In a place like Alger County, where natural beauty is part of daily life, it takes dedicated hands behind the scenes to keep the environment thriving.
This Earth Month, the Roam for Good Award recognizes Alex Kolton, executive director of the Alger Conservation District, for his commitment to environmental advocacy and community conservation.
The Roam for Good Award, a partnership between The Munising Beacon and the Roam Community Foundation, was launched in March to celebrate the quiet heroes shaping Alger County. Each month, the award highlights a standout advocate from a different sector.
In April, the focus turned to environmental advocacy — those who champion conservation efforts, organize clean-ups and protect the natural spaces that define our community.
Kolton, who was promoted to executive director of the Alger Conservation District in spring 2023 after initially serving as program manager, has quickly become a trusted force for environmental stewardship.
With a background in operations, business management and communications, Kolton brings a strategic yet approachable style to conservation work. His leadership has helped the district expand its programs, partner with local schools and municipalities and deepen its connection to county residents.
“Alex is incredibly open, communicative and supportive,” said Eryn Grupido, district coordinator for the Alger Conservation District. “He doesn’t just bring administrative skills. He genuinely cares about the projects and the people behind them. His attitude makes a real difference, especially when you’re in a field where resources are tight.”
Since stepping into his role, Kolton has emphasized collaboration over top-down change. He inherited a major project in the works — the Munising Bay Overlook land acquisition — and has worked closely with the City of Munising, the Trust for Public Land and state agencies to move the effort forward.
“When you work on something like the Munising Bay Overlook, you realize how many hands are involved,” Kolton said. “It’s humbling. Everyone’s working toward protecting green spaces for the future.”
Devin Olson, Munising’s city manager, praised Kolton’s impact.
“He’s an optimistic, glass-halffull kind of person,” Olson said. “He’s proactive, he communicates well and he’s been an excellent partner on conservation initiatives. You can count on him to help find the best practices and realistic solutions.”
Beyond big projects, Kolton’s heart is in education and grassroots conservation. He has helped bring funding and programming to local schools, including coordinating a $22,000 grant from the National Association of Conservation Districts. The funding supports projects in three area schools and a major update to the Chatham Community Gardens.
One of the efforts Kolton is most proud of is a partnership with Burt Township School District on a Deer Habitat Improvement Grant. Working alongside Burt Superintendent Gordon Tester and Will Paul, a 10th-grade student, Kolton and the district are helping young people engage with conservation firsthand.
“Will, the student who authored the grant, put in for a long shot,” Tester said. “He ended up getting it, and it’s a big grant — over $10,000. Alex immediately stepped up to help us handle the administrative side and make sure we got everything right.”
Kolton’s support didn’t stop with paperwork. He organized a coalition of partners, including the DNR and local foresters, to help the school plan tree plantings, habitat improvements and hands-on learning days in the school forest.
“It’s not just about planting trees,” Kolton said. “It’s about building capacity. It’s about showing students they can make an impact.”
That belief — in process, in people and in the natural world — runs deep for Kolton. Raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he credits his love for the outdoors to his grandfather, George Janssen, an avid hunter and fisherman.
“My grandfather taught me patience and respect for nature,” Kolton said. “Those lessons stuck.”
His career path has been a winding one, spanning telecom, property management and Ameri-Corps service before leading him to Munising in 2022. He and his wife, Greta, moved to the Upper Peninsula in search of community, fresh air and “more trees than people,” Kolton said with a laugh.
“I feel at home in the forest,” he said. “It’s where I’m most myself.”
Colleagues say his approach to leadership reflects that grounded spirit.
“Alex is someone who leads without needing the spotlight,” Grupido said. “He’s the kind of person who will quietly put in extra hours, support others’ projects and find ways to stretch every dollar to serve the community better.”
Kolton sees himself less as a director and more as a facilitator.
“The Alger Conservation District isn’t about me,” he said. “We have 8,800 CEOs — every resident in this county. Our job is to listen to them, support their stewardship and protect the resources we all share.”
That humility is part of why Kolton was quick to deflect credit when notified he had been selected for the Roam for Good Award.
“I’m honored, but I can think of a hundred people more deserving,” he said. “This is really about all of us — and what we can do together.”
The Roam for Good Award celebrates those exact qualities: passion, humility and community impact. As Earth Month has come to a close, it’s fitting to recognize a person who embodies what stewardship really looks like — quiet, persistent, hopeful and lasting.
“Our natural world is something we all share,” Kolton said. “It’s easier to protect it now than try to repair it later.”
Wise words from a true advocate for Alger County and beyond.
And hey — if you’d like to roll up your sleeves and get involved, the Alger Conservation District is looking for helpers for the annual tree and plant pickup tomorrow, May 3. Word is there might even be a few extra plants and fruit trees for sale.
Munising pickups will be held at the Munising Ice Arena from 9 a.m. to noon, and Grand Marais pickups will be at Superior Hardware from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit algercd. com or follow the district on Facebook at @AlgerCD.
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I feel at home in the forest. It’s where I’m most myself.
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