Archived News Release: May 8, 2023 - 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 parks. These tasks are performed by both staff and volunteers. NAP is sharing community events planned for June 2023.
To attend a workday, participants are encouraged to preregister using VolunteerHub at https://cityofannarbor.volunteerhub.com/lp/nap; registration links to each event in VolunteerHub are also provided with each description.
All volunteers are asked to wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes to NAP workdays. Tools and know-how provided. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: https://nap.a2gov.org/WhatToWear (PDF).
Stewardship Workday
Saturday, June 3, 2023
9 a.m.–noon
Bluffs Nature Area
This place is nuts! Eleven species of nut-producing trees can be found here, including three of the four Michigan hickory species (bitternut, pignut and shagbark), both walnuts (black and butternut), five oaks (white, swamp, Hill's, red and black) and hazelnut. Hog-peanut — not a nut, but a vining legume — is also found here! Much of the park sits atop a glacial moraine — a ridge formed by deposits left by a retreating glacier — providing gorgeous views from the trails. Bluffs boasts habitats of oak-hickory forest AND prairie! Join NAP to protect the bevy of natural beauty at Bluffs by removing invasive species this summer morning. Meet at the pull-off area on Huronview Boulevard, off North Main Street (map: https://nap.a2gov.org/BluffsHuronview). Preregister at https://tinyurl.com/Bluffs060323 so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: https://nap.a2gov.org/WhatToWear (PDF).
Stewardship Workday
Saturday, June 10, 2023
9 a.m.–noon
Ruthven Nature Area
Ruthven is a reminder of many things: the kame, a hill composed of material left by retreating glaciers, is a reminder that it once stood beneath a mile of ice; the gorgeous oak opening habitat is a reminder of the once-dominant oak savannas whose grassland dotted the landscape in and around Ann Arbor, and the wild prairie grasses that have dwindled to a sliver of their former glory. It's also a reminder of restoration success! With the help of volunteers, areas once visually dominated by monocultures of woody invasive shrubs now resemble open oak woodlands and prairies, with a profusion of native wildflowers and grasses of the past. Join fellow volunteers in removing invasive plants to continue the success story that is Ruthven. Meet at the park entrance off Huron Parkway (map: the park entrance off Huron Parkway). If driving: park at the Gallup Boat Dock parking lot, then follow the park path, and use the crosswalk to get to the Huron Parkway entrance for Ruthven (look for the NAP truck). Preregister at https://tinyurl.com/Ruthven061023 so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: https://nap.a2gov.org/WhatToWear (PDF).
Stewardship Workday
Saturday, June 10, 2023
1–4 p.m.
Fuller Park
Nestled between soccer fields, Island Park and Cedar Bend Nature Area, Fuller Park contains a 5-acre floodplain forest. These low bottomlands occasionally flood with the rise of the Huron, and the many water-loving plants here help mitigate flooding downstream. Much restoration work has been done recently to help this natural ecosystem flourish, and you can help continue that effort by removing invasive species and giving native plants a chance. Meet at the Island Park parking lot, at the end of Island Drive (map: https://nap.a2gov.org/IslandParkLot). Preregister at https://tinyurl.com/Fuller061023 so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: https://nap.a2gov.org/WhatToWear (PDF).
Stewardship Workday
Sunday, June 11, 2023
9 a.m.–noon
Bird Hills Nature Area
Bird Hills is one of Ann Arbor's most popular natural areas — and with five trailheads, there are a lot of options for viewing this beloved park. Stewardship of Ann Arbor's natural areas is part of NAP's mission; and a large park like Bird Hills needs lots of care to keep it healthy and accessible to nature lovers. Join NAP to remove invasive species and maintain the trails on this Sunday morning workday. Meet at the Newport Road parking lot entrance, just north of M-14 (map: https://nap.a2gov.org/BirdHillsNewport). Preregister at https://tinyurl.com/BirdHills061123 so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: https://nap.a2gov.org/WhatToWear (PDF).
Stewardship Workday
*Sunday, June 11, 2023
1–4 p.m.
Brokaw Nature Area
Unique to Ann Arbor, this triangle-shaped 24-acre nature area is one of the newest parks — and one of only two to host shingle oaks. This is the only native oak with “entire" leaves, meaning they are not lobed like all other Michigan oaks. Additional oak species found here include white, swamp, Hill's, bur, red and black. While enjoying gorgeous views of the Huron River, one can explore three types of plant communities: a wet mesic forest, a mesic forest and an old field. Help NAP protect the oaks of Brokaw by removing invasive species from the park. Meet at the parking lot off West Huron River Drive, just southeast of Wagner Road (map: https://nap.a2gov.org/BrokawHRD). Preregister at https://tinyurl.com/Brokaw060423 so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: https://nap.a2gov.org/WhatToWear (PDF).
Stewardship Workday
Saturday, June 17, 2023
9 a.m.–noon
Dolph Nature Area
Dolph Nature Area is packed with diverse habitats that are essential to the health of myriad native plant and animal species. Especially popular for birds (and bird watchers), Dolph is a great place to show your commitment to the environment and Ann Arbor's local ecosystem. Join other dedicated volunteers to remove invasive plants from this haven for native species. Meet at the parking lot off Wagner Road (map: https://nap.a2gov.org/DolphWagner). Preregister at https://tinyurl.com/Dolph061723 so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: https://nap.a2gov.org/WhatToWear (PDF).
Stewardship Workday
Sunday, June 18, 2023
1–4 p.m.
Hickory Nature Area
Do you know about landmark trees? A landmark tree meets forestry requirements such as health, size and longevity, and is then considered to be highly valuable to the ecosystem and the community. Hickory Nature Area has many landmark trees that make it a unique place to experience nature. Join NAP to build trails at this new nature area so everyone can enjoy Ann Arbor's landmark trees. Meet at the park entrance on Dillon Drive (map: https://nap.a2gov.org/HickoryDillon). Preregister at https://tinyurl.com/Hickory061823 so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: https://nap.a2gov.org/WhatToWear (PDF).
Stewardship Workday
Saturday, June 24, 2023
9 a.m.–noon
Olson Nature Area
Olson is a great snapshot of the many, many ways a park can serve the community. You can play a game of soccer, spot a flock of migrating birds, ride your mountain bike, go fishing, use the playground, let your dog off leash in the dog park, check out the fantastic native plants and their many pollinators, find a book in the little free library … the list goes on! Join NAP at this powerhouse park to remove invasive species and protect the ecosystem that supports us all. Meet at the entrance on Dhu Varren Road, just east of Pontiac Trail (map: https://nap.a2gov.org/OlsonParkingLot). Preregister at https://tinyurl.com/Olson062423 so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: https://nap.a2gov.org/WhatToWear (PDF).
Stewardship Workday
Sunday, June 25, 2023
1–4 p.m.
Barton Nature Area
Across the river from Bird Hills, Barton offers a different experience of nature than the steep climbs and sprawling forest. Most of Barton is flat and contains large areas of prairie, wetland and old (farm) fields. You can get right down to the river on some of the trails, and get a great view of Barton Dam. Spend an afternoon with NAP supporting the habitat Barton provides by pulling invasive plants — and meanwhile enjoy the benefits of spending time in nature. Meet at the Barton Dam parking lot on Huron River Drive (map: https://nap.a2gov.org/BartonParkingLot). Preregister at https://tinyurl.com/Barton062523 so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. Tools and know-how provided! For your safety, wear long pants, tall socks and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: https://nap.a2gov.org/WhatToWear (PDF).
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Photo credit: Amanda Corrado, NAP Photo Contest 2008
