Online Zoom Meeting November 20 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
- Hellos/ Introductions as needed
- Agenda: Adoption/ Modification – Approval
- Approval of Minutes of Prior Meeting
- Treasurer’s Report – Pat Frey
- Old Business
- –
- New Business
- Next workday – December 6 – more wood chips and complete east boardwalk
- Future large projects – see attachment
- News, Announcements
- November 5 Full Moon walk – Phil
- Ninebark planting – Michael
- File archiving – Michael
- Scarlett Climate Justice Expo -Tentative Date: Friday, May 22, 2026 – Judy
- The Stewardship Network – 11-12-25 Presentation by Mike Schuster: Using Plants to Control Buckthorn – Judy
- How Nature Heals Us – Hidden Brain Podcast – Judy
- Next Meeting: December 18, 2025
- Adjournment
| Project | Cost Estimate | Cost Estimate | Notes | Priority |
| Emergency set-aside | $1,000 | $1,000 | 1 | |
| Dredge the pond | ||||
| Plant natives on N edge of woods | $200 | Assume plants donated. Cost is for deer protection | 2 | |
| Install more benches | $2000-$5000 | |||
| Rehab trail marker signposts | $100 | 2 | ||
| Prescribed burn | ^$3,500 | 1 | ||
| Construct new boardwalk at the pond edge, north end | $800 | Committed, funded by DTE grant | ||
| Complete recent boardwalk construction east of pond | $200 | 1 | ||
| Pocket Forest planning and maintenance | 3 | |||
| Bird house rehab and new bird houses | ||||
| Oak seedling protection | $200 | Cost is for deer protection | ||
| Boardwalk at Platt Rd entrance | Talk to NAP first | 1 | ||
| TOTAL PROJECT COSTS | $2,000 | |||
| Available Funds | Funds On Hand | Committed Funds | ||
| DTE grant | $1,000 | $1,000 | ||
| AA Guys for Good grant | $1,400 | 0 | ||
| Bank account | $4,400 | $1,000 | ||
| TOTAL FUNDS AVAILABLE | $5,800 | $2,000 |
Minutes
N/A
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
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