Green Initiatives & Environmental Stewardship
Kettunen Center is commited to preserving our environment and is a certified Green Lodging Steward in the Green Lodging Michigan Program.
Environmental stewardship has been a strong focus of Kettunen Center for some time. Since its beginning, Kettunen Center has had a focus on environmental stewardship and preservation. When Kettunen Center opened in 1961 as the first 4-H volunteer and youth training center in the nation, the buildings were constructed to minimize the building imprint on the land.
The center has been through two major renovations, and each time there has been a focus on environmental conservation.
The Kettunen Center Improvement Project resulted in the construction of the Kettunen Center director’s residence in 1980, an earth-sheltered house built into a hillside. This allows for natural heating and cooling, protection from the elements and, therefore, energy saving.
In 1998, as a result of the Vision 2021 Campaign, Kettunen Center installed a geothermal heating and cooling system for long-term energy efficiency and underwent a major development of the forest and wetland trails and arboretum.
Since 1988, Kettunen Center has offered environmental education programs.These programs, taught by Kettunen Center staff members, are designed to meet the Michigan Curriculum Framework for science standards and benchmarks.
Green Lodging Michigan
Kettunen Center is a certified Green Lodging Michigan (GLM) Steward. Green Lodging Michigan (GLM) encourages the lodging industry to implement environmental initiatives and cost-saving ‘green' practices to conserve energy, reduce water consumption, protect air quality, reduce waste, and participate in environmentally preferred purchasing. Learn more.
Environmental Monitoring
In addition to continuing educational trainings, Kettunen Center program staff members participate in several volunteer environmental monitoring programs (Citizen Scientists) to support a sustainable and healthy natural environment. Learn more.