There are a variety of opportunities to help the DNR take care of Michigan’s natural and cultural resources this month. Here are a few ways to lend a hand.

Volunteer at state park stewardship 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:

• Warren Dunes State Park (Berrien County), 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, July 9, and Saturday, July 20.
• Muskegon State Park (Muskegon County), 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 13, and Friday, July 19.
• Yankee Springs Recreation Area (Barry County), 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, July 14.
• Island Lake Recreation Area (Livingston County), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 20.
• Fort Custer Recreation Area (Kalamazoo County), 9 a.m. to noon Sunday, July 21.
• Brighton Recreation Area (Livingston County), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, July 21.
• Waterloo Recreation Area (Washtenaw County), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 27.
• Pinckney Recreation Area (Washtenaw County), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, July 28.

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

Help clean up the Manistee River

Michigan United Conservation Clubs’ On the Ground volunteer program will partner with the DNR, Steelhead Manifesto and the U.S. Forest Service for its annual Manistee River cleanup event, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 13.

Volunteers will gather at the High Bridge Boat Launch in Brethren (Manistee County), then head out either on the water by boat or along the riverbanks by foot to various locations and remove garbage to improve the river’s aquatic ecosystem. MUCC will provide work gloves, trash grabbers and trash bags for volunteers, as well as lunch and an appreciation gift for all registered volunteers.

Get more details and register for the Manistee River cleanup.

Give us your input on your state forests

Prescribed burns, timber harvests and other activities are carefully planned to keep Michigan’s nearly 4 million acres of state forest thriving. Plans for these activities in 2026 are currently happening, but public input is welcome now. Find out what activities are planned and how to offer your input at Michigan.gov/ForestInput. You can submit online comments during designated 30-day periods or attend an open house or compartment review meeting, where plans are finalized. See all scheduled comment periods, open houses and compartment review meetings for this year.

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