Brandon Twp.- Lois Robbins, champion of the community’s natural treasures, is the 2015 Citizen of the Year.
Robbins has been a tireless activist for environmental protection and education since she moved to this area more than two decades ago and her efforts are appreciated as shown in the many nominations she received for the award.
‘Lois Robbins has been a volunteer extraordinaire for many, many years and we would like to nominate her for the 2015 Citizen of the Year,? wrote Bob and Suzy Fluck in their nomination letter. ‘She puts forth tremendous effort, and has had many accomplishments, as she’s worked to protect and preserve nature in Brandon Township and surrounding communities. Lois is an author, naturalist, conservationist, environmentalist, humanitarian and a good organizer… all in an effort to help many causes!?
Robbins calls herself a ‘late bloomer.? The mother of four raised her family before returning to school and earning a master’s degree in religious studies, a subject she then taught as a professor at the University of Detroit from 1986-1990. Her environmental activism began in Sylvan Lake, where she started a recycling committee. When she retired from U-D and moved to Brandon, she gave herself a few years to get a sense of the community before beginning work here.
Her impressive resume for environmental endeavors in this area began with a four-year stint as the secretary of the Great Lakes Bioregional Land Conservancy in Lapeer County (1999-2003), followed by extensive work with the North Oakland Headwaters Land Conservancy, in which she served on the board and worked on multiple projects, writing educational columns, establishing a Brandon Preservation Committee, and contacting property owners regarding possible conservation easements.
Robbins worked with Oakland County in producing a natural features inventory map as well as maps of waterways in the township and says she was ‘pretty excited? to learn that the township was the headwaters of three waterways? Kearsley Creek, Paint Creek and the Clinton River.
That excitement inspired her to create what she is perhaps best known for in this area and will likely be her lasting environmental legacy? CreekFest.
Robbins founded in 2003 the festival that celebrates the area’s waterways and promotes education and protection of the environmental treasures. She calls the first CreekFest a modest event, without minnow races, but centering around the Old Mill, adjacent to Kearsley Creek.
‘I just wanted to raise awareness and appreciation in the community for what we have here,? said Robbins. ‘I realized at a planning commission meeting I attended that not many people realized we had a trout stream. We have very high quality water in the township in that creek, because trout won’t live where the water quality isn’t good.?
Threats to the creek include high e.coli counts, fertilizers and pesticides. Part of Robbins? efforts to protect the creek from such dangers included the establishment of Creekside Garden, which along with Heritage Garden (located next to the Old Town Hall) are native landscape demonstrations. The gardens feature native plants that act as a creek buffer and also offer havens for wildlife.
Dave Green, a long-time Brandon Middle School teacher who has transferred to the high school this fall to teach environmental science, said the first person he thought of to speak to his class is Robbins.
‘Lois is a treasure who deserves to be recognized,? wrote Green in his nomination. ‘There are not many people who give to the community for such an extended period of time. Lois is in her mid-80s and she continues to inspire and amaze.?
Dr. Robert Inskeep, former NOHLC president, has witnessed firsthand Robbins? ‘tireless, unselfish work to help preserve open space and the rivers and lakes of north Oakland County.?
‘Working quietly and without fanfare, Lois Robbins has more than left her mark on the Ortonville community,? he said. ‘I wish there was a ‘Citizen of the Decade? award, so that she could properly be honored for her contribution to the quality of life of all living things. Absent such an award, I am proud to offer her name in nomination for Citizen of the Year.?
Robbins will be honored with the 2015 Citizen of the Year award at 11 a.m., Sept. 26, on the Septemberfest main stage, 395 Mill St.