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.
January 2022
Stewardship Workday
Leslie Woods Nature Area
Saturday, January 8
1 – 3 p.m.
The diversity of plant species at Leslie Woods suggests that this site has remained undisturbed by farming or grazing, but like many other natural areas, threats to biodiversity still exist in the form of invasive plants at Leslie Woods. Join NAP volunteers in cutting and removing exotic shrubs and improving habitat for birds and other wildlife here. Meet us at the park entrance at the north end of Upland Drive, north of Plymouth Road (map). Pre-registration 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 (we recommend layered clothing in winter) and closed-toed shoes and 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 here. (http://tinyurl.com/LeslieWoods010822)
Stewards' Circle
Tuesday, January 11
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Veterans Memorial Park Meeting Room
2150 Jackson Ave, Ann Arbor
All are welcome to join this monthly discussion group where local stewards (like you!) gather to ask and answer questions, swap stories, and share knowledge in an informal setting. We look forward to chatting with you about how you “do" stewardship! This month's topic: Soil and invasives. Soil plays a vital role in ecosystem health, so one Steward asks: What are invasive plants doing to the soil? After the discussion group, join us for a happy hour just up the street at HOMES Brewery to further connect with other land stewards!
Stewardship Workday
Barton Nature Area
MLK Day of Service
Monday, January 17
1 – 3 p.m.
In 1994, Congress designated the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday as a national day of service. Each year, on the third Monday in January, the MLK Day of Service is observed as a "day on, not a day off." MLK Day of Service is intended to empower individuals, strengthen communities, bridge barriers, create solutions to social problems, and move us closer to Dr. King's vision of a "Beloved Community." #MLKDay You're invited to help us protect and restore this nature area for the benefit of the whole community. Meet us at the Barton Dam parking lot on Huron River Dr. (map). Pre-registration 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 (we recommend layered clothing in winter) and closed-toed shoes and 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 here. (http://tinyurl.com/Barton011722)
Stewardship Workday
Kuebler Langford Nature Area
Saturday, January 22
1 – 3 p.m.
Bush honeysuckle seemed like a good idea at the time – in the early 1800s it was introduced along with other honeysuckles as an ornamental and privacy shrubbery. But like many of the mistakes made by settlers in the area, bush honeysuckle has had a devastating effect. Attributes that were attractive when introduced – hardiness, quick growth, visually dense – are now the reasons bush honeysuckle pose one of the largest threats to the biodiversity of our natural areas as they crowd and shade native plants. Join us to cut and remove these invaders! Meet at the park entrance on Beechwood Drive, north of Sunset Road (map). Pre-registration 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 (we recommend layered clothing in winter) and closed-toed shoes and 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 here. (http://tinyurl.com/Kuebler012222)
Winter Nature Walk
Furstenberg Nature Area
Sunday, January 30
1-2 p.m.
A winter walk can be just the thing to lift our spirits and access the healing power of nature. Join us for the first of three winter walks. Furstenberg Nature Area is a 38-acre park on Fuller Road, west of Gallup Park. Enjoy wetlands, woodlands, prairie, and oak savanna on this nature walk with a staff naturalist from Natural Area Preservation (City of Ann Arbor). Learn about native plants and trees, invasive plants, ecological restoration, and lots more. Make sure to dress for the weather (we recommend layered clothing in winter) and bring a water bottle. Meet us at the Furstenberg parking lot off Fuller Rd (map).
For more information about what each of these events may require, please read more about volunteering with NAP
here.
