Archived News Release: August 4, 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 within the community. 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 September 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, bring a water bottle and leather work gloves if you have them. 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.
Stewardship Workday
Mary Beth Doyle Nature Area
Saturday, Sept. 10
9 a.m.–noon
Mary Beth Doyle Nature Area's namesake was an influential and prominent environmental activist in Michigan. NAP notes it only makes sense that a park honoring her legacy would be one of Ann Arbor's most beloved parks. A walk through this park on the wooden boardwalks never fails to delight as you encounter a diverse array of flowers and trees, and maybe even a quiet group of deer. Meet at the corner of Cardinal Avenue and Sharon Drive (map: tinyurl.com/MBDSharon). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. NAP continues to monitor recommendations from health officials, volunteers registered for events will be notified in advance of any changes to the workday. Please wear long pants and closed-toed shoes, and wear socks that close the gap between shoes and pants. Bring a water bottle and leather gloves if you have them. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided. Register at tinyurl.com/MBD091022.
Stewardship Workday
Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance
Olson Park
Sunday, Sept. 11
9 a.m.–noon
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 Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance with NAP (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/09/10/a-proclamation-on-patriot-day-and-national-day-of-service-and-remembrance-2021/) by working together to clean up foliage and make way for native plants to flourish. Meet at the entrance on Dhu Varren Road, just east of Pontiac Trail (map: tinyurl.com/OlsonParkingLot). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. NAP continues to monitor recommendations from health officials, volunteers registered for events will be notified in advance of any changes to the workday. Please wear long pants and closed-toed shoes, and wear socks that close the gap between shoes and pants. Bring a water bottle and leather gloves if you have them. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided. Register at tinyurl.com/Olson091122.
Stewardship Workday
Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance
Sunset Brooks Nature Area
Sunday, Sept. 11
1–4 p.m.
Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance promotes community service as a tribute to the 9/11 victims, survivors and responders. Join NAP to protect biodiversity in our community by removing invasive shrubs such as buckthorn and honeysuckle so that wildlife can thrive. Meet NAP at the park entrance on Sunset Road, at the end of Brooks Street (map: tinyurl.com/SunsetBrooksSunset). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. NAP continues to monitor recommendations from health officials, volunteers registered for events will be notified in advance of any changes to the workday. Please wear long pants and closed-toed shoes, and wear socks that close the gap between shoes and pants. Bring a water bottle and leather gloves if you have them. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided. Register at tinyurl.com/Sunset091122.
Volunteer Appreciation Event
Island Park Shelter B
Friday, Sept. 16
5–8 p.m.
Please join NAP at our annual volunteer appreciation event to celebrate all volunteer achievements this past year! Refreshments, fun activities, door prizes are included, and meet the new NAP deputy director. Meet at Island Park Shelter B (map: tinyurl.com/IslandShelterB). Families welcomed, too. Registration is strongly encouraged so NAP can accommodate everyone. Register at http://tinyurl.com/NAPVolunteers2022.
Stewardship Workday
Marshall Nature Area
Saturday, Sept. 17
9 a.m.–noon
Along with controlled burns and trail maintenance, the removal of woody invasive species is important to the restoration of this natural area. Due to the variety of ecological communities within Marshall Nature Area, participants are likely to see many types of flora and fauna during a workday or while exploring the park. Meet in the parking lot off Dixboro Road, north of Plymouth Road (map: tinyurl.com/MarshallDixboro). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. NAP continues to monitor recommendations from health officials, volunteers registered for events will be notified in advance of any changes to the workday. Please wear long pants and closed-toed shoes, and wear socks that close the gap between shoes and pants. Bring a water bottle and leather gloves if you have them. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided. Register at tinyurl.com/Marshall091722.
Stewardship Workday
Dolph Nature Area
Sunday, Sept. 18
9 a.m.–noon
Have you ever heard of a kettle lake? Have you ever seen one? Well, if you've ever visited Dolph Nature Area, you probably have! Like much of the topography in Ann Arbor, the First and Second Sister kettle lakes were formed by glaciers. Join NAP for a morning of removing invasive species to help keep this special and unique park healthy and beautiful. Meet at the trailhead off Parklake Avenue, just south of Lakeview Drive (map: tinyurl.com/DolphParklake).
A small group will also care for the bioswale on the east side of the park (near Parklake Avenue and Lakeview Drive). Within the bioswale, volunteers will be removing invasive plants and giving some TLC to the space. Although professional landscapers visit the bioswale throughout the growing season to remove the more aggressive invasive species, there is still plenty of work that can be done on a smaller scale. If you are interested in becoming a steward, please contact Catie at [email protected]. Stewards work on their own schedule throughout the year to weed, plant, collect seed, prune, etc.
Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. NAP continues to monitor recommendations from health officials, volunteers registered for events will be notified in advance of any changes to the workday. Please wear long pants and closed-toed shoes, and wear socks that close the gap between shoes and pants. Bring a water bottle and leather gloves if you have them. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided. Register at tinyurl.com/Dolph091822.
Stewardship Workday
Lakewood Nature Area
Sunday, Sept. 18
1–4 p.m.
Although Lakewood Nature Area is somewhat small, it is connected to several other parks through which park visitors can continue their hikes. The hills are blanketed by oak-hickory woodlands, with a rich understory of wildflowers. Join NAP staff and other volunteers to remove invasive shrubs to protect this well-loved park! Meet at the park entrance on Sunnywood Drive (map: tinyurl.com/LakewoodSunnywood). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. NAP continues to monitor recommendations from health officials, volunteers registered for events will be notified in advance of any changes to the workday. Please wear long pants and closed-toed shoes, and wear socks that close the gap between shoes and pants. Bring a water bottle and leather gloves if you have them. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided. Register at tinyurl.com/Lakewood091822.
Stewardship Workday
National Public Lands Day
Oakwoods Nature Area
Saturday, Sept. 24
9 a.m.–noon
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 an opportunity to show our appreciation for these precious natural resources through stewardship. Join NAP at Oakwoods on NPLD to cut and remove invasive shrubs. Meet at the park entrance off of Dunwoodie (map: tinyurl.com/OakwoodsDunwoodie). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. NAP continues to monitor recommendations from health officials, volunteers registered for events will be notified in advance of any changes to the workday. Please wear long pants and closed-toed shoes, and wear socks that close the gap between shoes and pants. Bring a water bottle and leather gloves if you have them. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided. Register at tinyurl.com/Oakwoods092422.
Stewardship Workday
World Rivers Day
Argo Nature Area
Sunday, Sept. 25
1–4 p.m.
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 NAP to cut and remove invasive shrubs that threaten the health of our waterways by competing with native plants. Meet on Longshore Drive at Amherst Avenue (map: tinyurl.com/ArgoLongshore). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged; please stay home if you are feeling ill. NAP continues to monitor recommendations from health officials, volunteers registered for events will be notified in advance of any changes to the workday. Please wear long pants and closed-toed shoes, and wear socks that close the gap between shoes and pants. Bring a water bottle and leather gloves if you have them. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided. Register at tinyurl.com/Argo092522.
Autumn Nature Walk
Sunday, Sept. 25
Bandemer Park
1–2 p.m.
A patch of dry prairie can be found along the railroad tracks at Bandemer Park, where sparks from passing trains occasionally ignited wildfires that maintained this open habitat. It is now home to tall grasses and goldenrods. Learn more about the habitats and diversity at Bandemer at a nature walk with NAP and Ann Arbor District Library (AADL). Meet at the parking lot across the wooden bridge off Barton Drive (map: tinyurl.com/BandemerDiscParking). Make sure to dress for the weather (walks happen rain or shine) and bring a water bottle. The nature walks are a collaboration between the AADL and NAP that take place once a month. Some of AADL's Science Tools will be available for use during the walk! Registration is strongly encouraged so NAP can accommodate everyone. Register at tinyurl.com/BandemerWalk092522.
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