Archived News Release: January 6, 2020 - 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 February are listed below.
When participating in stewardship workdays, please dress in layers and wear shoes suitable for snow or wet ground. 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.
Sunday, Feb. 2, 1–3 p.m.
Foxfire West Nature Area
World Wetlands Day is celebrated each year to raise global awareness about the vital role of wetlands for people and our planet. The wetland at Foxfire West Nature Area not only provides habitat for wildlife that depend on water, like muskrats and ducks, it's also home to a variety of wetland wildflowers. Join in our efforts to keep this ecosystem healthy by removing invasive shrubs such as buckthorn. Meet at the park entrance on Birchwood Drive (map).
Saturday, Feb. 8, 1–3 p.m.
Furstenberg Nature Area
Furstenberg Nature Area is home to prime examples of many ecosystems including wetland, woodland, prairie and oak savanna. Come explore these various environments in their winter glory while helping to protect them by removing invasive shrubs. Please meet in the parking lot off Fuller Road (map).
Tuesday, Feb. 11, 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: Private Lands Conservation and Stewardship. This month, the focus will be on the unique issues facing private landowners interested in habitat management on their property. Resources for landowners will be offered, such as whom to reach out to for technical support and how to find financial resources for both stewardship and protection. Opportunities for public-private collaborative partnerships will also be discussed. Come prepared to share the challenges you are facing and we'll see if we can solve them together.
Monday, Feb. 17, 1–3 p.m.
Gallup Park
Spend your day off volunteering to help wildlife! A wet meadow lies along the border-to-border trail, but it is threatened by invasive shrubs. Clearing shrubs from this wetland will benefit both frogs and butterflies. Meet in the Gallup Park parking lot, just over the wooden bridge (map).
Tuesday, Feb. 18, 7–8:30 p.m.
Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave.
Fire is used as a restoration tool in many of Ann Arbor's natural areas. This meeting will be a discussion about NAP's controlled ecological burn program. Ask questions and learn more about the benefits of effectively and safely using fire as a restoration tool. 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.
Wednesday, Feb. 19, noon–5 p.m.
Become a part of NAP's volunteer burn crew! This is the required training session for anyone interested in assisting with NAP's controlled burns. Burns typically take place Monday through Friday between noon and 7 p.m. Registration is required by Tuesday, Feb. 18, as enrollment is limited. Call 734.794.6627 or email [email protected] to register or for more information. Some portion of training may be outdoors.
# # # # #
