Each month, the DNR offers a variety of opportunities to help take care of Michigan’s natural and cultural resources. Here are a few ways to get involved in April.

State park volunteer workdays

Several state parks in southern Michigan will host stewardship workdays, where volunteers are needed to help remove invasive plants that threaten high-quality ecosystems.

Workdays will take place at:

• Bald Mountain Recreation Area (Oakland County), 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 13, and 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, April 29.
• Muskegon State Park (Muskegon County), 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, April 14.
• Waterloo Recreation Area (Washtenaw County), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 13, and Saturday, April 27.
• Highland Recreation Area (Oakland County), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, April 14, and Sunday April 21.
• Pinckney Recreation Area (Washtenaw County), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 20.
• Saugatuck Dunes State Park (Allegan County), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday April 20.
• Yankee Springs Recreation Area (Barry County), 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, April 21.
• Brighton Recreation Area (Livingston County), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, April 28.

More details about each workday and how to register can be found on the DNR volunteer events calendar.

Mears State Park in Oceana County will host its annual Spring Volunteer Day Saturday, April 27. A longstanding tradition at the park, the event gives volunteers a chance to pitch in by helping put out tables, benches and grills, cleaning campsites, painting park fixtures and other activities necessary to get the park ready for use. In return, those who want to camp and who complete a full day of volunteering earn a free camp night (must be used this weekend).

On the Ground habitat help

Join in fish and wildlife habitat improvement efforts with On the Ground, Michigan United Conservation Clubs’ volunteer program in partnership with the DNR. Projects coming up in April include:

• Annual Clinton River cleanup, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at Yates Park in Rochester Hills (Oakland County). On the Ground will partner with Metro-West Steelheaders and the Clinton River Watershed Council to improve and enhance the quality of fish and wildlife habitat by removing trash in and around the Clinton River.
• Brush pile building in Kalkaska County, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 27. In partnership with Land Ethic, LLC, volunteers will help construct brush piles, which provide numerous benefits to a variety of wildlife, in the Traverse City Forest Management Unit in Kalkaska County.

For more opportunities to volunteer, contribute and provide input, visit Michigan.gov/DNRVolunteers.