Bengel Wildlife Center Signage Project
Michigan Conservation Stewards Program Capstone Project
Bengel Wildlife Center — Bath, MI
Project Overview
This capstone project for the Michigan Conservation Stewards Program involves designing and installing interpretive signage along the trail system at the Bengel Wildlife Center in Bath, Michigan. The project includes mapping points of interest and producing durable trail signs for visitors.
Project Timeline
Initial Meeting with Director
Met with Drew Monks, Director of Bengel Wildlife Center, to discuss project scope and goals. Walked the southwest park trail system to identify potential sign locations and assess trail conditions. Drew mentioned he wanted to remove a couple of unmaintained trails in the southwest portion of the property from the map.
Map Revision
Received the current PDF map distributed at the wildlife center. Edited the existing trail map to remove unused trails and added numbered Points of Interest (POIs) to the updated map. POI #1 has two locations (1A and 1B), for 17 total waypoints.
📄 View Original Map (PDF) 🗺️ View Edited Map (v2)GPS Waypoint Collection
Returned to Bengel Wildlife Center with a Garmin GPS unit. Marked waypoints for each of the 17 POI waypoints on the updated trail map. Collected tracking files and waypoint data for mapping and documentation.
📍 View GPS DataGPS & Map Data Review
Reviewing GPS waypoint data against the edited trail map. Identified potential labeling discrepancies: POI #13 on the edited map appears to correspond to #14 on the GPS data. GPS waypoint #15 is positioned lower (further north) than intended — it should be at the top of the loop and labeled as #14, as the southern bend where #15 should be was not reached during collection. A return trip will be needed to verify and correct waypoint placements.
📍 View Map SnapshotFeedback from Drew Monks
Received email from Drew with revisions and direction for the map and POI placements. Several trail and waypoint changes requested.
View requested changes
Delete the red trail between POI #3 and halfway between #2 and #4 (decommissioned)✅Move POI #8 to the closest point between the easternmost pond and the red trail✅Add a short trail from the technology demonstration building; delete the short trail from 1A to the tech dem bldg✅Move 1A to the northeast side of the technology demonstration building (Mauser trail doesn’t need special marking)✅Move POI #10 to the intersection just west of the main driveway and just south of the bus parking (no trail markers needed on NE corner)✅Trail at #13 has been decommissioned — remove #13 and adjust numbering accordingly✅Add a new numbered POI at the intersection of Drumheller and the west trailhead (sign location)✅
Meeting with Drew Monks & Waypoint Collection
Met with Drew Monks at Bengel Wildlife Center. Drew suggested removing the northwestern-most trail from the map as it does not exist — this is the trail that originally ran from POI #12 → old #13 → #14, which I had previously thought #13 was on. Collected GPS waypoints for POIs #15 and #16, confirmed POI #13 location, identified a new location for POI #12, and documented the decommissioned trail and pontoon/picnic area.
🗺️ View Updated Map 📊 Compare GPS MapsMap Revision v3
Update the edited trail map based on Drew’s feedback: remove decommissioned trails, adjust POI locations, remove #13, add Drumheller/west trailhead intersection POI, remove northwestern trail (does not exist), and renumber accordingly.
🗺️ View Map v3 📍 View Map SnapshotMap Reoriented to Portrait
Changed the map orientation to portrait to accommodate the metal signage. Created a grayscale version for production, plus a “no white” variant that leaves white areas unprinted — the metal signs are already white, so this avoids using any white ink.
🗺️ View Portrait Map (Grayscale) 🗺️ View Portrait Map (Grayscale, no white)UV Printer Calibration Issues
The UV printer was not printing correctly due to calibration issues with the large print bed. Test prints of the updated signage came out splotchy and out of focus. Will continue to troubleshoot.
Signage Checklist Created
Created a signage installation checklist that compiles every waypoint with its photos, field notes, and the supplies and signage needed for each location. The checklist can be printed or saved as a PDF for use in the field.
📋 View Signage ChecklistPrinter Calibration Resolved
The large print bed calibration issue was resolved. The phone app was not rendering the layers correctly, but the PC application worked. Production to start soon.
Sign Design & Production
Sign production completed. The finished signs were printed on metal using a UV printer with the grayscale “no white” map variant.
🖼️ View Map Sign Print 🪧 View POI Sign PrintSign Delivery & Handoff
Deliver the completed signs to Bengel Wildlife Center. The new wildlife director will handle the final installation at each POI location along the trail system.