FSMW Board Meeting (Postponed to May 22, 2025)

Online Zoom Meeting May 22 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. Minutes of April 17 Meeting – Approval
4. News, Announcements
   • Recent FSMW Spring Activities – Brief reports
     • Early Bird Nature Walk April 27 – Judy Schmidt
     • First Saturday Work Day May 3 – Phil Huhn
   • School Related Activities
     • May 12 – Mitchell tree planting – brief report
     • May 23 – Scarlett – Climate Justice Expo Description & Plans
     • Jake Engels
   • NAP/AADL Nature Walk – with Eleva Potter May 10- Judy Schmidt
   • Miscellaneous information – if time permits: Fire Lane (Jason Bing)
5. Reports
   • Webmaster’s Report – Phil Huhn
   • Treasurer’s Report – Pat Frey
   • Scarlett Nature Club Report – Pat Frey/Gwynne Fisher
6. Old Business
   • Workdays
     • Trail Work – attempt to obtain wood chips – Janet Rieke (chip drop)
     • Invasive plants: old and new
7. New Business
   • Workday Planning
     • Finish Pond Trail Board Walks – June 7?
     • Summer/Fall? New Life Church? Other possibilities?
     • Impromptu work days and individual efforts
   • Nature walks and activities planning for fall and winter?
8. Next Meeting: June 19, 2025
9. Adjournment

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