The Department of Natural Resources is seeking volunteers to help harvest native prairie seeds on weekends throughout October and early November.

Seed collection activities will take place at Algonac State Park (St. Clair County), Brighton Recreation Area (Livingston County), Fort Custer Recreation Area (Kalamazoo County), Highland Recreation Area (Oakland County), Island Lake Recreation Area (Livingston County), Pinckney Recreation Area (Washtenaw County), Sterling State Park (Monroe County), and Waterloo Recreation Area (Washtenaw County).

Seeds collected will be used to restore tallgrass prairie, lakeplain prairie and oak savanna ecosystems throughout southern Michigan. Prairie and oak savanna ecosystems, nearly eliminated during European settlement, exist today in small remnants, many in Michigan's state parks and recreation areas. Seed collection is a key step in restoring these lost landscapes, but a step that requires many hands.

"This is an important opportunity to restore and expand these natural ecosystems and preserve them for future generations," explained Ray Fahlsing, stewardship manager of the DNR's Parks and Recreation Division.

A complete schedule of the 14 collection dates, meeting locations and registration forms are available on the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnrvolunteers. Volunteers are asked to wear sturdy hiking shoes, bring drinking water, sunscreen, and a clean, empty milk jug to collect seeds. Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information on volunteering, contact Laurel Malvitz at 248-359-9057 or malvitzl@michigan.gov, at least seven days in advance of each collection date.