Indonesian
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
English
French
German
Italian
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Paige Filice, Michigan State University Extension –
Register today for this unique opportunity to learn about inland lakes.
Michiganders are fortunate to live in a lake-rich state and continuously get to enjoy the clean water, picturesque views, and wide variety of fish and wildlife that go along with healthy inland lake ecosystems. As summer winds down, now is a great time for those who enjoy our lakes to learn more about them and how to keep them healthy. One popular learning opportunity is the Introduction to Lakes Online course available through the Michigan State University Extension Center for Lakes and Streams. The course is designed for anyone interested in inland lakes including lakefront property owners, local government officials, lake managers, and educators.
The course is taught by MSU Extension educators, MSU Department of Fisheries and Wildlife faculty, and Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy staff. It equips residents, decision-makers and local leaders with the knowledge they need to address management concerns by increasing lake literacy and creating peer and resource connections.
This award-winning six-week course is very popular and is only offered once a year. Since it launched in 2014 over 2,000 people have taken the class and 98% of past participants would recommend it to a friend or colleague. For many, Introduction to Lakes Online is their first online class. However, the easy to navigate website, clear instructional videos, and weekly reminder emails have resulted in over 90% of participants completing the course.
Through this convenient format participants increase their knowledge and understanding of six topics that are divided into course units. These topics include lake ecology, watersheds, shorelines, aquatic plants, water law, and community involvement. Each unit features closed captioned video lectures, interactive activities, discussion forums, quizzes, and additional resources for those who want to dive deeper into a topic. Each unit takes approximately 2 hours to complete. Every week a new unit is released on the website and is accessible 24/7 to participants.
Register Now!
The course schedule also allows for participants to learn at their own pace when it’s most convenient for them. There are also opportunities for communication with classmates and course instructors through discussion forums and three Ask-an-Expert webinars. The Ask-an-Expert webinars include the instructional team and a panel of outside experts from state agencies including the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
Participants who complete the course are also eligible for the following:
The 2025 offering of Introduction to Lakes runs January 21 – March 12. The first week is a “Getting Started” unit. The course website is available 24/7 to participants until May 30, 2025.
To learn more and enroll in the course visit the Introduction to Lakes Online course website.
Enroll in the course by January 6 for an early bird rate of $95. After January 6, the cost of the course is $115. Scholarships are available. The deadline to register is January 28.
Current individual members of the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association (MLSA) are eligible to receive a $95 reimbursement upon successful completion of the course. Not an MLSA member? Join as an Individual Member prior to completing the course and you too can take advantage of this opportunity. Learn more about MLSA at mymlsa.org.
Unit 1
Lake Ecology
Unit 2
Watersheds
Unit 3
Shorelines
Unit 4
Aquatic Plants
Unit 5
Water Law
Unit 6
Community Involvement
Certificate/CEU deadline
This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).
Published on February 28, 2023
MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer, committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential.
Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Quentin Tyler, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.
The 4-H Name and Emblem have special protections from Congress, protected by code 18 USC 707.
We comply with the Federal Trade Commission 1998 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).