The Nature Conservancy in Michigan

These workdays are great fun. Cutting and piling the shrubs (some of them are more like small trees) is hard work but there is a big sense of accomplishment at the end of the day when we see the brushpiles we have made and the open areas we have created. The work surroundings have a variety of interesting flowers and the volunteers who are birders explain to the rest of us what birds are making those calls. Occasionally somebody finds a strange caterpillar or frog. Some of the volunteers are regulars and it is interesting listening to them talk about history, recent developments, and personalities involved in the restoration effort. There are water breaks at variable intervals depending on the weather, and a lunch break. The day ends with cold drinks and cookies. A day or two later you get an e-mail thanking you for your work and giving you a link to hundreds of photos of flowers, butterflies, and other creatures in the preserve.