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 parks. These tasks are performed by both staff and volunteers. Volunteer opportunities coming up in September are listed below. For more information about NAP, visit www.a2gov.org/NAP. NAP officials ask that volunteers please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes to workday events. Workday events are suitable for all ages but minors must be accompanied by a guardian or contact NAP in advance to obtain a release form. Tools, snacks, and know-how provided.
AADL Nature Hike
Thursday, Sept. 4, 7–8:30 p.m.
Mary Beth Doyle Nature Area
Celebrate National Wilderness Month with a hike along Malletts Creek, through woods and wetlands of this 81.4-acre park. A staff naturalist from City of Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation will discuss native plants and trees, ecological restoration and more. Meet at the park entrance parking lot off Packard Road, across from Easy Street and just southeast of Cobblestone Farm. You can also park at the Malletts Creek Branch (3090 E. Eisenhower) with a half-mile walk east along Eisenhower and Packard to the park entrance. This event is for all ages.
Stewards’ Circle: IPM/ Biocontrols
Tuesday, Sept. 9, 7:30–8:30 a.m.
Bruegger’s Bagels, 709 N. University Ave.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices. IPM programs use current, comprehensive information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment. This information, in combination with available pest control methods, is used to manage pest damage by the most economical means, and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment. This gathering is part of a monthly, informal discussion hosted by the Stewardship Network’s Huron Arbor cluster. Free and open to anyone interested. For more information go to www.stewardshipnetwork.org.
Stewardship Workday –National Day of Service
Saturday, Sept. 13, 9 a.m.–noon
Hannah Nature Area
This small, forested, nature area located minutes from downtown needs many hands to continue the neighborhood effort of removing invasive shrubs, such as honeysuckle and buckthorn. Meet at the west end of Bath Street, west of 7th (between Miller and Huron).
Stewardship Workday-National Day of Service
Sunday, Sept. 14, 9 a.m.–noon
Mary Beth Doyle Nature Area
The 81 acres of Mary Beth Doyle Nature Area need many hands to join the effort of removing invasive shrubs, such as honeysuckle and buckthorn. Help cut and remove these invasive shrubs, then take a walk and explore the expansive park. Meet at the end of Verle Road, two blocks west of Platt Road.
Stewardship Workday-National Day of Service
Sunday, Sept. 14, 1 to 4 p.m.
Sunset Brooks Nature Area
Get outside and help remove invasive shrubs in this lovely 8-acre oak-hickory woodland. We will be cutting and removing buckthorn and honeysuckle, to give native plants a chance to thrive. Meet at the park entrance on Beechwood (off Sunset).
Stewardship Workday
Sunday, Sept. 21, 9 a.m.–noon
Miller Nature Area
Miller Nature Area’s 22 acres include magnificent elm trees, breathtaking spring wildflowers and miles of winding trails. Help us maintain the unique landscape Miller has to offer by removing invasive shrubs, such as buckthorn and honeysuckle. Meet at the Arborview Boulevard entrance, just east of Wildwood Avenue.
Stewardship Workday
Sunday, Sept. 21, 9 a.m.–noon
Bird Hills Nature Area
The site of NAP’s first ever public workday in 1994, and ranked second highest on the city’s Floristic Quality Assessment, Bird Hills is a great place to participate in some stewardship activities! At this workday you can help make way for even more floristic quality by helping remove invasive shrubs like buckthorn and honeysuckle. Meet at the Bird Road entrance, west of Huron River Drive.
Stewardship Workday
Sunday, Sept. 21, 1–4 p.m.
Cedar Bend Nature Area
Cedar Bend Nature Area is the oldest park in Ann Arbor, dating back to the early 1900s. Enjoy the same scenic views of the Huron River that drew nature lovers to Cedar Bend over 100 years ago, while helping to cut and remove invasive shrubs such as honeysuckle and buckthorn. Meet at the Island Park parking lot, at the end of Island Drive.
Stewardship Workday
Saturday, Sept. 27, 1–4 p.m.
Marshall Nature Area
Tremendous progress has been made to increase the native habitat in this large preserve — help continue this effort! We’ll be removing invasive shrubs, such as buckthorn and honeysuckle, to give native plants a chance to thrive. Meet in the parking lot just north of Plymouth Road on Dixboro Road.
Stewardship Workday – National Public Lands Day
Saturday, Sept. 27, 9 a.m.–noon
Scarlett Mitchell Nature Area
America has over 200,000 miles of trails, and we hope you’ll agree that we have some of the best right here in Ann Arbor! We will be celebrating National Public Lands Day by trimming back the overgrowth and spreading woodchips to help keep the trails accessible at Scarlett Mitchell Nature Area. Bring your own plastic sleds to help with the hauling of woodchips. Meet in the Scarlett Middle School parking lot off Lorraine Street.
Stewardship Workday – National Public Lands Day
Sunday, Sept. 28, 1–4 p.m.
Ruthven Nature Area
Ruthven is one of Ann Arbor’s finest examples of glacial terrain: you’ll find a hill, or glacial kame, and a depression, or kettle, that was left behind when a glacier melted. This topography supports diverse ecosystems — come out and help support Ruthven’s biodiversity by helping to cut and remove invasive shrubs like honeysuckle and buckthorn. Meet at the Gallup boat dock parking lot, at the southeast corner of Huron Parkway and Geddes Road.
