Archived News Release: September 5, 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 October are listed below. For more information about NAP, visit www.a2gov.org/NAP. 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.
Sunday, Oct. 7
Mary Beth Doyle Park
1 to 4 p.m.
The woodland at Mary Beth Doyle Park contains an exceptional diversity of native trees and shrubs. Help protect the native plants by cutting invasive shrubs such as honeysuckle and buckthorn. There will be opportunity to collect native seeds in the prairie as well. Meet at the parking lot off Packard Road, across from Easy Street.
Monday, Oct. 8
NAP Office, 3875 East Huron River Drive
7 to 8:30 p.m.
Fire is used as a restoration tool in many of Ann Arbor's natural areas. This meeting provides information and an opportunity for discussion about NAP's Controlled Ecological Burn Program. This is the perfect opportunity to ask questions, learn more about the ecological benefits of burning, and hear about the specifics of effectively and safely using fire as a restoration tool. Burns are conducted in city parks throughout the spring and fall.
All persons are encouraged to participate in public meetings. Accommodations, including sign language interpreters, may be arranged by contacting the city clerk's office at 734.794.6140; via email to: [email protected]; or by written request addressed and mailed or delivered to: City Clerk's Office, 301 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Requests made with less than two business days notice may not be able to be accommodated.
Tuesday, Oct. 9
Bruegger's Bagels, 709 N University Ave
7:30 to 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 go to www.stewardshipnetwork.org. This month's topic: Partnering with U-M SEAS. Learn how the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) engages with local stewards, practitioners and educators involved in conservation and restoration. SEAS has many partnerships from student research on the avian use of Ann Arbor rain gardens, to an educational tool on phragmites control in the Detroit International Wildlife Refuge to public stewardship opportunities in university-owned properties. How can SEAS partner with you?
Sunday, Oct. 14
Furstenberg Nature Area
9 a.m.–noon
Furstenberg Nature Area is 38 acres of rich habitat diversity, including tall grass prairie, oak woodland and wetlands. Non-native plants are choking the native plants and we need your help to stop them. Spend the day enjoying the beauty of this park while removing non-native offenders. Meet in the parking lot off Fuller Road.
Sunday, Oct. 14
Ruthven Nature Area
1–4 p.m.
Ruthven Nature Area is a 20-acre park with a hill that overlooks the Huron River. NAP staff and volunteers have done a lot of work to restore the native plant communities here. Lend a hand with this restoration work by cutting invasive shrubs and collecting native seeds. Meet at the Gallup boat dock parking lot, at the southeast corner of Huron Parkway and Geddes Road.
Volunteer Appreciation Potluck
Thursday, Oct. 18
6:30–9:30 p.m.
Cobblestone Farm, 2781 Packard Road
All volunteers, past, present and future, are invited to our annual appreciation event! Let's celebrate our collective accomplishments while sharing food and community. Games, door prizes and fun activities for all. Please bring a dish to pass and friends or family. Costumes are encouraged. RSVPs appreciated. Call 734.794.6627 or email [email protected] by Oct. 16.
Sunday, Oct. 21
Sunset Brooks Nature Area
9 a.m.–noon
What better way to spend a crisp fall morning than exploring the 7.8 acre hickory woodland of Sunset Brooks? You can enjoy the wetlands and dogwood groves while helping to maintain them by removing threatening, invasive shrubs. Meet at the Beechwood entrance to the park.
Sunday, Oct. 21
Bird Hills Nature Area
1–4 p.m.
Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. Come see how gorgeous the 161 acres of Bird Hills are right now while simultaneously helping to protect these acres by removing invasive shrubs like buckthorn. We'll also collect native seeds in order to help spread these native plants. Meet at the Beechwood entrance off Sunset Road.
Saturday, Oct. 27
Miller Nature Area
1–4 p.m.
Miller Nature Area is an example of a disturbed site returning to its former natural beauty. However, many invasive species remain. Join us to cut non-native shrubs to increase the native biodiversity. Meet at the Arborview Boulevard entrance, just east of Wildwood Avenue.
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