Archived News Release: June 3, 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's parks. These tasks are performed by both staff and volunteers. For more information about NAP, visit www.a2gov.org/NAP.
Below are the events currently planned for July 2021. To attend a workday, participants must 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, closed toed shoes, gardening gloves, and stay home if you are feeling unwell. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Events are free, unless noted otherwise. Tools and know-how are provided.
NAP 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 volunteers and the public safe. Should it be prudent to make changes to the event schedule, NAP will update its website and notify anyone that registered for events. Please visit www.a2gov.org/NAPevents for the most up-to-date information.
Stewardship Workday
Sunday, July 11
Olson Park
1–4 p.m.
If you were heading to this spot during the year NAP was formed (1993) you'd have said, “Meet me at the gravel pit." Planning to stop by in 2013, it would have been, “Meet me at the habitat of the largest population of indigo duskywings in Ann Arbor." These days you could say, “Meet me at that ecological success story, Olson Park!" Meet NAP at Olson Park to pull invasive weeds and bolster this important habitat. Preregistration through VolunteerHub is required as space is limited. Register at https://tinyurl.com/Olson071121.
Stewardship Workday
Saturday, July 17
Kuebler Langford Nature Area
1–4 p.m.
Look around while you're working with NAP at Kuebler Langford Nature Area during the summer, and you may be treated to a fly-by from a scarlet tanager, or a wink from a little toad or red-backed salamander. Or perhaps you'll find the elusive spicebush and enjoy its fragrance, or admire the delicate fronds of a maidenhair fern. At this NAP stewardship workday, participants will be hand-pulling invasive plants — and helping interested volunteers spot some of the species that are being supported through stewardship. Preregistration through VolunteerHub is required as space is limited. Meeting location will be provided at registration. Register at https://tinyurl.com/Kueble071721.
Stewardship Workday
Saturday, July 24
Furstenberg Nature Area
9 a.m.–noon
In 1992 and 1995, native seeds were planted in the prairies at Furstenberg Nature Area. Now, one can see well-established natives such as prairie dock, Indian grass, butterfly-weed, smooth false foxglove, stiff goldenrod, and round-headed bush clover. At this workday, participants will be pulling non-native invasive plants to support the health of the prairie, and if you join in, NAP is always eager to help interested volunteers locate and identify some of the flora and fauna thriving here because of volunteer efforts. Preregistration through VolunteerHub is required as space is limited. Meeting location will be provided at registration. Register at https://tinyurl.com/Furste072421A.
Stewardship Workday
Saturday, July 24
Furstenberg Native Plant Garden
1–4 p.m.
Did you know that there is a native plant garden at Furstenberg Nature Area? Separate from the prairies, woodland and wetland areas, near the entrance to Furstenberg, is a lovely native planting, just buzzing and thrumming with activity from pollinators and other wildlife who depend on native plants for crucial habitat resources. This unique patch has at times served as a demonstration garden to give folks a working idea of what a native garden can look like — and how to care for it. Help NAP by spending an afternoon tending to this living, breathing ecology-minded recruiting tool. Preregistration through VolunteerHub is required as space is limited. Meeting location will be provided at registration. Register at https://tinyurl.com/Furste072421B.
Stewardship Workday
Saturday, July 24
Ruthven Nature Area
1–4 p.m.
Join NAP to become part of the legacy of NAP crew members and volunteers who have worked hard to turn a little pocket of native plants well hidden behind a thick wall of shrubs into the lovely prairie that can be found there today. Participants will be focusing on protecting this prairie by hand-pulling invasives during this workday. Preregistration through VolunteerHub is required as space is limited. Meeting location will be provided at registration. Register at https://tinyurl.com/Ruthve072421.
Stewardship Workday
Sunday, July 25
Bird Hills Nature Area
1–4 p.m.
If you are willing to work to restore our natural areas, then you are already part of the NAP community! NAP would love for volunteers join in person at one of Ann Arbor's largest parks — which is also the site of the first NAP volunteer workday in 1993. Let's keep up the good work together, by pulling invasive plants like hedge parsley. Preregistration through VolunteerHub is required as space is limited. Meeting location will be provided at registration. Register at https://tinyurl.com/BirdHi072521.
Stewardship Workday
Saturday, July 31
Bluffs Nature Area
9 a.m.–noon
Are you looking for a way to put your values into action this summer? Or do you want to step out of your comfort zone a little, and learn something new? Spend a morning with NAP pulling invasive weeds from the prairies at Bluffs Nature Area, and you can be confident that your effort will directly benefit area wildlife — and NAP workday leaders are always eager to help volunteers learn about and identify some of the countless species of animals and plants supported by our collective restoration work. Preregistration through VolunteerHub is required as space is limited. Meeting location will be provided at registration. Register at https://tinyurl.com/Bluffs073121.
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