March 2023​

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Stewardship Workday
World Water Day
Furstenberg Nature Area
Saturday, March 25, 2023
9 a.m. to noon
UN World Water Day 2023 is about accelerating change to solve the water and sanitation crisis. And because water affects us all, we need everyone to take action for #WorldWaterDay. That means you! You and your family, school and community can make a difference by helping protect and restore natural areas that store and filter our water. Join NAP to remove invasive shrubs from Furstenberg to keep the Huron River healthy! Meet in the Furstenberg parking lot off Fuller Road. Pre-register through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).

Stewardship Workday
​ World Water Day
Braun Nature Area
Saturday, March 25, 2023
1 to 4 p.m.
Mallett's Creek flows through Braun Nature Area, and the root systems of the prairie plants growing along the stream here are essential to controlling soil erosion and filtering water. The UN's #WorldWaterDay is a day of action to ensure clean water and sanitation for all – do your part to and work with NAP clear away invasive shrubs that threaten prairie plants and our watershed. Meet at the park entrance on Chalmers Drive. Pre-register through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).

Stewardship Workday
Barton Nature Area
World Water Day
Sunday, March 26, 2023
1 to 4 p.m.
The Huron River is one of the most beloved natural features in our city and supports many unique plant communities along its banks. Take action for #WorldWaterDay and support the health of the river at Barton Nature Area. Barton's beautiful, riverside meadow needs your help – join other volunteers in cutting invasive shrubs in this unique nature area. Meet at the Barton Dam parking lot on Huron River Drive. Pre-register through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).​

April 2023​

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Stewardship Workday
Saturday, April 1, 2023
9 a.m. to noon
Folkstone Park

Containing excellent examples of the oak hickory forests that once dominated this area, Folkstone Park is a small 3-acre park in northeast Ann Arbor.  Don't let the weather FOOL you on this workday.  Best to dress in layers as NAP and volunteers work together to pull invasive species. You may even see a few aquatic frogs newly out of hibernation in the small wetlands in the park. Meet at the park entrance at the north end of Folkstone Ct. Pre-register through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).

Stewardship Workday
Sunday, April 2, 2023
1 to 4 p.m.
Lakewood Nature Area

Lakewood Nature Area is a small 7-acre park located on the west side of Ann Arbor. With its rich understory of wildflowers, volunteers may be fortunate enough to spot some of the first blooms of spring while pulling invasive species in this park. Meet at the park entrance on Sunnywood Dr. Pre-register through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).

Stewardship Workday
Saturday, April 8, 2023
9 a.m. to noon
Brokaw Nature Area
Come join NAP to extend the trail system in this somewhat newer park. Brokaw, opened in 2017, is almost 25 acres—and is one of only two Ann Arbor parks where you can find shingle oaks. Because the wood could be easily split into thin pieces, this tree was used by early settlers for shingles and thus the name shingle oak. It is also the only oak with “entire" leaves, meaning that the leaves have no lobes. Meet at the parking lot off West Huron River Dr, just southeast of Wagner Rd. Pre-register through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).

Community Science Kickoff – Breeding Bird Survey
Thursday, April 13, 2023
7 to 9 p.m.
Online
Learn how to put your birding skills to use and survey for breeding birds in Ann Arbor's parks! Volunteer to help NAP with Ann Arbor's Breeding Bird Survey. Learn how NAP uses eBird to record survey results, sign up to survey your favorite park, hear about last year's survey, and access the survey materials. Note that experience in bird identification is necessary, and you must be able to identify birds by sight and sound to participate in this survey. Pre-register through VolunteerHub.

Stewardship Workday
Saturday, April 15, 2023
9 a.m. to noon
Argo Nature Area
Argo Nature Area has it all!  Scenic trails along the Huron River, seasonal canoe rental, a working dam, and the Argo Cascades provide plenty to see and do in this park. Everyone is invited to work together to pull invasive species—and further NAP's environmental mission—at Argo during this volunteer event. Meet on Longshore Dr at Amherst Ave. Pre-register through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).

Comm​unity Science Kickoff – Turtle Survey
Sunday, April 16
10 to 11:30 a.m.
Ann Arbor Senior Center
At least 6 species of turtles live and nest in the city, maybe more! Help NAP maintain and protect nest sites, monitor populations, and look for turtles in habitats along the Huron River and nearby waters. Volunteers survey monthly through September. NAP will teach you species identification, nest maintenance and monitoring, and how to report your turtle observations. And yes, you can survey for turtles while paddling down the river on a sunny morning! This event will be recorded, so you are welcome to register even if you cannot attend the live training. Please pre-register each participating individual through VolunteerHub.
 
Stewardship Workday
Sunday, April 16, 2023
1 to 4 p.m.
Huron Hills Golf Course Woods
Framing the western and southern edges of the Huron Hills Golf Course, these woods are home to a diverse group of spring wildflowers such as trillium, May-apple, wild geranium, jewelweed, skunk cabbage, and Dutchman's breeches. Your involvement is vital to NAP's conservation efforts in Ann Arbor's natural areas—join other volunteers to pull invasive species in this out-of-the-way spot. Meet on Hunting Valley off Provincial Dr. Pre-register through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).​

Stewardship Workday - Earth Day!!
Saturday, April 22, 2023
9 a.m. to noon
Mary Beth Doyle Park
Mary Beth Doyle Park is home to multiple family-friendly activities including a basketball court, a playground, and a disc golf course – along with a large wetland and gorgeous woodlands with abundant native wildflowers. Earth Day 2023's theme is “Invest in Our Planet," and your investment of time and labor to clean up invasive species in this park will be instrumental in fulfilling this pledge. Meet at the corner of Butternut St and Cardinal Ave. Pre-register through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).

Stewardship Workday - Earth Day!!
Saturday, April 22, 2023
1 to 4 p.m.
Furstenberg Nature Area
Join the world's largest environmental movement and celebrate Earth Day 2023. Established in 1970, the mission of Earth Day is to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide. Share your skills and passion for the earth while pulling invasive species in Furstenberg Nature Area. This nature area borders the Huron River and is home to wetlands, woodlands, prairie, and oak savanna. Meet at the parking lot off Fuller Rd. Pre-register through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).

Stewardship Workday - Earth Day!!
Sunday, April 23, 2023
1 to 4 p.m.
Bluffs Nature Area

Over the years, Bluffs Nature Area has accumulated a bounty of large, heavy pieces of trash like snow mobiles and jacks. We need your help to remove this large equipment from the park and keep our natural areas clean. If you're up for the challenge, join us to haul these objects out of the park. This will be NAP's most physically demanding workday of the year. Meet in the parking lot just north of the auto body shop on North Main St. Pre-register through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).

Stewardship Workday
Saturday, April 29
9 a.m. to noon
Riverwood Nature Area
Riverwood Nature Area serves as a natural buffer between the Newport Ridge Subdivision and M-14. Its five acres pack in quite a variety of native species and natural features. A morning pulling invasive species will help promote the flourishing of native species found at Riverwood. Nurturing the natural features of Ann Arbor's natural areas allows them to be a source of enjoyment for the community. Meet at the park sign on Riverwood Dr, just west of Newport Rd. Pre-register through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).

Stewardship Workday
Sunday, April 30, 2023
9 a.m. to noon
Bird Hills Nature Area
The largest natural area in the city at 146 acres, Bird Hills is a haven for hikers. Unpaved trails wind through hills and ravines covered with beech, sugar maple, flowering dogwood, oaks and hickory—and a wide variety of spring wildflowers. Come join other volunteers in pulling invasive species and work together to maintain one of Ann Arbor's most interesting and valuable assets. Meet at the entrance on Bird Rd, west of Huron River Dr (add'l parking in Barton Nature Area-Dam Entrance). Pre-register through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).

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May 2023​

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Stewardship Workday
Saturday, May 6, 2023
9 a.m. to noon
Sylvan Park
An unassuming twelve-acre wooded area, Sylvan Park provides a mix of open park space and natural areas amid neighborhoods and highway exchanges. Volunteers are invited to work together to pull invasive species. With continued care, oak-hickory remnants like Sylvan's woods may continue to offer the community a buffer against day-to-day stresses. Meet at the park entrance on Margaret Dr between Darrow Dr and Salem Ct near the tennis court. Pre-register through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).

Stewardship Workday
Saturday, May 6, 2023
1 to 4 p.m.
Berkshire Creek Nature Area
May is a good time to be on the lookout for trillium which can be found in sunnier areas of the forest when not blocked out by invasives. Trillium is the quintessential spring wildflower and spreads mainly by sending out roots to grow new plants. It's always a pleasant surprise to wander through the forest into a clearing full of trillium. Come help by pulling invasives so that the trillium can flourish. Meet at Exmoor Rd, just past Stonehaven St. Pre-register through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).

Stewardship Workday
Sunday, May 7, 2023
9 a.m. to noon
Sunset Brooks Nature Area
This small nature area provides a buffer between its neighbors and M-14. It is also a green shortcut to Bird Hills Nature Area. A grove of dogwoods flowering here in the spring is a sight to behold. Your help pulling invasives will help keep this small nature area a beautiful spot for all to enjoy. Meet at the park entrance on Sunset Rd, at the end of Brooks St. Pre-register through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).

Stewardship Workday
Sunday, May 7, 2023
1 to 4 p.m.
Miller Nature Area
This nature area is a good place for birders and butterfly watchers during the spring and summer months. See how many types of birds you can spot while working together with other volunteers to pull invasive species. Let's make this park even more bird and butterfly friendly by allowing the native plants to flourish! Meet at the Arborview Blvd entrance, just east of Wildwood Ave. Pre-register through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).

Stewardship Workday
Saturday, May 13, 2023
9 a.m. to noon
Black Pond Woods Nature Area
Originally formed by a slowly melting remnant of glacial ice, the small vernal pool known as Black Pond collects rainfall in the spring and summer and is dry the rest of the year. Come observe this lush home of many amphibians and enjoy a few hours in nature pulling invasives. Meet at the park entrance on Tibbits Ct, off Pontiac Trail. Pre-register through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).

Stewardship Workday
Saturday, May 13, 2023
1 to 4 p.m.
Marshall Nature Area
Enjoy the early spring blooming flowers AND join in the comradery of other volunteers helping to restore one of the largest nature areas in the Ann Arbor parks system–you'll be improving habitat and allowing the native flora to flourish. Meet at the parking lot off Dixboro Rd. Pre-register through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).

Stewardship Workday - World Migratory Bird Day!!
Sunday, May 14, 2023
1 to 4 p.m.
Narrow Gauge Way Nature Area
The focus of World Migratory Bird Day for 2023 is on water and its importance to migratory birds. Water quality monitoring programs show the tributary located in Narrow Gauge Way—which flows into Miller Creek –is the healthiest stream in the whole of Ann Arbor. What better place to celebrate this special day, working with your hands pulling invasives from this park, allowing the native plants to flourish. Meet at the corner of Narrow Gauge Way and Watershed Dr. Pre-register through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).

Stewardship Workday - World Bee Day!!
Saturday, May 20, 2023
9 a.m. to noon
Molin Nature Area
World Bee Day was created by the United Nations to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face, and their contribution to sustainable development. Join other concerned volunteers to pull invasives and promote actions that will protect and enhance pollinators and their habitats. After a morning of volunteer work, the reward will be the sight of a magnificent bur oak residing there. Meet at the corner of Powell Rd and Columbia Ave. Pre-register through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).

Stewardship Workday - World Bee Day!!
Saturday, May 20, 2023
1 to 4 p.m.
Huron Parkway Nature Area
World Bee Day helps educate people about the importance of bees and what they do for the environment. Bees help grow 90% of the world's wildflowers, and 35% of the world's crops depend on bees to thrive, AND they help build ecosystems around the world. A pretty place to wander through the woods–many school and community groups, families, and neighbors have been working diligently to help restore native plants at Huron Parkway. Come join NAP and BEE engaged with nature to pull invasive species in the park. Meet at the Park Steward's house—3470 Woodland Rd, off East Huron River Dr. Pre-register through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).

Stewardship Workday - Int'l Day for Biological Diversity!!
Sunday, May 21, 2023
9 a.m. to noon
Bird Hills Nature Area
Celebrated each year on May 22, the International Day for Biological Diversity aims to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. Bird Hills is the largest natural area in the city at 146 acres and a great place to appreciate the diversity of nature. Work together with other volunteers to pull invasive species and preserve biodiversity –the living fabric of the planet. Meet at the entrance on Bird Rd, west of Huron River Drive (add'l parking in Barton Nature Area-Dam Entrance). Pre-register through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).

Stewardship Workday - Int'l Day for Biological Diversity!!
Sunday, May 21, 2023
1 to 4 p.m.
Cedar Bend Nature Area
The International Day for Biological Diversity is a United Nations–created holiday for the promotion of biodiversity issues. With ecosystem-based solutions to climate and public health, food and water security, and sustainable livelihoods—biodiversity is the foundation upon which communities can build back better. Cedar Bend was designed by landscape architect O.C. Simonds, who insisted on keeping the park as close to the natural landscape as possible, helping to preserve the biodiversity and native plant population. Volunteers can unite in efforts to build back better here in Ann Arbor and pull invasive species—allowing the natural diversity in this park to flourish. Meet at the pull-off area on Cedar Bend Dr (off Broadway St). Pre-register through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).

BIRD WALK
Sunday, May 21, 2023
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Take an evening walk in Gallup Park and Furstenberg Nature Area with NAP Ornithologist, Juliet Berger. We'll look for the Baltimore Orioles that nest there and see many other birds along the river as well. Bring binoculars if you have them, but they are not necessary. Meet at the Gallup Canoe Livery. Pre-register through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian.