History

In February 1941, a group of over a hundred Muskegon area sportsmen, having become concerned about the disappearing game from the area, formed a sportsmen’s club for the preservation and propagation of game and fish. Their goal was to improve outdoor activities. Naming the organization “Muskegon Conservation Club,” they elected Officers and a Board of Directors and adopted their Constitution and By-Laws.

At first the club members planted and sold Christmas trees and raised and released pheasants into the wild. They joined with other clubs to lobby the lawmakers to help promote sensible game management and environmental regulations. Membership burgeoned to over 3500 individuals.

In May of 1951, through letter writing and public outcry, the club was instrumental in preventing a huge corporation from moving onto the former Pigeon Hill site. The chemical company settled in nearby White Lake, which our club also opposed. This turned out to be an unfortunate turn of events for our northern neighbors whose cleanup will take hundreds of years.

Considering Muskegon Conservation Club’s history of recruiting dedicated volunteers that were willing to invest their time and energy to lead our club to what we’ve become…we are confident the future will bring new members that will conquer the continuing challenges ahead.

Involvement

Participation in the Standing Committees that help to organize and administer the club’s resources is encouraged: the Membership Committee; Shore Committee; Board of Buildings and Properties Trustees; the Governmental Review Committee; Education Committee; and Audit Committee. Other groups that enhance and oversee the club’s activities have included committees for Nominations, Elections, Campground, Playground, Travel Lift, the Women’s Auxiliary, and many other loosely knit groups of volunteers who have worked to accomplish various projects throughout the years and helped to foster the spirit of conservation and evolve the Muskegon Conservation Club into the wonderful club we have today.

Monthly General Membership and Board of Director’s Meetings showcase our various club and community projects, as well as conducting the business of the organization. All the club’s events, projects and activities are announced online and in our MCC’s monthly newsletter.

Much work remains. Environmental issues continue to need advocates. Invasive species; global warming; acid rain; air and water pollution; soil conservation; our depleting natural resources; urban sprawl; safe disposal of toxic and nuclear wastes; and many other topics are currently emerging, and countless new matters that haven’t yet been realized need constant addressing in the appropriate forums. The club’s dual problem of declining membership rolls and increasing operating costs alongside stricter regulations will indeed make our battle to fund and execute conservation projects even more challenging. We must be arduous.

The Muskegon Conservation Club is a volunteer organization. Most every thing that is accomplished here is done by dedicated members who unselfishly donate their time and special skills to get the jobs finished. This site and the club’s cookbook are dedicated to all of those people who have given their time and energy for the first 65 years to make this club what it presently is.