Archived News Release: July 8, 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 August 2021. To attend a workday, participants are encouraged to 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 and closed-toe shoes, bring a water bottle and 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.
Natural Area Preservation 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 the website and notify anyone that registered for events. Please visit www.a2gov.org/NAPevents for the most up-to-date information.
Saturday Aug. 7, 9 a.m.–noon
Black Pond Woods Nature Area
Many invasive species produce tiny, tenacious, velcro-covered fruits that easily latch on to animal fur and human clothes. Join NAP at Black Pond Woods to help pull hedge-parsley — easy to identify during the flowering phase — before millions of seeds are dispersed to new areas throughout fall and winter by passing animals and park users. The workday will conclude with instruction on how to remove hitch-hiking seeds from your clothing and footwear to prevent further spread of plants like hedge-parsley and stiltgrass. Preregistration through VolunteerHub is required as space is limited. Meeting location will be provided at registration. Register at http://tinyurl.com/BlackP080721.
Sunday, Aug. 8, 1–4 p.m.
Brokaw Nature Area
This is one of the newer parks in the city park system, and it's still undiscovered by most park users! Join NAP to get to know this beautiful nature area and help build trails to create a more welcoming environment. Preregistration through VolunteerHub is required as space is limited. Meeting location will be provided at registration. Register at http://tinyurl.com/Brokaw080821.
Sunday Aug. 15, 1–4 p.m.
Barton Nature Area
Barton's intact sedge meadows were saved from the plow by virtue of their waterlogged soils, or by a farmer who delighted in their floral show. Prairie pockets along the adjacent railroad tracks provide a source of seed for areas cleared of invasive non-native shrubs. Rare orchids and diminutive sedges persist under heavy competition from buckthorn and autumn olive. The woodcock relies on remnants of open fields to perform its moonlit dance. Help NAP care for the treasures offered by Barton Nature Area, where volunteers will be pulling invasive weeds like spotted knapweed. Preregistration through VolunteerHub is required as space is limited. Meeting location will be provided at registration. Register at http://tinyurl.com/Barton081521.
Saturday Aug. 21, 9 a.m.–noon
Furstenberg Native Plant Garden
A unique area — one of the only “gardens" NAP manages — the Furstenberg native plant garden was maintained almost entirely through the expertise and enthusiasm of one of NAP's most beloved and long-time volunteers. Let's keep up the good work started by those before us who believed that people will fall in love with native gardening if they can only see it for themselves. Join NAP to pull weeds and perform other light garden maintenance. Preregistration through VolunteerHub is required as space is limited. Meeting location will be provided at registration. Register at http://tinyurl.com/Furste082121.
Saturday Aug. 21, 1–4 p.m.
Buttonbush Nature Area
This is one of just a few trail establishment workdays NAP will offer this year! A new park often means new trails, and you couldn't ask for a more beautiful setting to help open up access for more people to enjoy nature. Trail establishment workdays require a lot of teamwork and patience, and the NAP community are the perfect folks for the job — dedicated, creative and willing to work to restore our natural areas. Preregistration through VolunteerHub is required as space is limited. Meeting location will be provided at registration. Register at http://tinyurl.com/Button082121.
Sunday Aug. 29, 9 a.m.–noon
Bandemer Nature Area
Located above the Argo Dam on the Huron River, Bandemer Nature Area has always been a busy spot. Previously the site of a variety of commercial uses, livestock and construction vehicles alike have made their way through the land. Over the last 40 years, areas of the park have been tenderly restored and reclaimed, leading to a diverse and thriving wildlife community. Come out to help NAP pull invasive plants and support the continued transition back to a natural area. Preregistration through VolunteerHub is required as space is limited. Meeting location will be provided at registration. Register at http://tinyurl.com/Bandem082921.
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