All ages are welcome at the city's Autumn Nature Walk.

The city of Ann Arbor conducts ecological burns to restore natural ecosystems in its parks and nature areas.

Join other nature lovers on a stroll through Buttonbush Nature Area later this month.

Pitch in during an Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation workday in August to improve pollinator habitats.

Natural Area Preservation will conduct controlled burns in natural areas during weekdays between Feb. 17 and May 27 between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., as weather allows.

Ann Arbor will hold an information session and training for its volunteer controlled burn crew in February.

Celebrate Earth Day with Ann Arbor's Natural Area Preservation this weekend.

ANN ARBOR – Want to get outside and try something different this spring? The city of Ann Arbor’s Natural Area Preservation is searching for volunteers to help monitor frog, toad and salamander populations in the city’s parks and nature areas. Salamander Survey Kickoff and TrainingLearn to monitor Ann Arbor’s five species of salamanders. AdThe Saturday Zoom session will run from noon to 2 p.m.Frog & Toad Survey Kickoff and TrainingLearn to identify frogs and toads by eye and ear, and select which route you’d like to survey. The Saturday Zoom session will run from 2:30-4:30 p.m.

ANN ARBOR – It’s nearing the end of February, and you know what that means in Ann Arbor: controlled burn spring season. The volunteer program with the city’s Natural Area Preservation will kick off virtual training on Thursday, Feb. 18 from noon to 5 p.m. The Spring 2021 Controlled Ecological Burn season begins on Friday, Feb. 19 and ends on Friday, May 29. During the Spring 2021 Controlled Burn Season, NAP has permits to conduct burns in the following locations: Arbor Hills Nature Area, Argo Nature Area, Berkshire Creek Nature Area, Bird Hills Nature Area, Black Pond Woods Nature Area, Botsford Nature Area, Buhr Park, Buttonbush Nature Area, Cedar Bend Nature Area, Earhart Nature Area, Gallup Park, Huron Parkway Nature Area, Kuebler Langford Nature Area, Leslie Woods Nature Area, Marshall Nature Area, Maryfield Wildwood Park, Miller Nature Area, Scarlett Mitchell Nature Area, Stapp Nature Area, Sunset Brooks Nature Area, Swift Run Park, and the NAP office at 3875 E. Huron River Drive. The local fire department is notified before each burn, and cell phones and two-way radios are carried by staff conducting a burn.

Lend your hand at several events in February in Ann Arbor’s natural areas. The city of Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation runs regular volunteer events to restore the city’s parks and natural areas while fostering a concern for the environment among residents. Then join the Stewardship Network’s Huron Arbor Cluster for an informal discussion on a monthly topic with volunteer and professional land stewards, plus others interested in nature. Join NAP to restore this valuable habitat by removing invasive shrubs at Leslie Park. Format: Zoom MeetingFire is used as a restoration tool in many of Ann Arbor’s natural areas.

ANN ARBOR – The city of Ann Arbor’s Natural Area Preservation is looking for volunteers for its November events to restore and protect Ann Arbor’s natural areas. To preregister, sign up using Rec-1 by noon on the Friday before the weekend the event will be taking place. The exact meeting location will be provided once you register. Stewardship Workday at Sunset Brooks Nature AreaWhen: Saturday, Nov. 14, 1–4 p.m. Preregistration through Rec-1 using this link is required as space is limited.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The City of Ann Arbor will begin this year’s burn season with an informational public meeting from 7-8:30 p.m. on Oct. 21. This fall, Natural Area Preservation will conduct controlled ecological burns in natural areas between Oct. 22 and Dec. 23. According to NAP, the ecological burns take place because native Ann Arbor ecosystems depend on fire to enrich soil and remove dead thatch. This year, NAP has permits to have burns in Bandemer Park, Barton Nature Area, Bird Hills Nature Area, Buttonbush Nature Area, Ruthven Nature Area, Scarlett Mitchell Nature Area, Sugarbush Park and Swift Run Marsh. City of Ann Arbor and township fire marshals review the plans before issuing burn permits.

ANN ARBOR - On Tuesday, Oct. 15, from 7-8:30 p.m., a public meeting on controlled burns will be held at the Natural Area Preservation office at 3875 E. Huron River Drive. This fall, NAP will be conducting controlled burns in nature areas around Ann Arbor between Oct. 16 and Dec. 20. Signs to alert passersby are posted around park sites on the day of a controlled burn, and staff are on hand to answer questions. "During the fall 2019 season, NAP has permits to burn at the following city-owned sites: Berkshire Creek Nature Area; Bird Hills Nature Area; Buttonbush Nature Area; Cedar Bend Nature Area; Foxfire West Nature Area; Huron Parkway Nature Area; Kuebler Langford Nature Area; Leslie Park; South Pond Nature Area; Stapp Nature Area; and Sugarbush Park." "Our native Ann Arbor ecosystems are fire-dependent.