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July 27, 2017
Contact: Laurel Malvitz-Draper (southeast Michigan), 517-719-2285 or Heidi Frei (southwest Michigan), 517-202-1360
Stewardship volunteers needed throughout August in southern Michigan state parks
 The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will host a number of volunteer stewardship workdays at state parks and recreation areas in southeast and southwest Michigan throughout August.
Volunteers are needed to locate and remove non-native, invasive plants, such as spotted knapweed, Japanese hedge parsley, sweet clover, buckthorn, honeysuckle and barberry, which will help restore prairie, fen and forested dune sites. These activities are an enjoyable way to spend time outdoors, while restoring Michigan's ecosystems and learning about its inhabitants.
The Calendar of Volunteer Stewardship Workdays (which includes workday details, the stewardship volunteer registration form and links to individual park maps and directions) is available on the DNR website at http://www.michigan.gov/dnrvolunteers. All volunteers are asked to register either by using the form or via email.
Southeast Michigan workday dates, locations (counties) and times:
- Wednesday, Aug. 2: Waterloo Recreation Area (Washtenaw), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 5: Island Lake Recreation Area (Livingston), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Sunday, Aug. 6: Waterloo Recreation Area (Washtenaw), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 12: Bald Mountain Recreation Area (Oakland), 9 a.m. to noon
- Sunday, Aug. 13: Pinckney Recreation Area (Washtenaw), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 19: Belle Isle Park (Wayne), 9 a.m. to noon
- Sunday, Aug. 20: Highland Recreation Area (Oakland), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 26: Island Lake Recreation Area (Livingston), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Sunday, Aug. 27: Waterloo Recreation Area (Washtenaw), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Southwest Michigan workday dates, locations (counties) and times:
- Saturday, Aug. 5: Muskegon State Park (Muskegon), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 5: Holland State Park (Ottawa), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Sunday, Aug. 6: Warren Dunes State Park (Berrien), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 12: Yankee Springs Recreation Area (Barry), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 19: Muskegon State Park (Muskegon), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Sunday, Aug. 27: Saugatuck Dunes State Park (Allegan), 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Volunteers should bring work gloves, drinking water and appropriate clothing for outdoor work, including long pants and sturdy, closed-toe shoes.
For more information on park stewardship volunteer opportunities, contact:
The DNR's Volunteer Stewardship Program is a hands-on way for all ages to learn about and protect Michigan's natural resources by collecting native seeds, removing invasive species, conducting plant and animal surveys and other activities. Other ways to volunteer with the DNR include joining a state park friends group, serving as a campground host or a lightkeeper and many other opportunities.
/Editor's note: An accompanying photo is available below for download. A suggested caption follows.
A volunteer helps remove invasive species at Island Lake Recreation Area as part of the Michigan DNR's monthly stewardship workdays at many state parks in southern Michigan./
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.
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