Archived News Release: October 7, 2019 - 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. Volunteer opportunities coming up in November are listed below. For stewardship workdays, please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. All participants must complete a release form, and all minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools, snacks and know-how provided.
Details about NAP can be found at www.a2gov.org/NAP.
Stewardship Workday
Saturday, Nov. 2, 9 a.m.-noon
Kuebler Langford Nature Area
Kuebler Langford is home to both a woodland and a prairie with abundant native plants. Help us remove non-native shrubs to protect this diversity. We'll also collect seeds to spread in lower-quality areas. Meet at the park entrance on Beechwood Drive, north of Sunset Road (map).
Stewardship Workday
Sunday, Nov. 3, 1-4 p.m.
Berkshire Creek Nature Area
Nathaniel Hawthorne suggested we should not “waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house." Get outdoors and enjoy the autumn while volunteering for nature. This park alongside Mallets Creek is crowded with exotic shrubs such as honeysuckle. Lend a hand to clear out these shrubs. Meet at the end of Warwick Road off Glenwood, north of Washtenaw Avenue (map).
Stewardship Workday
Saturday, Nov. 9, 9 a.m.-noon
Bird Hills Nature Area
Autumn in Bird Hills Nature Area is a delight. The picturesque trees make it a wonderful place to spend a morning. Join us to maintain the beauty by cutting invasive shrubs and collecting native seeds. Meet at the entrance on Beechwood Drive, off of Sunset Road (map).
Stewardship Workday
Sunday, Nov. 10, 1-4 p.m.
Foxfire West Nature Area
The wetlands in Foxfire West Nature Area are home to beautiful prairie plants as well as frogs and birds. However, non-native shrubs are encroaching on these wetlands. Work with NAP, using hand saws and loppers, to remove these shrubs. Meet at the park entrance on Birchwood Drive, between Hickory Point Drive and Timbercrest Court (map).
Tuesday, Nov. 12, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.
Bruegger's Bagels, 709 N. University Ave.
Are you interested in learning more about how to care for our natural areas? Then join the Stewardship Network's Huron Arbor cluster for an informal discussion on a monthly topic with volunteer and professional land stewards, plus others interested in nature. Free! For more information go to www.stewardshipnetwork.org. This month's topic: (Re)connect with Nature: Keep a Nature Journal. As stewards, it can be easy to get caught up in our never-ending battles with invasives and other restoration work, and forget to pause and truly see the natural areas we're working in. Winter is a perfect time to reflect and reconnect. Ecologist Jacqueline Courteau will share ideas and prompts for using nature journaling to connect to nature. Not just a field notebook, a nature journal can be used as a form of meditation and reflection, to heighten observation skills, and to increase feelings of gratitude and connectedness — to nature, to community and to memory. This session will offer inspiration to deepen your connection to the land you love. Come and cultivate your curiosity and sense of wonder!
Stewardship Workday
Sunday, Nov. 17, 9 a.m.-noon
Sunset Brooks Nature Area
Sunset Brooks is a small park, but an important part of the neighborhood. Join NAP and neighbors to remove non-native shrubs from this neighborhood gem. Spend the morning outside, meet new people, and preserve biodiversity. Meet at the park entrance on Sunset Road, at the end of Brooks Street (map).
Stewardship Workday- Family Volunteer Day
Saturday, Nov. 23, 1-4 p.m.
Barton Nature Area
Family Volunteer Day celebrates families who work together to support their communities and neighborhoods. Bring your family to volunteer in this riverside nature area! We'll be cutting non-native shrubs as well as collecting seeds in the prairie. Join us to help the native plants thrive. Meet at the Barton Dam parking lot off Huron River Drive (map).
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