UPCOMING EVENTS
- May 10 & May 17: 2-part workshop "Writing Nature: Writing the River"
- May 15 through August 15: Huron History Mystery Geocaching Tour
- May 18: Land Use for a Healthy Watershed discussion group
- June 21: Huron River Canoe Challenge at Gallup Park
- July 3: River Swim with Liz Elling

MAY 2008 EVENTS

• May 4 (Sunday) noon-3pm or 2-5pm. Adopt-A-Stream Program Bug ID day . Please call or e-mail to register for event, see event and registration details at link.

• May 10 (Saturday) 10am-4pm. Training workshop for Bioreserve Project - Assessing Natural Areas: Rapid Ecological Assessment
  You can help identify high-quality natural areas for protection. At this workshop new volunteers for HRWC will learn to conduct a rapid ecological assessment of grasslands, forests, wetlands, and aquatic habitats. Trained volunteers are then certified to be sent out in groups to work together on site assessments throughout the spring, summer, and fall (an expected time commitment of four hours per site). Participants will gain broadly applicable skills in ecological assessment. (Please bring a sack lunch. The workshop includes hands-on practice outdoors, so please come prepared for weather, mud, etc.) Training will be held at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens on 1800 N. Dixboro Rd. (just south of Plymouth Road) in Ann Arbor.

• May 10 (Saturday) 9:30-11:30am. KEITH TAYLOR - Writing Nature; Writing the River
  First part of a 2-part workshop at the NEW Center in Ann Arbor, second part is May 17. The workshops will be lead by Keith Taylor, environmental activist and co-author of "The Huron River, Voices from the Watershed." On the first Saturday you will talk about examples of nature writing to see how other folks (including Keith) have written about their encounters with the natural world. Sign up by sending an e-mail to msmith@hrwc.org. Space is limited to ten. Advance registration is required and is first come, first serve. There is a $20 registration fee that will be fully refunded on completion of the workshop. These workshops are sponsored by REI (www.rei.com).

• May 15 - August 15 Huron History Mystery Tour
  Geocache adventures throughout the Huron River Watershed. Geocaching is the latest craze, using global positioning systems (GPS) devices for treasure hunting outdoors. It is an activity that is enjoyed by all ages and is known to be addictive. HRWC, the Michigan Geocashing Organization (MiGO) and the Huron-Clinton Metropark Authority (HCMA) have created a geocache tour for the entire watershed, including several canoe-side caches. The Tour is designed for first-timers and experienced cachers alike. There will be twenty caches places throughout the watershed. Each contains collectable history/mystery cards which reveal something of watershed importance based on location. Every cacher completing the course will receive a special HRWC/MiGO coin. When the webpage for the Huron History Mystery Tour is ready, you can access it here or call Margaret at 734/769-5123 x19.

• May 17 (Saturday) 9:30-11:30am. Keith Taylor - Writing Nature; Writing the River
  Second part of a 2-part workshop, see May 10. On the second Saturday you will bring back your own work, and the conversation will focus on your writing.

• May 18 (Sunday) 6:30-8:30pm. Land Use for a Healthy Watershed
  Land Use for a Healthy Watershed is a discussion, support and resource group for people working on sustainable land use. Our rural/natural areas are disappearing as homes and business spread over the country side. These areas are crucial to human quality of life, wild life survival and the health of our streams and river ecosystem. Meetings are open to all including citizen activists, appointed or elected local officials and land use professionals. To be added to the meeting e-mail list or to RSVP for a meeting, contact Suzy at suzymo@earthlink.net; however, drop-ins are always welcome. Meetings are held at the NEW Center, 1100 North Main in Ann Arbor.

  This month's topic is: What can happen in a township with real protective sustainable development policies? CASE STUDY: Pittsfield Township.

• June 1 (Sunday) HRWC will be staffing Water Station #12 at the Dexter-Ann Arbor run. Stop by and say hi! (and pick up some fresh clean Huron River water to quench your thirst!)
  
• June 8 (Sunday) 6:30-8:30pm. Land Use for a Healthy Watershed
  
• June 21 (Saturday) begins at 9am Huron River Canoe Challenge
  HRWC and the Michigan Canoe Racing Association (MCRA) present the first ever professional canoe race on the Huron River. The Huron River Canoe Challenge will consist of three main races: a C-1 (1 person canoe) Professional Race, a C-2 (2 person canoe) Professional Race, and a Huron River Fun Run open to anyone and any type of paddle craft. The professional races will be sactioned by the MCRA and will be a part of their 12 race points circuit, with rules, qualifiers and cash prizes. Registration and information at www.miracing.com. The race routes will be posted on-line in June.

JULY 2007 EVENTS

• July 13 (Sunday) begins at 10am. River Swim with Liz Elling
  Jump in, the water is fine! River swimming has become popular across the world in the last few years. The sense of personal restoration people find in swimming translates to a broader sense of stewardship toward our rivers and lakes. Last summer, long distance swimmer Liz e=Elling swam the length of the Huron River to raise awareness about the river and HRWC. If you spent your childhood river swimming and wish to re-capture your youth, or just want to give river swimming a try. If you love to swim and want to try a river swim or get out of a pool, join us at the UM Sailing Club, and jump in on the start of a new annual summer tradition - swimming the Huron River. After the morning swim, move downriver to Gallup Park and Huron River Day! Liz Elling will speak about last summer's swim at 20m. Register by sending an e-mail to msmith @hrwc.org for this open community swim at the University of Michigan Sailing Club. The river swim is a one mile swim in Baseline Lake. Must be able to prove age of 16 years or older

April 17 (Thursday) 7-8:30pm, first neighborhood meeting of the Millers Creek Rainwater Project to be held at Thurston Elementary School. HRWC invites the neighbors in the headwaters of Millers Creek to participate in a project to help Millers Creek by capturing rainwater in your neighborhood and putting it to good use.

Rainwater storage techniques will be discussed, including raingardens, downspout placement, native plants and rainbarrels. HRWC would like your input on sever community-wide measures under consideration. WIN A FREE RAINBARREL! Take our rainwater survey, and your name will be entered into a drawing for a rainbarrel and other prizes. Download the event flyer, pdf file 2.6mb, which includes a map of the neighborhood area of the Millers Creek headwaters.