FSMW Board Meeting (April 16, 2026)

Online Zoom Meeting April 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 
   • Wood chips spread – Janet
   • Ninebark at entrance – Michael
5. Treasurer’s Report – Pat Frey
6. Scarlett Nature Club – Pat Frey (on hold until March)
7. Old Business
   • Tree across trail – west section – Judy
   • Poop – Janet, Judy
   • DTE Boardwalk construction – Phil
   • Archiving – Phil
8. New Business 
   • Next workday – May 2
   • Spring Walks:
     • BBB – April 25 and
     • Birds – May 9, or 10, or 16, or 17
   • Making SMW more bird-friendly 
   • Salinity meter – Sarah
   • Lining the paths with trees – Phil
   • Purchase of 200 more FSMW brochures
9. Next Meeting: May 21, 2026
10. Adjournment

Minutes

Present: Pat Frey, Phil Huhn, Pat Petiet, Sarah Redman, Janet Rieke, Judy Schmidt, Manfred Schmidt, Julie Steiff, Angelina [last name?], and Charles [last name?]

AGENDA

1. Hellos / Introductions. 
2. Adoption / Modification of Agenda. Agenda approved.
3. Approval of Minutes of Prior Meeting.  Minutes approved.
4. News, Announcements:
   • Tree across trail, west section – Judy S. That has been resolved.    
   • Dog poop – JR, Judy S. JR took pictures and sent them to Liz Margolis, suggesting that AAPS post signs. She hasn’t heard back yet.
   • Platt Road entrance boardwalk – Judy S. Judy S is still urging NAP to resolve the wet conditions there. MB said that we don’t have resources to take it on ourselves and suggested that it could be an Eagle Scout project. 
   • Sign. MS cleaned it. Julie S will paint it when we get some dry weather.
   • Archiving – PH. The Ann Arbor District Library has some content on SMW and would be happy to have more. Judy S sent a message to the library and got a positive response from AADL archivist Katrina Anbender. Katrina asked for more details about the materials, with an eye toward adding them to the AADL collection; she also provided resources for preserving archives. Judy S shared some interesting historical material she recently found. Next step: Judy S will organize and catalogue the materials and get back to Katrina.
   • DTE boardwalk construction – MB. Phil has been doing a great job! He has completed one-third of the boardwalk so far. PH and MB will do more work tomorrow.
5. Treasurer’s Report:
   • PF said that since the last treasurer’s report, we spent $3,550 on the burn. We have $3,323.76 in the bank and + $929.08 on a Visa card, for a grand total of $4252.34 (bank account + Visa card). PF filed the tax forms for the year. MB suggested adding copies of the tax forms to our Google Drive.
6. Volunteer Report:
   • AJ reported that we had 91 volunteer hours in first quarter of the year, which is similar to the number of hours in the previous two years. This represents an in-kind value of just under $3,000.
7. Scarlett Nature Club:
   • PF. There’s a lot going on in spring, so attendance has been low (1-4). PF and the students have been walking the paths and identifying flowers (e.g., May apple, spring beauty). Judy S says white trout lily are blooming near the path behind the co-op. PH saw trilliums and May apple coming up in the burn area. PF told the kids about our workdays and gave them flyers. Maybe we can get them involved in removing garlic mustard.
8. Old Business:
   • Tree across trail, west section – Judy S. That has been resolved.    
   • Dog poop – JR, Judy S. JR took pictures and sent them to Liz Margolis, suggesting that AAPS post signs. She hasn’t heard back yet.
   • Platt Road entrance boardwalk – Judy S. Judy S is still urging NAP to resolve the wet conditions there. MB said that we don’t have resources to take it on ourselves and suggested that it could be an Eagle Scout project. 
   • Sign. MS cleaned it. Julie S will paint it when we get some dry weather.
   • Archiving – PH. The Ann Arbor District Library has some content on SMW and would be happy to have more. Judy S sent a message to the library and got a positive response from AADL archivist Katrina Anbender. Katrina asked for more details about the materials, with an eye toward adding them to the AADL collection; she also provided resources for preserving archives. Judy S shared some interesting historical material she recently found. Next step: Judy S will organize and catalogue the materials and get back to Katrina.
   • DTE boardwalk construction – MB. Phil has been doing a great job! He has completed one-third of the boardwalk so far. PH and MB will do more work tomorrow.
9. New Business:
   • Next workday – May 2, 10-12. We could spread chips, remove buckthorn baggies, pull buckthorn seedlings, and remove garlic mustard.   
   • Spring Walk(s) –  Judy S. Judy S is thinking about a tree bark identification walk. PH suggested a sunrise/sunset walk and/or a singalong. The Birds, Buds, and Bark Walk will be April 25, from 10:30 to 12. On May 16, there will be a Birds Walk with AJ. 
   • Supporting birds in SMW – PH. PH would like to make FSMW more bird-friendly. Judy S has seen changes in which birds are there over the years. She has some historical SMW bird census information. MB noted that non-native plants don’t host the insects the birds need. PP reported seeing turkeys. MB suggested keeping this on the agenda and getting Peter Bednekoff to weigh in on this (he teaches ornithology at EMU). AJ has seen 60+ species in SMW; eBird reports 152 species in the last 5 years. 
   • Monitoring salinity – SR. SR suggested using a salinity meter to check for runoff from road salt, etc. The meter would cost $30-$150. It would be interesting to collect that data. Maybe we could get AADL to buy one; SR will request it. PF will see if Scarlett Middle School already has a salinity meter. MB will ask his contacts.
   • Lining paths with downed trees – PH. PH suggested lining the paths with fallen trees and received a positive response. Judy S said it would be useful in places where it’s not always clear where the trail is (because of snow or leaves). PP said it would be especially useful where trails intersect. 
   • Flyers – PH. PH wants to purchase another 200 flyers. We voted to approve the purchase.
10. Next Meeting: May 21, 2026
11. Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 8:33 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