Volunteer Stewardship Calendar

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Please come out and join us for one of these free events! There is no need to pre-register unless otherwise noted. 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. We provide tools, light snacks, water, and know-how at our Stewardship Workdays. Minors must either be accompanied by a guardian, or bring a signed release form (pdf) to attend workdays. For park directions, meet-up locations, and bus information check out this helpful guide.

JULY

Stewardship Workday
Sunday, July 1
Marshall Nature Area
1 to 4 p.m.
Pockets of prairie bloom in this park where farm fields were once located, but the biodiversity is threatened by non-native species. Join us to pull summer invasives and preserve the native community. Meet in the parking lot off Dixboro Road, north of Plymouth Road. Please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. All participants must complete a release form, and all minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools, snacks, and know-how provided.

Stewardship Workday
Saturday, July 7
Bandemer Park
9 a.m. to noon
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. Help us pull exotic weeds to maintain the quality of this special habitat. We will meet at the south end of the park, in the parking lot off Lake Shore Drive (via Main Street). Please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. All participants must complete a release form, and all minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools, snacks, and know-how provided.

Stewards' Circle
Tuesday, July 10
Bruegger's Bagels, 709 N University Ave
7:30 a.m. to 8:30 am
Are you interested in learning more about how to care for our natural areas? Then join the Stewardship Network's Huron Arbor cluster for an informal discussion on a monthly topic with volunteer and professional land stewards, plus others interested in nature. Free! For more information go to www.stewardshipnetwork.org.
This month's topic: Building management plans
Do you have a natural area that you want to manage but don't know here to start? How do you prioritize stewardship activities? Come learn about building management plans so you can get the most out of your restoration work.

Stewardship Workday
Saturday, July 14
Furstenberg Native Garden
9 a.m. to noon
Furstenberg's Native Garden is a living demonstration of the beauty of native wildflowers, and it serves as a helpful guide for native plant identification and an example of how they can be used in landscaping. Join Park Steward and Master Gardener Aunita Erskine to maintain this special garden. Meet in the parking lot off of Fuller Road. Please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. All participants must complete a release form, and all minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools, snacks, and know-how provided.

Stewardship Workday
Saturday, July 14
Furstenberg Nature Area
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 us to pull invasive species in order to allow the native plants to thrive. Meet us in the parking lot off of Fuller Road. Please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. All participants must complete a release form, and all minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools, snacks, and know-how provided.

Stewardship Workday
Saturday, July 14
Ruthven Nature Area
1 to 4 p.m.
A glacial hill called a kame is the dominant feature in Ruthven Nature Area. Extensive progress has been made in restoring the native habitats here. Help us continue this work by pulling invasive plants in the hillside prairie. Meet at the Gallup Park boat launch parking lot (not the canoe livery), at the southeastern corner of Huron Parkway and Geddes Road. Please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. All participants must complete a release form, and all minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools, snacks, and know-how provided.

Nature Walk with AADL
Thursday, July 26
Black Pond Woods Nature Area
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Named for the dark waters of its vernal pool, Black Pond Woods Nature Area is used as an outdoor classroom by the adjacent Leslie Science and Nature Center. Join NAP staff on a family-friendly walk through these woods. Meet us on Tibbits Court, off of Pontiac Trail. Wear comfortable clothes and bring water if desired. These nature walks are a collaboration between the AADL and Natural Area Preservation, and they take place once a month April through September. Some of AADL's Science Tools will be available for use during the walk!

AUGUST

Stewardship Workday
Saturday, August 4
Black Pond Woods Nature Area
9 a.m. to noon
Black Pond Woods is an oak-hickory forest with beautiful wildflowers in the understory. These woods provide habitat for many birds, frogs, and salamanders. Help us keep this habitat healthy by pulling exotic invasive species such as Japanese hedge parsley. Meet on Tibbits Court, off of Pontiac Trail. Please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. All participants must complete a release form, and all minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools, snacks, and know-how provided.

Stewardship Workday
Sunday, August 12
Swift Run Marsh
9 a.m. to noon
Swift Run Marsh is a favorite spot for birders, with over 57 species of birds recorded here. In addition to the large pond, the park also includes a prairie. Help us pull non-native invasive species and maintain the trails. We'll meet you on Eddy Street, off of Verle Avenue. Please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. All participants must complete a release form, and all minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools, snacks, and know-how provided.

Stewards' Circle
Tuesday, August 14
Bruegger's Bagels, 709 N University Ave
7:30 a.m. to 8:30 am
Are you interested in learning more about how to care for our natural areas? Then join the Stewardship Network's Huron Arbor cluster for an informal discussion on a monthly topic with volunteer and professional land stewards, plus others interested in nature. Free! For more information go to www.stewardshipnetwork.org.
This month's topic: Monitoring ecological restoration
Monitoring the results of stewardship activities is a critical component of adaptive management. Setting stewardship goals is an important first step in establishing a monitoring program. Monitoring can vary from simple qualitative assessments such as meander surveys to statistically robust, quantitative sampling. We will discuss how land managers are setting stewardship goals and the techniques they are using to monitor their progress.

Stewardship Workday
Saturday, August 18
Olson Park
9 a.m. to noon
Olson Park was once a gravel pit, but is now a place to play soccer, ride a 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 us to pull these non-native plants. Meet us at the entrance on Dhu Varren Road, just east of Pontiac Trail. Please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. All participants must complete a release form, and all minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools, snacks, and know-how provided.

Stewardship Workday
Saturday, August 18
Dhu Varren Woods Nature Area
1 to 4 p.m.
Dhu Varren Woods Nature Area is a 13 acre woodland on the city's north side. The beech, maple, oak, and hickory trees provide habitat for wildlife. Join us as we pull non-native species such as Japanese hedge parsley in the understory. Meet us at the intersection of Birchwood Drive and Dhu Varren Road. Please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. All participants must complete a release form, and all minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools, snacks, and know-how provided.

Stewardship Workday
Sunday, August 26
Furstenberg Nature Area
9 a.m. to noon
This long narrow nature area beside the river contains many plant communities including a rare oak savanna and a restored prairie. Help us improve the native habitat by pulling exotic invasive species. Meet at the parking lot off of Fuller Road. Please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. All participants must complete a release form, and all minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools, snacks, and know-how provided.

Nature Walk with AADL
Thursday, August 30
Oakwoods Nature Area
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Oakwoods Nature Area is a favorite birding destination because a wide variety of wading birds and waterfowl call it home. Join NAP staff on a family-friendly walk through this nature area. Meet us at the park entrance off of Dunwoodie. Wear comfortable clothes and bring water if desired. The nature walks are a collaboration between the AADL and Natural Area Preservation that take place once a month April through September. Some of AADL's Science Tools will be available for use during the walk!

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