District News

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) – Fifth-graders at Aberdeen Academy have gained a powerful new ally in their campaign to name the stonefly as Michigan’s official state insect.

State Representative Stephen Wooden joined Ms. Emma Witkovsky’s class at Townsend Park in Rockford, where scholars studied the insect in its natural habitat. Rep. Wooden has reintroduced a bill originally written by Aberdeen scholars that would officially designate the stonefly as the state insect.

“Nothing has convinced me more that this is a good idea than spending a little bit of time with these kids,” Rep. Wooden said. “It's pretty awesome having them pull up a rock in their waders and see the life that's teeming under there. You could just see the excitement in their eyes and see how much they've learned over this year about the importance of stoneflies and how they interact with nature.”

The stonefly plays a vital role in Michigan’s freshwater ecosystems. It is an essential part of the aquatic food chain and serves as a natural indicator of clean water, as it cannot survive in polluted environments.

The effort to honor the stonefly began in 2024, when Aberdeen scholars worked with former State Representative Rachel Hood to introduce the original bill. Following her departure from office, Rep. Wooden picked up the cause after winning election, and he’s eager to move the legislation forward.

“We're going to try our best to see if we can get a hearing for it. We're also going to try to see what we can do with our counterparts in the State Senate and see how we can move this process along,” Rep. Wooden explained.

“What's important is that we keep telling the story of the stonefly, how important it is to show how healthy the Great Lakes State is,” he said. “I'm excited to work with this class and hopefully future classes to elevate the importance of the stonefly.”