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

Volunteers are needed to hand pull garlic mustard, an invasive non-native plant, at several parks, and plant native prairie plants at Waterloo Recreation Area and Algonac State Park. These activities will help protect and restore the unique natural areas in these state parks. Volunteering for these workdays is a great way to "GO-Get Outdoors" and give back to Michigan state parks.

Dates, locations and times of the workdays are as follows:

• Saturday, May 2, Saugatuck Dunes State Park (Allegan Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Saturday, May 2, Island Lake Recreation Areas (Livingston Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Sunday, May 3, Highland Recreation Areas (Oakland Co.), 1 to 4 p.m.
• Saturday, May 9, Bald Mountain Recreation Area (Oakland Co.), 9 a.m. to noon
• Saturday, May 16, Waterloo Recreation Areas (Washtenaw Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Sunday, May 17, Pinckney Recreation Areas (Washtenaw Co.), 1 to 4 p.m.
• Saturday, May 30, Algonac State Parks (St. Clair Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Saturday, May 30, Waterloo Recreation Areas (Washtenaw Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Sunday, May 31, Sterling State Park (Monroe Co.), 1 to 4 p.m.

Volunteers should bring appropriate clothing for outdoor work, including long pants, boots, gloves, and drinking water.

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-Draper at (248) 359-9057 or malvitz@michigan.gov.