Workday dates, activities, and locations are listed below. Workdays are scheduled and posted quarterly. Please check this site to make sure you have the most up-to-date information since meeting locations may need to change. 

Volunteer workdays are sponsored by the State Park Stewardship Unit to help protect and restore natural areas in our state parks and recreation areas.

Monthly workdays are held at:

Algonac State Park , Bald Mountain Recreation Area , Brighton Recreation Area , Highland Recreation Area , Island Lake Recreation Area , Pinckney Recreation Area ,  Waterloo Recreation Area .

Occasional workdays are also held at:

Fort Custer Recreation Area , Grand Mere State Park , Seven Lakes State Park , Sterling State Park , Warren Dunes State Park , Warren Woods State Park .                                        

Please scroll  below the calendar for more information and for a link to the volunteer registration form.

For more information about seed collecting; visit our Native Praire Seed Collection web page.  Click here to register for all seed collections workdays. To register for all other workdays click here. 

Saturday, August 23, 2008 ,

Brighton Recreation Area , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Stop invasive shrubs from invading this striking prairie. Meet at the Teahen Road entrance. Look for a state truck where the road makes a 90 degree turn. Roadside parking only.   

September 2008      

Saturday, September 6, 2008 ,

Island Lake Recreation Area , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Clear out invasive shrubs that could otherwise take over this savanna and crowd out native grasses and wildflowers. Meet at the Riverbend Picnic Area parking lot.    

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Algonac State Park , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Join us as we cut and stack invasive shrubs that threaten to take over this beautiful oak opening area. From the park headquarters on M-29, drive north and turn left onto Roberts Road. Turn left onto Marsh Road. Meet at the small parking lot on the left side of the road, just past Swartout Road.   

Saturday, September 13, 2008 ,

Bald Mountain Recreation Area , 9 a.m. to noon We will most likely return to our shrub removal efforts in the Graham Lake fens.  If not, we will caravan to the Kern Rd. site and continue the work from the past two months.  Either way, we will remove glossy buckthorn from a fen and meet at the parking lot just east of 2430 W. Predmore, Oakland, MI 48363 (the only driveway on the north side of the road besides the East Graham Boat Launch).  ***Waterproof boots, either knee-high rubber boots or hip waders, are recommended for this site.   

Sunday, September 14, 2008 ,

Pinckney Recreation Area , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Want to help remove invasive shrubs that threaten to take over this wet mesic prairie?  Help us cut autumn olive and others to make room for native plants.  Meet at the South Lake boat launch parking lot on Joslin Lake Road. From North Territorial Road, take Joslin Lake Road north until you see the boating access site on your left.  ***Waterproof boots, either knee-high rubber boots or hip waders, are recommended for this site.   

Saturday, September 20, 2008 ,

Waterloo Recreation Area , 1 p.m.- 4 p.m.  We will remove shrubs from this area to reconnect the prairie remnants.  This site is one of our native seed collection sites, so we hope our shrub cutting efforts will give the native plants more room to grow.  Meet on Waterloo Road just west of M-52.  Roadside parking.

Sunday, September 21, 2008 ,

Brighton Recreation Area , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Removing invasive shrubs from this prairie will allow the native grasses and wildflowers to thrive.  Want to help? Meet at the Teahen Road entrance. Look for a state truck where the road makes a 90 degree turn. Roadside parking only.   

Saturday, September 27, 2008
Sterling State Park , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Celebrate National Public Lands Day with us!  We will restore lakeplain prairie by planting native grasses and wildflowers to restore lakeplain prairie.  Meet at the park headquarters at 2800 State Park Road, Monroe, MI 48162.  There may be an opportunity to plant during the week.  If you're interested in helping, please contact me for more information.

Sunday, September 28, 2008
Highland Recreation Area , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Plant native wildflowers!  Be a part of the prairie and barrens restoration at the Silo Field Trial Area. Meet at the parking lot off Livingston Road, between Pettibone Lake and Beaumont Roads.  If there are seedlings left to plant after this workday, you can help plant on your own during the following week.  Contact me for more information.

October 2008   

Saturday, October 4, 2008 ,

Bald Mountain Recreation Area , 9 a.m. to noon

Join ongoing efforts to rid the Graham Lake Fen Complex of glossy buckthorn and other invasive shrubs.  Meet at the parking lot just east of 2430 W. Predmore, Oakland, MI 48363 (the only driveway on the north side of the road besides the East Graham Boat Launch). ***Waterproof boots, either knee-high rubber boots or hip waders, are recommended for this site.   

Sunday, October 5, 2008 ,

Island Lake Recreation Area , 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Take the only park road until you see signs (approx. 15 minutes from the entrance).  You will hike less than a half mile to get to the grass seed collection site.  We need lots of hands to collect big bluestem!   

Saturday, October 11, 2008 ,

Highland Recreation Area , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Meet at the Silo Field Trial Area parking lot on Livingston Road, between Pettibone Lake and Beaumont Roads.  We will be collecting wildflower seeds.

Sunday, October 12, 2008 ,

Algonac State Park , 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Enter the park through the main entrance on M-29 and meet at the day use area parking lot.  You will enjoy less than a ½ mile hike to the grass and wildflower seed collection site. 

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 ,

Island Lake Recreation Area , 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Meet in the parking lot by the JC Penney store at Green Oak Village Place mall. Go to  http://www.shopsatgreenoak.com/directions.html to get directions to the mall from your starting location and to learn about the "roundabouts" you will drive through.  There is easy access to the prairie where we will collect seed from this parking lot and meeting here will maximize our seed collection time.  We will hike less than a half mile to the wildflower and grass seed collection site. 

Saturday, October 18, 2008 ,

Pinckney Recreation Area , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Meet at the Halfmoon Lake parking lot near Hankerd Road.  We will collect native wildflower seeds.

Saturday, October 18, 2008 ,

Sterling State Park , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Follow the park road past the contact station and look for signs directing you to the site.  Please arrive on time as we may break into two groups and have some volunteers caravan to another site.

Sunday, October 19, 2008 ,

Highland Recreation Area , 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Join us for this fun native wildflower seed collection workday.  Meet at the Silo Field Trial Area parking lot on Livingston Road, between Pettibone Lake and Beaumont Roads.

Sunday, October 19, 2008 ,

Fort Custer Recreation Area , 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Meet at the park headquarters, then caravan to the site where we'll collect native wildflower seeds.

Saturday, October 25, 2008 ,

Waterloo Recreation Area , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Meet on Waterloo Road just west of M-52 to help collect prairie grass and wildflower seeds.  Roadside parking.  Please arrive on time as we may caravan to an alternate location.

Sunday, October 26, 2008 ,

Fort Custer Recreation Area , 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Meet at the park headquarters, then caravan to the site where we'll collect native wildflower seeds.

Sunday, October 26, 2008 ,

Brighton Recreation Area , 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Meet at the Teahen Road entrance. Look for a state truck where the road makes a 90 degree turn.  We will collect grass and wildflower seeds in the nearby prairie.  Roadside parking.

November 2008

Saturday, November 1, 2008 ,

Island Lake Recreation Area , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Take the only park road until you see signs (approx. 15 minutes from the entrance).  We will likely meet at Dodge picnic area and hike about a half mile to get to the wildflower seed collection site.

Sunday, November 2, 2008 ,

Highland Recreation Area , 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Meet at the Silo Field Trial Area parking lot on Livingston Road, between Pettibone Lake and Beaumont Roads.  We will be collecting wildflower seeds.  Don't forget to turn your clocks back one hour for Daylight Savings or you will be an hour early.

Saturday, November 8, 2008 ,

Bald Mountain Recreation Area , 9 a.m. to noon

The Graham Lake Fen Complex needs your help.  Come cut and pile the glossy buckthorn and other invasive shrubs that threaten this unique ecosystem.  Meet at the parking lot just east of 2430 W. Predmore, Oakland, MI 48363 (the only driveway on the north side of the road except the East Graham Boat Launch).  ***Waterproof boots, either knee-high rubber boots or hip waders, are recommended for this site.

Saturday, November 8, 2008 ,

Highland Recreation Area , Barn Field Trial Area, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Join ongoing efforts to restore this area to an open grassland.  Volunteers will be hauling and piling brush and stacking fire wood.  Meet at the Barn Field Trial Area parking lot on the north side of Cooley Lake Road between Duck Lake and Beaumont Roads.

Sunday, November 9, 2008 ,

Algonac State Park , 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Follow the signs from the main entrance and meet at the shot gun range parking area.  Enjoy a 1.5 mile hike to the grass seed collection site.

December 2008

Saturday, December 6, 2008 ,

Island Lake Recreation Area , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Assist in clearing out invasive shrubs that will otherwise take over this savanna and crowd out native grasses and wildflowers. Meet at the Riverbend Picnic Area park lot.

Sunday, December 7, 2008 ,

Brighton Recreation Area , 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Removing invasive shrubs from this fen will allow the native grasses and wildflowers to thrive.  Want to help? Meet at the Little Appleton Lake parking lot.  Head north from Bishop Lake Road toward Appleton Lake, stay to the left and watch for signs.  ***Waterproof boots, either knee-high rubber boots or hip waders, are recommended for this site.

Saturday, December 13, 2008 ,

Bald Mountain Recreation Area , 9 a.m. to noon

The Graham Lake Fen Complex needs your help.  Come cut and pile the glossy buckthorn and other invasive shrubs that threaten this unique ecosystem.  Meet at the parking lot just east of 2430 W. Predmore, Oakland, MI 48363 (the only driveway on the north side of the road except the East Graham Boat Launch).  ***Waterproof boots, either knee-high rubber boots or hip waders, are recommended for this site.

Saturday, December 13, 2008 ,

Highland Recreation Area , Silo Field Trial Area, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Join ongoing efforts to restore this area to open grassland.  Volunteers will be hauling and piling brush and stacking fire wood.  Meet at the Silo Field Trial Area parking lot off Livingston Road, between Pettibone Lake and Beaumont Roads.

Sunday, December 14, 2008 ,

Pinckney Recreation Area , 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Come out and help remove invasive shrubs that don't belong in this wet mesic prairie. This will make room for neat native plants.  Meet at the South Lake boat launch parking lot on Joslin Lake Road. From North Territorial Road, take Joslin Lake Road north until you see the boating access site on your left.  ***Waterproof boots, either knee-high rubber boots or hip waders, are recommended for this site.

Saturday, December 20, 2008 ,

Waterloo Recreation Area , 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Want to help save a wetland? Help keep invasive shrubs out of this beautiful fen ecosystem.  We need to scout out the invasive shrubs living amongst the native ones, so we need some well trained eyes.  If you're not sure how to identify these invasive shrubs, don't worry, we'll pair you us with someone who is!  Meet at the southeast corner of Glenn and Mt. Hope Roads.  ***Waterproof boots, either knee-high rubber boots or hip waders, are recommended for this site.

  Workday Details

Registration

Please complete a  volunteer registration form  or contact Laurel Malvitz at 248-359-9057 or malvitzl@michigan.gov   to let her know which workdays you plan to attend.  Registering helps us plan the workdays more effectively so we have enough equipment and so we can divide into groups and assign tasks more easily.

Workday Cancellation

If a workday must be cancelled due to inclement weather or for any other reason, a voice mail message saying so will be posted at 248-359-9057 by 8 p.m.  the night before the scheduled workday. If there is no cancellation message, the workday will go on as planned.

Park Map and Directions

Click on the name of the park or recreation area above to view the park's webpage.  From the park webpage you can print a "Unit Map" and get directions to the park.

What to Wear and Bring

Please remember to wear appropriate clothing for outdoor work, including long pants and work boots.  Please also bring drinking water, work gloves, and eye protection (especially prescription safety glasses).  Waterproof boots, either knee-high rubber boots or hip waders, are recommended for fen and other wetland sites.  If you don't have waterproof boots and would like to borrow a pair, please note that when you register and we will try to provide them.

What NOT to Bring

Be sure your outerwear, gloves, and boots are free of mud and hitchhiking seeds before coming to the workday. We don't want to inadvertently spread invasive plant seeds into these high quality natural areas.

Stewardship Announcements

Would you like to receive workday reminders and general stewardship information via email? Please email Laurel Malvitz, malvitzl@michigan.gov , a list of the parks that you are interested in. Please choose from the parks listed at the top of this page.

Motor Vehicle Permit

Please support Michigan 's state parks and recreation areas by purchasing a Motor Vehicle Permit (MVP).  Resident annual ($24) and daily ($6) permits are available at all parks and recreation areas.  The Motor Vehicle Permit requirement has been waived for these volunteer stewardship workdays, but purchasing an MVP will help support our state parks and recreation areas.

Want to get more involved?

The Core Volunteer Steward Program provides volunteers with additional ways to get involved and make a unique commitment, both individually and as part of a team.

Questions?

Please contact Laurel Malvitz, Resource Steward for the Stewardship Unit, at 248-359-9057 or malvitzl@michigan.gov  with any questions. 

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