Archived News Release: August 5, 2019 - 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's parks. These tasks are performed by both staff and volunteers. Volunteer opportunities coming up in September are listed below.
Please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes for stewardship workdays. In addition, 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.
Stewardship Workday - National Day of Service and Remembrance
Sunday, Sept. 8, 9 a.m.-noon
Stapp Nature Area
The National Day of Service and Remembrance promotes community service as a tribute to the 9/11 victims, survivors and responders. Join us to protect biodiversity in our community. Stapp Nature Area is a rare remnant forest, with no known history of disturbance. Help remove the invasive shrubs threatening this mature forest. Meet at the park sign on the corner of Huron Parkway and Tuebingen Parkway (map).
Bird Walk
Sunday, Sept. 8, 5-6:30 p.m.
Mary Beth Doyle Park
Join NAP's ornithologist, Juliet Berger, on a walk around this diverse park, which includes a storm water retention pond often frequented by migrating shorebirds. If there is mud around the pond, we may see killdeer, spotted sandpiper and other more-exotic species. There may be migrating waterfowl on the pond as well. NAP and volunteers will also search for fall migrating songbirds in the woods. Bring binoculars if you have them, and be prepared for walking in potentially muddy areas. Meet in the parking lot at the end of Birch Hollow Drive (map).
Tuesday, Sept. 10, 7:30-8:30 a.m.
Bruegger's Bagels, 709 N. University Ave.
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: Stiltgrass. The Washtenaw Stiltgrass Working Group was formed in order to address the problem of invasive stiltgrass. Come learn why stiltgrass is so troublesome, what the long-term plans are for treating it, and why collaborations may be a good structure for addressing ecological problems.
Stewardship Workday
Saturday, Sept. 14, 9 a.m.-noon
Arbor Hills Nature Area
Located in the Arbor Hills development, this nature area provides walking trails for neighbors as well as habitat for a variety of frogs. Non-native shrubs are disrupting this wetland. Assist NAP in cutting these shrubs to conserve this neighborhood habitat. Meet at the park entrance on Ashburnam (map).
Stewardship Workday
Saturday, Sept. 14, 1-4 p.m.
Oakwoods Nature Area
Oakwoods Nature Area was recently expanded, adding more lovely woods to this park. The wide variety of trees here provide homes for wildlife including birds, frogs and salamanders. Join NAP to maintain this diversity by cutting invasive shrubs such as buckthorn. Meet at the park entrance off of Dunwoodie (map).
Stewardship Workday
Sunday, Sept. 15, 9 a.m.-noon
Dhu Varren Woods Nature Area
Dhu Varren Woods is a high quality woodland that is part of a green corridor along the Traver Creek watershed. A patch of non-native shrubs lies on the border of Dhu Varren Woods and Foxfire South Nature Area. Help NAP remove these shrubs and preserve the biodiversity of both parks! Meet at the intersection of Birchwood Drive and Dhu Varren Road (map).
Stewardship Workday
Saturday, Sept. 21, 1-4 p.m.
Cedar Bend Nature Area
Cedar Bend Nature Area is a mature 20-acre woodland. Work with NAP to protect this forest from invading non-native shrubs. NAP and volunteers will be using hand saws and loppers to remove these invasive species. Meet at the Island Park parking lot, at the end of Island Drive (map).
Stewardship Workday
Sunday, Sept. 22, 9 a.m.-noon
Ruthven Nature Area
Ruthven Nature Area is an ecological restoration success story! Areas once dominated by invasive shrubs are now open oak woodlands and prairies. Lend a hand to continue NAP's restoration work by cutting exotic shrubs to keep them from re-establishing in these areas. Meet at the Gallup boat launch parking lot, at the southeast corner of Huron Parkway and Geddes Road (map).
Stewardship Workday
Sunday, Sept. 22, 1-4 p.m.
Furstenberg Nature Area
Autumn is a beautiful time to visit Furstenberg Nature Area. The woods are teeming with blooming goldenrods and white snakeroot. Take part in our effort to care for these native wildflowers by clearing away non-native shrubs such as honeysuckle. Meet in the parking lot off Fuller Road (map).
Nature Walk with Ann Arbor District Library
Thursday, Sept. 26, 6-7:30 p.m.
Bluffs Nature Area
There's so much to see at Bluffs Nature Area, from woodland to open prairie to the views over Argo Pond. Join us for a family-friendly nature walk through this diverse park to see how nature is changing as fall begins. Meet at the entrance on Sunset Road near Wildt Street (map). 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.
Stewardship Workday- National Public Lands Day
Saturday, Sept. 28, 9 a.m.-noon
Bluffs Nature Area
National Public Lands Day is the largest single-day volunteer effort for America's public lands. Join NAP to protect one of Ann Arbor's public lands from invasive shrubs. The wooded hills of Bluffs Nature Area are enjoyed by hikers and mountain bikers alike. Help cut honeysuckle and buckthorn to keep this area beautiful. Meet at the entrance on Sunset Road near Wildt Street (map).
Stewardship Workday
Sunday, Sept. 29, 1-4 p.m.
Argo Nature Area
Argo Nature Area provides hikers with wonderful views of the Huron River and the changing fall colors along its banks. Unfortunately, non-native shrubs are lurking in this nature area. Assist in removing these shrubs to keep these woods and the views open. Meet in the parking lot north of the Argo Canoe Livery, off Longshore Drive (map).
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