2025 MAY-JUNE STEWARDSHIP PROJECT SCHEDULE
Questions: Contact us HERE.
Registration: Please let us know you are joining us, sign up HERE.
Volunteer Forms: If you are joining us for volunteer stewardship training or for one or more stewardship projects,
please complete our Volunteer forms found HERE.
Volunteer Hours: At the completion of a project, please enter your time (Including travel time to and from the site) HERE.
Registration: Please let us know you are joining us, sign up HERE.
Volunteer Forms: If you are joining us for volunteer stewardship training or for one or more stewardship projects,
please complete our Volunteer forms found HERE.
Volunteer Hours: At the completion of a project, please enter your time (Including travel time to and from the site) HERE.
We will include a short field trip on each project to see some of the preserve we are working at. When registering to volunteer, please allow at least 24 hours prior to the project as weather may impact conditions and we make every effort to inform our volunteers of changes.
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Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER
Garlic mustard control at Irwin Prairie 10:30 am – 3:30 pm 9987 West Bancroft Street, Holland Lucas County The core of this preserve is a treeless, wet sedge meadow dominated by several species of sedges, rushes and wetland grasses. It is the finest remaining sedge meadow in the state. The preserve is actually comprised of a mosaic of distinctive plant communities based on variations in water table levels.
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We will be removing garlic mustard in cooperation with the Toledo Wild Ones.
Directions: Meet at the parking lot located on Bancroft Road, about five miles north of the Toledo airport.
What to bring: Bring lunch, work gloves, long-sleeved shirt and pants, hiking boots, tick spray or repellent.
RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE. Online registration is important for our planning.
Directions: Meet at the parking lot located on Bancroft Road, about five miles north of the Toledo airport.
What to bring: Bring lunch, work gloves, long-sleeved shirt and pants, hiking boots, tick spray or repellent.
RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE. Online registration is important for our planning.
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Thursday, May 8, 2025
Invasive Plant Control at Milford Center Prairie 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Connor Road, Milford Center Madison County Milford Center Prairie is a very significant prairie remnant of the Darby Plains owned by Dayton Power & Light, but managed in cooperation with DNAP. It is approximately 1.5 miles in length beneath the power lines with more than 50 different species of prairie plants, including rare species such as royal catchfly.
We will be controlling herbaceous plants: giant ragweed, teasel, Canada thistle and sweet-clover. Directions: Meet at the parking area located on Connor Road,
just north off of State Route 4, west of Milford Center. We will park in the pull-off area on Connor Road near the power line crossing and walk down the DP&L power line ROW for the project. What to Bring: Lunch, water, hat, boots, tick spray or repellents, gloves, and a digging tool. |
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Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER FORECAST
Woody Species Control at Greenbelt State Nature Preserve, Great Parks of Hamilton County
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Cincinnati, Hamilton County
Woody Species Control at Greenbelt State Nature Preserve, Great Parks of Hamilton County
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Cincinnati, Hamilton County
Greenbelt State Nature Preserve is a mature hardwood forest -- the woods include several ravines that flow south towards Valleyview Drive and Winton Lake. The old-aged forest features mature oak-hickory-walnut-sugar maple trees with quality spring wildflower displays (including largeleaf waterleaf, Solomon’s seal, false Solomon’s seal, dwarf larkspur, bent or drooping trillium, toadshade or sessile trillium, dutchman’s breeches, etc.)
We will be cutting and treating bush honeysuckle, winged burning bush, privet, multiflora rose and invasive vines. Tools (loppers and hand saws) will be provided. Herbicide will be applied by trained ONAPA and Great Parks volunteers and staff. stewardship assistants, We will also be pulling garlic mustard seen in the area.
Directions: See the map provided. Meet at Hawk Knoll Picnic Area and Parking Lot, Winton Woods.
From Finneytown, head north on Winton Rd. for 3 miles; turn left onto Valleyview Drive; drive west 0.6 mile to Hawk Knoll Picnic Area/Parking Lot.
From Forest Park / I-275: head south on Winton Rd. for 2.9 miles; turn right onto Valleyview Drive; drive west 0.6 mi to Hawk Knoll Picnic Area/Parking Lot.
What to bring: Bring lunch, water, gloves, and muck boots.
RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE. Online registration is important for our planning.
We will be cutting and treating bush honeysuckle, winged burning bush, privet, multiflora rose and invasive vines. Tools (loppers and hand saws) will be provided. Herbicide will be applied by trained ONAPA and Great Parks volunteers and staff. stewardship assistants, We will also be pulling garlic mustard seen in the area.
Directions: See the map provided. Meet at Hawk Knoll Picnic Area and Parking Lot, Winton Woods.
From Finneytown, head north on Winton Rd. for 3 miles; turn left onto Valleyview Drive; drive west 0.6 mile to Hawk Knoll Picnic Area/Parking Lot.
From Forest Park / I-275: head south on Winton Rd. for 2.9 miles; turn right onto Valleyview Drive; drive west 0.6 mi to Hawk Knoll Picnic Area/Parking Lot.
What to bring: Bring lunch, water, gloves, and muck boots.
RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE. Online registration is important for our planning.
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Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Pulling Invasive Plants at Fowler Woods State Nature Preserve 10:00 am - 3:00 pm 7815 Olivesburg-Fitchville Rd, Greenwich Richland County Fowler Woods is an excellent example of a beech-maple community, grading into swamp forest on the lower ground. Several low areas are water-covered most of the year and occupied by large buttonbush swamps. The numerous buttonbush swamps and woodland pools scattered throughout Fowler Woods support a wide diversity of breeding amphibians during the spring and early summer months. This nature preserve is one of the best sites in Ohio for viewing spring wildflowers. The woodlands support a variety of nesting birds including red-headed woodpecker, ovenbird, redstart and scarlet tanager. The 187-acre preserve has a brand new 1-1/4 mile loop boardwalk trail that begins at the parking lot.
We will be pulling invasive plants that are high priority for control: butterweed and other herbaceous invasives. Directions: The preserve is approximately 13 miles north of Mansfield. From the north or south, take State Route 13 to Noble Road, go east on Noble Road for approximately |
1 -1/4 miles to Olivesburg-Fitchville Road, then south to the preserve's parking lot, which is located on the west side of the road.
What to bring: Lunch, water, hiking boots, and gloves. RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE. Online registration is important for our planning. |
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Thursday, June 5 AND Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Control of Garlic Mustard and Stiltgrass at Brinkhaven Oak Barrens 10:00 am – 3:00 pm Township Road 13, Brinkhaven (Gann) Holmes County Brinkhaven Oak Barrens was designated as a state natural landmark in 2005 for being the best example in north central Ohio of what famous Ohio ecologist, Paul Sears called “oak openings.” The 114-acre preserve owned by the private non-profit organization, Killbuck Watershed Land Trust, protects two oak barrens containing six state-listed plants, including the threatened thyme-leaved pinweed. ONAPA has been assisting the KWLT with habitat management to restore the two oak openings which are accessible by permit only. We will be working in the south barrens. Directions: From Brinkhaven (Gann) on U.S. Rt. 62, drive about 4 ¼ miles east on U.S. Route 62 to Holmes Co. Rd. 25. Drive about ¾ mile north to an intersection and turn left (west) on to Township Road 13. Drive for about 1.2 miles and the parking lot will be on the right. The parking lot is about 500 feet beyond the old railroad |
overpass, on the right (it is hard to see as it is a grass parking lot with no signage).
What to bring: Bring lunch, water, hiking boots, gloves, and insect repellent. RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE. Online registration is important for our planning. |
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Invasive Woody Control at Johnson Woods State Nature Preserve
Invasive Woody Control at Johnson Woods State Nature Preserve
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
13240 Fox Lake Road
Marshallville, Wayne County
Johnson Woods is one of Ohio's largest and best remaining old-growth forests. Many trees rise 40-50 feet before the first limbs occur and several are more than 400 years old. Some are 120 feet tall with a diameter of 4 to 5 feet. This woodland historically was known as Graber Woods and was studied by the renowned ecologist, Dr. E. Lucy Braun, who recognized its significance. The largest trees, then and now, are white oaks, red oaks and hickories.
We will be removing invasive woody species such as bush honeysuckle, Japanese barberry, multiflora rose, as well as Japanese knotweed with a combination of cutting and herbicide treatment, hand pulling, and foliar spraying for the knotweed. Herbicide treatment will be done by DNAP staff or trained ONAPA volunteers.
Directions: Located in Wayne County approximately 4 miles north of Orrville on State Route 57, then 1 mile east on Fox Lake Road.
What to bring: Bring lunch, water, gloves, insect repellant and boots.
RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE. Online registration is important for our planning.
13240 Fox Lake Road
Marshallville, Wayne County
Johnson Woods is one of Ohio's largest and best remaining old-growth forests. Many trees rise 40-50 feet before the first limbs occur and several are more than 400 years old. Some are 120 feet tall with a diameter of 4 to 5 feet. This woodland historically was known as Graber Woods and was studied by the renowned ecologist, Dr. E. Lucy Braun, who recognized its significance. The largest trees, then and now, are white oaks, red oaks and hickories.
We will be removing invasive woody species such as bush honeysuckle, Japanese barberry, multiflora rose, as well as Japanese knotweed with a combination of cutting and herbicide treatment, hand pulling, and foliar spraying for the knotweed. Herbicide treatment will be done by DNAP staff or trained ONAPA volunteers.
Directions: Located in Wayne County approximately 4 miles north of Orrville on State Route 57, then 1 mile east on Fox Lake Road.
What to bring: Bring lunch, water, gloves, insect repellant and boots.
RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE. Online registration is important for our planning.
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Thursday, June 19, 2025
Invasive Herbaceous Species Control at Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 2381 State Route 343, Yellow Springs Greene County This 268-acre preserve protects one of the most spectacular dolomite and limestone gorges in the state. Registered as a National Natural Landmark in 1968, Clifton Gorge encompasses a 2-mile stretch of the Little Miami State & National Scenic River, just east of John Bryan State Park. The gorge protects one of the best examples of post-glacial and inter-glacial canyon cutting. The Silurian limestone and dolomite bedrock supports an abundance of plant life, including at least 347 species of wildflowers and 105 species of trees and shrubs. The cool north-facing slopes provide much needed moist, shady habitat for northern relics such as hemlock, Canada yew, arborvitae, red baneberry and mountain maple.
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This stewardship project will focus on removal of garlic mustard, Dame's rocket, Japanese stiltgrass. We will be working on the south side of the river which is the Scientific side and usually requires an access permit to visit. Hiking on the Scientific side of the preserve may be difficult as there are no trails and it is very rocky, including some mild climbing down rocks to reach some areas.
Directions: Park at the main Clifton Gorge parking lot, just west of Clifton on State Route 343.
What to Bring: Bring lunch, water, hiking boots, insect repellant and gloves.
RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE. Online registration is important for our planning.
Directions: Park at the main Clifton Gorge parking lot, just west of Clifton on State Route 343.
What to Bring: Bring lunch, water, hiking boots, insect repellant and gloves.
RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE. Online registration is important for our planning.