Archived News Release: September 2, 2021 - 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.
NAP has many events currently planned for September 2021. To attend a workday, participants are encouraged to preregister using VolunteerHub at http://vhub.at/NAP; a link to VolunteerHub is provided with each event listing. At all NAP workdays, participants are asked to please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes, bring a water bottle and gloves, and stay home if you are feeling unwell. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided. For more information about NAP, visit www.a2gov.org/NAP.
Natural Area Preservation is continuing to closely monitor recommendations from city and other health officials. As a result, the events listed are subject to change in order keep volunteers and the public safe. Should it be prudent to make changes to the event schedule, NAP will update its website and notify anyone that registered for events. Please visit www.a2gov.org/NAPevents for the most up-to-date information.
National Day of Service and Remembrance
Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, 9 a.m.–noon
Oakwoods Nature Area
Each year on 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, volunteers across the country engage in acts of service to honor the victims and heroes of that day. On this 20th anniversary, join NAP in recapturing the spirit of unity that swept the nation in the wake of tragedy. Participants will be removing invasive shrubs such as buckthorn and honeysuckle so that the wildlife can thrive. Meet at the park entrance off Dunwoodie (map). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. Register at http://tinyurl.com/Oakwoo091121.
National Day of Service and Remembrance
Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, 1–4 p.m.
Dhu Varren Nature Area
As stewards of Ann Arbor's Natural Areas, NAP volunteers serve the greater community by bolstering the local ecosystem, maintaining and expanding access to quality experiences in nature, and strengthening bonds through volunteerism. Commemorate this National Day of Service and Remembrance with NAP by cutting and removing invasive shrubs and making way for native plants to flourish. Meet at the trailhead off of Dhu Varren Road across from Birchwood Drive (map). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. Register at http://tinyurl.com/DhuVar091121.
Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, 9 a.m.–noon
Folkstone Park
Folkstone Nature Area was set aside during the development of neighboring Greenbrier Park, to preserve some of the oak-hickory forest found there. Oak-hickory ecosystems depend on fire to maintain diverse, native plant and animal communities. Join NAP to cut and remove invasive shrubs too large to be affected by controlled burns. Meet at the park entrance at the north end of Folkstone Court (map). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. Register at http://tinyurl.com/Folkst091221.
Stewards' Circle
Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021
5:30–6:30 p.m. (Followed by happy hour nearby!)
Veterans Memorial Park Meeting Room
Introducing a whole new Stewards Circle! For the last 10 years, the Huron Arbor Cluster of the Stewardship Network has been gathering monthly with a local expert to answer your questions; now it's time to flip the script! All are invited to join this group at the newly renovated Veterans Memorial Park meeting room to share experiences and learn from peers. This month's topic: summer invasives control. One of the members has asked, “When controlling summer invasives, when do you use alternatives to herbicide? Do you use any of these tools in combination? What were your successes and lessons learned?" After the discussion group, interested group members will attend a happy hour just up the street at Wolverine State Brewing Company to further connect with other land stewards!
Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, 9 a.m.–noon
Foxfire West Park
Foxfire West is mostly wetland, providing habitat for unique and sometimes rare species. The wetlands here include a fen — a peat-accumulating wetland fed by mineral-rich ground or surface water. Invasive shrubs threaten wetlands by crowding out the native flora and fauna that make this natural area special. Join NAP to cut and remove buckthorn and honeysuckle. Meet at the corner of Hickory Point Drive and Indian Creek Circle (map). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. Register at http://tinyurl.com/Foxfir091821.
Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, 9 a.m.–noon
Leslie Woods Nature Area
Leslie Woods is a historically intact woodland that remains a well-functioning ecosystem. In other words, Leslie Woods is one place you can visit to get a sense of what most of the Ann Arbor area looked like pre-European settlement. Leslie Park Golf Course, owned and operated by the City of Ann Arbor, borders this nature area. Come out to cut and remove invasive shrubs and help keep the ecosystem functioning well. Meet at the park entrance at the north end of Upland Drive, north of Plymouth Road (map). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. Register at http://tinyurl.com/Leslie091921.
National Public Lands Day
Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, 9 a.m.–noon
Cedar Bend Nature Area
National Public Lands Day is the nation's largest single-day volunteer event for public lands. Established in 1994, this celebration brings out thousands of volunteers to help restore and improve public lands around the country. NPLD is special because it provides all lovers of the environment — old and new — an opportunity to show appreciation for these precious natural resources through stewardship. Join NAP at Cedar Bend on NPLD to cut and remove invasive shrubs. Meet at the Island Park parking lot, at the end of Island Drive (map). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. Register at http://tinyurl.com/CedarB092521.
World Rivers Day
Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, 1–4 p.m.
Argo Nature Area
World Rivers Day is a celebration of the world's waterways — NAP and millions of people in more than 100 countries will participate in World Rivers Day this year. Join in to cut and remove invasive shrubs that threaten the health of waterways by competing with native plants. Meet on Longshore Drive at Amherst Avenue (map). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. Register at http://tinyurl.com/Argo092621.
# # # # #
