Cross-Pollination: A Singles Oak Savanna Stewardship Day
About this Event
Join fellow nature-loving singles for an afternoon restoring one of Michigan's rarest ecosystems, then stick around for a guided prairie hike and plenty of time to connect with people who share your love of the outdoors.
We'll kick things off with name tags and a quick round of introductions before heading into the field. After all, it's easier to remember someone's name after you've pulled a buckthorn together.
Oak savannas and oak openings once covered much of the Detroit region, creating sunny woodlands filled with native grasses, wildflowers, butterflies, and birds. Today, these remarkable ecosystems are among the rarest habitat types in the Midwest—and we're working to bring them back.
In nature, courtship often begins with work. Birds build nests. Beavers build dams. Bowerbirds build elaborate displays. While we won't ask anyone to construct a masterpiece, we'll spend the first two hours tackling invasive species and restoring habitat together. There's something genuinely attractive about people who care enough to get their hands dirty for a good cause.
We'll remove invasive plants by the root. Smaller plants will be hand-pulled, medium-sized shrubs mechanically removed, and larger invasives cut down. We'll also collect invasive seeds where appropriate and create habitat piles from woody material that provide shelter for wildlife.
Then we'll trade loppers for conversation during a relaxed guided hike through the prairie. We'll explore wildflowers, insects, birds, and the history of this remarkable ecosystem while giving everyone a chance to mingle in a much more natural setting than a crowded bar.
Feeling creative? Collect invasive flowers during the workday and make yourself an Invasive Bouquet before heading home.
No experience is necessary. We'll teach you how to identify native plants and some of the park's most common invaders—including honeysuckle, buckthorn, multiflora rose, Canada thistle, purple loosestrife, porcelain berry—and, perhaps most importantly, poison ivy.
We provide gloves, eye protection, mosquito jackets, water for refilling bottles, and all the tools you'll need.
Come prepared to work! Long pants, long sleeves, sturdy footwear, and a reusable water bottle are highly recommended. Besides protecting you from poison ivy, mosquitoes, ticks, and thorns, you'll look like someone who's ready to help.
Whether you leave with a phone number, a new hiking buddy, or simply the satisfaction of restoring a rare ecosystem, you'll have spent the day making Rouge Park—and your community—a little healthier.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
