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

Volunteers are needed to help hand pull garlic mustard, an invasive non-native plant, at several parks and to plant native black oak and white oak seedlings at Seven Lakes State Park. These activities will help protect and restore the unique natural areas in these southeast Michigan state parks. Volunteering for these workdays is a great way to "GO-Get Outdoors" and enjoy the wonderful, warm spring weather, as well as celebrate Earth Day 2008.

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

• Saturday, April 5 Island Lake Recreation Area (Livingston Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Sunday, April 6 Algonac State Park (St. Clair Co.), 1 to 4 p.m.
• Saturday, April 12 Bald Mountain Recreation Area (Oakland Co.), 9 a.m. to noon
• Sunday, April 13 Seven Lakes State Park (Oakland Co.), 1 to 4 p.m.
• Saturday, April 19 Brighton Recreation Area (Livingston Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Saturday, April 19 Seven Lakes State Park (Oakland Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Sunday, April 20 Pinckney Recreation Area (Washtenaw Co.), 1 to 4 p.m.
• Saturday, April 26 Waterloo Recreation Area (Washtenaw Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Sunday, April 27 Highland Recreation Area (Oakland Co.), 1 to 4 p.m.

Volunteers should bring appropriate clothing for outdoor work, including long pants, boots, gloves, eye protection 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 at 248-359-9057 or malvitzl@michigan.gov.