Dame’s Rocket is one of several invasive plants being removed at Fenner Nature Center.
LANSING, MI — Fenner Conservancy, the nonprofit organization that manages Fenner Nature Center, has been awarded assistance in the form of an AmeriCorps staff member. This full-time position will serve through the summer months, coordinating volunteer activities related to conservation and stewardship at Fenner. Dan Na Luo, a recent graduate of Michigan State University, has been selected to develop and lead the “Summer of Stewardship,” an initiative to engage the citizens of greater Lansing in caring for the only nature center located inside the Lansing city limits.
“The city of Lansing, our residents, and our visitors are fortunate to have such a beautiful park and facility where they can explore nature. Fenner Conservancy has already taken on the management of the visitor center and programs at the nature center, and now we want to help the city maintain the park by forming a coalition of volunteers dedicated to stewardship and care of the ecosystem and trails,” said executive director Jason Meyer.
Luo is excited to get the summer started by hosting a kickoff party at the nature center on Friday. “I’ve been tasked with growing our current volunteer capacity, and am excited about getting new people involved at Fenner,” she said. “Of course, our current volunteers are welcome, too,” she added. Luo can explain the program and take interested people on a tour of proposed projects.
The “Summer of Stewardship” will focus on improving the quality of the habitat and physical aspects of the 130-acre park. Projects will include removal of invasive species, trail maintenance and construction of new trails, repair of signage, and more. The program is open to volunteers of all ages and abilities.
To learn more about this initiative, or any of the other programs being offered at Fenner Nature Center this summer, call 517-483-4224.
This was printed in the July 3, 2011 – July 16, 2011 Edition
