Join Ann Arbor NAP for World Soil Day & More in December
November 3, 2022 – City of Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation (NAP) works to protect and restore Ann Arbor’s natural areas and to foster an environmental ethic within the community. 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. NAP is sharing events planned for December 2022.
To attend a workday, participants are encouraged to preregister using VolunteerHub at https://cityofannarbor.volunteerhub.com/lp/nap; links to each event in VolunteerHub are also provided with each description.
NAP is continuing to closely monitor recommendations from city and other health officials. As a result, the events planned 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 registered for events. Visit www.a2gov.org/NAPevents for the most up-to-date information.
At all NAP workdays, please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes, bring a water bottle and leather work gloves if you have them. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided. Stay home if you are feeling unwell. For more information about NAP, visit www.a2gov.org/NAP.
Stewardship Workday
Bandemer Park
Saturday, Dec. 3
1–4 p.m.
Bandemer Park is home to a wide variety of plants and animals, and it is a great park for visitors as well. However, the park has had a rather unnatural history. The land that now makes up the park was historically used as a stockyard for the railroad, as pasture land and as a staging area for the construction of M-14. Fortunately, Bandemer has long been in recovery, and thanks to a little help from NAP and volunteers, it has regained a diversity of flora and fauna. Join NAP and other volunteers to continue restoration of this park to its natural state by cutting and removing invasive species. Meet at the parking lot at the end of Lake Shore Drive off Main Street (map: tinyurl.com/BandemerLakeShore). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged. NAP continues to monitor recommendations from health officials; please stay home if you are feeling ill. Volunteers registered for events will be notified in advance of any changes to the workday. Please wear long pants and closed-toed shoes, and wear socks that close the gap between shoes and pants. Bring a water bottle and leather gloves if you have them. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided. Register at tinyurl.com/Bandemer120322.
Stewardship Workday
World Soil Day
Bird Hills Nature Area
Sunday, Dec. 4
1–4 p.m.
Join NAP at Bird Hills Nature Area for World Soil Day! World Soil Day is held annually to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources. Bird Hills Nature Area is the largest natural area in the city at 146 acres, and the rich diversity of native plant species found in the park ranks it second highest overall in the city’s floristic quality assessment of its natural areas. Connect with others doing meaningful work by cutting and removing invasive species in the park. Meet at the Bird Road entrance to this park, west of Huron River Drive (map: tinyurl.com/BirdHillsBird). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged. NAP continues to monitor recommendations from health officials; please stay home if you are feeling ill. Volunteers registered for events will be notified in advance of any changes to the workday. Please wear long pants and closed-toed shoes, and wear socks that close the gap between shoes and pants. Bring a water bottle and leather gloves if you have them. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided. Register at tinyurl.com/Bird120422.
Stewardship Workday
Hannah Nature Area
Saturday, Dec. 10
1–4 p.m.
Due to its compact size, Hannah Nature Area is an opportunity to observe the process of ecological restoration. Used as a dumping ground in the past, this quaint park allows nature to exist in an otherwise suburban setting. Support an enthusiastic group of neighborhood volunteers to cut and remove invasive species. Meet at the west end of Bath Street, west of 7th (between Miller and Huron) (map: tinyurl.com/HannahBathStreet). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged. NAP continues to monitor recommendations from health officials; please stay home if you are feeling ill. Volunteers registered for events will be notified in advance of any changes to the workday. Please wear long pants and closed-toed shoes, and wear socks that close the gap between shoes and pants. Bring a water bottle and leather gloves if you have them. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided. Register at tinyurl.com/Hannah121022.
Stewardship Workday
Braun Nature Area
Sunday, Dec. 11
1–4 p.m.
Wetland plants thrive along Malletts Creek as it runs through Braun Nature Area. Invasives such as honeysuckle are threatening the biodiversity in the park. Join NAP to cut and remove invasive species, allowing the native plants to flourish. Meet at the entrance to the park off Chalmers Road (map: tinyurl.com/BraunChalmers). Preregistration through VolunteerHub is encouraged. NAP continues to monitor recommendations from health officials; please stay home if you are feeling ill. Volunteers registered for events will be notified in advance of any changes to the workday. Please wear long pants and closed-toed shoes, and wear socks that close the gap between shoes and pants. Bring a water bottle and leather gloves if you have them. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided. Register at tinyurl.com/Braun121122.
Winter Nature Walk
Saturday, Dec. 31
Black Pond Woods Nature Area
1–2 p.m.
Carved by receding glaciers, Black Pond is named for a small, vernal pond. Its dark brown water is colored by tannins and humic acids from decomposing leaf litter. Since there are no incoming springs or streams, the water in the pond is collected entirely from rainfall that drains into the basin. Join NAP and the Ann Arbor District Library for a crisp winter walk to learn about the nature area’s three distinctive habitat types. And leave a little time in your schedule to visit the raptors at the adjacent Leslie Science & Nature Center! Meet at the Leslie Science & Nature Center parking lot (1831 Traver Road) (map: https://tinyurl.com/BlackPondLSNC). Make sure to dress for the weather (walks happen rain or shine) and bring a water bottle. Nature walks are a collaboration between the Ann Arbor District Library and Natural Area Preservation and take place once a month. Some of AADL’s Science Tools will be available for use during the walk! Registration is strongly encouraged so NAP can accommodate everyone! Register at tinyurl.com/BPWWalk123122.
