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 and for a link to the volunteer registration form.

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

                                             July 2008   

Saturday, July 12, 2008
Bald Mountain Recreation Area , 9 a.m. to noon Help remove invasive shrubs that threaten to take over this unique fen site.  We will cut glossy buckthorn out of the open fen area and push back the invading edge of buckthorn!  Meet at the parking lot on the east side of Kern Rd. just north of the Shooting - Archery Range.   ***Waterproof boots, either knee-high rubber boots or hip waders, are recommended for this site. 

Sunday, July 13, 2008
Island Lake Recreation Area , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Want to spend a few hours killing invasive shrubs?  Help us clear shrubs from this savanna and prairie area. Meet at the Riverbend Picnic Area parking lot.   

Saturday, July 19, 2008
Pinckney Recreation Area , 9 a.m. to noon Want to help remove an invasive weed that threatens this dry sand prairie? Help us hand pull spotted knapweed to help improve habitat for native species.  Please wear long pants and long sleeves as some individuals are sensitive to this plant.  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. 

Sunday, July 20, 2008
Waterloo Recreation Area , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. You will see a huge change in just 3 hours of invasive autumn olive removal at this workday!  We will be hauling and stacking invasive shrubs that are inundating this prairie.  Our efforts will give the native plants more room to grow.  Meet on Waterloo Road just west of M-52.  Roadside parking. 

Saturday, July 26, 2008
Highland Recreation Area , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Want to help protect Haven Hill Natural Area? Join us in removing the non-native shrubs that threaten to take over these unique woods. This activity will help protect native wildflowers from being crowded out. Meet at the Goose Meadow parking lot near Haven Hill Lake. Enter the park from M-59, and head south past the headquarters to the first parking lot on your right. 

Sunday, July 27, 2008
Brighton Recreation Area , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Help! Glossy buckthorn is growing in this beautiful prairie. Meet at the Teahen Road entrance. Look for a state truck where the road makes a 90 degree turn. Roadside parking only.   

August 2008 

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Highland Recreation Area , Silo 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 Silo Field Trial Area parking lot off Livingston Road, between Pettibone Lake and Beaumont Roads.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Island Lake Recreation Area , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Help keep this savanna area beautiful and full of native grasses and wildflowers.  Join us as we cut and pile invasive shrubs like autumn olive and honeysuckle.  Meet at the Riverbend Picnic Area parking lot.    

Sunday, August 3, 2008 ,

Algonac State Park , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Want to take part in restoring lakeplain prairies and oak openings? Then help us cut and stack invasive shrubs that threaten to take over these stunning areas. From the park headquarters on M-29, drive north and turn left onto Roberts Road. Turn left onto Marsh Road. Meet at the small parking lot on the left side of the road, just past Swartout Road.   

Saturday, August 9, 2008, 

Bald Mountain Recreation Area , 9 a.m. to noon Glossy buckthorn and other invasive shrubs could take over this small but important fen.  Join us for a second workday to cut and pile these unwelcome invaders.  Meet at the parking lot on the east side of Kern Rd. just north of the Shooting - Archery Range.   ***Waterproof boots, either knee-high rubber boots or hip waders, are recommended for this site.   

Sunday, August 10, 2008 ,

Highland Recreation Area , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Want to help remove invasive shrubs from the high quality woodlands at Highland ?  Then join us at this workday!  Meet at the Goose Meadow parking lot near Haven Hill Lake. Enter the park from M-59, and head south past the headquarters to the first parking lot on the right.   

Saturday, August 16, 2008 ,

Waterloo Recreation Area , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Let's cut invasive shrubs to open up this prairie.  This site is one of our native seed collection sites, so we hope our shrub removal efforts will give the native plants more room to grow.  Meet on Waterloo Road just west of M-52.  Roadside parking.   

Sunday, August 17, 2008 ,

Pinckney Recreation Area , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Invasive shrubs don't belong in this wet mesic prairie.  Help remove them and make room for some neat, native plants.  Meet at the South Lake boat launch parking lot on Joslin Lake Road. From North Territorial Road, take Joslin Lake Road north until you see the boating access site on your left.  ***Waterproof boots, either knee-high rubber boots or hip waders, are recommended for this site.   

Saturday, August 23, 2008 ,

Brighton Recreation Area , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Stop invasive shrubs from invading this striking prairie. Meet at the Teahen Road entrance. Look for a state truck where the road makes a 90 degree turn. Roadside parking only.   

September 2008      

Saturday, September 6, 2008 ,

Island Lake Recreation Area , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Clear out invasive shrubs that could otherwise take over this savanna and crowd out native grasses and wildflowers. Meet at the Riverbend Picnic Area parking lot.    

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Algonac State Park , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Join us as we cut and stack invasive shrubs that threaten to take over this beautiful oak opening area. From the park headquarters on M-29, drive north and turn left onto Roberts Road. Turn left onto Marsh Road. Meet at the small parking lot on the left side of the road, just past Swartout Road.   

Saturday, September 13, 2008 ,

Bald Mountain Recreation Area , 9 a.m. to noon We will most likely return to our shrub removal efforts in the Graham Lake fens.  If not, we will caravan to the Kern Rd. site and continue the work from the past two months.  Either way, we will remove glossy buckthorn from a fen and meet at the parking lot just east of 2430 W. Predmore, Oakland, MI 48363 (the only driveway on the north side of the road besides the East Graham Boat Launch).  ***Waterproof boots, either knee-high rubber boots or hip waders, are recommended for this site.   

Sunday, September 14, 2008 ,

Pinckney Recreation Area , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Want to help remove invasive shrubs that threaten to take over this wet mesic prairie?  Help us cut autumn olive and others to make room for native plants.  Meet at the South Lake boat launch parking lot on Joslin Lake Road. From North Territorial Road, take Joslin Lake Road north until you see the boating access site on your left.  ***Waterproof boots, either knee-high rubber boots or hip waders, are recommended for this site.   

Saturday, September 20, 2008 ,

Waterloo Recreation Area , 1 p.m.- 4 p.m.  We will remove shrubs from this area to reconnect the prairie remnants.  This site is one of our native seed collection sites, so we hope our shrub cutting efforts will give the native plants more room to grow.  Meet on Waterloo Road just west of M-52.  Roadside parking.

Sunday, September 21, 2008 ,

Brighton Recreation Area , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Removing invasive shrubs from this prairie will allow the native grasses and wildflowers to thrive.  Want to help? Meet at the Teahen Road entrance. Look for a state truck where the road makes a 90 degree turn. Roadside parking only.   

Saturday, September 27, 2008
Sterling State Park , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Celebrate National Public Lands Day with us!  We will restore lakeplain prairie by planting native grasses and wildflowers to restore lakeplain prairie.  Meet at the park headquarters at 2800 State Park Road, Monroe, MI 48162.  There may be an opportunity to plant during the week.  If you're interested in helping, please contact me for more information.

Sunday, September 28, 2008
Highland Recreation Area , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Plant native wildflowers!  Be a part of the prairie and barrens restoration at the Silo Field Trial Area. Meet at the parking lot off Livingston Road, between Pettibone Lake and Beaumont Roads.  If there are seedlings left to plant after this workday, you can help plant on your own during the following week.  Contact me for more information.

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 by 8 p.m.  the night before the scheduled workday. 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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