Volunteers needed in September for stewardship at southern Michigan State Parks

All ages are invited to enjoy the warm late-summer weather while restoring high-quality, unique ecosystems and learning more about them at upcoming state park volunteer stewardship workdays this September. Workday details, maps and directions can be found on the DNR website at www.michigan.gov/dnrvolunteers; click the Calendar of Volunteer Stewardship Workdays link.

Volunteers are needed to cut invasive, non-native shrubs like glossy buckthorn, autumn olive and multi-flora rose and to collect seed from native prairie plants (at Sterling State Park) to help restore important ecosystems. All necessary training will be provided.

Workday dates, locations (counties) and times include:

Southwestern Michigan

• Saturday, Sept. 12: Fort Custer Recreation Area (Kalamazoo), 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 13: Muskegon State Park (Muskegon), 1-4 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 19: Warren Dunes State Park (Berrien), 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 20: Yankee Springs Recreation Area (Barry), 1-4 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 27: Saugatuck Dunes State Park (Allegan), 1-4 p.m.

Southeastern Michigan

• Saturday, Sept. 12: Belle Isle Park (Wayne), 9 a.m.-noon
• Sunday, Sept. 13: Waterloo Recreation Area (Jackson), 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 13: Ludington State Park (Mason), 1-4 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 19: Bald Mountain Recreation Area (Oakland), 9 a.m.-noon 
• Saturday, Sept. 26: Sterling State Park (Monroe), 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Volunteers should bring work gloves, drinking water and appropriate clothing for outdoor work, including long pants and sturdy, closed-toe shoes.

All volunteers are asked to register using the form available on the DNR website or via email. For information about southeastern Michigan park workdays, contact Laurel Malvitz-Draper at 517-719-2285 or malvitzl@michigan.gov. For information about southwestern Michigan park workdays, contact Heidi Frei at 517-202-1360 or freih@michigan.gov.