In Grand Marais, a big idea is taking root — literally.
Will Paul, a 16-year-old high school student with a passion for conservation, has spearheaded a deer habitat improvement project that has united his school, community and local organizations in a shared mission to protect and enhance the natural environment.
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Will Paul The project, part of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership Initiative, is a first for Burt Township School.
It’s also unprecedented in that the grant proposal was written by a student. Paul’s vision, determination and leadership have inspired a collective effort that has planted the seeds — both figuratively and literally — for a healthier forest and a stronger community.
A student’s vision
Paul’s journey began with a love for both the land and hunting, instilled by his family.
“I’ve always known that I like being out in the woods,” Paul said. “That’s just what I’ve always enjoyed doing. I snowmobile, hunt, fish, trap — that’s pretty much all I do.”
Recognizing the need for sustainable habitat management, Paul took it upon himself to write a grant proposal for the Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership Initiative.
The initiative is part of Michigan’s broader Deer Range Improvement Program, or DRIP, which allocates $1.50 from every deer hunting license sold into a dedicated fund for habitat work statewide.
While DRIP supports a range of habitat projects across Michigan, only about $100,000 annually is directed to the DHIPI grant program — a small portion of the millions collected each year.
“It’s a misconception that we’re spending large amounts of money on private lands behind locked gates,” said Bill Scullon, field operations manager with the DNR’s Wildlife Division. “That’s not the case.”
Over the past 17 years, DHIPI has awarded $1.2 million in competitive grants to improve deer habitats on both public and private lands. Each grant requires a 25 percent local match, typically met through in-kind labor or administrative support.
Scullon noted that many DRIP-supported projects also provide public benefit beyond habitat improvements. In some counties, organizations like U.P. Whitetails and Wheelin’ Sportsmen have used DRIP funding to host hunts for youth and disabled veterans.
“Some landowners enrolled in these programs sponsor mentored hunts through hunter education,” he said. “And Wheelin’ Sportsmen brings out mobility impaired individuals with adaptive equipment — folks who wouldn’t otherwise have access to these kinds of outdoor experiences.”
What started as a curiosity for Paul quickly turned into something much larger. After spotting the DHIPI program on the state website, he dove into the application process — drafting a proposal that was detailed and bigger than most submissions the district typically sees. His project was ultimately awarded a $10,673 grant.
Paul’s proposal was ambitious and comprehensive.
Alex Kolton, executive director of the Alger Conservation District, added that it was “impressive for his age.” However, the proposal required some adjustments to align with the program’s scope and feasibility.
“We had to reapproach him and say, ‘Hey, maybe this would be best served as a two-year proposal,’” Kolton said.
A community effort
Once the grant was approved, the project became a collaborative effort involving students, teachers, parents, local organizations and state agencies.
The Alger Conservation District stepped in to provide administrative support and guidance, ensuring the project’s success while teaching Paul the intricacies of grant management, financial reporting and project implementation.
“They’re all really nice, extremely helpful,” Paul said of Kolton and Scullon. “Any questions I had throughout the process, any paperwork I needed help with — Alex and Bill helped me tremendously.”
Paul believes their backing was key to the project moving forward.
“I think they accepted it because they came and talked to me, and then I said I partnered with Alex,” he said. “I had someone to help me with the paperwork and the money part of it. And after I joined up with the conservation district, I think that’s probably why they accepted it.”
The project’s scope included planting 425 trees and shrubs across 600 acres of school-owned forest. This included 50 fruiting trees — primarily apple and plum trees — and 350 mixed species of shrubs and trees, both coniferous and deciduous.
The goal was to create a diverse habitat that would provide food and shelter for deer and other wildlife throughout the year.
Hands-on learning
The project also provided a unique educational opportunity for Burt Township School’s 37 students. Classes took turns participating in the planting process, guided by conservation professionals like Kolton and Eryn Grupido, an ecologist with the Alger Conservation District.
“We broke the students into manageable groups based on age and had about 15 kids out several times to help with the planting,” Kolton said. “Eryn ensured they understood the ‘why’ behind our actions — why we were planting certain species and how it would benefit the ecosystem.”
The students weren’t the only ones getting their hands dirty. Parents, teachers, and community members joined in, along with the Grand Marais Sportsman’s Club and the DNR. Local businesses, like Superior Hardware, also stepped up, providing discounted supplies to help the project stay within budget.
Paul’s own family pitched in — his mother, Jennifer, is a teacher at Burt Township School and helped with the grant application. His father, Nick, works for the Alger County Road Commission and the Sheriff’s Department, and was out planting trees with the students.
“It was a really impressive collaboration,” Kolton said. “The whole community rallied behind Will and this project.”
Gordon Tester, superintendent of Burt Township School, echoed this sentiment “I am very proud of Will and his involvement in all aspects of this project, from applying, to planning, to implementing. The students have done a wonderful job of jumping in, getting their hands dirty and helping plant the trees and shrubs.”
“In my opinion, hands-on learning is the best way to learn. Way more than anything else,” Paul said. “We’d go out there and plant 30 or 40 trees, then fence all of them off in a day.”
The habitat is not intended as a food plot for hunters, Paul clarified. “This is strictly for creating habitat to help the deer.”
Sara Kelso, district forester for Alger and Marquette counties, noted the importance of such efforts.
“Incorporating species diversity in the forest, particularly with tree and shrub species that contribute to both food and shelter for wildlife, is necessary to ensure long-term wildlife populations,” she said. “Diversity is key to maintaining future forests and wildlife habitat, and this project certainly prioritizes that.”
Paul says it’s the long-term impact that motivates him.
“Years down the road, we’ll be able to look back and say, ‘We helped with this project,’” he said. “Hopefully it’ll help with deer numbers, and people will be able to come up here and hunt for years and years.”
Long-term impact
The benefits of the project extend far beyond the immediate planting. The new habitat will support deer populations during critical times of the year, such as winter, while also promoting forest succession and biodiversity.
“Alger County has a handful of deer wintering complexes, and these areas are so important to continue to improve so they can keep supporting our local deer population in the wintertime,” Kelso explained. “While deer can certainly inhibit forest growth and regeneration, proper management — such as supplementary planting with protection — can ensure that trees are able to grow up enough to support a deer population under them.”
“This is not typical for us to work with someone so young,” Scullon said. “But recognizing Will’s potential and the strong community support behind him, we saw this as a great opportunity to guide him and create a positive learning experience — not just for him, but for everyone involved.”
A model for the future
As the project moves forward, the project also serves as a model for community-driven conservation efforts. It’s already inspiring conversations about replicating the model in other schools and communities. Kolton encourages anyone interested in launching a similar initiative to reach out to their local conservation district.
“There’s no reason why either a private resident or a school couldn’t partner and create this type of outcome,” he said. “The more people we can get involved in habitat restoration, the better.”
“The forests that are so iconic in the U.P. are not there by accident,” Kelso said. “Foresters and wildlife biologists work very hard to ensure that we have healthy forests now and into the future. Projects like these highlight the good work that’s always going on behind the scenes and get some new faces involved.”
For Paul, the experience has reinforced what he already knew about his future.
“I’ve always wanted to be a conservation officer,” he said. “I want to work for the Michigan DNR.”
When asked what he’d say to other students considering a similar project, Paul didn’t hesitate.
“It feels great to help the deer — it feels like the sportsman’s thing to do,” he said.
Jennifer Champagne is an accomplished entertainment + visual effects writer with a passion for storytelling. When she’s not crafting articles on industry giants, you’ll find her enjoying life with her family and their three crazy golden retriever floofs at home in middle earth.