FSMW Board Meeting (October 16, 2025)

Online Zoom Meeting October 16 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 
   • Ann Arbor Good Guys grant – Mike
   • Oct 4 workday – brush hogging, etc – Phil
   • Oct 11 hike – Weeds and Seeds – Judy
   • Bulletin Board – Judy
   • Bench painting – Manfred
5. Treasurer’s Report – Pat Frey
6. Nature Club – Pat Frey
7. Old Business
   • Annual Report to MI LARA – submitted – Michael
8. New Business 
   • Next workday – Nov 1 – Wood Chips, Trail clearing of over-hangers
   • Future large projects – see attachment
9. Next Meeting: November 20, 2025
10. Adjournment

Project	Cost Estimate	Notes	Priority
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			2
Prescribed burn	$2000		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

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