For more information about seed collecting visit our Native Prairie Seed Collection webpage.  To register for all seed collection workdays click here. To register for all other workdays click here.

Workday dates, activities, and locations are listed below. Workdays are scheduled and posted quarterly. Please check this site to make sure you have the most up-to-date information since meeting locations may need to change.  

Volunteer workdays are sponsored by the State Park Stewardship Unit to help protect and restore natural areas in our state parks and recreation areas.

Monthly workdays are held at:

Algonac State Park , Bald Mountain Recreation Area , Brighton Recreation Area , Highland Recreation Area , Island Lake Recreation Area , Pinckney Recreation Area ,  Waterloo Recreation Area .

Occasional workdays are also held at:

Fort Custer Recreation Area , Grand Mere State Park , Seven Lakes State Park , Sterling State Park , Warren Dunes State Park , Warren Woods State Park .                                        

Please scroll  below the calendar for more information.  To register for all work days click here.                                                  

For more information about seed collecting visit our Native Prairie Seed Collectionwebpage.  To register for all seed collection workdays click here.  To register for all other workdays click here . 

November 2009   

Sunday, November 1, 2009 ,

Highland Recreation Area, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Join us for the last seed collection day at Highland for the year.  We will be collecting wildflower seeds.  Meet at the Silo Field Trial Area parking lot on Livingston Road, between Pettibone Lake and Beaumont Roads.  Don't forget to turn your clocks back one hour for Daylight Saving Time or you will be an hour early!   

Saturday, November 7, 2009 ,

Waterloo Recreation Area , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Want to help save a wetland? Help keep invasive shrubs out of this beautiful fen ecosystem.  We need to scout out the invasive shrubs living amongst the native ones, so we need some well trained eyes.  If you're not sure how to identify these invasive shrubs, don't worry, we'll pair you up with someone who is!  Meet at the southeast corner of Glenn and Mt. Hope Roads.  ***Waterproof boots, either knee-high rubber boots or hip waders, are recommended for this site, but not necessary.  Old boots that you don't mind getting muddy will work too.

Saturday, November 7, 2009 ,

Highland Recreation Area , Barn Field Trial Area, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Join ongoing efforts to restore this area to an open grassland.  Volunteers will be hauling and piling brush and stacking fire wood.  Meet at the Barn Field Trial Area parking lot on the north side of Cooley Lake Road between Duck Lake and Beaumont Roads.

Sunday, November 8, 2009 ,

Algonac State Park , 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Join us for a lakeplain prairie wildflower seed collection day!  This will be the last seed collection day at Algonac for the year.  We will collect wildflower seeds from many different native plants in a large prairie remnant.  Meet at the shot gun / trap range parking area (from the main entrance on M-29 - River Road follow the park road to its farthest extent).  Enjoy a 1.5 mile hike to the grass seed collection site.

Saturday, November 14, 2009 ,

Bald Mountain Recreation Area , 9 a.m. to noon

The Graham Lake Fen Complex needs your help.  Come cut and pile the glossy buckthorn and other invasive shrubs that threaten this unique ecosystem.  Meet at the East Graham Boat Launch parking lot on the north side of Predmore Road in the park's North Unit.  ***Waterproof boots, either knee-high rubber boots or hip waders, are recommended for this site, but not absolutely necessary.  Old boots that you don't mind getting muddy will work too as long as it's not too cold.   

December 2009   

Saturday, December 5, 2009 ,

Island Lake Recreation Area , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Assist in clearing out invasive shrubs that will otherwise take over this savanna and crowd out native grasses and wildflowers. Meet at the Riverbend Picnic Area park lot.

Sunday, December 6, 2009 ,

Brighton Recreation Area , 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Removing invasive shrubs from this fen will allow the native grasses and wildflowers to thrive.  Want to help? Meet at the Little Appleton Lake parking lot.  Head north from Bishop Lake Road toward Appleton Lake, stay to the left for Little Appleton.  ***Waterproof boots, either knee-high rubber boots or hip waders, are recommended for this site.

Saturday, December 12, 2009 ,

Bald Mountain Recreation Area , 9 a.m. to noon

The Graham Lake Fen Complex needs your help!  Come cut and pile the glossy buckthorn and other invasive shrubs that threaten this unique ecosystem.  Meet at the East Graham Boat Launch parking lot on the north side of Predmore Road in the park's North Unit.  ***Waterproof boots, either knee-high rubber boots or hip waders, are recommended for this site.   

Saturday, December 12, 2009 ,

Highland Recreation Area , Silo Field Trial Area, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Join ongoing efforts to restore this area to open grassland.  Volunteers will be hauling and piling brush and stacking fire wood.  Meet at the Silo Field Trial Area parking lot off Livingston Road, between Pettibone Lake and Beaumont Roads.

Sunday, December 13, 2009 ,

Pinckney Recreation Area , 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Come out and help remove shrubs and trees that don't belong in this dry sand prairie. This will make room for neat native plants.   Meet at the Halfmoon Lake parking lot closest to Hankerd Road. From North Territorial Road, take Hankerd Road north until you see the entrance on the left.

Workday Details

Registration

Please complete a  volunteer registration form  or contact Laurel Malvitz at 248-359-9057 or malvitzl@michigan.gov   to let her know which workdays you plan to attend.  Registering helps us plan the workdays more effectively so we have enough equipment and so we can divide into groups and assign tasks more easily.

Workday Cancellation

If a workday must be cancelled due to inclement weather or for any other reason, a voice mail message saying so will be posted at 248-359-9057 at least two hours before the scheduled workday start time. If there is no message the event will continue as planned.

 If there is no cancellation message, the workday will go on as planned.

Park Map and Directions

Click on the name of the park or recreation area above to view the park's webpage.  From the park webpage you can print a "Unit Map" and get directions to the park.

What to Wear and Bring

Please remember to wear appropriate clothing for outdoor work, including long pants and work boots.  Please also bring drinking water, work gloves, and eye protection (especially prescription safety glasses).  Waterproof boots, either knee-high rubber boots or hip waders, are recommended for fen and other wetland sites.  If you don't have waterproof boots and would like to borrow a pair, please note that when you register and we will try to provide them.

What NOT to Bring

Be sure your outerwear, gloves, and boots are free of mud and hitchhiking seeds before coming to the workday. We don't want to inadvertently spread invasive plant seeds into these high quality natural areas.

Stewardship Announcements

Would you like to receive workday reminders and general stewardship information via email? Please email Laurel Malvitz, malvitzl@michigan.gov , a list of the parks that you are interested in. Please choose from the parks listed at the top of this page.

Motor Vehicle Permit

Please support Michigan 's state parks and recreation areas by purchasing a Motor Vehicle Permit (MVP).  Resident annual ($24) and daily ($6) permits are available at all parks and recreation areas.  The Motor Vehicle Permit requirement has been waived for these volunteer stewardship workdays, but purchasing an MVP will help support our state parks and recreation areas.

Want to get more involved?

The Core Volunteer Steward Program provides volunteers with additional ways to get involved and make a unique commitment, both individually and as part of a team.

Questions?

Please contact Laurel Malvitz, Resource Steward for the Stewardship Unit, at 248-359-9057 or malvitzl@michigan.gov  with any questions. 

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