The Department of Natural Resources today announced the schedule of volunteer stewardship workdays to be held throughout July in southeast Michigan state parks and recreation areas.

Volunteers are needed to help hand cut and pile invasive, nonnative shrubs that are encroaching on natural areas within six southeast Michigan state parks and recreation areas. These activities will help protect and restore the unique natural areas in these parks, and volunteering for these workdays is a great way to "GO-Get Outdoors" to get fresh air and exercise.

Workday dates, locations and times are:

• Saturday, July 12, Bald Mountain Recreation Area (Oakland Co.), 9 a.m. to noon
• Sunday, July 13, Island Lake Recreation Area (Livingston Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Saturday, July 19, Pinckney Recreation Area (Washtenaw Co.), 9 a.m. to noon
• Sunday, July 20, Waterloo Recreation Area (Washtenaw Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Saturday, July 26, Highland Recreation Area (Oakland Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Sunday, July 27, Brighton Recreation Area (Livingston Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For information about the specific tasks at each location and to obtain directions, visit the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnrvolunteers and link to the "Calendar of Volunteer Stewardship Workdays." All volunteers are asked to register using the form available on the Web site. Any questions should be directed to Laurel Malvitz at (248) 359-9057 or malvitzl@michigan.gov.

Camping reservations at Michigan state parks and recreation areas can be made online at www.midnrreservations.com or by calling 800-44-PARKS.

All motor vehicles entering a state park or recreation area must display a Motor Vehicle Permit, available for purchase at the park entrance. Cost is $24 for a resident annual and $6 for a resident daily. A nonresident annual is $29 and a nonresident daily is $8.