Join effort to remove garlic mustard from natural areas at Michigan State Parks

Garlic Mustard (National Park Service photo)

Michigan DNR releases June schedule of volunteer stewardship workdays

Summer is a great time to get outdoors at Michigan state parks and recreation areas and help protect critical dune, prairie and forest habitats stretching from Berrien to Muskegon counties. The Department of Natural Resources recently announced its June schedule of volunteer steward activities at state parks and recreation areas throughout southwestern Michigan.

Volunteer stewards will work alongside DNR staff to remove garlic mustard, an aggressive, invasive, non-native plant that grows in the forest understory (the plants and shrubs that grow closest to the ground beneath the main canopy of a forest). Removal of garlic mustard will improve habitat for native species of wildflowers (like trillium and spring beauty) and young saplings of native trees. The work is similar to weeding a garden and is an enjoyable way to spend time outdoors. Students are welcome to participate.

Dates, times and locations (counties) of group workdays are:

• Sunday, June 1: Warren Dunes State Park (Berrien), 1- 4 p.m.
• Friday, June 6: Fort Custer Recreation Area (Kalamazoo), 10 a.m.-noon
• Saturday, June 7: Saugatuck Dunes State Park (Allegan), 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Sunday, June 8: P.J. Hoffmaster State Park (Muskegon), 1-4 p.m.
• Saturday, June 14: Muskegon State Park (Muskegon), 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Sunday, June 15: Warren Dunes State Park (Berrien), 1-4 p.m.
• Saturday, June 21: Saugatuck Dunes State Park (Allegan), 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Sunday, June 22: P.J. Hoffmaster State Park (Muskegon), 1-4 p.m.
• Saturday, June 28: Yankee Springs Recreation Area (Barry), 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Sunday, June 29: Muskegon State Park (Muskegon), 1-4 p.m. 

Volunteers should bring gloves and drinking water and wear appropriate clothing for outdoor work, including long pants and sturdy, closed-toe shoes. All volunteers, especially large groups, are encouraged to register in advance. Questions should be directed to Heidi Frei at 517-202-1360 or freih@michigan.gov.

For more details on DNR volunteer steward activities, including meeting location and activity descriptions, please visit www.michigan.gov/dnrvolunteers and click on the link for Calendar of Volunteer Steward Workdays.