Please join us for one of these free events!  Drop-ins are welcome, but it’s best if you email Grant Vander Laan (gvanderlaan@oaklandtwpmi.gov) or Ben VanderWeide (bvanderweide@oakalndtwpmi.gov) in advance. If you RSVP you will receive information about last minute changes or cancellations. You can also use the form at the bottom of the page to RSVP.

If you’d like to volunteer, but these days don’t work for you, consider getting involved in our volunteer programs for nest box monitoring, vernal pool monitoring, prescribed fire, native gardens, and more! Email Ben VanderWeide, bvanderweide@oaklandtwpmi.gov.

September to December 2026 Workdays

See below for details of the events listed in the table.

Event	Location	Date	Time
Seed Collecting Training	Gallagher Creek Park, 2780 Silverbell Rd.	Sept 15	10 am -12 pm
Seed Collecting Workday	Paint Creek Cider Mill, 4480 Orion Rd	Sept 17	12:30 – 3:30 pm
Wildflower Planting Workday	Lost Lake Nature Park, 846 Lost Lake Trail	Sept 24	6-8 pm
Seed Collecting Workday	Paint Creek Cider Mill, 4480 Orion Rd	Oct 1	12:30 – 3:30 pm
Seed Collecting Workday	Paint Creek Cider Mill, 4480 Orion Rd	Oct 10	12:30 – 3:30 pm
Seed Collecting Workday	Paint Creek Cider Mill, 4480 Orion Rd	Oct 16	12:30 – 3:30 pm
Seed Collecting Workday	Paint Creek Cider Mill, 4480 Orion Rd	Oct 22	12:30 – 3:30 pm
Seed Collecting Workday	Paint Creek Cider Mill, 4480 Orion Rd	Oct 23	12:30 – 3:30 pm
Seed Collecting Workday	Paint Creek Cider Mill, 4480 Orion Rd	Oct 29	12:30 – 3:30 pm
Seed Collecting Workday	Paint Creek Cider Mill, 4480 Orion Rd	Oct 30	12:30 – 3:30 pm
Seed Cleaning Workday	Watershed Ridge Park, 1720 W. Buell Rd	Nov 19	9 am – 3 pm
Invasive Shrub Workday	Bear Creek Nature Park, 740 W. Snell Rd	Dec 1	9 am – 12 pm
Invasive Shrub Workday	Bear Creek Nature Park, 740 W. Snell Rd	Dec 8	9 am – 12 pm
Invasive Shrub Workday	Bear Creek Nature Park, 740 W. Snell Rd	Dec 15	9 am – 12 pm
Holiday Coffee Hour	Paint Creek Cider Mill, 4480 Orion Rd	Dec 16	10 – 11:30 am

Wildflower Planting at Lost Lake Nature Park

September 24, 6 to 8 pm, Lost Lake Nature Park, 846 Lost Lake Trail, Oakland, MI 48363

Join us to plant native wildflower plugs at Lost Lake Nature Park. We’re working to improve the area around the nature center so that the wildflower plantings can be used for an educational resource, pollinator food, and just looking good!

Seed Collecting and Cleaning

Many native plant seeds are only available for collecting for a few weeks in the fall, so we need as much help as possible during harvest! Seed collecting is a fun, relaxing way to learn new native plant species while experiencing unique natural areas. We use these seeds to help restore areas where we have removed invasive plants.

• Seed Collecting Training Day. Meet at Gallagher Creek Park to learn why we collect seed of our native plants, how we clean seed, and basic of seed mix design. We’ll review common seed collecting tools and techniques, then spend some time practicing on the easily accessible plants around the parking lot and playground. September 15, 10 am to 12 pm
• Seed Collecting. Meet at the Paint Creek Cider Mill before heading to our site for the day. September 17 and October 1, 10, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30. All seed collecting workdays are 12:30 – 3:30 pm.
• Seed Cleaning and Mixing. We’ll clean seed that we collected through the fall and sort them into custom seed mixes for habitat restoration in the parks. Meet at Watershed Ridge Park, 1720 West Buell Road on November 19, 9 am to 3 pm. We’ll have a potluck lunch in the middle, so bring a dish to pass!

Volunteer Workdays at Bear Creek Nature Park – Early Winter 2026

We will be removing invasive shrubs such as glossy buckthorn and autumn olive to help native plant and animals thrive! For all workdays meet in the parking lot at 740 West Snell Rd, Rochester, MI 48306.

We continue to remove invasive shrubs around vernal pools, the northern marsh, and other corners of Bear Creek Nature Park. Wear solid boots, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and bring a water and snack. Tools and training will be provided.

Event	Location	Date	Time
Invasive Shrub Workday	Bear Creek Nature Park, 740 West Snell Rd.	Dec 1	9 am to 12 pm
Invasive Shrub Workday	Bear Creek Nature Park, 740 West Snell Rd.	Dec 8	9 am to 12 pm
Invasive Shrub Workday	Bear Creek Nature Park, 740 West Snell Rd.	Dec 15	9 am to 12 pm

Stewardship Holiday Coffee Hour

December 16, 10:00 to 11:30 am, Paint Creek Cider Mill

Join us to enjoy some informal socializing and networking with other nature enthusiasts! We’ll share our experiences birding, checking nest boxes, volunteering, gardening with native plants, and anything else nature-related while wrapping up 2026.

What to Bring

Please remember to wear long pants and closed-toe shoes suitable for uneven terrain.  Please dress for the weather and bring gloves if you have them. We provide tools, light snacks, water, and know-how. All minors must have a waiver signed by a guardian, and minors under 14 must be accompanied by a guardian.

 Volunteers Needed!

Would you like to learn new skills, work with a great team, and get more involved in local conservation? Our natural areas stewardship volunteers help with bluebird nest box monitoring, native seed collecting, prescribed fire, invasive species control, photo monitoring, pollinator garden maintenance, outreach, and more! We fit opportunities to your availability and interests. No special skills required. We’ll provide all training and tool you’ll need. To learn more contact Natural Areas Stewardship Manager Ben VanderWeide (bvanderweide@oaklandtwpmi.gov).

Use this form to RSVP or ask questions