FSMW Board Meeting (June 19, 2025)

Online Zoom Meeting June 19 7:30, Thursday

FSMW is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. In this meeting we will explore what we as a community can do to manage and care for Scarlett Mitchell Woods, the central 40 acres of the Scarlett Mitchell Nature Area. This area contains the heart of the woods and the pond, which was dredged in 1982. It is owned by the Ann Arbor Public Schools and is no longer managed by Nature Area Preservation. Help us to implement actions to fulfill our vision of Scarlett Mitchell Woods hosting native life, that contains no invasive species, and that invites community members to walk, enjoy and learn.

For more information contact: Judy Schmidt or phone Mike at: 734-395-8959

Agenda

1. Hellos/ Introductions as needed
2. Agenda: Adoption/ Modification – Approval
3. Approval of Minutes of Prior Meeting
4. News, Announcements 
   • Nature Club Report – Pat Frey
   • Workday report(s) – Phil, others
5. Treasurer’s Report  –  Pat Frey
6. Old Business 
   • NAP Work Plan https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ySpWq52wZZfEEe5najJPRyYoM3qzElWT/view?usp=drive_link – Judy, Michael
   • Mitchell PTO student tree planting follow-up – Judy, Jessamy?
   • Climate Justice Expo – May 23 – Judy, Jake Engels?
7. New Business 
   • DTE Energize Your Block Grant Application – Michael
   • Next Workday – July 5 or 12?  Or wait until August?
   • Review Calendar, see below, as needed
   • Review Ideas, see below, as needed
   • School construction
8. Next Meeting: July 17, 2025
9. Adjournment

Minutes

Present: Michael Benham, Pat Frey, Phil Huhn, Bill McNitt, Pat Petiet, Judy Schmidt, Manfred Schmidt, Julie Steiff

1. Hellos / Introductions. No introductions needed.
2. Adoption / Modification of Agenda. Agenda modified and adopted.
3. Approval of Minutes of Prior Meeting. Minutes approved.
4. News, Announcements, and Reports
   • Nature Club Report: PF reported that Nature Club met throughout the entire academic year: fall winter, and spring. Gwynne Fischer led it in PF’s absence. It went well, and PF is planning to do it again next year.
   • Work Day Report: The old pallets have been removed. PH and BM continued work on the boardwalk. Judy S and Janet Rielke pulled weeds. Judy S will make a photo collage.
   • Treasurer’s Report: PF shared the latest statement. Current account balance: $1,158.67. We received an anonymous donation of $400. We have $1039 in our CD.
5. Old Business
   • NAP Work Plan: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ySpWq52wZZfEEe5najJPRyYoM3qzElWT/view?usp=drive_link. No new developments to report.
   • Follow-up on Mitchell PTO Tree Planting: MB: We have the beginnings of a “Student Arboretum.” MB has protected the newly planted trees from deer. PP asked if we need tree gator water bags, but the trees are too small for that. Judy S reminded us that we need to check with AAPS before we do any more planting due to the future fire lane between Scarlett Middle School and the woods. MB asked if there’s a plan showing the location of the fire lane; Judy S said she hasn’t received one.
   • Follow-up on Climate Justice Expo: Judy S reported that it was a successful event. About 200 students went through. Judy S staffed a table near the black walnut tree. She shared historical information including an aerial photo from the 1970s that the kids found interesting, and she took one group into the woods for about 10 minutes. If she were to do this event again, she would have a second adult on hand, avoid taking pictures of students (because so many of them are not allowed to have their photos published), and offer more opportunities for interactive hands-on activities. Because the students asked how the woods help with climate change, Judy S thought it would be interesting to monitor air quality in the woods vs. outside the woods. PP suggested a bird call identification activity to match bird calls from a cell phone app with pictures of birds. MB added these ideas to our list of possible activities.
6. New Business
   • DTE Energize Your Block Grant Application. MB would like to apply for funds to create a boardwalk for the low spot near the pond. MB wrote the first draft of the proposal, and Autumn Jackson edited it to meet the length limit. PH suggested including new signposts as well. MB said according to the rules of this grant, we can’t contract work out–and it would be difficult to create the signposts ourselves. PH suggested buying stakes and resetting the old signposts, as the materials for this could be covered under the DTE grant. MB also suggested dipping platforms for the pond, so the kids could go out onto the pond while dipping. Judy S said there used to be a platform on the pond, but it was vandalized (burned down). PP suggested flat rocks or stepping stones for the kids to stand on. They wouldn’t deteriorate and couldn’t be burned. Judy S said the proposed boardwalk might need to be wider because the cross-country teams run through there. MB agreed. We decided to request funding to cover materials for extending the boardwalk and resetting the signposts. MB and PH will determine costs. MB will finalize and submit the grant application.
   • Cow parsnip: Judy S. There is cow parsnip scattered in the west end of the woods and along the border with Colonial Square. The sap of this plant can irritate the skin. Colonial Square has attempted to manage it in the past but didn’t stay on top of it this year. Judy S contacted NAP, and NAP says they address cow parsnip only when it’s close to a pathway. PH has cleaned up some of it. Judy S said it’s best to cut it at the root early in the spring. MB added cowslip management to our list of possible activities.
   • Bill McNitt’s donation: PF thanked Bill McNitt for his generous donation. Everyone noted that Bill shows up for workdays, too.
   • Next Work Day. No workday on July 5 due to heat and insects.
   • New Mitchell School Construction: Judy S is getting email updates and will share what she has received. She wonders whether drilling for geothermal will affect the woods or pond.
7. Next Meeting: July 17, 2025
8. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.

Minutes submitted by Julie Steiff.

Attachment 2:  Inventory of Ideas: Field Days!  Lots of Options!

• (aka Ideas for Spring Unfolding and other seasonal walks in the woods)

Education and Fun

• Search for amphibians – learn their calls – March/April
• Identify Fungi – early spring – September/October Study Group 
• Spring Ephemerals –  (Spring Beauty, May Apples, Trillium, etc) April/May
• Insect relationships – Native bees; carrion beetles; mosquitoes, caterpillars
• Birding for beginners – Spring migration
• Owl prowl 
• Pond dipping – May
• Vernal pools
• Geology of the woods – study group?
• Mosses and lichens – study group?
• Tree flowers and buds
• Bat house

Data Collection

• Library tool collection (?)
• Binoculars
• Measure highway noise in the woods – various seasons
• Solicit expertise from our Friends group and the wider community
• Using identification apps
• FSMW Walk to evaluate which areas to concentrate on next

Work Days 

• Searching for and pulling garlic mustard, and other tender invasive plants
• Removing buckthorn baggies
• Obtaining and spreading wood chips on the trails
• Fixing boards on trails 
• Coating benches
• Repainting signposts so they are readable
• Planting seeds and seedlings
• Repair or replace trail markers that are rotting.  Do we have a scout troop we can contact?
• Remove poison ivy
• Pocket Forest planting and maintenance