Calendar

Preserve Challenge

Explore & Restore Woods, Wetlands, & Prairies - Independence Lake

Join naturalist Faye Stoner to protect Independence Lake’s remarkable natural areas. As the season progresses, we’ll traverse prairie, woods, and a variety of wetlands, including sedge meadows, prairie fen, cattail marshes, and a buttonbush swamp. You’ll use loppers and saws to bust down shrubs and vines to protect these amazing natural spaces, while enjoying nature, fresh air, and exercise in a friendly community setting. Snacks, tools, and gloves provided (bring your own water bottle).

Grist Mill Tour

Open house style tour of historic grist mill.

Neighborhood Nature Restoration Days - County Farm Park

On select Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays each month, learn, explore, and give back to nature in a friendly community setting. In fall, we’ll continue working to protect the spectacular spring wildflower displays of Britton Woods, removing invasive plants like honeysuckle. Through this hands-on service-learning activity, you’ll get off-trail outdoor exercise and develop a sense of well-being in nature, all while building community with like-minded people. Led by Jonathan Parker. Snacks, gloves, and water provided (bring your own water bottle). For questions or cancellations, contact Matthew Bertrand, [email protected].

Intro to Archery

Introductory archery program for ages 8 and up. Adults and children can participate. Equipment provided.

Intro to Archery

Introductory archery program for ages 8 and up. Adults and children can participate. Equipment provided.

7th Annual Fall Seed Share

Explore & Restore Woods, Wetlands, & Prairies - Independence Lake

Join naturalist Faye Stoner to protect Independence Lake’s remarkable natural areas. As the season progresses, we’ll traverse prairie, woods, and a variety of wetlands, including sedge meadows, prairie fen, cattail marshes, and a buttonbush swamp. You’ll use loppers and saws to bust down shrubs and vines to protect these amazing natural spaces, while enjoying nature, fresh air, and exercise in a friendly community setting. Snacks, tools, and gloves provided (bring your own water bottle).

Preschool Hike: Log Cabin Cozy

Nature program for ages 2 - 5, caregiver must be present.

Bulldozing For The Bs (+Seed Collection)

Join a team "bulldozing" invasive shrubs to help the Bs—the Birds, Bees, and Butterflies, that is! You’ll use loppers and saws to clear the way for B habitat and get ideas for how to turn your own backyard into a B haven. Come for the nature, fresh air, and exercise in a friendly community setting—or just to demolish something for a good cause. Led by Matthew Bertrand, Volunteer Coordinator (also a landscape designer). Snacks, tools, and gloves provided (bring your own water bottle). Pending weather and seasonality, this activity may also include a seed collection component, harvesting native seeds for use on future restoration projects. For questions or cancellations, please contact Matthew Bertrand, [email protected].

Park Program: Owl Prowl

Bird Migration Day

Park Program: Fall Campfire Cooking

Junior Naturalist: Fire Building

Nature program for ages 7 - 11.

Rambling Readers Book Club

Participants will discuss a nature focused book then hike together to continue discussion or simply enjoy nature.

Autumn Color Mindfulness Hike

Mindful movement in nature for ages 18+

Sunrise Nature Hike

Explore & Restore Woods, Wetlands, & Prairies - Independence Lake

Join naturalist Faye Stoner to protect Independence Lake’s remarkable natural areas. As the season progresses, we’ll traverse prairie, woods, and a variety of wetlands, including sedge meadows, prairie fen, cattail marshes, and a buttonbush swamp. You’ll use loppers and saws to bust down shrubs and vines to protect these amazing natural spaces, while enjoying nature, fresh air, and exercise in a friendly community setting. Snacks, tools, and gloves provided (bring your own water bottle).

Fall Community Gathering At County Farm Park

Come for an all-ages evening of fun, nature, and community at the Fall Community Gathering with Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation. Join fellow park lovers celebrating fall, Preserve Challenge participants, & volunteers (past, present, & future) making our community a better place. Enjoy seasonal refreshments (like cider, donuts, s’mores), nature hikes, & lawn games. RAIN DATE: Tuesday Oct. 24 RSVPs not required, but requested to ensure refreshment supply. For questions or cancellations, contact Matthew Bertrand, [email protected].

Bulldozing For The Bs

Join a team "bulldozing" invasive shrubs to help the Bs—the Birds, Bees, and Butterflies, that is! You’ll use loppers and saws to clear the way for B habitat and get ideas for how to turn your own backyard into a B haven. Come for the nature, fresh air, and exercise in a friendly community setting—or just to demolish something for a good cause. Led by Matthew Bertrand, Volunteer Coordinator (also a landscape designer). Snacks, tools, and gloves provided (bring your own water bottle). For questions or cancellations, please contact Matthew Bertrand, [email protected].

Grist Mill Tour

Open house style tour of historic grist mill.

Prairie Restoration Days

Sign-up for a trip back in time to protect two of Washtenaw County’s last remaining remnant prairies, Woodcock Prairie and Independence Prairie. You’ll bust down the shrubs and vines threatening these rare ecosystems. Though mostly now gone, prairies once sprawled across almost one-third of the United States. Discover and protect Independence Lake’s extraordinary fragments of history, while enjoying nature, fresh air, and exercise in a friendly community setting. Snacks, tools, and gloves provided (bring your own water bottle).

Restoration Day At The Parker Mill Historic Teaching Landscapes

Join a team breaking down invasive shrubs to restore the teaching landscapes at the historic Parker Mill. You’ll get to learn more about the practical uses of native plants for fiber, medicine, and food, while also improving a landscape used by hundreds of elementary school students each year to learn how Native Americans and pioneers lived off the land. Led by Parks Naturalist Shawn Severance. Snacks, tools, and gloves provided (bring your own water bottle). For questions or cancellations, contact Matthew Bertrand, [email protected].

Neighborhood Nature Restoration Days - County Farm Park

On select Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays each month, learn, explore, and give back to nature in a friendly community setting. In fall, we’ll continue working to protect the spectacular spring wildflower displays of Britton Woods, removing invasive plants like honeysuckle. Through this hands-on service-learning activity, you’ll get off-trail outdoor exercise and develop a sense of well-being in nature, all while building community with like-minded people. Led by Jonathan Parker. Snacks, gloves, and water provided (bring your own water bottle). For questions or cancellations, contact Matthew Bertrand, [email protected].

Neighborhood Nature Restoration Days - County Farm Park

On select Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays each month, learn, explore, and give back to nature in a friendly community setting. In fall, we’ll continue working to protect the spectacular spring wildflower displays of Britton Woods, removing invasive plants like honeysuckle. Through this hands-on service-learning activity, you’ll get off-trail outdoor exercise and develop a sense of well-being in nature, all while building community with like-minded people. Led by Jonathan Parker. Snacks, gloves, and water provided (bring your own water bottle). For questions or cancellations, contact Matthew Bertrand, [email protected].

Explore & Restore Woods, Wetlands, & Prairies - Independence Lake

Join naturalist Faye Stoner to protect Independence Lake’s remarkable natural areas. As the season progresses, we’ll traverse prairie, woods, and a variety of wetlands, including sedge meadows, prairie fen, cattail marshes, and a buttonbush swamp. You’ll use loppers and saws to bust down shrubs and vines to protect these amazing natural spaces, while enjoying nature, fresh air, and exercise in a friendly community setting. Snacks, tools, and gloves provided (bring your own water bottle).

Bulldozing For The Bs

Join a team "bulldozing" invasive shrubs to help the Bs—the Birds, Bees, and Butterflies, that is! You’ll use loppers and saws to clear the way for B habitat and get ideas for how to turn your own backyard into a B haven. Come for the nature, fresh air, and exercise in a friendly community setting—or just to demolish something for a good cause. Led by Matthew Bertrand, Volunteer Coordinator (also a landscape designer). Snacks, tools, and gloves provided (bring your own water bottle). For questions or cancellations, please contact Matthew Bertrand, [email protected].

Explore & Restore Woods, Wetlands, & Prairies - Independence Lake

Join naturalist Faye Stoner to protect Independence Lake’s remarkable natural areas. As the season progresses, we’ll traverse prairie, woods, and a variety of wetlands, including sedge meadows, prairie fen, cattail marshes, and a buttonbush swamp. You’ll use loppers and saws to bust down shrubs and vines to protect these amazing natural spaces, while enjoying nature, fresh air, and exercise in a friendly community setting. Snacks, tools, and gloves provided (bring your own water bottle).