Archived News Release: May 2, 2018 - City of Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation (NAP) works to protect and restore Ann Arbor's natural areas and to foster an environmental ethic among its citizens. This involves conducting plant and animal inventories, ecological monitoring and stewardship projects in Ann Arbor parks. These tasks are performed by both staff and volunteers. Volunteer opportunities coming up in June are listed below. For stewardship workdays, 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.
For more information about NAP, visit www.a2gov.org/NAP.
Bird Walk
Friday, June 1
Argo Nature Area
9–11 a.m.
Join Natural Area Preservation's ornithologist, Juliet Berger, for a bird walk around the Argo Cascades and nature area to celebrate the River Hop. Bring binoculars and dress for the weather. Breeding birds will be settling down to nest, and we hope to see, and will definitely hear, a wide variety of them at this beautiful nature area along the Huron River. Meet at the canoe livery.
Saturday, June 2
Leslie Woods Nature Area
9 a.m.–noon
This woodland has some of the largest oaks in the Ann Arbor parks, plus a very diverse understory. The plants here are threatened by invasive species like garlic mustard. Join us to remove non-native species and allow native plants to flourish. Meet at the park entrance at the north end of Upland Drive, north of Plymouth Road.
Saturday, June 2
Stapp Nature Area
1–4 p.m.
Stapp Nature Area boasts a large diversity of trees in a small area. It's a great place to go for a walk and observe wildlife and wildflowers. Come celebrate National Trails Day and help us build a new entrance trail to the park. Meet at the park sign at the corner of Huron Parkway and Tuebingen Parkway.
Sunday, June 3
Bird Hills Nature Area
9 a.m.–noon
Calling all trail advocates! Bird Hills is a favorite hiking destination of many, with 3.7 miles of hilly trails. Join us on National Trails Day to maintain these trails so visitors can continue to enjoy their hikes. Meet at the Beechwood entrance off of Sunset Road.
Sunday, June 3
Brokaw Nature Area
1–4 p.m.
Brokaw Nature Area is one of Ann Arbor's newest parks; it needs some trails so visitors can enjoy its beauty. Celebrate National Trails day with us by creating some trails on this new property. Meet at the park entrance on Huron River Drive just south of Wagner Road.
Mayor's Green Fair
Friday, June 8
Main Street between Huron Street and William Street
6–9 p.m.
The City of Ann Arbor Mayor's office is hosting the 18th annual Mayor's Green Fair to celebrate our community's environmental leadership as exhibited by citizens, nonprofits, government and businesses. Ann Arbor's downtown Main Street will be closed to car traffic between Huron and William streets, remaining open for pedestrians. Green Fair guests will enjoy displays of environmental information, "green" products, live music and the general urban outdoor environment. Information, entertainment and hands-on activities for all ages will be provided. Be sure to visit NAP's table!
Bird Walk
Saturday, June 9
Wheeler Service Center, 4150 Platt Road
7:30–9:30 a.m.
The fields at Wheeler Service Center are home to uncommon grassland birds, including bobolinks and eastern meadowlarks. We'll find these and other grassland species and look for waterfowl on the pond. Please come prepared to walk in fields of tall grass. Bring binoculars if you have them, but they are not required. Use the Platt Road entrance and look for us in the small parking lot at the first turnoff on the right.
Saturday, June 9
Onder Nature Area
9 a.m.–noon
Onder Nature Area is a small park, but part of a larger green corridor on the city's north side. It has a variety of both wet and dry habitats. Join us to pull non-native species such as dame's rocket that threaten these habitats. Meet at the intersection of Hilldale Drive and Brookside Drive.
Sunday, June 10
Fuller Park
1–4 p.m.
The natural area at Fuller Park is a floodplain forest with water-loving trees such as sycamores. Wildflowers, like violets and bloodroot, are also abundant. Help us pull invasive garlic mustard and dame's rocket to protect this special community. Meet in the gravel Island Park parking lot at the end of Island drive.
Tuesday, June 12
Bruegger's Bagels, 709 N. University Ave.
7:30–8:30 a.m.
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, visit www.stewardshipnetwork.org. This month's topic: Soil microbes and restoring prairies. Restoring prairie habitat to former agricultural land in Michigan is a widespread practice, but restored communities rarely resemble the communities in remnant prairies. Altered microbial communities may explain why. Join us to discover whether we can use microbes from remnant prairies to help desirable plant species thrive in restored prairies.
Saturday, June 16
Furstenberg Native Garden
9 a.m.–noon
Do you love native plants? The Furstenberg native garden showcases a variety of beautiful Michigan natives. Lend a hand weeding the garden and learn more about native gardening. Meet in the parking lot off of Fuller Road.
Saturday, June 16
Riverwood Nature Area
1–4 p.m.
This small park is home to many native plant species including beautiful flowering dogwoods. Non-native plants like garlic mustard threaten these native species. Help us maintain the quality of this woodland by pulling these exotic plants. Meet near the park sign on Riverwood Drive, just west of Newport Road.
Saturday, June 23
Barton Nature Area
9 a.m.–noon
Pollinator Week is an international celebration of bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles! Barton Nature Area is one of the top spots to see butterflies in Ann Arbor. Help protect their habitat by pulling invasive species in the prairie. Meet at the Barton Dam parking lot just north of Bird Road on Huron River Drive.
Saturday, June 23
Kuebler Langford Nature Area
1–4 p.m.
Love butterflies? This nature area is home to 35 species! Join us during Pollinator Week to maintain butterfly habitat by pulling non-native species around the park. Meet at the park entrance on Beechwood Drive, north of Sunset Road.
Sunday, June 24
Bluffs Nature Area
9 a.m.–noon
This once-disturbed site is now home to a prairie and many butterflies and insects. Celebrate Pollinator Week with NAP by pulling invasive species that threaten this precious pollinator habitat. Meet at the entrance on Sunset Road, near Wildt Street.
Sunday, June 24
Olson Park
1–4 p.m.
Celebrate Pollinator Week by helping butterflies and other insect pollinators! This park is home to the city's largest population of wild indigo duskywing butterflies, a rare species in our area. Help improve habitat for pollinators by pulling non-native species in the prairie. Meet us at the entrance on Dhu Varren Road, just east of Pontiac Trail.
Nature Walk with Ann Arbor District Library
Thursday, June 28
Bandemer Park
6–7:30 p.m.
This park is home to a variety of birds, butterflies, frogs and toads. Join NAP staff on a family-friendly walk through the park to learn more about this diversity. We will meet at the south end of the park, in the parking lot off Lake Shore Drive (via Main Street). Wear comfortable clothes, and bring water if desired. The nature walks are a collaboration between the AADL and NAP that take place once a month April through September. Some of AADL's Science Tools will be available for use during the walk!
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Photo credit: Therese Roth
