Please come out and join us for one of these free events! There is no need to pre-register unless otherwise noted. If you have a large group (more than five people) that is interested in attending a volunteer stewardship event, please contact our Workday Coordinator at least two weeks in advance. Please remember to wear long pants and closed-toe shoes suitable for uneven terrain. We provide tools, snacks, water, and know-how at our Stewardship Workdays. Minors must either be accompanied by a guardian, or bring a signed release form (pdf) to attend workdays.
August
Nature Hike
August 19, Thursday
Furstenberg Nature Area
7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Join Natural Area Preservation (City of Ann Arbor) in a free nature walk through Furstenberg Nature Area. Meet in the parking lot off Fuller Road, across from Huron High School. A staff naturalist will point out wildflowers, trees, and shrubs and talk about ecological restoration, as well as volunteer activities in Ann Arbor Parks, recreation opportunities, and responsible use of public lands. Plenty of time will be available for questions. Free and open to all ages.
Stewardship Workday
August 21, Saturday
Furstenberg Nature Area
10:00 am to 1:00 pm
You’ve taken the nature hike- now take action! Furstenberg is a lovely 38-acre riverside park, home to wetlands, woodlands, prairie, and oak savannah. Help us remove invasive plants from the nature area to help the native ecosystem thrive! Meet in the parking lot off Fuller Road, across from Huron High School. Free and open to all ages.
Stewardship Workday
August 21, Saturday
Scarlett-Mitchell Woods
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Come help preserve the mature oak-hickory woodland in this natural area! Scarlett-Mitchell Nature Area gets used regularly by both neighbors and students at Mitchell Elementary and Scarlett Middle School, so it’s important we keep it in great shape! Help native woodland plants grow by removing invasive shrubs! Meet in the Scarlett Middle School parking lot off Lorraine Street. Free and open to all ages.
Stewardship Workday
August 21, Saturday
Narrow Gauge Nature Area
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Take a few hours out of your busy schedule to enjoy the great outdoors! Come out to Narrow Gauge Nature Area to remove invasive plants to help native plants thrive! Meet at Narrow Gauge Way and South Green Rd off of Glazier Way. Free and open to all ages.
Stewardship Workday
August 28, Saturday
Oakridge Nature Area
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Take a few hours out of your weekend to enjoy the great outdoors! Come to Oakridge Nature Area to remove invasive plants and help native plants thrive! Meet us in the southeast corner of the University of Michigan parking lot (at the northwest corner of the intersection of Glazier Way and Huron Parkway). Free and open to all ages.
Stewardship Workday
August 28, Saturday
Buhr Nature Area Children’s Wet Meadow
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
The Buhr Park Children's Wet Meadows provide habitat for native plants and animals, an attractive educational site for children, neighbors and other visitors, and an environmental filter for storm-water runoff from the park grounds. We need help from you to ensure that the invasive species do not overtake these meadows!Come out for a fun evening of socializing, seed collection, and weeding in the Children’s Wet Meadow. Stick around for the tour of the park to learn about native plants and different ecosystems. Meet in the playground parking lot next to the tennis court at Cobblestone Farms. Free and open to all ages.
Stewardship Workday
August 28, Saturday
Leslie Woods Nature Area
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Leslie Woods is home to some of the largest oaks and hickories in the Ann Arbor park system! Your help is needed to remove invasive shrubs that crowd out the native species. This is a beautiful shady place to spend the afternoon. Meet us at the park entrance at the north end of Upland Drive, off of Plymouth Road. Free and open to all ages.
September
National Day of Service and Remembrance Stewardship Workday
September 11, Saturday
Miller Nature Area
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Join us in improving Miller’s 22 acres of woods, flowers, and bird habitat by removing invasive shrubs! Miller is easily accessible by bus and less than a mile from downtown. Meet us at the Arborview Boulevard entrance, just east of Wildwood Avenue. Free and open to all ages.
National Day of Service and Remembrance Stewardship Workday
September 11, Saturday
Foxfire South Nature Area
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Take a few hours out of your weekend to enjoy the great outdoors and explore a little-known nature area! Come to Foxfire South to remove invasive plants and help native plants thrive. Meet us at the corner of Dhu Barren Rd and Omlesaad Dr. Free and open to all ages.
Stewardship Workday
September 12, Saturday
Furstenberg Native Garden
12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Come on out to help us weed and preserve this native garden area amidst the 38-acres of Furstenberg Nature Area, featuring some of the most diverse flora anywhere in Ann Arbor! You'll not only learn about all kinds of native plants, particularly prairie plants, with Park Steward and Master Gardener Aunita Erskine, but also have a great time digging and planting and generally getting dirty in this excellent garden! Meet in the parking lot off Fuller Road, across from Huron High School. Free and open to all ages.
Steward’s Circle
September 14, Tuesday
Bruegger’s Bagels – 709 N University Ave
7:30 am to 8:30 am
Are you interested in learning more about how to care for our natural areas - woods, creeks, prairies, wetlands? Then join the Stewardship Network's Huron Arbor cluster for an informal discussion on a monthly topic with volunteer and professional land stewards and others interested in nature. This month’s topic: “Plants are one of the powerhouses of ecosystems. How do we introduce new plants? How are they propagated?” For more information go to http://www.stewardshipnetwork.org.
Nature Hike
September 13, Monday
Greenview Nature Area
7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Join NAP in a free nature walk through Greenview Nature Area. Meet at the Greenview Park sign, on Greenview Drive, across from Barnard Road. A staff naturalist will point out wildflowers, trees, and shrubs and talk about ecological restoration, as well as volunteer activities in Ann Arbor Parks, recreation opportunities, and responsible use of public lands. Plenty of time will be available for questions. Free and open to all ages.
Stewardship Workday
September 19, Sunday
Hannah Nature Area
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
This small, forested nature area, located right near downtown, needs many hands to help remove invasive shrubs! Buckthorn and honeysuckle crowd out native plants and wildflowers- help them fight off the onslaught! Meet at the west end of Bath Street, west of 7th (between Miller and Huron). Free and open to all ages.
National Public Lands Day Stewardship Workday
September 26, Sunday
Marshall Nature Area
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Enjoy one of the last summer weekends in the great outdoors! Come to Marshall Nature Area to remove invasive shrubs and help native plants thrive! Meet in the parking lot on Dixboro Road, just north of Plymouth Road. Free and open to all ages.
October
Stewardship Workday
October 2, Saturday
Dicken Woods Nature Area
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Join NAP, the Friends of Dicken Woods, and neighbors in removing invasive shrubs from this special woodland! Dicken Woods borders Dicken Elementary School, has extensive trails, and a diverse ecology. Visit http://dickenwoods.org/ for more information about this nature area.
Meet us at the Dicken Elementary School parking lot, off of Runnymede Blvd. Free and open to all ages.
Stewardship Workday
October 2, Saturday
Greenview Nature Area
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
You’ve taken the nature hike- now take action! Come on out and help NAP, neighbors, the Friends of Greenview, and the Ann Arbor Public Schools work together to remove invasive shrubs and improve trails in this public greenspace. Visit http://www.friendsofgreenview.org for more information about Greenview! Meet at the Greenview Park sign, on Greenview Drive, across from Barnard Road. Free and open to all ages.
Stewardship Workday
October 2, Saturday
Wurster Nature Area
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Bring friends and family out to lend a hand and wrap your arms around Wurster’s own champion oak tree! With a picnic table and grill, open field, and play equipment, this multi-use park is the perfect place to stick around for an after-workday picnic! We’ll be removing invasive shrubs and planting some native ones to take their place, so be prepared to get dirty. Meet at the cul-de-sac of Edgewood Place off of W Davis Ave. Free and open to all ages.
Stewardship Workday
October 10, Sunday
Molin Nature Area
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
If you’d like to learn more about stormwater runoff and how it can affect nature areas through hands-on experience, now’s your chance! We’ll be working with neighborhood volunteers to mitigate the effects of stormwater on Molin’s primary trail. Meet us at the end of Powell Rd on Columbia. Free and open to all ages.
Steward’s Circle
October 12, Tuesday
Bruegger’s Bagels – 709 N University Ave
7:30 am to 8:30 am
Are you interested in learning more about how to care for our natural areas - woods, creeks, prairies, wetlands? Then join the Stewardship Network's Huron Arbor cluster for an informal discussion on a monthly topic with volunteer and professional land stewards and others interested in nature. This month’s topic: “Protection and restoration can only happen with the community’s support. How do we instrument social and political will in stewardship? How do we get our legislators interested and involved in our work?” For more information go to http://www.stewardshipnetwork.org.
Public Meeting – Controlled Ecological Burn Program
October 13, Wednesday
Leslie House, Leslie Science & Nature Center - 1831 Traver Road
7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Fire is used as a restoration tool in many of Ann Arbor’s natural areas. This meeting provides information and an opportunity for discussion about the Controlled Ecological Burn Program. This is the perfect opportunity to ask questions, learn more about the ecological benefits of burning, and hear about the specifics of effectively and safely using fire as a restoration tool. Burns are conducted in city parks throughout the spring and fall. Free and open to all ages.
Stewardship Workday
October 17, Sunday
Bird Hills Nature Area
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Bird Hills has miles of trails, taking visitors through Beech-Maple and Oak-Hickory groves, by vernal ponds and streams, and even through an old farmstead! Help keep Bird Hills navigable by removing invasive shrubs with us at this workday. Join us at the Beechwood entrance off of Sunset Rd. Free and open to all ages.
Stewardship Workday
October 23, Saturday
Miller Nature Area
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Join us in clearing Miller’s trails and spreading woodchips to keep the nature trail passable! Bring your sleds with you to help us transport woodchips and brush. Miller is easily accessible by bus and less than a mile from downtown! Meet us at the Arborview Boulevard entrance, just east of Wildwood Avenue. Free and open to all ages.
Stewardship Workday
October 23, Saturday
Swift Run & Mary Beth Doyle Nature Areas
10:00 am to 3:00 pm
One of most fun and rewarding stewardship opportunities to be involved in for people of all ages is seed collecting! You will learn how to identify native plants in the fall, collect and save native seeds, and then have the opportunity to disperse them in the afternoon! We will be collecting seeds in Swift Run then dispersing them at Mary Beth Doyle in areas where they’re most needed. We’ll meet you at Swift Run at Eddy Street, off of Verle Avenue, just north of Ellsworth and Platt. Free and open to all ages.
Stewardship Workday
October 24, Sunday
Barton Nature Area
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Bring your family to learn about native plants and lend a hand in this beautiful nature area! If you have not yet helped with seed collection, here is your chance! Learn to identify native plants in the seed-bearing stage of their growth cycle. It’s fun and educational for the whole family! Free and open to all ages.
Volunteer Appreciation Potluck
October 26, Tuesday
Cobblestone Farm - 2781 Packard Rd
Starts at 6:30 pm
All volunteers are invited to our annual appreciation event! Let’s share good food, learn a little, and browse all the beautiful pictures from the photo contest. Awards will be presented for Volunteer of the Year, Photo Contest Winners, and the best costumes. After the presentations there will be live music and dancing to celebrate this year’s harvest. Please bring a dish to pass, friends or family, and your own place settings. Costumes are encouraged. RSVPs requested- call us at 734.794.6627 or email us at nap@a2gov.org.
Stewardship Workday
October 30, Saturday
Huron Parkway Nature Area
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Volunteers have made great headway in this lovely nature area over the years, both controlling invasives and encouraging natives. Help us continue that progress! We’ll remove invasive shrubs near the parkway to extend the prairie. We’ll meet at the Park Steward’s house at 3470 Woodland Road, off East Huron River Drive. (Rumor has it that there are always great cookies at this workday!) Free and open to all ages.
Stewardship Workday
October 30, Saturday
Bluffs Nature Area
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Come see the results of persistence at work! We’ve been helping the native plants beat back buckthorn and honeysuckle, and each year there are fewer invasive shrubs! Help us clean them out! Meet in the James L. Crawford Lodge parking lot (220 Sunset Rd). Free and open to all ages.
November
Steward’s Circle
November 9, Tuesday
Bruegger’s Bagels – 709 N University Ave
7:30 am to 8:30 am
Are you interested in learning more about how to care for our natural areas - woods, creeks, prairies, wetlands? Then join the Stewardship Network's Huron Arbor cluster for an informal discussion on a monthly topic with volunteer and professional land stewards and others interested in nature. This month’s topic: “Many of us work with volunteers, many of us are volunteers. How does volunteerism impact the stewardship movement? How do we improve and what are our lessons learned?” For more information go to http://www.stewardshipnetwork.org.
Stewardship Workday
November 13, Saturday
Mary Beth Doyle Nature Area
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Tremendous progress that has been made to increase the native habitat in this large preserve- help keep the ball rolling! We’ll be removing invasive shrubs, such as buckthorn and honeysuckle, to give native plants a chance to thrive! Meet at the end of Verle Road, two blocks west of Platt Road. Free and open to all ages.
December
Steward’s Circle
December 14, Tuesday
Bruegger’s Bagels – 709 N University Ave
7:30 am to 8:30 am
Are you interested in learning more about how to care for our natural areas - woods, creeks, prairies, wetlands? Then join the Stewardship Network's Huron Arbor cluster for an informal discussion on a monthly topic with volunteer and professional land stewards and others interested in nature. This month’s topic: “Before we do any restoration work we need to know what we’re trying to accomplish. How do we develop a restoration plan? What resources are available to us?” For more information go to http://www.stewardshipnetwork.org.
For more information about what each of these events may require, please read more about volunteering with NAP here.