The Department of Natural Resources will be holding special volunteer stewardship workdays at Waterloo, Pinckney and Highland Recreation Areas and Algonac and Sterling State Parks from late May to mid-June to plant native prairie seedlings.

Volunteers will plant native prairie grasses and wildflowers to help restore native tallgrass prairie, lakeplain prairie and oak savanna ecosystems.

"We will be planting many different species of grass and wildflowers like big bluestem, broom sedge, bee balm and butterfly milkweed," said Laurel Malvitz-Draper, natural resource steward for the DNR's Parks and Recreation Division Stewardship Unit, "We need a lot of volunteers to help." Planting native species is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and give something back to your state parks, and it is a great activity for all ages."

Native planting workdays will be held at:

• Saturday, May 30, Algonac State Park (St. Clair Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Sunday, May 31, Sterling State Park (Monroe Co.), 1 to 4 p.m.
• Saturday, June 6, Waterloo Recreation Area (Washtenaw Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Sunday, June 7, Pinckney Recreation Area (Washtenaw Co.), 1 to 4 p.m.
• Saturday, June 13, Highland Recreation Area (Oakland Co.), 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Volunteers should bring appropriate clothing for outdoor work, including long pants, sturdy shoes, gloves and drinking water. Participants are also encouraged to bring their friends and family and a shovel or two.

For more information and to obtain directions, visit 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 malvitzl@michigan.gov.