Volunteer Stewardship Calendar

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Please come out and join us for one of these free events! NAP is closely monitoring recommendations from city and other health officials, and adapting workday protocols accordingly.

Pre-registration through VolunteerHub is encouraged for workdays, so we can be as prepared as possible. Links to to register are in each event listed below, or go directly to our VolunteerHub page here: http://vhub.at/nap

If you have a large group (more than five people) that is interested in attending a volunteer stewardship event, please contact our Workday Coordinator at least two weeks in advance of the event.

Please remember to dress for the weather and wear shoes suitable for uneven terrain and working off-trail. Please wear long pants and closed-toed shoes and bring a water bottle and work gloves. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided. Please stay home if you're feeling ill.

JULY

Stewardship Workday

Bluffs Nature Area

Saturday, July 9

9 a.m. to noon

Do you like to spend time in nature? Natural Area Preservation (NAP) volunteers get to spend a whole morning outdoors and then go home knowing they made a difference to the environment. It's easy, fun, and educational! NAP staff will teach volunteers how (and why) to identify and pull weeds that crowd out native plants. Meet at the entrance on Sunset Road near Wildt Street (map: tinyurl.com/BluffsSunset).

Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. NAP continues to monitor recommendations from health officials, volunteers registered for events will be notified in advance of any changes to the workday. Please wear long pants and closed-toed shoes, and wear socks that close the gap between shoes and pants. Bring a water bottle and gardening gloves if you have them. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided. Register at tinyurl.com/Bluffs070922.

Stewardship Workday

Olson Park

Sunday, July 10

9 a.m. to noon

Olson Park was once a gravel pit, but is now a place to play soccer, ride a mountain bike, or take a hike. It's also home to many butterflies including the declining Monarch. Invasive weeds are invading the open meadows, threatening pollinator habitats. Join Natural Area Preservation (NAP) pull these non-native plants. Meet at the entrance on Dhu Varren Road, just east of Pontiac Trail (map: tinyurl.com/OlsonParkingLot).

Stewardship Workday

Furstenberg Nature Area

Saturday, July 23

9 a.m. to noon

The prairie at Furstenberg Nature Area blooms with beautiful colors and is important habitat for many birds and pollinating insects. However, non-native species that provide little food for wildlife are crowding out native flowers. Join Natural Area Preservation (NAP) to pull invasive species in order to allow the native plants to thrive. Please meet in the parking lot off of Fuller Road (map: tinyurl.com/FurstenbergParking).

Stewardship Workday

Ruthven Nature Area

Saturday, July 23

1 to 4 p.m.

Are you looking for a way to make an impact? As the saying goes, “think globally, act locally." Volunteering with Natural Area Preservation (NAP) is an easy way to support the local ecosystem. At a NAP workday, you'll spend a few hours out in nature learning how to remove invasive plants. Meet us at the southeast corner of Huron Parkway and Geddes Road (map: tinyurl.com/RuthvenCorner).

Stewardship Workday

Bird Hills Nature Area

Saturday, July 30

9 a.m. to noon

If you enjoy learning about natural history as much as you enjoy removing invasive plants, then a workday at Bird Hills Nature Area is an excellent fit for you! A workday here offers a glimpse into the past of this beautiful natural area and offers the chance to encounter a variety of plants and fungi. While removing invasive plant species at Bird Hills you will be contributing the long-term success of native species and helping keep the park a beautiful and healthy natural area for years to come. Meet at the Bird Road entrance to this park, west of Huron River Drive (map: tinyurl.com/BirdHillsBird). (Additional parking in Barton Nature Area-Dam entrance.)

Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. Natural Area Preservation (NAP) continues to monitor recommendations from health officials, volunteers registered for events will be notified in advance of any changes to the workday. Please wear long pants and closed-toed shoes, and wear socks that close the gap between shoes and pants. Bring a water bottle and gardening gloves if you have them. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided. Register at tinyurl.com/Bird080622.

Stewardship Workday

Brokaw Nature Area

Saturday, July 30

1 to 4 p.m.

Trails in natural areas make it easier for people to enjoy nature, and they ensure the plants and animals living there can stay safe from disturbance. Help Natural Area Preservation (NAP) maintain trails at Brokaw Nature Area by trimming back shrubs and widening overgrown areas. Meet us in the parking lot off West Huron River Drive just southeast of Wagner Road (map: tinyurl.com/BrokawHRD).

Summer Nature Walk

Sunday, July 31

Buttonbush Nature Area

1 to 4 p.m.

This natural area was named for the large buttonbush swamp found here. Buttonbush is a 6-12 ft. shrub native to Michigan with long-lasting, unique ball-shaped flowers. Sometimes resembling pincushions, the one-inch blossoms can be white or pale pink. Check out a stunning display at this nature walk. Meet at the park entrance at the end of Hickory Point Drive (map: tinyurl.com/ButtonbushHickoryPoint). Make sure to dress for the weather (walks happen rain or shine) and bring a water bottle. The nature walks are a collaboration between the Ann Arbor District Library (AADL) and Natural Area Preservation (NAP) that take place once a month. Some of AADL's Science Tools will be available for use during the walk!

Registration is strongly encouraged so NAP can accommodate everyone! Register at tinyurl.com/ButtonbushWalk073122.

AUGUST

Stewardship Workday

Kuebler Langford Nature Area

Sunday, August 7

9 a.m. to noon

Since the time of its acquisition, Kuebler Langford has been a park of importance to the people of Ann Arbor. As this natural area continues to recover from top-soil removal and compaction from the 1970's, park users are left with areas of stunning prairie and forests. Because Kuebler Langford was fought for and won by the people of Ann Arbor, it is a wonderful feeling to contribute to the ongoing effort to bring health and beauty back to this natural area. Meet at the park entrance on Beechwood Drive, north of Sunset Road (map: tinyurl.com/KueblerBeechwood).

Stewardship Workday

Bandemer Park

Saturday, August 13

9 a.m. to noon

Join Natural Area Preservation (NAP) at this 38-acre hub of outdoor recreation for a morning of removing invasive species. While you're here with NAP, perhaps you'll be inspired to return and utilize the disc golf course or watch the rowers glide across the Huron River. Meet at the parking lot at the end of Lake Shore Drive, off Main Street (map: tinyurl.com/BandemerLakeShore).

Stewardship Workday

Olson Park

Saturday, August 13

1 to 4 p.m.

Have you ever wondered how much a place can recover after being mined and even dumped on? Find the answer in the 54-acres of land known as Olson Park! This park will give you an up-close look at just how important the work of volunteers is to Ann Arbor's natural areas. This park is now home to a variety of amazing species of birds, butterflies, and other wildlife. Come join Natural Area Preservation (NAP) for a day of removing invasive species and maybe encounter interesting wildlife in the process! Meet at the entrance on Dhu Varren Road, just east of Pontiac Trail (map: tinyurl.com/OlsonParkingLot).

Stewardship Workday

National Honey Bee Day

Gallup Park

Saturday, August 20

9 a.m. to noon

There's a lot of buzz surrounding this workday at Gallup Park! It's #NationalHoneybeeDay, after all! This day brings awareness to the bee industry and the beekeeping community. Honey bees are more than just honey-makers, they are one of the many pollinators folks can support by removing invasive plants from the park. Meet in the Gallup Park parking lot, just over the wooden bridge (map: tinyurl.com/GallupBridgeParking).

Stewardship Workday

Barton Nature Area

Saturday, August 27

9 a.m. to noon

Located along the Huron River, this park is home to an interesting phenomenon known as the Barton Oxbow. This U-shaped bend in the river suggests a few ideas about the history of this area before it was farmed. Though likely prairie and oak savanna in the past, Barton Nature Area now has a diversity of plant communities, from wet meadow to dry prairie to emergent marshland. When volunteering at a workday here, you're likely to encounter a wide array of flora to admire and help protect. Meet at the Barton Dam parking lot on Huron River Drive (map: tinyurl.com/BartonParkingLot).

Summer Nature Walk

Sunset Brooks Nature Area

Sunday, August 28

1 to 2 p.m.

Come out for a nature walk through the rolling woods and wetlands of Sunset Brooks Nature Area. Though small, this park has a number of interesting and uncommon species within. Remember to bring your binoculars, too, as you may encounter some of the birds which call this park home. Make sure to dress for the weather (walks happen rain or shine) and bring a water bottle. Meet at the park entrance on Sunset Road, at the end of Brooks Street (map: tinyurl.com/SunsetBrooksSunset). The nature walks are a collaboration between the Ann Arbor District Library and Natural Area Preservation that take place once a month. Some of AADL's Science Tools will be available for use during the walk!

Registration is strongly encouraged so NAP can accommodate everyone! Register at tinyurl.com/sunsetwalk082822.

SEPTEMBER

Stewardship Workday

Mary Beth Doyle Nature Area

Saturday, September 10

9 a.m. to noon

Mary Beth Doyle Nature Area's namesake was an influential and prominent environmental activist in Michigan. It only makes sense that a park honoring her legacy would be one of Ann Arbor's most beloved parks. A walk through this park on the wooden boardwalks never fails to delight as you encounter a diverse array of flowers and trees, and maybe even a quiet group of deer. Meet at the corner of Cardinal Ave. and Sharon Drive (map: tinyurl.com/MBDSharon).

Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. NAP continues to monitor recommendations from health officials, volunteers registered for events will be notified in advance of any changes to the workday. Please wear long pants and closed-toed shoes, and wear socks that close the gap between shoes and pants. Bring a water bottle and leather gloves if you have them. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided. Register at tinyurl.com/MBD091022.

Stewardship Workday

9/11 Day – National Day of Service and Remembrance

Olson Park

Sunday, September 11

9 a.m. to noon

As stewards of Ann Arbor's Natural Areas, NAP volunteers serve the greater community by bolstering the local ecosystem, maintaining and expanding access to quality experiences in nature, and strengthening bonds through volunteerism. Commemorate this National Day of Service and Remembrance on #911Day with us by cutting and removing invasive shrubs and making way for native plants to flourish. Meet at the entrance on Dhu Varren Road, just east of Pontiac Trail (map: tinyurl.com/OlsonParkingLot).

Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. NAP continues to monitor recommendations from health officials, volunteers registered for events will be notified in advance of any changes to the workday. Please wear long pants and closed-toed shoes, and wear socks that close the gap between shoes and pants. Bring a water bottle and leather gloves if you have them. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided. Register at tinyurl.com/Olson091122.

Stewardship Workday

9/11 Day – National Day of Service and Remembrance

Sunset Brooks Nature Area

Sunday, September 11

1 to 4 p.m.

The National Day of Service and Remembrance on #911Day promotes community service as a tribute to the 9/11 victims, survivors, and responders. Join us to protect biodiversity in our community by removing invasive shrubs such as buckthorn and honeysuckle so that wildlife can thrive. Meet us at the park entrance on Sunset Road, at the end of Brooks Street (map: tinyurl.com/SunsetBrooksSunset).

Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. NAP continues to monitor recommendations from health officials, volunteers registered for events will be notified in advance of any changes to the workday. Please wear long pants and closed-toed shoes, and wear socks that close the gap between shoes and pants. Bring a water bottle and leather gloves if you have them. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided. Register at tinyurl.com/Sunset091122.

Stewardship Workday

Marshall Nature Area

Saturday, September 17

9 a.m. to noon

Along with controlled burns and trail maintenance, the removal of woody invasive species is important to the restoration of this natural area. Due to the variety of ecological communities within Marshall Nature Area, you are likely to see many types of flora and fauna during a workday or while exploring the park on your own. Meet in the parking lot off Dixboro Road, north of Plymouth Road (map: tinyurl.com/MarshallDixboro).

Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. NAP continues to monitor recommendations from health officials, volunteers registered for events will be notified in advance of any changes to the workday. Please wear long pants and closed-toed shoes, and wear socks that close the gap between shoes and pants. Bring a water bottle and leather gloves if you have them. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided. Register at tinyurl.com/Marshall091722.

Stewardship Workday

Dolph Nature Area

Sunday, September 18

9 a.m. to noon

Have you ever heard of a kettle lake? Have you ever seen one? Well, if you've ever visited Dolph Nature Area, you probably have! Like much of the topography in Ann Arbor, the First and Second Sister kettle lakes were formed by glaciers. Join us for a morning of removing invasive species to help keep this special and unique park healthy and beautiful. Meet at the trailhead off Parklake Avenue, just south of Lakeview Drive (map: tinyurl.com/DolphParklake).

A small group will also care for the bioswale on the east side of the park (near Parklake Ave and Lakeview Dr). Within the bioswale volunteers will be removing invasive plants and giving some TLC to the space. Although professional landscapers visit the bioswale throughout the growing season to remove the more aggressive invasive species, there is still plenty of work that can be done on a smaller scale. If you are interested in becoming a steward, please contact Catie at [email protected]. Stewards work on their own schedule throughout the year to weed, plant, collect seed, prune, etc.

Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. NAP continues to monitor recommendations from health officials, volunteers registered for events will be notified in advance of any changes to the workday. Please wear long pants and closed-toed shoes, and wear socks that close the gap between shoes and pants. Bring a water bottle and leather gloves if you have them. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided. Register at tinyurl.com/Dolph091822.

Stewardship Workday

Lakewood Nature Area

Sunday, September 18

1 to 4 p.m.

Although Lakewood Nature Area is somewhat small, it is connected to several other parks through which park visitors can continue their hikes. The hills are blanketed by oak-hickory woodlands, with a rich understory of wildflowers. Join NAP staff and other volunteers to remove invasive shrubs to protect this well-loved park! Meet at the park entrance on Sunnywood Drive (map: tinyurl.com/LakewoodSunnywood).

Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. NAP continues to monitor recommendations from health officials, volunteers registered for events will be notified in advance of any changes to the workday. Please wear long pants and closed-toed shoes, and wear socks that close the gap between shoes and pants. Bring a water bottle and leather gloves if you have them. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided. Register at tinyurl.com/Lakewood091822.

Stewardship Workday

National Public Lands Day

Oakwoods Nature Area

Saturday, September 24

9 a.m. to noon

#NationalPublicLandsDay is the nation's largest single-day volunteer event for public lands. Established in 1994, this celebration brings out thousands of volunteers to help restore and improve #publiclands around the country. NPLD is special because it provides all lovers of the environment—old and new—an opportunity to show our appreciation for these precious natural resources through stewardship. Join us at Oakwoods on NPLD to cut and remove invasive shrubs. Meet us at the park entrance off of Dunwoodie (map: tinyurl.com/OakwoodsDunwoodie).

Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. NAP continues to monitor recommendations from health officials, volunteers registered for events will be notified in advance of any changes to the workday. Please wear long pants and closed-toed shoes, and wear socks that close the gap between shoes and pants. Bring a water bottle and leather gloves if you have them. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided. Register at tinyurl.com/Oakwoods092422.

Stewardship Workday

World Rivers Day

Argo Nature Area

Sunday, September 25

1 to 4 p.m.

#WorldRiversDay is a celebration of the world's waterways—NAP and millions of people in more than 100 countries will participate in World Rivers Day this year. Join us to cut and remove invasive shrubs that threaten the health of our waterways by competing with native plants. Meet on Longshore Drive at Amherst Avenue (map: tinyurl.com/ArgoLongshore).

Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. NAP continues to monitor recommendations from health officials, volunteers registered for events will be notified in advance of any changes to the workday. Please wear long pants and closed-toed shoes, and wear socks that close the gap between shoes and pants. Bring a water bottle and leather gloves if you have them. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided. Register at tinyurl.com/Argo092522.

Autumn Nature Walk

Sunday, September 25

Bandemer Park

1 to 2 p.m.

A patch of dry prairie can be found along the railroad tracks at Bandemer Park, where sparks from passing trains occasionally ignited wildfires that maintained this open habitat. It is now home to tall grasses and goldenrods. Learn more about the habitats and diversity at Bandemer at a nature walk with NAP and AADL. We will meet at the parking lot across the wooden bridge off Barton Drive (map: tinyurl.com/BandemerDiscParking). Make sure to dress for the weather (walks happen rain or shine) and bring a water bottle. The nature walks are a collaboration between the Ann Arbor District Library and Natural Area Preservation that take place once a month. Some of AADL's Science Tools will be available for use during the walk!

Registration is strongly encouraged so NAP can accommodate everyone! Register at tinyurl.com/BandemerWalk092522.

For more information about what each of these events may require, please read more about volunteering with NAP here.