Archived News Release: June 9, 2020 - Volunteer stewardship workdays with City of Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation (NAP) are resuming with changes in response to COVID-19. Volunteer opportunities coming up in June are listed below.
In addition to the standard requirements, additional safety measures are also now in place. Participants are asked to:
Stay home when ill or showing signs of illness.
Wear long pants.
Wear closed-toed shoes.
Be accompanied by a guardian if of minor age.
(new) Wear a mask or other face covering.
(new) Maintain a 6-foot distance from others at all times during the events.
(new) Bring their own bottled water, snacks, insect repellant and sunscreen.
(new) Preregister using Rec-1 (https://secure.rec1.com/MI/city-of-ann-arbor/catalog. Registration for each event must take place by noon on the Friday prior to the weekend which it occurs. Unique links to each event in Rec-1 are provided below.
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. To stay up to date on all NAP events, visit www.a2gov.org/NAPevents.
Stewardship Workday
Saturday, June 13, 9 a.m.–noon
Oakwoods Nature Area
Oakwoods Nature Area is a lovely woodland and a hidden gem, but parts of it needs some love! Recent residential growth in north Ann Arbor resulted in an expansion of Oakwoods Nature Area north to M-14. Invasives here bloom and set seed by shooting seeds several feet from the parent plant. Help NAP by pulling the invasives and stopping the cycle! Preregistration through Rec-1 is required, as space is limited. Participants must wear a mask and maintain a 6-foot distance from others at all times. Meeting location will be provided after registration. Register here: https://secure.rec1.com/MI/city-of-ann-arbor/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTExNDY3NzM=
Stewardship Workday
Saturday, June 13, 1–4 p.m.
Sugarbush Nature Area
Join NAP in this scenic part of Ann Arbor to pull invasive species. These non-native and aggressive plants impact the ability for native species to thrive. Help protect delicious fruiting plants like the native pawpaw grove for future generations at Sugarbush. Preregistration through Rec-1 is required as space is limited. Participants must wear a mask and maintain a 6-foot distance from others at all times. Meeting location will be provided after registration. Register here: https://secure.rec1.com/MI/city-of-ann-arbor/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTExNDY3ODU=
Stewardship Workday
Sunday, June 14, 9 a.m.–noon
Argo Nature Area
The narrow strip of parkland that protects the Huron River just north of the Argo Canoe Livery needs help! Invasive plants threaten the health of the river and push out beautiful native flowers that support butterflies and other pollinators. Join NAP to keep these natural treasures safe and healthy. Preregistration through Rec-1 is required as space is limited. Participants must wear a mask and maintain a 6-foot distance from others at all times. Meeting location will be provided after registration. Register here: https://secure.rec1.com/MI/city-of-ann-arbor/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTExNDY4MTc=
Stewardship Workday
Sunday, June 14, 1–4 p.m.
Cedar Bend Nature Area
Did you know? The hairpin turn in the trail at Cedar Bend was designed to mimic the riverbend below. Invasive plants are crowding the view in this park and are making it difficult to get the full Cedar Bend experience. Join NAP to help keep this park free from non-native, aggressive plants! Preregistration through Rec-1 is required as space is limited. Participants must wear a mask and maintain a 6-foot distance from others at all times. Meeting location will be provided after registration. Register here: https://secure.rec1.com/MI/city-of-ann-arbor/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTExNDY4MzE=
Stewardship Workday
Saturday, June 20, 9 a.m.–noon
Black Pond Woods Nature Area
This shady woodland is a wonderful place to spend a summer morning! Enjoy the fresh air and rolling hills while pulling invasive species that threaten the health of this ecologically important park. Then, take a peek at the natural feature NAP is working to protect at the end of the day: Black Pond! Preregistration through Rec-1 is required as space is limited. Participants must wear a mask and maintain a 6-foot distance from others at all times. Meeting location will be provided after registration. Register here: https://secure.rec1.com/MI/city-of-ann-arbor/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTExNDY4NDU=
Stewardship Workday
Saturday, June 20, 1–4 p.m.
Dhu Varren/Foxfire South
Native pollinators rely on native plants to raise their young; and this park is the place to be for pollinators! Help NAP protect the population of wild indigo duskywing butterflies, a rare species in our area, by removing encroaching invasive species from the butterfly's habitat. Preregistration through Rec-1 is required as space is limited. Participants must wear a mask and maintain a 6-foot distance from others at all times. Meeting location will be provided after registration. Register here: https://secure.rec1.com/MI/city-of-ann-arbor/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTExNDY4NDY=
Stewardship Workday
Sunday, June 21, 9 a.m.–noon
Mary Beth Doyle Park
This wonderland of a park has everything you can think of! Disc golf, a stream, a wetland, paved trails, natural trails, boardwalks, beautiful native flowers … and invasive species, too! Help NAP remove these non-native, aggressive plants and protect the wildflowers that call this park home. Preregistration through Rec-1 is required as space is limited. Participants must wear a mask and maintain a 6-foot distance from others at all times. Meeting location will be provided after registration. Register here: https://secure.rec1.com/MI/city-of-ann-arbor/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTExNDY4NTE=
Stewardship Workday
Sunday, June 21, 1–4 p.m.
Redbud Nature Area
Redbud Nature Area contains a moist woodland bordering Malletts Creek and has large swaths of wild ginger and other cool native plants. It may be too late to see the beautiful redbuds in bloom but volunteers can still lend a hand! Pulling one invasive plant here will prevent up to 5,500 new seeds from being spread and make a huge difference. Preregistration through Rec-1 is required as space is limited. Participants must wear a mask and maintain a 6-foot distance from others at all times. Meeting location will be provided after registration. Register here: https://secure.rec1.com/MI/city-of-ann-arbor/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTExNDY4NTQ=
Stewardship Workday
Saturday, June 27, 9 a.m.–noon
Kuebler Langford Nature Area
Now is the time to visit this nature area! Discover a tall grass prairie, rolling woodlands and a creek in a shaded ravine while assisting with invasive plant removal. See how this area has responded to a prescribed burn last fall; and possibly spy some plants found in very few other parks. Preregistration through Rec-1 is required as space is limited. Participants must wear a mask and maintain a 6-foot distance from others at all times. Meeting location will be provided after registration. Register here: https://secure.rec1.com/MI/city-of-ann-arbor/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTExNDY4NTU=
Stewardship Workday
Saturday, June 27, 1–4 p.m.
Barton Nature Area
Discover prairies wedged between the oxbow of the Huron River and railroad tracks whose trains sparked fires that kept many midwestern prairies alive for all to enjoy today. NAP has been working hard to expand the prairies here and control the spread of invasive plants, but more help is needed! Spend the afternoon enjoying the bird songs and learning more about this important habitat. Preregistration through Rec-1 is required as space is limited. Participants must wear a mask and maintain a 6-foot distance from others at all times. Meeting location will be provided after registration. Register here: https://secure.rec1.com/MI/city-of-ann-arbor/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTExNDY4NTY=
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