Archived News Release: February 9, 2022 - 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. NAP is sharing events planned for March 2022.
To attend a workday, participants are encouraged to preregister using VolunteerHub at https://cityofannarbor.volunteerhub.com/lp/nap; links to each event in VolunteerHub are also provided with each description.
NAP is continuing to closely monitor recommendations from city and other health officials. As a result, the events planned 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 registered for events. Visit www.a2gov.org/NAPevents for the most up-to-date information.
At all NAP workdays, please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes (layered clothing is recommended in winter), bring a water bottle and gloves. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided. Stay home if you are feeling unwell. For more information about NAP, visit www.a2gov.org/NAP.
Salamander Survey Kickoff
Saturday, March 5
Noon–2 p.m.
Learn how to help NAP monitor salamanders in Ann Arbor's parks — there are five species here! Volunteers will select parks to survey and learn how to identify these rarely seen silent amphibians. Volunteers must be willing to walk in the woods on rainy cold spring nights and look under logs in the woods during the day, once a month in spring, summer and fall. Register at http://tinyurl.com/Salamander030522.
Frog and Toad Survey Kickoff
Saturday, March 5
2:30–4:30 p.m.
Everyone is invited to help monitor frog populations in Ann Arbor! No experience required! You will learn to identify frogs by ear and eye. There are about eight local species, with very distinct calls. You have a choice of routes to survey. Once per month, March through June, you'll travel your route through the city after dark, stopping to listen for frogs at designated points along the way and recording which species you hear and how loud their chorus is. Most routes require driving, but some points can be reached by bike or on foot. Register at http://tinyurl.com/FrogToad030522.
Oakridge Nature Area
Sunday, March 6
1–4 p.m.
If you're a wetland enthusiast, you might already know about the rare wetland type that exists within Oakridge Nature Area. A fen is characterized by its water chemistry, namely it is pH-neutral and contains a high amount of dissolved minerals relative to other wetland types. At this workday, participants will be cutting and removing invasive shrubs that threaten the biodiversity of Oakridge — especially the fen. Meet at the southeast corner of Huron Parkway and Glazier Way (map). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. Register at http://tinyurl.com/Oakridge030622.
Tuesday, March 8
5:30–6:30 p.m.
Veterans Memorial Park Meeting Room, 2150 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor
The Stewardship Network offers this monthly discussion group where local stewards of all experience levels (like you!) gather to answer and ask questions, swap stories, and share knowledge in an informal setting. This group looks forward to chatting with you about how you “do" stewardship! This month's topic: maintenance vs. rehabilitation. A recent Stewards' Circle discussion prompted these questions from a steward: What is the amount of work we need to do to a piece of land just to maintain it? Can maintaining certain areas — without prioritizing improvement of rehabilitation — be enough to mitigate degradation or damage to the larger ecosystem? After the discussion group, join the happy hour just up the street at HOMES Brewery to further connect with other land stewards!
Foxfire West Park
Saturday, March 12
1–4 p.m.
This little park is nestled in a neighborhood in the northern reaches of Ann Arbor. Despite being small, it is very diverse, with woodlands, wetlands and a sedge meadow. Help remove invasive honeysuckle and buckthorn to improve the habitat for the many species that call this area home. 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/FoxfireWest031222.
Barton Nature Area
Sunday, March 13
1–4 p.m.
Winter is a great time to get out to volunteer with NAP in Ann Arbor's natural areas. The experience can be magical and rewarding! Enjoy the quiet beauty of the winter landscape, and at the same time, support the ecosystem of the park and the greater area by removing invasive shrubs that crowd out the native vegetation. Meet at the main parking area off Barton Drive (map). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. Register at http://tinyurl.com/Barton031322.
Furstenberg Nature Area
Saturday, March 19
1–4 p.m.
This 38-acre park contains wetlands, woodlands, prairie and a rare oak savanna. The frozen ground will let participants work in the sedge meadow, where it is usually too soggy to walk around. Many special wetland plants grow in this unusual habitat, and are threatened by invasive shrubs, so volunteers will use hand tools to cut the shrubs and restore the habitat. Meet in the parking lot off Fuller Road (map). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. Register at http://tinyurl.com/Furstenberg031922.
Photo Monitoring Kickoff and Training
Sunday, March 20
11 a.m.– noon
Do you like photography and spending time outdoors? NAP needs volunteers to take photos at specific locations in parks throughout the year to record ecological changes and the progress of NAP's work. Join this informational meeting for more details. Register at http://tinyurl.com/PhotoMonitor2022.
Stewardship Workday
Fuller Park
Saturday, March 26
1–4 p.m.
The place we know as Fuller Park began with a land acquisition in 1907, with several additions between 1926–1981. There are many trails at Fuller Park, including access to the Border-to-border Trail. The perimeter of the park is the Huron River, with a pedestrian bridge connection to Island Park — part of a trail network also connecting Cedar Bend Nature Area. Join NAP to trim brush back from the edges of the trials, and to cut and remove invasive shrubs in the natural areas of the park. 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/Fuller032622.
Miller Nature Area
Sunday, March 27
1– 4 p.m.
Miller Nature Area has a unique history including logging, farming and gravel mining, and now this park is enjoyed by many neighbors. Help maintain the unique landscape that Miller has to offer by removing invasive shrubs such as buckthorn and honeysuckle. 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/Miller032722.
Winter Nature Walk
Sunday, March 27
Dolph Nature Area
1–2 p.m.
A winter walk can be just the thing to lift spirits and access the healing power of spending time with nature. Join NAP for the last of three winter walks. Dolph is a 75.2-acre park of forest and shrubland, as well as two naturally formed lakes, wetland and marsh habitat. This is also a great place to spot some interesting native species whether plant or animal. Make sure to dress for the weather (dress in layered clothing in winter) and bring a water bottle. Registration is required as space is limited! Register at https://tinyurl.com/DolphWalk032722.
# # # # #
