel extended gratitude to the city of Kingsford for allowing the use of the park and thanked Iron Mountain Walmart for their generous donation of pyrography pens and supplies. The diverse group of attendees, representing various ages, enjoyed the opportunity to learn a new skill.
Looking ahead, Finkel shared plans for a workshop on constructing bat houses this fall. This initiative aims to provide habitat for native bats, which have faced various environmental challenges recently. The District is currently looking for a venue to host its upcoming bat house workshop, and will announce the dates and times once a venue has been established.
“We’re looking forward to doing a workshop on bat houses so we’re going to teach people how to construct and install houses and the purpose of this is to provide Habitat for our native bats. They’ve been struggling for a number of reasons recently, and it’s important that we keep their numbers up as much as we can,” stated Finkel.
The workshop not only promoted creativity but also reinforced the District’s mission to raise awareness about local ecological issues. Attendees left with new skills and a greater appreciation for their environment, ensuring that the spirit of community engagement continued well beyond the event.
In addition, the Dickinson Conservation District announced that they would have a booth by the kids’ area at next Saturday’s Downtown Iron Mountain Oktoberfest, featuring a fall-themed animal print activity for children.
To reach the Dickinson Conservation District, visit:
For more information on next weekend’s 10th annual Oktoberfest Celebration in Downtown Iron Mountain, visit: