Get to Know Your State Parks in the Month of March by Volunteering to Protect Habitat!

Join in the effort to protect critical dune, prairie and forest habitats stretching from Berrien to Muskegon counties. State recreation officials today announced the schedule of volunteer stewardship activities for the month of March as a part of the new Volunteer Steward program in southwestern Michigan state parks and recreation areas.

Volunteers, ranging from youngsters to adults, have been having a big impact by removing invasive, non-native shrubs in natural areas within state parks and recreation areas. Removing these plants from the landscape will help to protect and restore the unique habitats by improving conditions for native species and restoring ecosystem function.

Targeted invasive species include: honeysuckle, autumn olive, Japanese barberry and Lombardy poplar. Volunteers will benefit many species, some of which are threatened or endangered, while also learning about invasive species and management hands-on.

Volunteers in need of service credit, such as Conservation Stewards, Master Gardeners, scouts, service clubs and school groups, as well as others interested in conservation, are welcome to attend – no experience is necessary. Volunteering for these workdays is a great way to GO-Get Outdoors in many of our cherished state parks, breathe some fresh air, have fun and get a bit of exercise while enjoying beautiful scenery and precious landscapes.

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

• Saturday, March 3 Grand Mere State Park (Berrien County), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
• Sunday, March 4 Fort Custer Recreation Area (Kalamazoo County), 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Saturday, March 10 Muskegon State Park (Muskegon County), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
• Sunday, March 11 Ionia Recreation Area (Ionia County), 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 
• Saturday, March 17 Yankee Springs Recreation Area (Barry County), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
• Sunday, March 18 Saugatuck Dunes State Park (Allegan County), 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 
• Saturday, March 24 P.J. Hoffmaster State Park (Muskegon County), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
• Sunday, March 25 Warren Dunes State Park (Berrien County), 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Volunteers should wear appropriate clothing for outdoor work, including long pants, boots and gloves. In addition, they should bring drinking water. Don’t forget to bring your hiking boots to enjoy the many trails that traverse through forests, dunes, prairies, fen and the other unique natural areas protected by our state park system. Upcoming April through June workdays will focus on removing garlic mustard to protect forest systems.

The Volunteer Steward program is part of the Parks and Recreation Division, Stewardship Unit’s mission to “preserve, protect and restore the natural and cultural resources present within Michigan State Parks for this and future generations.” For information about the activities at each workday, find directions or park information and to check the Volunteer Steward calendar of events, visit the DNR website at www.michigan.gov/dnrvolunteers and link to the “Calendar of Volunteer Stewardship Workdays.” All volunteers are asked to register using the forms available on the website. Please contact Heidi Frei at 269-685-6851 ext. 147 or freih@michigan.gov for registration or questions about the Volunteer Steward program in southwest Michigan.