Archived News Release: September 17, 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. For more information about NAP, visit
www.a2gov.org/NAP.
Below are the events e currently planned for October 2021. To attend a workday, participants are encouraged to preregister using
VolunteerHub at
http://vhub.at/NAP, links to each event in VolunteerHub are provided below. At all NAP workdays, please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes, bring a water bottle and gloves; stay home if you are feeling unwell.
NSP 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 our volunteers and the public safe. Should it be prudent to make changes to the event schedule, the NAP website will be updated, and NAP will notify anyone registered for events. Please visit
www.a2gov.org/NAPevents for the most up-to-date information.
Stewardship Workday
Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021
9 a.m. – noon
Dolph Nature Area
Ann Arbor's park system contains several interesting varieties of landforms created by glaciers around 10,000 years ago, including the two kettle lakes at Dolph Park. Unique plants and animals can be found at First and Second Sister Lakes and their adjoining wetlands and marshes — First Sister Lake even hosts the only bog in the park system. At this workday, participants will be caring for the herp habitat at Dolph by carefully cutting invasive shrubs and installing “buckthorn baggies." “Buckthorn baggies" are thick black plastic sheets that must be carefully placed around the stump after the invasive shrub has been removed. This technique is time consuming, but if done correctly, can reduce the need to use herbicides. Please join NAP to help with this experimental technique. Meet at the Dolph parking lot off Wagner Road. (map). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. Register
http://tinyurl.com/Dolph100221
Stewardship Workday
Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021
1-4 p.m.
Fritz Park
Neighbors and friends of Fritz Park have made amazing headway removing dense and unsightly thickets of the invasive shrub buckthorn and opening up the forest floor to make way for native wildflowers like black snakeroot and white baneberry. Participants will be keeping up the momentum of conservation by cutting and removing invasive shrubs. Meet at the park entrance at the corner of Russett Road and Hewett Road. (map). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. Register at
http://tinyurl.com/Fritz100221
Stewardship Workday
World Habitat Day
Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021
9 a.m. – noon
Braun Nature Area
In 1985 the United Nations designated #WorldHabitatDay to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right of all to adequate shelter, as well as to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat. NAP works to ensure the future of the human habitat through conservation efforts that protect and restore natural areas — efforts that contribute to the health of the local ecosystem while fostering an environmental ethic in the community. Join NAP in observing #WorldHabitatDay by removing invasive shrubs at Braun Nature Area. Meet at the park entrance on Chalmers Drive about ½ mile north of Washtenaw Avenue (map) (look for the city truck and friendly NAP staff waiting to greet you). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. Register at
http://tinyurl.com/Braun100321
Stewardship Workday
Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021
1-4 p.m.
Mary Beth Doyle Park
You're invited to spend an afternoon with NAP and some extremely dedicated volunteers at the beloved Mary Beth Doyle Park. Learn about and support the diverse and delightful plants and animals that have been given the chance to thrive thanks to the concerted efforts of local agencies and private citizens like you. At this workday, participants will be cutting and removing invasive shrubs and collecting seeds from native plants in the park. Meet at the end of Verle Road, two blocks west of Platt Road. (map). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. Register at
http://tinyurl.com/Doyle100921
Stewards' Circle
Tuesday, Oct. 12, 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! You are invited to join us at the newly renovated Veterans Memorial Park Meeting Room to share your experiences and learn from your peers. This month's topic: planning resources. “What methods do you use to you keep track of your restoration work? Are there any tools for planning that have helped you? What doesn't work?" After the discussion group, join in on a happy hour just up the street at HOMES Brewery to further connect with other land stewards! For more information, go to www.stewardshipnetwork.org.
Stewardship Workday
Sunday, Oct. 14
1-4pm
Stapp Nature Area
Help honor late environmental activist, Dr. William B. Stapp, by removing invasive shrubs at Stapp Nature Area. Dr. Stapp helped plan the first ever Earth Day in 1970 in an effort to think globally and act locally. Recognized for his contributions to environmental education in Ann Arbor Public Schools, Dr. Stapp understood the importance of community outreach in the fight for climate justice. Together, let's continue restoration of Stapp's oak-hickory forest — and bring your friends and family! Please meet at the park entrance on Traverwood Drive, just south of the Ann Arbor District Library (map).
Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. Register at
http://tinyurl.com/Stapp101421
Stewardship Workday
Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021
1-4 p.m.
Marshall Nature Area
This large park (almost 90 acres) is next to natural areas owned by Washtenaw County and the University of Michigan. The expansive area of natural habitat makes each part of it that much more valuable for conservation. Join NAP for two conservation activities: collecting seeds from native plants and cutting and removing invasive shrubs. Meet in the parking lot off Dixboro Road, north of Plymouth Road. (map). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. Register at
http://tinyurl.com/Marshall101621
Stewardship Workday
Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021
9 a.m. – noon
Bird Hills Nature Area
Autumn in Bird Hills Nature Area is a delight! The picturesque trees and the rolling hills make it a wonderful place to spend a morning. Join NAP to maintain this natural beauty by cutting invasive shrubs. Meet at the Newport Road parking lot, just north of M-14 (map). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. Register at
http://tinyurl.com/BirdHills101721
Stewardship Workday
Make a Difference Day
Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021
9 a.m. – noon
Kuebler Langford Nature Area
Join us for #MakeaDifferenceDay — the annual holiday that encourages everyone to engage in community service activities. NAP will be at Kuebler Langford to cut and remove invasive shrubs threatening the native flora and fauna that serve the larger ecosystem we all rely upon. #MDDay Meet at the park entrance on Beechwood Drive, north of Sunset Road. (map). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. Register at
http://tinyurl.com/Kuebler102321
Stewardship Workday
Make a Difference Day
Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021
1-4 p.m.
Miller Nature Area
In Miller Nature Area, there is an area with great disturbance history — logging in the 1800s, farming in the early 20th century, gravel mining after 1950 — as well as a more recent history of trash, yard waste, and other dumping. There has also been an astonishing recovery — mature oaks and hickory, and thriving native jewelweed — after these disturbances, thanks to the dedication of park stewards and other volunteers who committed themselves to making a difference. Participants will be continuing the recovery efforts on #MakeaDifferenceDay by cutting and removing invasive shrubs. #MDDay Meet at the Arborview Boulevard entrance, just east of Wildwood Avenue. (map). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. Register at
http://tinyurl.com/Miller102321
Stewardship Workday
Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021
1 – 4 p.m.
Botsford Nature Area
A lovely and peaceful setting throughout the year, Botsford Nature Area is a great place to spend time getting to know the native plants of the area. The oak-hickory woodland contains exceptionally diverse flora that need help to protect and maintain their habitat from non-native plants. At this workday, participants will be cutting invasive shrubs and collecting native seeds. Meet at the Miller Road parking area north of M-14, just past the sign for Botsford Recreational Preserve (map). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. Register at
http://tinyurl.com/Botsford102421
Stewardship Workday
Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021
1-4 p.m.
Gallup Park
This high-quality sedge meadow is composed of perennial forbs, grass and sedge mixtures that grow in saturated soils. The native wetland plants — some quite rare — need help gaining a strong foothold to fend off invasion by exotic plants. Help NAP protect the natural diversity in this and other parks by removing invasive brush and collecting native seeds to be dispersed as part of future conservation efforts. Meet in the Gallup Park parking lot, just over the wooden bridge (map). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. Register at
http://tinyurl.com/Gallup103021
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