We’ve said it 1,000 times before and we’ll say it 1,000 times again: Mother Nature is Northeast Michigan’s biggest cheerleader and our most marketable resident. God’s beauty makes Northeast Michigan truly unique, a great place to live, and a great place to visit.

That’s why we’re so grateful for the 25 volunteers who, as reported recently on our Outdoors page, helped plant 55 trees at the Herman Vogler Conservation Area near Rogers City.

Organized by Huron Pines and the Presque Isle Conservation District, which manages the 270-acre recreation area, volunteers planted trees at three sites designed to improve water quality and establish a forest that’s more resilient to climate change, according to Huron Pines.

Volunteers also each received trees to plant on their own properties, extending the effort throughout the area.

Huron Pines says the trees will help keep the Trout River and Lake Huron cleaner by filtering out pollutants found in stormwater runoff during rainstorms and snowmelt.

We say thank you to Huron Pines and the conservation district for organizing the event, and a special thank you to the volunteers for showing up to help make it a reality.

Because of you, Northeast Michigan is better today than it was yesterday.