Archived News Release: March 5, 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 April 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.
Saturday, April 4, 1–4 p.m.
Oakwoods Nature Area
Join NAP in this oak-hickory woodland to work on opening up more views of the pond and wetland. Listen for spring frog calls and spot some birds as we cut shrubs in several park spots. Meet at the park entrance on Dunwoodie Road (map).
Sunday, April 5, 1–4 p.m.
Evergreen Park
Help NAP restore this small but mighty neighborhood greenspace! Meet at the park entrance on Valley Drive (map).
Saturday, April 11, 9 a.m.–noon
Berkshire Creek Nature Area
We'll highlight all the parts of nature that make Earth so great by helping the native species that protect Mallet's Creek, the forest, and all the wildlife in the area. Join NAP to remove the non-native species threatening the area. Meet at the end of Warwick Road off Glenwood, north of Washtenaw Avenue (map).
Tuesday, April 14, 7–9 p.m.
Natural Area Preservation Office, 3875 E. Huron River Drive
Learn how to survey for breeding birds in Ann Arbor's parks! Some experience in bird identification is necessary. Sign up for your favorite park, pick up survey materials, and learn about the 2019 survey results. Please register by April 10. For more information, or to register, call NAP at 734.794.6627, or email
[email protected].
Saturday, April 18, 1–4 p.m.
Folkstone Park
Meet neighbors, spend a spring afternoon outdoors, and make Folkstone Park more beautiful! Help NAP pull and cut some invasive plants working toward increasing the biodiversity in this nature area. Meet at the park entrance at the north end of Folkstone Court (map).
Sunday, April 19, 9 a.m.–noon
Marshall Nature Area Preserve
Celebrate Earth Day and help native flora and fauna thrive by removing aggressive non-native and invasive plants. Help NAP maintain this beautiful oak-hickory forest while enjoying the bird songs of the many different species that call this park home. Meet in the parking lot off Dixboro Road, north of Plymouth Road (map).
Saturday, April 25, 9 a.m.–noon
Sunset Brooks Nature Area
It's trails time! We would not be able to enjoy our parks fully without trails. Help NAP maintain Sunset Brooks' beautiful trails that provide the neighborhood with views of the stream, pine canopies and flowering dogwood grove. Meet at the Beechwood entrance off of Sunset Road (map).
Saturday, April 25, 1–4 p.m.
Bird Hills Nature Area
Bird Hills gives us the opportunity to view many different kinds of wildlife, including reptiles, amphibians and tons of fascinating birds. Numerous types of key tree species can also be found in the area's mesic and wet forests, including Washtenaw County's largest sugar maple! Help NAP make room for more native plants as we pull and cut invasive plants. Meet at the Bird Road entrance to the park, west of Huron River Drive (map).
Turtle Steward Kick-off and Training
Saturday, April 25, 1:30–3:30 p.m., optional outdoor event 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave.
At least six species of turtles live and nest in the city, maybe more! Help NAP maintain and protect nest sites, monitor populations, and look for turtles in habitats along the Huron River and nearby waters! NAP will cover species identification, nest maintenance and monitoring, and how to report your turtle observations. The required training will be indoors at the Ann Arbor Senior Center 1:30–3:30 p.m., with an optional outdoor session at Gallup Park, 3000 Fuller Road, until 4:30 p.m. Please register by April 22. For more information or to register, call NAP at 734.794.6627, or email
[email protected].
Sunday, April 26, 9 a.m.–noon
Leslie Woods Nature Area
Celebrate Arbor Day with NAP in Leslie Woods Nature Area! This forested area is home to some of Ann Arbor Parks' largest oaks and hickories, a perfect spot for Arbor Day volunteering. NAP volunteers will be pulling garlic mustard to make room for those lovely trees and other native plants. Meet at the park entrance at the north end of Upland Drive, north of Plymouth Road (map).
# # # # #
