Troop 192 of Davisburg, Michigan participated in the National Public Lands Day/Weekend on Sept 27, 2009. We teamed up with the Department of Natural Resources Stewardship Program to remove invasive species at the Highland Recreation Area in White Lake Michigan. Laurel Draper-Malvitz, DNR Stewardship Program Ranger instructed our group and other volunteers on the proper use of herbicide wands and proper identification of invasive species (buckthorn, autumn olive, etc). This stretch of woods, leading up to a National Historic Landmark (Henry Ford vacation retreat) was overgrown with invasive species. The Haven Hill Natural Area includes every forest type found in southern Michigan, plus wildflowers and a variety of birds. We completed the project in hopes of submitting for a William T. Hornaday Conservation Unit Award. The William T. Hornaday Award was established in 1914 by Dr. Hornaday, then director of the New York Zoological Park. The award recognizes BSA members and units for service to conservation and environmental quality. There are different levels to the award for individuals and organizations. Other BSA awards relating to stewardship are the Conservation Good Turn Award, World Conservation Award, and the Keep America Beautiful Award.

1. Troop 192 Hornaday
Conservation Project
September 27, 2009

2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Troop 192 of Davisburg, Michigan participated
in the National Public Lands Day/Weekend on
Sept 27, 2009. We teamed up with the
Department of Natural Resources Stewardship
Program to remove invasive species at the
Highland Recreation Area in White Lake
Michigan.
Laurel Draper-Malvitz, DNR Stewardship
Program Ranger instructed our group and
other volunteers on the proper use of
herbicide wands and proper identification of
invasive species (buckthorn, autumn olive,
etc). This stretch of woods, leading up to a
National Historic Landmark (Henry Ford
vacation retreat) was overgrown with invasive
species. The Haven Hill Natural Area includes
every forest type found in southern Michigan,
plus wildflowers and a variety of birds.

3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Our troop planned out a camping weekend at Highland Recreation Area in
White Lake Township to coincide with a planned DNR event to remove
invasive species. Laurel Draper-Malvitz, DNR Stewardship Program Ranger
was to provide the herbicide wands and herbicide as well as gloves and
instruction. The boys in the troop and adult volunteers were requested to
bring proper clothing including: gloves, work pants, liquids, and
sunscreen.
Ms. Malvitz, our Conservation Advisor, gave instructions on the proper
usage of the herbicide wands. Only adults were to use the wands, the
youth would help trim the invasive species and drag the trimmings to a
brush pile across the road.
This was followed up by a thorough introduction to the invasive species
we were working on eradicating. Autumn Olive and Buckthorn were
planted in the area as decorative shrubs and edging to the woods leading
up to the Henry Ford Retreat.

4. PROJECT DESCRIPTION (Continued):
This stretch of woods, leading up to a National Historic Landmark (former
Henry Ford home/vacation retreat) was overgrown with invasive species.
Highland Recreation Area offers 5,900 acres of forest, marshes and lakes
in the rolling hills of Southeastern Michigan. The 546 acre Haven Hill
Natural Area has all of southern Michigan’s principal forest types within
one small area, including swamp forest of tamarack, cedar, beech-maple
forest, oak-hickory forest, and mixed hardwood forest. The area has
remained largely undisturbed for the past 90 years and has retained its
natural character as well as some unusual for a and fauna.
The State Park Stewardship Unit operates within the Parks and Recreation
Division of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The
Stewardship Unit strives to balance resource protection with compatible
recreation use. To accomplish our mission, they rely heavily on a network
of dedicated volunteers to remove non-native weeds, collect native
prairie seed, and help with a variety of other stewardship activities.

6. Photos on Flickr