Mini-Foray 2022 Schedule
Hosted by: State Board
Date / Time: Saturday, September 24, 2022 / 10:00 am – 4:30 pm – activities begin ASAP after opening
Location: Eddy Discovery Center, Waterloo Recreation Area, 17030 Bush Road, Chelsea, MI 48118, Telephone: 734-475-3170 (open 10:00 am-5:00 pm on 9/24/22). A Recreation Passport is required for entry.
Our Mini-Foray is a simple bring-your-own bag lunch event with no registration cost.
Registration is online at this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfKixMoUA7oh38QwnNHUcdELPA22ZXVEAZG0N0NGyYvURm2Jg/viewform
We strongly suggest, for the health and safety of everyone, that participants be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19, and wear masks properly when indoors.
Our Mini-Foray is sponsored by the MBS State Board with facility use graciously granted by the DNR and Eddy Discovery Center. Special thanks go to Katie McGlashen, Interpreter at the Discovery Center. Board members Guerin Wilkerson and Tony Reznicek arranged the field trip leaders and speaker, respectively. Of course, we are extremely grateful to our speaker: Allison Krueger, and our field trip leaders: Bill Brodovich, Jo Latimore, and Tony Reznicek, for volunteering their expertise. Another special thanks goes to Carolyn Miller, who is serving as our Safety Officer. Field Trip Leaders will need to obtain her cell phone number for a central contact in case of an emergency.
REGISTRATION CLOSES AFTER SEPTEMBER 16. Walk-ins are welcome, as the public is invited to attend the morning and afternoon field trips and Allison Krueger's presentation at 1 pm. Field trip walk-ins, who will not have registered, will need to get on a field trip list and sign and date a hard copy of the Waiver and Release Form.
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
MORNING PROGRAM - Meet at Eddy Discovery Center at 10 am opening time; morning activities will begin as soon as possible. Field trip organization will occur just outside the Discovery Center entrance.
10 am - noon. Michigan Botanical Society Board Meeting – Auditorium – MBS Board
10 am - noon. Aquatic Plants Field Trip (open to the public) - Join Dr. Jo Latimore from MSU to explore aquatic plant life. Jo is an aquatic ecologist with a passion for aquatic plants and their lake and stream habitats. We will walk the lakeshore and wade in the shallows to observe, collect, and identify floating and submerged plants. While we explore, we will discuss the roles of these often underappreciated plants in lake ecosystems and threats to their existence. If you are interested in wading, be sure to bring waders or water shoes. Plants will be brought to shore for those who do not wish to wade.
NOON – LUNCH – Picnic Shelter – bring your own brown-bag lunch
AFTERNOON PROGRAM - Presentation is in Auditorium. Field trip leaders will organize meeting places outside the Eddy Center.
1-2 pm. Presentation (open to the public) – Allison Krueger – Into the Washtenaw wilds: Stewarding Washtenaw County’s rare species – One purpose of land preservation is to protect the biodiversity of the local community. This purpose has been embraced by the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission (WCPARC) both in the acquisition of parkland and also through the Natural Areas Preservation Program. After 50 years of growth, what unique resources and biodiversity have been protected in Washtenaw County? More importantly, what are we doing to steward these areas? Join Allison Krueger, WCPARC Stewardship Manager, as we explore the nearly 6,000 acres of natural areas in our over 45 parks and preserves in Washtenaw County.
2:30-4:30 pm -Afternoon field trips (open to the public) - Discovery Center closes at 5 pm.
Oak Forest, Wetland Margins. Leader: Tony Reznicek. This trip will go from the Discovery Center to look at the oak forest and wetland margins that have a number of species of lycopods looking green even in September, as well as a bog (not everyone needs to dive into the bog!) that has bog lycopods. We'll also look at the oak forest edges, which have a modest barrens component, and some localized species such as dwarf hackberry. It will be mostly on trails, but we will be walking a moderate distance (ca. 2 1/2 miles, round trip). Waterproof footwear is always a good idea.
Kettle-Hole Lake / Bog Ecology. Leader: Bill Brodovich. Bill will lead a trip to a tiny kettle-hole lake with a bog margin just one-third mile (as the crow flies) from the Eddy Center. Unlike other lakes and ponds in this area, there are no trails leading to this one, so it is nearly pristine. To get to it, we’ll follow the Bog Trail much of the way. The going won’t be rough, but some of it will have to be cross-country. Waterproof footwear or canvas tennis shoes are recommended.