Oakland Township Parks and Recreation Commission Newsletter

The Mission of Oakland Township Parks and Recreation Commission is to provide a sustainable system of parks, trails, programs, amenities, and services which create memorable experiences and a sense of place, contributes to the economic value of the Township and preserves the historical and natural heritage of the landscapes for existing and future generations. Marsh View Park Archery Class Gallagher Creek Park Paint Creek Junction and Pathway Park Recommended Grand Opening for State Grant At the end of 2018, the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Inside this issue: (MNRTF) Board recommended that Gallagher Creek Park 1, 26 Oakland Township Parks and Grand Opening Everyone is invited to celebrate Recreation Commission (OTPRC) be Paint Creek Junction Grant 1, 30 Gallagher Creek Park’s amazing awarded a $228,400 Michigan Natural What’s New in the Parks 2, 27 transformation! Resources Trust Fund grant for a Music In The Meadows 3 Help inaugurate Oakland Township’s trailhead at Oakland Township’s Paint Dinosaur Hill Partnership 4-6, 11 newest neighborhood park and Creek Junction Park, adjacent to the Programs 7-16 pathway with activities including a Paint Creek Trail. This project was Totally Toads 17, 27 ribbon-cutting and recognition one of the 30 recommended for ceremony, light refreshments, and funding from the 120 applications Bi-Centennial, Dogs in Parks 18 guided tours of the rain garden and received. Stewardship 19-21 prairie plantings. Thank Yous 22 (Continued on page 26) (Continued on page 30) Team Update 23 Cranberry Lake Farm Historic District 24-25 Gallagher Creek Park Grand Opening cont’d 26 Articles continued 27 OTHS, Six Rivers News 28 Safety Paths and Trails News 29 Paint Creek Junction cont’d 30 Paint Creek Trail News 31 Parks Map 32 New playground at Gallagher Creek Park Registration Information 33-34 Parks in Summer 35 Commissioners, Staff 36 Save The Dates! Special points of interest:  Summer Concerts June 7 - Bluegrass  Paint Creek Trail July 12 - Folk Closures August 16 - Classical  Stewardship Programs Complete details on page 3. Paint Creek Junction Concept Plan What’s New in The Parks

From the Director “Insects are the currency in our State Grants Requested for Permanent ecological bank accounts!” Restrooms—Oakland Township Parks and Recently I was privileged to hear Dr. Recreation Commission (OTPRC) has applied for Doug Tallamy* speak at the Wildflower two $50,000 state grants to replace portable toilets at Association of Michigan’s annual conference. His Marsh View Park and Bear Creek Nature Park with presentations focused on the link between our native permanent restrooms that will have hand wash sinks plants and native wildlife. and flush toilets. Grant recommendations will be made public in December 2019. I was shocked to learn that only 5% of our native plants make 75% of the food that supports food webs Bear Creek Nature Park: Trail Closures and and that 90% of insects cannot, or will not, eat Drinking Water Improvements—All limestone introduced plants. Dr. Tallamy also informed us that trails at this park will be graded and resurfaced this moth and butterfly caterpillars contribute the most summer. Park users are advised that rolling closures energy to food webs. will occur. (Continued on page 27)

Paint Creek Trail Closure The Paint Creek Trail Bridge 33.7, located between Dutton and Silverbell Roads, is scheduled to be replaced in summer 2019. The Paint Creek Trail between Dutton and Silverbell Roads will be completely closed to thru traffic for 60- 90 days and there is no detour. You will be able to use the trail from Rochester Municipal Park to Dutton Road, or Silverbell Road to Children’s Park in Lake Orion. Please plan your visit to the Paint Creek Trail accordingly. The Paint Creek Trail is also scheduled to be resurfaced with crushed limestone concurrently with the Bridge 33.7 project. Trail users are advised that rolling closures will occur. Visit paintcreektrail.org for the latest project updates. See page 31. Programming Mature Oak tree in Oakland Township Summer Camps—School’s out!! Get involved in one Looking at this data (and so much more) scientists of our outdoor camps this summer. Your child will such as Dr. Tallamy advise us to sustain life by have the opportunity to explore nature, learn a new planting and nurturing native plants that support the skill, make new friends, and experience new greatest number of native moth and butterfly species. challenges. Close to home but with the feeling of The National Wildlife Federation’s “Native Plant being up north! See which camp is right for you on Finder” (a wonderful resource) says that in Oakland pages 5, 10, & 15. County, Michigan, goldenrod is the native flowering Cardio Drumming—Get an amazing full body plant that supports the most – 135! The runners-up workout using drum sticks and fitness balls while are wild strawberry, which supports 82 species, and jamming to great music ! Join us for this new way to (Continued on page 27) stay in shape, have fun, meet new friends, and get out in the parks! See page 8 for class information.

2 Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 www.oaklandtownship.org 2019 Summer Concert Series ~ OUR 14TH SEASON! Sponsored by Oakland Township Parks and Recreation Come early. Bring blankets & a picnic and enjoy music 'al fresco'. Oakland Township Parks and Recreation's Music in the Meadows summer of 2019 concert series presents three professional quality outdoor events offering bluegrass, folk, and classical music. These FREE monthly concerts are held Friday evenings in our beautiful Oakland Township parks. In case of bad weather, concerts will be held at Rochester Christian Church, 4435 N. Rochester Road (corner of Snell & Rochester). Call 248-651-4440, ext.: 299 on the day of event to verify location. Sound by TS Moyer, Inc. LARRY STEPHENSON BAND - Bluegrass http://www.larrystephensonband.com/ Friday, June 7th, 7-9pm FREE Archery Shooting Booth 5-7pm Bear Creek Nature Park, 740 W. Snell Rd., Rochester, MI 48306

Highly regarded as one of Bluegrass music’s most recognizable and finest high lead and tenor vocalist, Larry Stephenson has been headlining festivals and concerts from 10 years. Larry’s crystal-clear voice has provided a musical home for some of the finest sidemen in contemporary bluegrass history. Many appearances on the Grand Ole Opry and RFD-TV has made The Larry Stephenson Band a fan favorite all across the US and Canada. Come hear this 5-time Society for The Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPBGMA) Male Vocalist of the Year!

KITTEL & CO - Acoustic Americana Folk https://www.jeremykittel.com/ Friday, July 12th, 7-9pm FREE Archery Shooting Booth 5-7pm Bear Creek Nature Park, 740 W. Snell Rd., Rochester, MI 48306 Called ‘one of the most exceptional violinists and fiddlers of his generation’ by WGBH, Grammy Award nominated violinist and composer Jeremy Kittel’s music inhabits the space between classical and acoustic roots, Celtic and bluegrass aesthetics, and folk and jazz sensibilities. According to Bluegrass Situation, Kittel & Co. has “accomplished a feat of new acoustic, string band-rooted chamber music.” Kittel & Co. includes mandolin phenom Josh Pinkham (named ‘the future of the mandolin’ by Mandolin Magazine), and genre-bending guitarist Quinn Bachand (a presidential scholar at Berklee College of Music). Join us for this very special performance. DETROIT CHAMBER WINDS & STRINGS – Classical Brass Quintet https://detroitchamberwinds.org/ Friday, August 16th, 7-9pm FREE Historic District Tours 5:30pm - 6:30pm Cranberry Lake Farm - Historic District - Main House Porch 388 West Predmore Road, Oakland, MI 48363 Since its founding in 1982, Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings has set the standard for chamber music in Detroit. By bringing together the top musicians from the metro area, most of whom are members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Michigan Opera Theatre, DCWS immerses audiences in a chamber music experience that is innovative, entertaining, and unsurpassed anywhere in the region. Join us for an evening of "Songs For Brass" - Inspiring melodies spanning five centuries of sacred, secular, and popular music, including works by Bach, Debussy, Ellington, and The Beatles. www.oaklandtownship.org Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 3 LOST LAKE NATURE PARK PARTNERSHIP Oakland Township Parks and Recreation & Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve Lost Lake Nature Park 846 Lost Lake Trail, Oakland Charter Township, MI 48363 SUMMER OPEN HOUSES! Family, friends and neighbors are invited to these FREE open houses! Open to all ages! All FREE! Open Houses are Sundays 12-4pm. No registration required. Drop-in anytime between 12 and 4. May 19th, 12-4pm – All the Water on Earth– April showers bring May flowers but what do May flowers need? Water! With approximately 326 quintillion gallons of water moving across our planet there is a lot to talk about! We will be taking samples of Lost Lake beneath the microscope to look at the tiniest life we can see, we will be sampling the water to determine quality of both the lake and the surrounding marshes, and even play some water games and experiments inside!

June 2nd, 12-4pm – Bug-Out Bag – Many of our smaller, stranger, stingier friends are often referred to as pests but we don’t see them that way here at Lost Lake. Every insect has its part to play in the overall health of the ecosystem and every player to us is as important as the honeybee (even the pesky mosquito). Join us as we look at some of the most common and strange creepy crawlies that call Oakland Township home while also determining which are the most beneficial for our at-home gardens. We will be using the stereoscope to observe some segmented body parts, learning how naturalists pin and preserve insects and even putting together bug boxes with our younger crowd inside! There will be frequent hikes outside to flip over logs and do some investigating.

Sunday, June 23rd, 12-4pm – Lots of Lakes With over 11,000 lakes scattered across our mitten, we are people who know how to have a great time enjoying a slightly muddy splash and we’re no different here at Lost Lake. Our 8 acre lake is home to some of Michigan’s most popular fish, frogs, and waterfowl and we occasionally like to sample the water with nets to record just how populations are faring. Join us as we equip skimming nets and seek out some of our kettle lake’s most interesting inhabitants (including our beautiful Sandhill cranes)! We will even take samples of what we find into the nature center to view beneath microscopes and stereoscopes. Our youngest naturalists will even be able to take home their very own pond craft!

Sunday July 21st, 12-4pm – Lost Lake’s Bouquet Lost Lake’s sledding hill really springs to life in the summer with numerous species of Michigan’s most beautiful wildflowers (including wild geranium, violets, thimbleweed, ragwort and more!). This explosion in flora brings more than just sniffles to those with allergies, it also attracts countless bees, wasps, butterflies and more looking to taste a sample of nature’s preferred sugar water. Join a park naturalist as we look at the importance of pollinators and wildflowers across the state while also learning a little about the types of flowers you can plant at home to attract your own beneficial flying friends. Inside the youngest naturalists that visit the park will have the opportunity to put together their own flower bouquets to take home!

Sunday August 18th, 12-4pm – The Ecosystem of Slime From the deep verbose croaking of our large bullfrogs to the silent serenity of a snail schlepping in the shadows, Lost Lake is full of some of nature’s slimiest residents. Join us for a special day while we celebrate the underappreciated amphibians of the state. We will have skimming nets at the ready for those looking to get up close and personal with some of our leopard and bullfrogs as well as a visiting frog from Australia. We’ll learn the importance that amphibians play in the ecosystem (as well as the research laboratory) and even take a look the benefit from our slugs and snails while on trips into our woods! Our youngest naturalists will have the opportunity to put together their own slime so they can continue their research at home!

4 Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 www.oaklandtownship.org LOST LAKE NATURE PARK PARTNERSHIP Oakland Township Parks and Recreation & Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve Lost Lake Nature Park 846 Lost Lake Trail, Oakland Charter Township, MI 48363 SUMMER PROGRAMS! Experience Lost Lake Nature Park with a class featuring both indoor and outdoor learning! Sign up and pay in advance at dinosaurhill.org. Registration closes a week before each class date. Wild Kids of Lost Lake Summer Camp – 5-8 year olds Monday, August 5th – Friday, August 9th from 10am-3pm For the true park experience, you need to join us for our Wild Kids of Lost Lake summer camp. This week long day camp features five themed days inundated with fun. Whether it's casting a line out into the lake, wading through the swampland in search of frogs and snakes, concocting wacky experiments inside or simply learning how to climb a tree, we have something for everyone in this adventure of a week. This camp will feature a large variety of scientific and educational activities. We will picnic outside whenever the weather permits so bring a bagged lunch to keep your little scientist fueled so they can continue inspecting insects beneath stereoscopes, dodging water balloons and enjoying the beautiful surroundings of Lost Lake. Camp is $140 per child for residents of Oakland Township, $170 per child for non-residents Registration online today at www.dinosaurhill.org.

The Great Lost Lake Overnight Adventure - Family, All Ages Friday, August 9th, 5pm check in – Saturday, August 10th, 10am check out Join us for a spectacularly unique adventure as we take over Lost Lake Nature Park for an overnight camping extravaganza! Dinosaur Hill naturalists will lead us through an evening of nature-based escapades throughout the entirety of the park including time fishing off of the dock, glow-stick tag in the meadow, a scavenger hunt, hands-on flint-and-steel fire starting demonstrations, and nature based crafts all before the sun begins to set! Once it gets dark we will gather around the campfire to cook a delicious dinner before heading inside to watch a movie with snacks. Afterwards, we will take a flashlight led hike in the woods on an owl-prowl and learn a little bit about the many moths of the woods (while also learning what you can do at home to attract them!). Afterwards we will leave the nature center open for crafts and activities until we’re ready to retire for the night to our tents outside. In the morning we will gather around the fire one final time to cook breakfast before packing our belongings up and bidding adieu to a wonderful night! Participants are asked to bring their own tents, sleeping bags and flashlights, but the building will have bathrooms with running water and electricity. If you do not wish to spend the night, families may leave at any point but still participate in all activities! Price per FAMILY: $25 residents, $30 nonresidents. When registering through our website we will be collecting participant’s allergy information and dietary restrictions.

Lost Lake is an awesome place to visit. If you’d like to assist with programs, help us spread the word about the nature center, or have a skill you’d like to share, let us know and we’ll put your efforts to good use! Contact: [email protected] for more information. **Dinosaur Hill leads programs at other Township parks as well. We’re on the web! https://www.facebook.com/ Check out the other pages in this newsletter to see what is coming up soon! LostLakeNaturePark/ @LostLakeNaturePark www.oaklandtownship.org Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 5 Look out…Bluegill Below! Lost Lake Nature Park Article By Sue Neal, Executive Director, Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve

Free fishing day is one of the many popular events that take place at Lost Lake Nature Park. Whether you enjoy fishing or not, Lost Lake is a really cool place to watch some amazing fish behavior right from the dock. Even better, the dock is fully accessible so wheelchair users and all others are able to comfortably get out on the water to enjoy the amazing views and wildlife watching opportunities at the park. One fish that you can find at Lost Lake is the bluegill. Let’s learn a bit more about these amazing residents of Lost Lake! Probably the most fascinating behavior in the bluegill comes around spring when the fish are preparing to nest. Yes, you heard me right: bluegills build nests…underwater…yes, fish can build nests too! Even cooler: it is the male that is responsible for building the nest! So first, the males are easy to distinguish from females as they are a good bit flashier in their coloring. Males will have two bright blue streaks near their mouth and cheeks. During breeding season, these colors are at their most intense and you can really see them shine if the sun is overhead just right. Speaking of the sun, if you want to do some serious fish watching, I highly recommend a pair of polarized sunglasses. This type of lens will eliminate the glare coming off the surface of Lost Lake and allow you a much better look in the waters below. Now even if you can’t find yourself a fancy male bluegill you can still look for their nests. Bluegill are colonial nesters. This means that many different fish (up to 100!) will nest in the same area. They look for areas where the water is between 1 and 5 feet deep, where there is not a lot of underwater vegetation and where the lake bottom is sandy or has fine gravel. The male will swim around in a small area and use motion from his fins and tail to “sweep” away an area making a very distinct circular depression. The nest will be from 2- 6 inches deep and anywhere between 4-24 inches wide. These nests can be easy to spot from the surface of the water. Since bluegill will nest in groups, sometimes you will see many, many circular spots on the lake bottom. It is reported that the males recognize their neighbors and feel comfortable with them around their nests…however, they will defend their nesting neighborhood against other species or against bluegills they do not recognize. Of course, there are always a few loners out there so you may also see just one lone nest on occasion as well. Once the nest is built, the male will swim in circles around the nest and grunt so the females will come to see what all the fuss is about. Together, the fish will circle the nesting area and eventually settle in the center where she will lay eggs. Once spawning is complete, the male actually chases the female fish away. It is then his job to doggedly guard the nest against predators while the eggs incubate. He is also responsible for aerating the eggs and will use his tail to swish fresh water over the eggs. This is no easy job and puts the males at increased risk of predation as well. Luckily, the eggs hatch fairly quickly…giving rise to tiny fry in about 6 days depending on temperature and other conditions. His job isn’t quite over yet. Fry are not able to swim and will stay at the bottom of the nest, living off the rich yolk of their egg for another 5-10 days. Once they can swim the fry are on their own. They forage through the water for zooplankton (tiny animals that live in the water). Bluegill are not fussy eaters and there is an old fisheries adage that bluegill will eat anything that doesn’t eat them first. There are plenty of things that do eat bluegill and that is part of why they are considered so important to a healthy fishery. Bass are one example of a more prized fishery species that loves to feed on bluegill. Other than being quite pretty and having really cool nesting behavior that is easily observed, bluegill are actually one of the few fishes that do not rely solely on their tails for swimming power. When they are at slow (Continued on page 11)

6 Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 www.oaklandtownship.org Tai Chi Beginners - Adults 18+ (Outdoors) Tuesdays, May 7 - June 25, 2019 6:00-7:00pm Register by April 30 Tuesdays, August 6 - September 24, 2019 6:00-7:00pm Register by July 30 Bear Creek Nature Park, 740 W. Snell Rd., Rochester, MI 48306 Find peace and serenity from a busy, stressful day through Tai Chi. Tai Chi exercises the mind and body by increasing wellbeing and improving balance, coordination and strength. Students will learn the basic forms and elegant movements of the Yang Style Short Form Tai Chi. Students should be able to support their weight while standing or bring a chair if unable to stand. Students should wear loose and comfortable clothing and shoes. No flip flops or sandals. Traditional Tai Chi shoes are optional. Bring water bottle. Led by Marci Jenkins.* *Marci has over 20 years of Tai Chi training and practice. 8 week sessions. Residents: $40 Non-residents: $80

Tai Chi Continuing Beginners - Adults 18+ Wednesdays, May 8 - June 26, 2019 6:00-7:00pm Register by May 1 Wednesdays, August 7 - September 25, 2019 6:00-7:00pm Register by July 31 Paint Creek Cider Mill, 4480 Orion Road, Rochester, MI 48306 For those students who have taken Tai Chi classes with Marci Jenkins. 8 week sessions. Residents: $40 Non-residents: $80 Yoga On The Lake - Adults 12+ Sundays, June 9 - July 14, 2019 9:30-10:30am Register by June 3 Sundays, August 4 - Sept. 8, 2019 9:30-10:30am Register by July 29 Sundays, Sept. 22 - October 27, 2019 9:30-10:30am Register by Sept. 16 Lost Lake Nature Park, 846 Lost Lake Trail, Oakland, MI 48363 Wouldn’t you rather be outside during summer? Step out of the studio and enjoy doing yoga in the warmth of the sun and in full view of serene Lost Lake. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or newer to yoga, this gentle All Levels class is just right for you! Bring your own yoga mat. Led by Pavel Bednarski, RYT-200. All Levels. 6 week sessions. All classes will take place on the dock. Rain location is the on-site Warming Shelter. Residents: $48 Non-residents: $72 All Levels Yoga - Adults 12+ Sundays, November 10 - Dec. 15, 2019 9:30-10:30am Register by November 4 Cranberry Lake Farm House, 388 W. Predmore, Oakland, MI 48363 Join us for All Levels Yoga inside our beautiful Cranberry Lake Farm House. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or newer to yoga, these gentle All Levels classes are just right for you! Bring your own yoga mat. Led by Pavel Bednarski, RYT-200. All Levels. 6 week session. All classes will take place inside Cranberry Lake Farm House. Residents: $48 Non-residents: $72

Drop your registration in the mail or Township Hall dropbox or visit us in person! Complete registration details on page 33.

www.oaklandtownship.org Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 7 Cardio Drumming - Adults 15+ Mondays, June 17 - July 22, 2019, 6:00-7:00pm Register by June 10 Bear Creek Nature Park, 740 W. Snell Rd., Rochester, MI 48306 Pound away stress, anger and calories while building muscle and enjoying yourself! We drum to great music using drumsticks and fitness balls in tubs. You’ll drum at a pace set by your own level of fitness, putting in as much, or a little effort as you feel is right. An ever-changing playlist of high energy, upbeat music combines with constant movement, and a combination of drumming, stretching, jumping, squatting, kicking, punching, dancing and more. We get a full body and brain workout, which can improve balance, coordination and much more. We laugh, we bounce, we shake, we drop, we drum . . . having so much fun it doesn’t feel like exercise. Participants will drum and dance to various upbeat songs, have fun, and get a workout all in one. Limited equipment is available for use for an extra cost. Participants are encouraged to provide their own 65 cm, fitness ball, 17 gallon plastic tub, and a set of drumsticks. All classes will take place outside in the lawn area of Bear Creek Nature Park. Led by Teressa Farough, of Mueva Fitness. Six week session. Residents: $48 Non-residents: $72 Register by June 10 Rochester Soccer Club Summer Instructional Soccer Camps at Marsh View Park soccer fields in Oakland Township! Keep your kids busy while developing soccer skills this summer! Our summer camps provide a fun environment for players to learn new soccer skills, play games, make friends, and just be kids! Camps are open to a variety of ages and abilities. Campers are placed in age and skill appropriate groups so each player can develop and be successful - no matter their level of soccer experience. Who: Soccer players ages 3 - 12 years old When: 6/17 to 6/21; 7/8 to 7/12; 7/22 to 7/26 Time: 1:00 - 2:30pm, Monday - Friday (ages 5 - 12) 1:30 - 2:30pm, Monday - Friday (ages 3- 4) Location: Marsh View Park, 3100 East Clarkston Road, Oakland, 48363 Cost: $90 per week for ages 5 - 12 and $65 per week for ages 3 - 4 Campers receive an RSC summer camp t-shirt Things to bring: Each player should bring a soccer ball, shin-guards, plenty of water, and sunscreen The Staff: Coaching staff will include top soccer professionals from the Rochester Soccer Club as well as current and alumni RSC players. For further information and to register: Visit the website www.rscsoccer.org, or email [email protected] or call 248-650-0113 Portable Disc Golf Loan! Disc golf is a great way for people of all ages and abilities to spend time outdoors in Oakland Township parks with friends and family while getting in a little exercise. Residents of Oakland Township can now borrow our new disc golf baskets and discs for free! It only takes 5-10 minutes and 3 easy steps to set up the portable Mach Lite disc golf baskets. Each Mach Lite basket weighs less than 27 pounds and comes in its own carrying case making them easy to transport and set-up on your own mini-course. The total disc golf loan includes four baskets and four sets of discs. Set up your course in an Oakland Township Park or at your home! New portable disc Call the Oakland Township Parks and Recreation office at 248-651-7810 for further details. golf equipment is available for loan. 8 Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 www.oaklandtownship.org Intro to Geocaching - (Family - Ages 7 - Adult) Sunday, June 30, 2019 1:00 - 2:30pm Cranberry Lake Park, 388 W. Predmore, Oakland, 48363 Geocaching is a global treasure hunt that uses GPS coordinates to locate caches’, hidden boxes that can be as small as a pill or as large as a bread box. The popularity of this hobby has exploded as of late and we often come across people wandering different parks searching for the caches. Join us as we teach you the basics of the hobby and to finally uncover and sign your first cache! A smart phone is REQUIRED for this class as we will be downloading a free geocaching app. Residents: $5 Non-residents: $7 Family of 4 or more Res $20 Non $28 Register by June 7 Slithering Snakes - (Ages 5 - 10 years old) Wednesday, July 10, 2019 4:30 - 6:00pm Lost Lake Nature Park, 846 Lost Lake Trail, Oakland, 48363 Summer is one of our favorite times to be out exploring the Oakland Township parks as the wildlife is always so active! With the warm summer sunlight hitting the ground we find our cold-blooded friends come out in force and there’s definitely no shortage of garter snakes here at Lost Lake Nature Park! Join us as we spend some time inside meeting, holding, and even wearing a friendly snake in the nature center before putting together our own snake puppets to take home. Afterwards we will take a journey into the woods to search high and low for some slithering snakes (and other creepy crawlies that we can find beneath logs). Residents: $5 Non-residents: $7 Register by July 3 Glittering Fireflies: Seasonal Family Campfire - Family All Ages Friday, July 12, 2019 9:00 - 10:30pm Charles Ilsley Park, 1479 E. Predmore Rd., Oakland, 48363 Join us for a unique seasonal park experience as we gather around a campfire for a fiery lesson with some of nature’s nocturnal friends. We will be taking a close look at our flying LED lights: the fireflies. We will be sharing a few of our favorite firefly myths from around the world, learning how they chemically produce light (using a diabolically named substance), putting together our own firefly puppets to take home, and enjoying some s’mores before turning our attention to the woods for a firefly frolic! Participants are encouraged to bring bug spray. Residents: $5 Non-residents $7 Register by July 3 Tiny Turtle Tipsters - (Ages 3 - 5 years old) Saturday, July 27, 2019 9:30 - 11:00am Bear Creek Nature Park, 740 W. Snell Rd., Rochester, 48306 Turtles are one of our favorite animals in the entire kingdom of crawling, swimming and dancing animals that inhabit this world. Whether they’re the lumbering land tortoises or our aquatic water torpedoes we love them equally and want to share our enthusiasm! Join us as we have a true turtle celebration out at the park. We will engage in a turtle relay race alongside real turtles to see who is faster on land, put together our own pet turtle rocks to take home, meet (touch and hold) a couple real life turtles, and even go on a short hike to see if we can find wild examples at this beautiful park! Residents: $5 Non-residents: $7 Register by July 19

www.oaklandtownship.org Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 9 Terrific Tadpoles and Friendly Frogs - (Ages 3 - 5 years old) Saturday, August 10, 2019 9:30 - 11:00am Bear Creek Nature Park, 740 W. Snell Rd., Rochester, 48306 Nothing croaks summer fun quite like going out on a frog hunting safari. We will be celebrating the summer like our slimy pond-dwelling friends by participating in a polliwog party! We will be measuring how far we can leap compared to some of the strongest jumpers. Attempt to snatch treats up with some sticky tongues, meet and interact with a real frog, and go on a quick hike in the woods to see if we can find real frogs and tadpoles in the pond and scoop them up with dipping nets! We will even be putting together our own frog life cycle’s to take home. Residents: $5 Non-residents: $7 Register by August 2

Seasonal Hikes for Adults: The Sounds of Summer (Adults 18+) Friday, August 16, 2019 8:00 - 9:30pm Cranberry Lake Park, 388 W. Predmore, Oakland, MI 48363 Journey out onto the trails of Cranberry Lake Park with a park naturalist illuminated by light from August’s Sturgeon Moon. Participants will star indoors learning a little about the most common nocturnal animals that we will be looking for this evening (including some owl mounts), as well as making an identification pamphlet before heading out onto the trails in search of our nocturnal noise makers of summer. We will learn a little about stridulation and insects, owl behavior and spotting, dispelling coyote myths, and learn a few tricks to spotting animals in the dead of the night. Participants are asked to bring their own headlamp or flashlight for the hike. Residents: $5 Non-residents: $7 Register by August 9

Outdoor Skills Camps Lost Lake Nature Center, 846 Lost Lake Trail, Oakland, 48363 Set your kids’ imaginations and adventurous spirits free as they learn about the natural environment and the important skill of survival. Shelter, water, fire and food. These camps are 100% hands-on and very active. Everything your kids learn, they will do-no indoor classrooms or lectures. This is a great way to pull your kids away from the television, computer, and electronic devices, and get them excited about the outdoors.

Outdoor Skills Camp Grades 5 - 9 Next Step Outdoor Skills Camp Grades 5 - 9 Monday - Friday Monday - Friday July 22 - 26, 2019 August 12 - 16, 2019 10:00am - 12:30pm 10:00am - 12:30pm Register by July 15 Register by August 5 An extension of Outdoor Skills Camp, activities range from This camp introduces a variety of fun outdoor archery refresher skills through target shooting games and activities including archery, kayaking, and beginning bow hunting, gun safety including handling and fishing (catch and release). This course also basic shooting skills at Bald Mountain Gun Range (taught by covers basic survival skills like reading a map NRA certified instructor), kayaking and fishing, animal and recognizing your surroundings, fire starting, identification and tracking, plant identification and edibles, shelter building, obtaining drinkable water, wild land navigation, and a Survival Day finale. plant identification and animal observation. Prerequisite: Either taken our Basic Outdoor Survival Skill Resident: $100 Non-resident: $120 Camp or similar course. Resident: $100 Non-resident: $120

10 Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 www.oaklandtownship.org Free Open House at Bear Creek Nature Park - All Ages Family No registration required. Drop in between 12 & 4. Sunday, July 28, 2019, 12:00 - 4:00pm Bear Creek Nature Park, 740 W. Snell Rd., Rochester, 48306 We will be taking over the Bear Creek pavilion for an afternoon of exciting adventure as we explore the beautiful biomes of one of our favorite parks! We will be lending out dipping nets and critter keepers for families to use to sweep the ponds of aquatic bugs, frogs, tadpoles and turtles. We will have a scavenger hunt set up across the trail system for treasure hunters to test their merits. There will even be a frog puppet craft happening beneath the sheltered pavilion! And of course, no open house would be complete without a free snack! Join us as we explore the park system together on this especially awesome day! All equipment provided! Michigan’s Free Fishing Weekend - Family - 2 Days! Saturday, June 8, 2019 9:00 - 10:00 am or 10:15 - 11:15am Lost Lake Nature Park, 846 Lost Lake Trail, Oakland, MI 48363 Sunday, June 9, 2019 9:00 - 9:25am or 9:30 - 9:55am or 10:00 - 10:25am or 10:30 - 11:00am Draper Twin Lake Park*, 1015 Inwood, Oakland, MI 48363 Fishing is a part of Michigan’s Heritage. Fishing is also a relaxing pastime and a great way to spend time with your family. There is no room for cell phones, texting or tv on the dock. This program is your chance to try out fishing. We will supply the willingness! We will also learn about the types of baits and lures to use, the types of fish you may encounter in township parks and some tips on nearby “fishing holes”. Saturday at Lost Lake will be a great first experience for young anglers and families as we learn how to drop cast while Sunday’s event at Draper will be reserved for the more experienced group as we learn to cast into the lake. We provide everything so no need to remember your poles or bait! All fishing license fees are waived, register early as we fill up quickly! NO Drop-ins. Must register for sessions. Register by May 31 *The distance from the parking lot to the dock, which has lake access, is approximately .4 miles via accessible path.

Look out…Bluegill Below! (Continued from page 6) Lost Lake Nature Park Article cruising speeds, they will use their powerful and uniquely shaped fins for locomotion. These nifty fins also help them to be extremely agile fishes that can change direction on a dime. Bluegills usually swim in schools of 10- 20 individuals and viewing a school of them swimming about can be a real treat in and of itself. If you would like to try to spot some bluegills consider visiting Lost Lake Nature Park. The dock is open during the warm weather months and is a short walk from the parking lot. It is a lovely place to try to catch a glimpse of all the activity happening above and below the surface of Lost Lake. If you visit on an open house day (pgs. 4-5), you can even try out one of the kayaks to head out into the water in search of fishes and turtles and so much more. Even if you do not see a String of Bluegills caught at bluegill yourself, hopefully you have a new respect for all of the incredible Lost Lake prior to 2001 activity that is happening under the waters at Lost Lake and enjoy this special place!

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Call 248-651-7810 for more information. For registration information please see page 33.

Kayaks Available for Rental at Draper Twin Lake Park! We have kayaks to offer park users the opportunity to get out on Draper Twin Lake where wildlife abounds! Paddlers can rent kayaks at Draper Twin Lake Park throughout the warm weather season when staff is available. Take advantage of this opportunity to practice your kayaking skills. Kayak, paddle and life vest supplied. Note: Weight limit for single kayak is 230 lbs. Kayak at your own risk. No supervision or instruction is provided. A park staff person will assist you with equipment fitting, portage, launching, and landing. Please call the Parks office for more information on dates and pricing. View our kayak rental policy on our website: www.oaklandtownship.org One person kayak: minimum age 10 years old. Two person kayak: minimum age 6 years old with an adult on board. Registration must be completed one week in advance of requested rental date. Fees: Resident Rate: Non-Resident Rate: 1-person kayak for 2 hours $10/boat 1-person kayak for 2 hours $20/boat 2-person kayak for 2 hours $15/boat 2-person kayak for 2 hours $30/boat Fun Basics of Kayaking - 5 sessions! Ages 10 yrs. to Adult Draper Twin Lake Park, 1015 Inwood Road, Oakland, 48363 Saturday, May 18, 2019 10:00am - 12:00pm Register by May 10 Saturday, June 22, 2019 10:00am - 12:00pm Register by June 14 Saturday, July 27, 2019 10:00am - 12:00pm Register by July 19 Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019 10:00am - 12:00pm Register by Aug. 16 Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 10:00am - 12:00pm Register by Sept. 13

This clinic is taught both on land and in the water and will focus on safety and introductory stroke techniques. Learn basic kayaking safety skills such as fitting your life jacket, what clothing to wear and getting into and out of your kayak from a dock. Basic paddling skills include forward, reverse, and turning strokes. Designed for new paddlers and anyone who would like formal instruction. Draper Twin Lake is open calm flat water without jet skis and motor boats.

Residents: $20 Non-residents: $35 Map not to scale

Items to bring to all water programs: Water bottle, water shoes or light-weight sneakers, wear synthetic clothing, sunglasses, and bug repellent. At the time of registration we will ask you for your approximate height and weight so that we may size you with the proper gear. We paddle in light rain (it is a water sport). However, if there is a 60% or greater chance of thunder- storms 2 hours prior to the clinic we will contact you to cancel with a full refund issued or reschedule the clinic.

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Call 248-651-7810 for more information. For registration information please see page 33.

Next Step Beginning Kayaking - 5 sessions! Ages 10 yrs. to Adult Draper Twin Lake Park, 1015 Inwood Road, Oakland, 48363 Saturday, May 18, 2019 12:30 - 2:00pm Register by May 10 Saturday, June 22, 2019 12:30 - 2:00pm Register by June 14 Saturday, July 27, 2019 12:30 - 2:00pm Register by July 19 Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019 12:30 - 2:00pm Register by Aug. 16 Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 12:30 - 2:00pm Register by Sept. 13 This clinic is for those who have completed our Fun Basics of Kayaking clinic or have some experience at kayaking and are looking to increase their skill level. This clinic will focus on safety on the water and stroke development. Learn how to fit your boat to your body on land in order to practice techniques for staying in your boat on water to avoid tipping over! Discuss what to do if you do tip over. Learn about the different types of paddles and the side stroke. Then use paddling patterns to practice and perfect your paddling strokes. For the more adventurous we may have kayak races! Residents: $20 Non-residents: $35

Stand Up Paddle Boarding! Ages 14 and up Saturday, June 29, 2019 10 - 11am and 11:30am - 12:30pm Register by June 21 Saturday, July 20, 2019 10 - 11am and 11:30am - 12:30pm Register by July 12 Saturday, August 17, 2019 10 - 11am and 11:30am - 12:30pm Register by August 9 Saturday, September 14, 2019 10 - 11am and 11:30am - 12:30pm Register by Sept. 6

Draper Twin Lake Park*, 1015 Inwood Rd., Rochester, MI 48306 Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) is a great new water activity sweeping the country, and it’s easy and fun to learn. Learn to paddle in a safe environment with experienced instructors and quality equipment at breathtaking and beautiful Draper Twin Lake! Paddlers 14 years and older welcome. All equipment is included. Please wear clothing you don’t mind getting wet. All levels welcome. Weight limit 220 lbs. Residents: $20 Non-residents: $35

*The distance from the parking lot to the dock, which has lake access, is approximately .4 miles via accessible path.

www.oaklandtownship.org Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 13 Call 248-651-7810 for more information. For registration information please see page 33. All classes held at Marsh View Park Archery Range, 3100 E. Clarkston Rd., Oakland, MI 48363. Outdoor range. Rain or shine we shoot! No crossbows or broadheads. Introduction to Archery - All Ages (Ages 8 - Adult) This is a “Taste of Archery” class. This class will give all participants a brief introduction to target archery using a compound bow. All equipment provided. Participants can choose from one of the following classes. If you love it, sign up for one of our beginner classes! Please choose one class only. Register 1 week before program dates. Mondays, 6:00 - 7:00pm June 17 or June 24 or July 1 or July 8 or July 15 or July 22 or July 29 or August 5 or August 12 or August 19 or August 26

Residents: $12 Non-residents: $18 Family Max 4 or more: Residents: $48 Non-residents: $72

Beginning Archery - All Ages (Ages 8 - Adult) Looking for something new and fun to try on a beautiful summer Saturday morning? This fun class is for you and your family! Our instructors will cover safety, equipment and basic fundamentals of shooting. All equipment provided. 4 weeks. Saturdays, May 25 - June 22, 2019 9:30-10:30am Register by: May 17 (no class June 15) Saturdays, June 29 - July 20, 2019 10:00-11:00am Register by: June 21 Saturdays, July 27 - August 17, 2019 10:00-11:00am Register by: July 19

Residents: $45 Non-Residents: $60

Next Step Archery - All Ages (Ages 8 - Adult) This program is for archers who have taken Beginning Archery or archers with experience. Focus on improving your archery form and accuracy. Equipment provided or may use your own. Fridays, April 26 - June 7, 2019 (no class May 24) 6:00 - 7:00pm Register by April 19 Fridays, July 26 - August 23, 2019 (no class Aug 2) 6:00 - 7:30pm Register by July 18

Residents: $60 Non-Residents: $77

Open Range Shoot - Ages 8 - Adult “FREE” to the Public Drop-in opportunity to practice archery skills! Prior archery experience necessary. No instruction provided. No crossbows or broadheads. Children between 8 and 17 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Range supervised by certified USA Archery Instructors. Not sure how to shoot? Range Masters can assist you with our 1st Shot Demo Program - 5 minute teaching time/demo during Open Shooting Hours, or sign up for a Beginner Class. DROP-IN - NO REGISTRATION. No Open Range June 15.

Saturdays, April 27 - October 26, 2019 11:00am - 4:00pm Mondays, June 17 - August 26, 2019 7:00 - 8:00pm Wednesdays, June 19 - August 28, 2019 6:00 - 8:00pm

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Call 248-651-7810 for more information. For registration information please see page 33 All classes held at Marsh View Park Archery Range, 3100 E. Clarkston Rd., Oakland, MI 48363. Outdoor range. Rain or shine we shoot! No crossbows or broadheads.

Explore Archery Camp (Ages 8 - Adult) Explore Archery is a new and innovative archery education program focused on introducing beginners to the lifelong sport of archery. In Explore Archery, campers earn achievement awards through active participation in individual and team building activities that require fundamental skills. A competitive edge and a bit of creativity and not based on campers’ athletic abilities or their capabilities to shoot a perfect score. It is fun, rewarding, developmentally aggressive and most important-safe. Bring a sack lunch! June 24 - 28, 2019 9:00am - 3:00pm Register by June 17 Residents: $150 Non-Residents: $180 Explore Bow Hunting Class (Ages 8 - Adult) From Paleo to today, hunting with a bow and arrow is a skill set that, when honed, is fun and rewarding. Come out and learn skills such as animals signs, shot placement and proper equipment, Taught by USA Archery and MDNR trained archery instructor. Thursday, August 15, 2019 5:00 - 8:00pm Register by August 8 Sunday, September 15, 2019 4:00 - 7:00pm Register by Sept. 9 Residents: $30 Non-resident: $35

Ranger Apprentice Hunger Games Camp These books have sparked an interest in students to learn the skills required to survive in the wilderness. Students will learn the key components in wilderness survival skills. From fire starting without matches, wild edibles, survival knots, wilderness first aide, track and scat identification, shelter building and plenty of archery practice and skills. Your student will be better prepared to survive in the great outdoors like Will and Katniss! July 29 to August 2 -- Monday through Friday 9:00am to 3:00pm Register by July 22 Residents: $150 Nonresidents: $180

Private Archery Group Programs Book your birthday, special event, celebration, work group, scout badge with a focus on archery at Marsh View Park Archery Range. Equipment provided with all group events. Archery Range Rental Opportunities If your archery league or club is interested in renting our facility please contact the Parks and Recreation Department for fees and availability. For more information on either of these categories please call 248-651-7810.

www.oaklandtownship.org Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 15

Call 248-651-7810 for more information. For registration information please see page 33 All classes held at Marsh View Park Archery Range, 3100 E. Clarkston Rd., Oakland, MI 48363. Outdoor range. Rain or shine we shoot! No crossbows or broadheads. Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) - Ages 8-20 Archers who have completed Beginning and Intermediate archery courses or have been a participant of TEAM Archery can join our Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) Club to begin advancing their archery techniques. JOAD offers both recurve and compound archers the opportunity to learn range safety and proper shooting technique in an environment that also foster focus, increased self-confidence, and team-building skills. Whether your child’s interest is purely recreational or an Olympic dream JOAD is tailored to help the young archer achieve their goals. Oakland Township Parks and Recreation has equipment available for use at no additional cost. A USA Archery sanctioned club.

Must be a USA Archery member - www.teamusa.org/usa-archery/membership Thursdays, June 6 - August 15, 2019 12 weeks 6:00 - 7:00pm Fee: $125 Location: Marsh View Park, 3100 E. Clarkston Rd., Oakland, MI 48363

Adult Archery Achievement Program (AAAP) - Ages 21+ The Adult Archery Achievement Program (AAAP) is the logical “next step” for adult archers pursuing this lifetime sport. In addition to receiving clear instruction and coaching via our National Training System, membership in an archery club or program provides unique benefits including the opportunity to compete and earn awards, make new friends, build confidence and team building skills and is a great upper body workout! Oakland Township Parks and Recreation has equipment available for use at no additional cost. A USA Archery sanctioned club. Must be a USA Archery member - www.teamusa.org/usaarchery/membership

Thursdays, June 6 - August 15, 2019 12 weeks 7:00 - 8:00pm Fee: $125 Location: Marsh View Park, 3100 E. Clarkston Rd., Oakland, MI 48363

NEW! Michigan High School Archery Association Outdoor Target Tournament Hosted by Oakland Township Parks and Recreation; this “1st Annual” tournament will bring together archers from high school teams and middles school teams from all over southeast Michigan to compete in a much- anticipated Outdoor Target State championship! Equipment available for use at no extra cost. Refreshments available on site for a small fee.

Saturday, June 15, 2019 11:00am - 1:00pm Fee: $10

Location: Marsh View Park, 3100 E. Clarkston Rd., Oakland, MI 48363

16 Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 www.oaklandtownship.org Totally Toads By Sue Neal, Executive Director, Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve There are so many amazing animals that live right here in Oakland Township that it is always great fun to share with you some interesting facts about animals you may otherwise not think about. This time I would like to introduce you to one of my absolute favorites: the humble toad. The American toad is a pretty common sight in Oakland Township. Just because they are common, it does not mean that they aren’t interesting though and it sure doesn’t mean that they still do not need protection. The American toad has been pretty successful at learning to live among humans. I know I am likely to get at least one toad that decides to live among my vegetable gardens during the summer months. Once a toad finds a spot it likes, it will often return to that hiding spot for much of the summer season. This means if you are lucky enough to attract a toad to your garden, you may well have a new friend for many months. Toads in gardens are good things because they are little insect eating machines! Now that you know that toads will spend the summer hanging out in your garden, I don’t want to give the wrong impression that these guys are lazy. In the warm weather months, your average American toad will have a home range of several hundred square feet…nothing to shake your head at when considering that they are only 2-3.5 inches in length themselves! Even more impressive is the travel distance of the male toad during breeding season. In the spring, males have been known to travel more than a half mile in search of their breeding partner! So keep an eye out for travelling toads when spring arrives! After the male toad travels so far to meet a lady, he will sing in the nighttime hours to serenade his new found love. Their call is long and high pitched and you will most likely hear the calls in wetlands areas, low lying woodland vernal ponds or even in the shallows of a small lake. Once the toads mate, the female will lay 2,000- 20,000 eggs! The eggs are laid in a gelatinous coating and are strung together like thousands of small beads. The female will either attach the string of eggs to a piece of emergent vegetation at the waters edge or allow them sink into 2-4 inches of water. In just 3-12 days, the eggs will hatch into tadpoles and live in the water for about 2 months. After 2 months in the water, the tadpoles will begin to show signs of turning in to toads…you can sometimes spot tadpoles mid-transition, swimming around with tiny back legs. Soon, the toads will emerge from the water completely as the very last part of their former tadpole tail is reabsorbed and they look like tiny versions of full sized toads. It will be another 2-3 years before these toads are ready to breed themselves. While toads can be incredibly cute it is best to always let them be and just watch them from a distance. First, toads (like frogs and all amphibians) have fragile skin that can be damaged if you handle them. Also, toads need to eat the wide variety of insects that they can catch in the wild, a toad brought in to captivity will never get that same variety. Keeping a toad and releasing into the wild can also potentially spread diseases to other toads. We are lucky to have toads to help keep those outdoor insect populations in check, so please: leave the toads where you see them and enjoy watching them without picking them up or trying to take them home. One additional cool thing about toads is their defense system. I know that it is hard to believe that these innocuous looking critters have a defense system but ask any dog who has tried to eat one and they will back me up on this one! If you take a close look at a toad, there is a darker patch behind their “ears”. Often times it looks like a raised up patch. This patch is the toads paratoid gland. Now normally, if scared, toads will sit still and try to blend in with their surroundings…but if a snake or other predator gets too aggressive, the toad will inflate their body, widen their stance and put their heads down. This means that if a predator attacks, the first bite will likely be right where that gland is. The gland will secret a foul tasting substance and cause the predator to think twice about trying to eat them! In some toad species, this toxin can be quite powerful and deadly.

(Continued on page 27)

www.oaklandtownship.org Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 17 Congratulations to Oakland Township on their Bicentennial! 200 Years As a part of the celebration, the Historic District Commission joined forces with the Oakland Township Historical Society and held a Donut Challenge on March 16, 2019. They asked participants to answer the question, “What do you love about Preservation in Oakland Township?”. Responses gathered were positive and thankful for the Parks, Trails, Open Spaces and Historic Districts protected by your Parks and Recreation, Land Preservation and Historic Preservation millages! Preservation of Twp roads, pathways, open land, and native I like the parks and Ben Vanderweide's leadership in bringing in vegetation. volunteers to help with seeds and prescribed burns - Dena Preserve our rural character. The parks and the Paint Creek Trail attracted us to Oakland Twp! I love the way history is preserved in the township. The beautiful trees. Close to everything but with the feel of up north. Leaving something for the future. I like the open spaces and natural areas in Oakland Township. The Love the use of public lands for parks and the preservation of history. parks (both township and metro/state) are great. Nature. Good things that need to be kept: 1. Paint creek bike trail, 2. Archery Cider Mills. range The open space and cider at Rochester Cider Mill. Paint creek cider mills is the best stop on the trail. Love living here. Quite country-like. Can have fire pits with friends That we are still preserving today. and family. Trailways, parks, activities, and preserving nature so people can learn I enjoy walking and riding my bike on the trails and seeing the more about the environment. beautiful outdoors. Buying new land to prevent builders from developing and keeping it Keeping waterways clean and clear. We don't want to be like Shelby more rural. Twp where they seem to favor mini McMansions over trees! Preserving the beautiful Paint Creek and Macomb Trails. Cranberry Lake Farm! Preserving the parks. Hills, trails, etc. I have enjoyed the open spaces and low traffic on Oakland Township I love the preservation projects that get people and families outside dirt roads for decades as a runner. Also, easy pedestrian access to and learning. Stoney Creek Metro Park. That is what differentiates us from a developer’s corn field! We use the Paint Creek Trail every single week; usually a few times. I love the fresh air, the parks on almost every corner, the history, and We also like the tree-lined roads like Greenshield and Clarkston. paint creek trail. Cranberry Farm (and) Cider Mill. I love the green spaces in Oakland Township and the emphasis on The trees. preserving our agricultural past. It’s easy to forget history but it is part I love all of the well maintained parks and trails, and that the homes of all of us! – Gail Sanderson are not too close together. A great place to live! - Pamela L. I enjoy the trails for biking and walking. We need to preserve a I liked the concerted effort to maintain historical character in the area. simpler time. The township does a good job of maintaining a very small town feel. - Visit the Historic District Commission for complete response listing. J. Sture Dogs In Township Parks Must be On a Leash and Under Control A dog may well be man’s – and woman’s best friend, but off-leash dogs in public parks can pose problems to themselves or others. The leash law for the State of Michigan dictates that whenever dogs are not on their owner’s property, they must be restrained with a leash. Oakland Township’s Parks and Recreation regulations specifically state that pets must be on a leash and that the pet must be kept under control at all times. Keep your dog on a 6 foot long regular leash – not a retractable one! Retractable leashes can allow dogs to get far enough away from their humans that a situation can quickly turn dangerous. An off-leash dog or a dog on a retractable leash is often able to make uninvited contact with other dogs or people, potentially endangering your dog, other dogs, or people. Your dog may be the one who gets injured. The state and local regulations are in place to protect everyone – it is in your best interest to obey them! Many species of viewable wildlife decline along the trail edges when dogs explore the brush. Off-leash dogs prevent turkey and other birds from ground-nesting, may discover and harm fawns (a natural instinct), and push mammals further into the woodlands, thus decreasing the park experience for all visitors. Dog excrement is both unpleasant and can spread disease to humans and wildlife. Clean-up bag dispensers are located at several park entries and along the Paint Creek Trail for your use.

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Forestry Mowing for Habitat Restoration By: Ben VanderWeide, Natural Areas Stewardship Manager If you’ve visited Bear Creek Nature Park, Charles Ilsley Park, Stony Creek Ravine Nature Park, or the Paint Creek Trail recently, you might have noticed areas where thickets of shrubs were re- duced to shreds! We are working in these areas to tackle invasive plants like buckthorn, multiflora rose, autumn olive, and oriental bittersweet. This work is part of our broader goal to restore the native wildflowers and grasses that once were common in Oak- land Township, improving wildlife and pollinator habitat. Watershed Ridge Park before forestry mowing.

Before European settlement widely spaced oak trees dotted the landscape, with savanna wildflowers and grasses in the dappled light of the understory. In the 1800s European settlers began farming the area, leading to rapid loss of the native prairie and oak savanna that covered two-thirds of Oakland Township. Much of our township was farmed until the 1960s and 1970s, when non-native invasive shrubs quickly established in these fields. These shrubs do not provide good habitat for wildlife or pollinators. For many years we tried to use only loppers and chainsaws to control invasive shrubs, clearing 5, 10, 20 or even 40 acres per Watershed Ridge Park immediately after year. Forty acres per year sounds like a lot. But with more than forestry mowing. 1100 acres of park property, we would need 25 to 30 years to cover all of the habitat in our parks just once!

To speed up our work, we added forestry mowing to our tool kit. Forestry mowing uses a tractor with a mulching head to grind up invasive shrubs, leaving oaks and other desirable trees. The shredded wood decays over time, re- turning nutrients to the soil. We work in the winter to pre- vent oak wilt and to avoid harming nesting birds, reptiles, amphibians, and other wildlife. In late winter or early spring after forestry mowing, we spread a seed mix of native grasses and wildflowers. When invasive shrubs re-sprout, we spot treat them in summer and early fall. It takes at least three years to thoroughly control invasive shrubs. As native plants re-establish, we will use prescribed fire, brush hogging, spot treatment, and seed additions to continue the restoration process. Watch Watershed Ridge Park one year after these areas over the next few years as they continue to forestry mowing and prairie seeding. change and grow!

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Summer 2019 Natural Areas Stewardship Events Please come out and join us for one of our nature events! Updated information and any last minute changes to these events can be found on our Natural Areas Notebook website at .

Rochester Garden Walk at Bear Creek Nature Park Thursday, June 20, 2019, 10 am to 5 pm The Rochester Garden Walk will be held on Thursday, June 20 from 10 am to 5 pm. This exciting and popular event is sponsored by the Rochester Garden Club and the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm. Tickets prices are $12 in advance and $16 on garden walk day. Purchasing information can be found on the website www.rochestergardenclub.org. The walk will showcase six private gardens throughout the greater Rochester area as well as a special public garden, Bear Creek Nature Park, on display in Oakland Township.

Invasive Shrub Workdays at Bear Creek Nature Park July 11, July 27, and August 6, 9 am to 12 pm We will be removing invasive shrubs such as buckthorn and autumn olive to help native species thrive in the northern marsh at Bear Creek Nature Park. Wear solid boots, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt and bring water and a snack. Tools and training will be provided. All workdays are 9 am to 12 pm. Meet at the Snell Road parking lot at 740 W. Snell Road.

Prairie Tours at Charles Ilsley Park Saturday, August 3, 2019. Drop in any time between 9 am to 12 pm at Charles Ilsley Park. Since 2015 we’ve installed over 70 acres of prairie plantings in two parks, with 50 of those acres at Charles Ilsley Park. Some fields at this park are in their fourth growing season while other fields were planted in 2018, so you’ll get to see how these prairies mature in the first few years. For those that need help with mobility, we will provide a special golf cart tour.

Natural Areas Stewardship Summer Potluck Thursday, August 8, 2018, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at Lost Lake Nature Park Come join us for our summer celebration of natural areas stewardship in Oakland Township! You won’t want to miss the hearty conversation and great food. Learn about habitat restoration and volunteer opportunities in our parks while connecting with others involved in our programs. RSVP appreciated to [email protected] or 248-651-7810 ext. 401.

Volunteers Needed! Would you like to learn new skills, work with a great team, and get more involved in local conservation? Our natural areas stewardship volunteers help with bluebird nest box monitoring, native seed collecting, prescribed fire, invasive species control, photo monitoring, pollinator garden maintenance, outreach, and more! We fit opportunities to your availability and interests. No special skills required. We’ll provide all training and tool you’ll need. To learn more contact Natural Areas Stewardship Manager Ben VanderWeide ([email protected]).

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Natural Areas Stewardship Events Please come out and join us for one of these events! Updated information and any last minute changes to these events can be found on our Natural Areas Notebook website at oaklandnaturalareas.com. Celebrate Spring, Pull Garlic Mustard! Weekly Bird Walks Garlic mustard and dame’s rocket push out the native Join us every Wednesday from June to August for our plants that our wildlife need. We need your help to weekly bird walks. We want to document the bird remove these invasive plants from our parks! Pulls last species using our parks so that we can work to from 9 am to 1 pm, but will be cancelled if the weather improve their habitat. Walks will start at 8:00 am. is bad. It’s easy work and we provide refreshments. All Some extra binoculars are available. volunteers must sign a waiver (with minor’s waiver signed by a guardian), and minors under 14 must also be accompanied by a guardian. Updated information and last minute changes to these events can be found on our Natural Areas Notebook website at oaklandnaturalareas.com.

 Friday, May 3, 9 am to 1 pm. Bear Creek Nature Park, 740 W. Snell Rd.  Friday, May 10, 9 am to 1 pm. Blue Heron Environmental Area, 3320 N. Rochester Rd.  Friday, May 17, 9 am to 1 pm. Paint Creek Trail. Meet at the Paint Creek Cider Mill, 4480 Orion Rd.  Thursday, May 23, 9 am to 1 pm. Cranberry Lake Park, 388 W. Predmore Rd.

Garlic mustard leaves; Garlic mustard flowers; Dame’s Rocket flowers; CC BY-SA 3.0; Wikimedia Commons CC-BY-SA-3.0; Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 2.0; Wikimedia Commons Natural Areas Information at your Fingertips! Have you checked out our blog recently? The Natural Areas Notebook has the latest about what’s happening in the parks, news about the latest stewardship work, and up-to-date information about stewardship events. Find this and much more at oaklandnaturalareas.com.

www.oaklandtownship.org Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 21 Thank You! Thanks to our Volunteers and Donors!

Natural Areas Stewardship Volunteers: Winter 2018/2019 Ian Ableson, Daryl Bernard, Leslie Clark, Katie Crites, Andy Doral, Jim Fostey, Ryan Graydon, Lynn Hansford, Joerg Hensel, Bill Kamman, Nancy Kautz, Mike Kent, Rob Mair, Cam Mannino, Vinnie Morganti, Karen Page, Kennedy Phillips, Dean Purcell, Jon Reed, Alex Roland, Dena Scher, Dan Simon, Anna Tawril, Cathy Wesley, Walter Zechmeister Recreation Volunteers at Winter Carnival! Emily Barkham, Cathy Rooney, Hank Van Agen Donations Thank you to Mark Arney of Woodland Estates, who donated two benches - to be installed this spring at Cranberry Lake Park and Lost Lake Nature Park. Thanks to the many generous sponsors of park benches and native plantings in Gallagher Creek Park! These individuals and organizations will be recognized at the Grand Opening on May 23—Join Us! Grant Awarded for Native Plantings at Gallagher Creek Park Oakland Township Parks was awarded an $800 grant from Wildflower Association of Michigan. Written by Stewardship Specialist Alyssa Winters, this grant funding will assist with the purchase of native plant seeds for the development of an interpretive children’s native planting next to the Gallagher Creek Park playground. Alyssa and Ben accepting Congratulations on winning this useful grant Alyssa! grant at WAM Conference Support your local businesses. They will support you! Thank you to our local Oakland Township Hungry Howie’s, 4930 Adams Road, for being a generous sponsor of Oakland Township Parks and Recreation’s annual Winter Carnival four years running. Hungry Howie’s store manager, Narune Phach, and his team provided free pizza to approximately 450 hungry festival goers throughout the event. We sincerely appreciate your continued support! We are so grateful to brother and sister Stan and Diane Piechnik, owners of Piechnik Garden Center, 1095 N. Rochester Road in Oakland Township for their support of Goodison Good Tyme and Music in the Meadows concert series for the last four years. Greenhouse manager, Matt Colonius, graciously helps us choose beautiful plant and annual flower arrangements to display on festival grounds and concert stages. Thank you for providing that all important finishing touch to our special events! Cranberry Lake Farm main house porch concert set-up.

In Memoriam It is with heavy hearts that we report the passing of Peggy Johnson, an environmental preservation leader in Oakland Township. Peggy was active with other Township citizens in the early 1970s Oakland Township Association, leading the call to curb urban sprawl by advocating for a millage to assist in purchasing the abandoned Penn Central rail line now known as the Paint Creek Trail, becoming a founding member of the Paint Creek Trailways Commission, Oakland Township Parks Commission, which she served on for over twenty years, the Oakland Land Conservancy (now the Six Rivers Land Conservancy), and the Clinton River Watershed Council, serving on the boards for many years. Her service also included federal, state, and regional advisory committees and boards, including SEMCOG and Michigan Trails Advisory Council. Peggy authored storm water & watershed management, ground water protection, and linear parks articles. Her actions were lauded with the NRPA 1997 National Voluntary Service Award, MRPA 1997 Special Award, and Oakland County Planning’s Career Achievement Award. “Change in inevitable but only intelligent change is progress.” (Oakland Township Association’s motto) 22 Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 www.oaklandtownship.org Parks and Recreation Team Update

Oakland County Executive’s 2019 Elite 40 Under 40 Class Congratulations to Benjamin VanderWeide, 34, Natural Areas Stewardship Manager for Oakland Township Parks and Recreation. Ben was recently selected as one of Oakland County Executive’s 2019 Elite 40 Under 40 Class. About 250 applications and nominations were reviewed by a panel of judges, looking for the top 40 young professionals and thought leaders who live or work in Oakland County. This is the eighth year of the Elite 40 program. "I’m excited about this outstanding class of talented and passionate leaders who are committed to improving their professions and their communities every day,” County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said. “These young leaders are wonderful ambassadors for Oakland County.” Alex Roland joins our crew this summer as a land stewardship technician. She graduated from Michigan State University in May 2018 with a degree in environmental biology/zoology. Last summer Alex completed an internship with the Student Conservation Association in Idaho doing backcountry conservation work, and she previously served as a Stewardship Coordinator Intern for the Thumb Land Conservancy. She has always had an interest in the conservation of Michigan’s ecosystems and wildlife and enjoys learning more about Michigan’s natural areas through field work. She loves hiking, boating, camping, and identifying animal tracks. She is excited to be in the Oakland Township area and to work on preserving the local land. Welcome Alex! Grant Vander Laan joins our crew this summer as a land stewardship technician. He graduated from Calvin College with a bachelor’s degree in biology. He previously worked as a land management fellow for Pierce Cedar Creek Institute and as an Ecosystem Preserve Steward for Calvin College. He plans on pursuing jobs similar jobs in the future with the hopes of becoming a land manager eventually. He has been interested in land management, restoration and conservation for many years now, specifically interested in invasive species. He loves hiking, spending time outside, and swimming. He is excited to work in the natural areas around Oakland Township and learn new things about this area. Welcome Grant! Marisa Kaddis also joins our crew this summer as a land stewardship technician. Marisa has been a life-long resident of Oakland County and has just completed her first year of study in Natural Resources Management at Grand Valley State University. She is very passionate about animal rights and is president of the Cage Free Vegan Club on campus. As a student at Mercy High School in Farmington Hills, she was involved in theater, field hockey, and the organization of the March for Our Lives. Marisa’s dream is to study tropical rainforest ecology and endangered species restoration. “I’m excited for the opportunity to work as a Seasonal Land Stewardship Technician this summer!” Welcome to the team Marisa! EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY WITH OAKLAND TOWNSHIP PARKS! Have you always wanted to work in parks and rec? Here is your opportunity to do it close to home! We are looking for a Parks and Recreation Casual Worker. This four-season part-time position assists in monitoring, maintenance and operation of recreation facilities and programs including soccer fields, kayak rentals/programs, sled hill, ice skating rink, and special events. Since many services are offered outside the nine-to-five work week, we are seeking an individual who is willing to work evenings and weekends. Please see Employment Opportunities at www.oaklandtownship.org for full job description, candidate qualifications and application requirements. Starting pay is $15.23 per hour. Immediate start date. Position will remain posted until filled. The Charter Township of Oakland is an Equal Opportunity Employer. www.oaklandtownship.org Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 23 Cranberry Lake Farm Historic District A community historical center - work in progress for you!

For more information contact Historic District Commission office 248-608-6807 Or check on the website or Facebook page: Cranberry Lake Farm Historic District

200 years ago on the date of March 16, 1819, Benjamin Woodworth “Uncle Ben” and William Russell “Father Russell” purchased the first parcel of land from the Government in Oakland Township, and it was the tenth purchase in the entire Oakland County! Together, these early pioneers purchased 160 acres in Section 33 at the location where the Paint Creek runs through Dutton and Livernois Roads. These two men had helped build mills on the Paint Creek with early settlers from Avon Twp., John Hersey, in the fall of 1818 when they must have discovered the beauty of the area. Most of the early settlements in the township followed the watersheds of Paint Creek and Stony Creek. March 16, 1819 marked the very important beginnings for the Township! Watch for more history of our Township on June 5, when the Oakland Township Historical Society will be having a program and potluck on early settlers at Cranberry Lake Farm in the Flumerfelt Barn. R E S T O R A T I O N S U C C E S S !

HUGE thank you to Goodison Cider Mill owner Bob Steinheiser, who donated the orchard sprayer to be displayed at Cranberry Lake Farm. Historic District Commissioner Don Westphal was instrumental in working out transporting the sprayer and also helped with the restoration. Dave Taylor painted the implement. Orchard sprayers were a benefit to farmers to provide pressurized spraying of pesticides to protect trees and plants from insects. The sprayer will be on display at the farm in the spring 2019. 24 Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 www.oaklandtownship.org Cranberry Lake Farm Historic District A community historical center - work in progress for you!

THANK YOU TO OAKLAND UNIVERISTY INTERN The Historic District Commission is excited to announce that we have welcomed a new intern to the HDC family! Mario Ogu, a senior from Oakland University, is working as our Public Relations/Social Media Intern in order to bring more information to Oakland Township residents about our events and programs at Cranberry Lake Farm! Mario said, “I thought that this would be a great opportunity for me because of how involved the Oakland Township Historic District Commission is in the community. I think that bringing awareness to historical facts and places is a real public good and I’m happy to be a part of doing just that.” Ogu is a Communications major and Public Relations/Creative Writing double minor. He was attracted to Communications as a major because of its versatility and commonality with a variety of other disciplines such as psychology, sociology, and human resources. The Historic District Commission finds that inviting student interns to work on various projects within the organization brings mutual good to all parties involved. The students are given real-world experience in a plethora of fields, and the HDC gets to work with a new set of eyes and continue its commitment to working closely with the community that surrounds us.

HAPPENINGS 2019: PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

BEEKEEPING CLASS SQUARE DANCES! PLEIN AIRE PAINTING DOWN ON THE FARM Oct. 5, 11 AM to 2 PM. May thru Aug. second Sat. June 8, 7 PM-9 PM & June 20, 10 AM-2 PM. Outdoor fun with hay of each month from Sept. 7, 7 PM-9 PM Outdoors painting in the rides, pumpkins, horses, 12Noon-1:30PM. Join Free Square Dances in scenic view of the beekeeping, Dinosaur local beekeeper Preston the Flumerfelt Barn, farmstead. All skill-levels Hill games, apple history, Zale who will teach you come single or with and mediums welcome, butter churning, spinning, everything you need to friends, we all have a with instruction provided quilting, paintings, goats, know about raising your good time dancing to the by Janet Almstadt- chickens, and live music own bees, helping the calls of Glen Morningstar Davison and Bobbie by Harmonica George environment, and and The Ruffwater Tarbunas. Bring your own and Just Banjos. With harvesting honey. Program Stringband. Please come, supplies and lunch. $30 OTHS - Did we mention held in Hen House. $5 fee rain or shine! fee for four hour class that this event is FREE? includes all four sessions. with instruction.

Cranberry Lake Farm Historic District is open year round for photography, hikes, bike riding, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing. Come relax in the historic character of the farm. www.oaklandtownship.org Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 25 Gallagher Creek Park and Pathway Grand Opening

(Continued from page 2)

This Grand Opening will celebrate:  New Silverbell Road pathway leading to Gallagher Creek Park  New Community-built nature playground including custom Treehouse, Slides, and Swings  New Picnic Pavilion  New Rain Garden  Prairie Habitat Planting  Gallagher Creek Overlook Deck Planning, design and construction of the park facilities, prairie restoration and pathway facilities are funded by Oakland Township’s millages for Parks and Recreation, Land Preservation, and Safety Paths and Trails. Benches and some native plantings have been generously sponsored through private donations, which will be recognized at this celebration. In case of bad weather the event will be rescheduled. Please call 248-651-4440, ext. 299 for event information.

26 Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 www.oaklandtownship.org From The Director (Continued from page 2) sunflowers, which support 77. However, native oak trees are the most powerful plant we can put in our yard! Oaks support a whopping 452 native butterfly and moth species and willow, choke cherry and birch trees support between 400 and 425 species each also. In closing Dr. Tallamy advised that our landscapes should do the following:  Support a complex food web,  Sequester carbon,  Manage our watershed, and  Support pollinators. Guess which plants accomplish most of this the best – yes – our native oak trees! When native plants are displaced by introduced plants, the insects disappear, impoverishing the food source for birds and other animals. In short, “A world without insects is a world without biodiversity.” If we want to be most effective at sustaining life we must protect and restore this link between our native plants and insects. We must take on this challenge in our back yards and our natural areas, such as our Oakland Township parks. Both are essential! *Doug Tallamy is currently professor and chair of the department of entomology and wildlife ecology at the University of Delaware. He won the Silver Medal from the Garden Writer's Association for his book, Bringing Nature Home. Melinda Milos-Dale, Parks and Recreation Director

Maintenance and Development (Continued from page 2) Visit www.oaklandtownship.org for latest project updates. A well and water hydrants will be installed this summer to provide potable water for drinking and washing purposes. The water hydrants will be installed near the picnic pavilion and restroom locations.

(Continued from page 17) Now if you would like to try to have your own resident toad, you might try your hand at building your very own Toad Abode. A toad abode is simply a nice place for a toad to hang out. There are several commercial toad houses available or you can make your own using a broken clay pot or even a flat piece of wood propped up on small rock. Toads love to live in areas where this is some ground cover and lots of yummy insects. Vegetable gardens and native plant gardens make prime toad habitat. Please consider refraining from the use of any toxic sprays in these areas. Not only will the sprays kill the insects that a toad needs in order to survive but the toxins can be absorbed through the toads skin and be deadly. I hope you have enjoyed learning a little bit more about our friend the American Toad. Many amphibian populations are suffering from dramatic declines around the globe. Let’s do our part to keep toads safe by: keeping an area in your yard reserved for native plants, not using toxic insect or weed sprays and leaving toads in the wild when you see them. See page 10 for preschool program about tadpoles and frogs!

www.oaklandtownship.org Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 27 WE WELCOME NEW MEMBERS. There is no charge for our programs and the public is welcome. For program information or to submit program ideas and speaker suggestions, e-mail Mary Tischler, Program Chairperson, [email protected]. For membership or other information contact Sue Fox, Membership Chairperson, (248) 693- 9646 or [email protected]. Come Join Us and have some fun! Summer 2019 Programs Happy 200th Anniversary! Oakland Township First Land Purchase 1819-2019

Saturday, May 4 - 9 am Joint Field Trip with Rochester-Avon Historical Society Tour of Ford’s Detroit Piquette Plant, Lunch at Zs Villa. $25/person paid in advance (includes bus and tour, does not include lunch). Meet bus at 8:45 am for 9:00 am departure (location of departure TBD) Arrive at Piquette Plant 10 am tour – 1.5 hours. Bus to Z’s Villa for lunch at 11:45 am, (lunch is pay on your own, not included in the price, separate checks will be issued.) **Note: Participants need to be able to use stairs for getting on/off bus at the plant and at the restaurant. No elevators available.** Wednesday, June 6 - 6:30 pm Cranberry Lake Farm Flumerfelt Barn, 384 W. Predmore Road “Early Pioneer Settlers of Oakland Township – 200 Years and Still A Great Place To Settle” Presentation, pot-luck dinner, awards and elections. Join us for a special 200th anniversary celebration of the first land purchase in Oakland township back in 1819. OTHS Board members will present tales of interest about the early settlers of Oakland Township.

JOIN US AT THESE SPECIAL EVENTS! ~Greater Rochester Heritage Days and OTHS Plant Sale – May 18 & 19, 2019~ ~Goodison Good Tyme – September 2019~ ~Down on the Farm – October 5, 2019~ ~Look for 200th Anniversary Celebrations around the Township throughout the year!~

OTHS programs will be rescheduled when schools are closed for inclement weather. Join our Society to stay on our mailing list and receive more information about program location, time and detail. Visit our Facebook Page @othsmi or our website: www.oaklandtownshiphistoricalsociety.org

Submit up to five photos celebrating our natural environment in Southeastern Michigan in a JPEG (.jpg) Juried Category Prizes: file format to [email protected]. Photo First Place $200 submissions will be accepted until Second Place $150 September 3, 2019. All photos that Third Place $100 meet our guidelines will be eligible and available for public viewing. We have People’s Choice $150 two categories for submission: Juried (photo files of 5MB or greater) and Enthusiast Category: Enthusiast (photo files less than 5MB). People’s Choice $100 In the Juried category, the 1st, 2nd and Entries must be accompanied 3rd place award winners will be with a completed submission determined by a distinguished panel of form. See our website at judges. Finalists in the Enthusiast www.sixriversrlc.org for category will be selected by Six Rivers complete rules and staff with the winning entry, “People’s submission forms. Choice: Enthusiast,” selected by attendees at Six Rivers’ Fall Celebration (date TBD). Attendees will also vote for the “People’s Choice: Juried” winner. 28 Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 www.oaklandtownship.org www.oaklandtownship.org Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 29 Paint Creek Junction Park Recommended for State Grant (Continued from page #)

Oakland Township residents may not know that each community that participates in the Paint Creek Trail is responsible for the improvement and maintenance of the section located in their community. This grant will fund 75% of the total $294,600 project cost with the remaining 25% funded by our Township’s Parks and Recreation Millage. “The grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and the support of our Township residents through our Parks and Recreation Millage fund make this project feasible – without those two funding sources the development and operation of this much-needed support facility would not be possible. We are very grateful to have this local and state support,” said Oakland Township Parks and Recreation Chairperson Colin Choi. This new trailhead, located between Orion Road and the Paint Creek Trail, north of Adams Road, will greatly improve accessibility for pedestrians, bicyclists, skiers, and equestrians in the only section of the Paint Creek rail that lacks a parking lot and rest area. The project, located near the proposed trail connection from Bald Mountain Recreation Area to the Paint Creek Trail, will also be the first Paint Creek Trail parking lot designed to incorporate horse trailer parking. Please see the project site plan. This project is important at a local, regional, and state level. In 2015 Oakland Township community members ranked this project their highest priority out of the 23 projects that they reviewed during our Township’s parks and recreation planning process. This project includes a universally accessible parking lot, access trail, two unisex universally accessible vault toilets, an accessible well for Project potable water and a picnic area. All these park Area improvements were the greatly desired by Township residents in a 2014 Township-wide survey. “We are very excited about this project, and our partnership with Oakland Township Parks and Recreation. Additional parking and restroom facilities in this area have been listed in our Recreation Master Plan for over 20 years,” said Paint Creek Trail Manager Melissa Ford. Since the Paint Creek Trail is an important link in the statewide Iron-Belle trail system, this project also supports that trail too! In 2019 this project’s concept plan will be transformed into a detailed design that will be made available for public review and comment with the expectation that project construction would occur in 2020. More information about this project can be found on the Parks and Recreation home page at www.oaklandtownship.org.

30 Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 www.oaklandtownship.org Paint Creek Trail News By Melissa Ford, Trail Manager [email protected] 2019 Paint Creek Trail Construction and Closures The Paint Creek Trail is scheduled for two major construction projects in 2019. Bridge 33.7, which is located on the trail between Dutton and Silverbell Roads, is scheduled to be replaced this summer. The Paint Creek Trail will be completely closed to through traffic for 60-90 days. Unfortunately, there is no detour. You will be able to use the trail from Rochester Municipal Park to Dutton Road or Silverbell Road to Children’s Park in Lake Orion. At this time, bridge construction is tentatively planned to start in mid-May and last through early September. Please plan your visit to the Paint Creek Trail accordingly. In addition, the entire Paint Creek Trail is scheduled to be resurfaced with crushed limestone, with rolling closures, starting in the summer. Resurfacing of the trail is an ongoing event of a cyclical nature and last occurred in 2004. The four Paint Creek Trailways Commission member communities of the Oakland Township, Orion Township, Rochester, and Rochester Hills have each committed funds towards the resurfacing of its section of the trail. The project will improve the smoothness and regularity of the trail, and will provide a safer and more predictable and enjoyable surface for all trail users. The resurfacing project is expected to occur concurrently with the bridge replacement project. For regular construction updates and trail closure information visit: PaintCreekTrail.org

Paint Creek Trail Receives $400,000 Grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation The Community Foundation of Greater Rochester has been awarded a $407,000 grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation for the benefit of the Paint Creek Trailways Commission. The Commission is working with the Community Foundation of Greater Rochester as its 501(c)(3) non-profit partner to administer the funds. This grant will be used to fund both the Bridge 33.7 and trail resurfacing projects. Funding from the Wilson Foundation is crucial to completing both these projects, which are critical elements in the Paint Creek Trailways Commission’s Recreation Master Plan.

2019 National Trails Day – Saturday, June 1, 2019 Save the date! Please join us for our annual National Trails Day celebration from 1-4pm on Saturday, June 1. National Trails Day is the only nationally coordinated event with the goal of connecting more people to trails. This year we will again be celebrating the day in our northern section of the trail near Lake Orion’s Children’s Park. We hope you will join us for the following fun activities and giveaways!  Bike safety demonstration by the Lake Orion Police Department  A nondenominational blessing of the bikes  Free family friendly bike ride on the trail from Children’s Park in Lake Orion to the Clarkston/Kern Roads intersection  Free Paint Creek Trail swag and drawings for Paint Creek Trail merchandise For more information, visit: http://paintcreektrail.org/wordpress/2019-national-trails-day

facebook.com/PaintCreekTrail twitter.com/PaintCreekTrail PaintCreekTrail.org

www.oaklandtownship.org Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 31 32 Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 www.oaklandtownship.org Oakland Township Parks and Recreation Registration Information Oakland Township resident registration starts NOW! (This is for residents living within the Oakland Township boundary.) Non-resident registration begins one week prior to the program registration deadline date. Programs fill-up quickly so please contact us early! Mail at least two weeks before program date! Registration Options: 1.Fill out the form below and the release of liability waiver on back of form for each participant, register by mail or drop in the drop-box at Township Hall, (4393 Collins Rd.) after hours. (One waiver is needed for each person and each program. Find liability waivers at www.oaklandtownship.org, go to Township Departments, click on Parks and Recreation, click on Programs and scroll to the waiver that you need in center of page.) Make checks payable to “Charter Township of Oakland” and mail with registration form and signed waiver for each participant to: Charter Township of Oakland, 4393 Collins Rd., Rochester, MI 48306 2.Visit us at our office location and register in person. Credit cards (MasterCard, American Express, or Discover) accepted in person only. ($2.95 fee) Cash or check. Paint Creek Cider Mill Bldg. (2nd Floor) Additional registration forms and waivers 4480 Orion Rd., Rochester, MI 48306 are available to print from the park pages at www.oaklandtownship.org Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Adult’s Name:

Address:

City/Zip: Emergency phone:

Home Phone: Cell Phone:

E-Mail Address: Resident of (circle one): Oakland Twp. Rochester Rochester Hills Other

Enrollee’s Name: Age (if child):

Program Name: Date and Time:

Program Name: Date and Time:

Amount Due: Charter Township of Oakland Mail at least two weeks before program date! 4393 Collins Rd., Rochester, MI 48306

www.oaklandtownship.org Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 33 Oakland Township Parks and Recreation Program Refund Policy

Registrants will receive a full refund for programs cancelled by Oakland Township Parks and Recreation. Registrants withdrawing more than 4 business days prior to the program start date will receive a refund, less a $5.00 administration fee. No refunds will be made if withdrawing less than 4 business days from program start date. All registrants wishing to withdraw, must do so during regular business hours Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm in person at the Paint Creek Cider Mill, 4480 Orion Rd., or by phone at 248-651-7810. Visit www.oaklandtownship.org for complete program information and other Park and Recreation information, permits, and ordinances. Oakland Township Parks and Recreation Release of Liability Waiver and Permission to Publish Photographs Use this waiver for general programs. A separate release of liability waiver must be submitted for each program for which each participant registers. Special waivers are required for Camps, Archery, Kayaking, and Stand Up Paddleboarding and are available on the Park Programs page of the Township website: www.oaklandtownship.org

Liability Waiver For Participant: As a participant (or as a parent of a participant under 18 years of age) in the above Oakland Township Parks & Recreation program, I recognize and acknowledge that there are certain risks of physical injury and I agree to assume the full risk of any injuries, including death, damages, loss which I sustain as a result of participating in any and all activities connected with or associated with the program. I do hereby fully release and discharge the Charter Township of Oakland, Oakland Township Parks & Recreation Commission, their officers, agents, volunteers, sponsors and employees from any and all claims from injuries, including death, damages or loss which I may have or which may occur to me on account of my participation in the program. I further agree to indemnify and hold harmless and defend the Charter Township of Oakland, Oakland Township Parks & Recreation Commission, their officers, agents, volunteers, sponsors and employees from any and all claims resulting from injuries, including death and losses sustained by and arising out of, connected with, or in any way associated with this program. I authorize the use photographs showing my image in any of their printed documents and on their website. Medical Care. Please check one of the following boxes: I am willing to allow my child to receive First Aid treatment, and if necessary, further medical attention that may include transportation to a local medical facility. I understand that, if possible, I will be contacted if additional medical care is needed. I am willing to allow my child to receive First Aid Treatment, but I do not want my child to receive additional medical attention, including transportation to a local medical facility. If advanced medical care is necessary, please follow these instructions: ______.

Signature of participant (Parent's signature if minor) Date

Print Name (include name of minor, if any)

Address Phone

E-mail Emergency Contact and Phone Number

Program Name Program Date Township Park

Program Name Program Date Township Park

34 Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 www.oaklandtownship.org Summer Fun in Oakland Township Parks!

Horses are welcome in the Oakland Township Parks. Please remember to be considerate of other park users. Keep horses off developed lawn and field areas at all times and off limestone trails when soils are saturated in the spring.

Bear Creek Nature Park offers 107 acres of glacially-carved hills and vernal ponds. A perfect place for a family stroll and nature observation! The park comes alive with music on Fridays, June 7 & July 12! (pg. 3). For more natural music, join us for a morning Bird Walk (pg. 21). Sign yourself up for Tai Chi (pg. 7) or the kids for Frog and Turtle programs (pgs. 9 & 10). Marsh View Park’s 90 acres includes active recreation fields (Check out our Soccer Camps on page 8!) and a basketball court. This park is also home to our popular archery range, where our skilled instructors keep learning fun! Archery classes are offered for everyone from novice to intermediate and include a summer camp and introduction to Bow Hunting (pages 14-16).

Cranberry Lake Park’s trails roam through meadows, vernal ponds and hardwoods, providing an ideal site to learn about geocaching (pg. 9), go for a group hike (pg. 10), or learn about beekeeping (pg. 25). The Cranberry Lake Farm Historic District hosts our August 16 classical concert (page 3), & HDC’s square dances and Plein Air Painting (pg. 25)!

Draper Twin Lake Park features 90 acres of meadows, wetlands, woodlands, and Twin Lake! Park at 1015 Inwood to access the dock - don’t forget your fishing pole and your current state fishing license (MDNR Free Fishing Day - page 11). Be sure to reserve your spot for our popular Stand-Up Paddle boarding (page 13). The 1181 Inwood entry provides access to the eastern park trails where you just may be lucky enough to spot foraging Sandhill Cranes! Join us for monthly Bird Walks at this park. (page 21). Lost Lake Nature Park becomes a summer showcase for dragonfly, butterfly and bird watching (page 21). Watch for them while practicing Yoga (page 7) or fishing (current state fishing license required except Free Fishing Day - page 11). The Nature Center becomes home-base for Summer Camps, classes, and FREE Open Houses in June, July and August (pages 4, 5, & 10). Paint Creek Trail is more than a great place to bike or walk from Rochester to Orion. The trail is an easy access travel corridor for creatures that you see and those that remain hidden. Deer are frequent visitors, the occasional turkey trots over the trail, and gold finches are a common sight. Mark your calendars for the Paint Creek Trail’s annual National Trails Day Celebration on June 1. (See page 31.) Dogs are welcome when they are leashed and cleaned up after!

All Oakland Township Parks Maps are available on the Parks and Recreation pages of the Oakland Township website: www.oaklandtownship.org. If you have questions or would like more information call us at (248)651-7810.

-Please note that all areas are unsupervised and users assume all risks and liabilities.- www.oaklandtownship.org Parks and Recreation Newsletter Summer 2019 35 Parks and Recreation Commission PRESORTED Charter Township of Oakland STANDARD 4393 Collins Road US POSTAGE PAID Rochester, MI 48306-1670 ROCHESTER, MI PERMIT NO 73 Phone: (248) 651-7810 Fax: (248) 601-0106 www.oaklandtownship.org

***ECR WSS*** POSTAL CUSTOMER

Seal designed by Richard Krupp

Commission Meetings Oakland Township Parks and Recreation Staff Parks and Recreation Director Melinda Milos-Dale The Parks & Recreation Commission meets at Administrative Assistant Carol Kasprzak 7 pm on the second Wednesday of every Clerical Assistant Deb Gallo month in the Township Hall Boardroom. Recreation Manager Becky McLogan Office Hours and Location Maintenance Foreman Doug Caruso Maintenance Technician Jeff Johnson Park permits, maps and descriptions are Seasonal Maintenance Technician available at the Parks and Recreation Dan Barton Department office, located on the second floor Natural Areas Stewardship Manager of the Paint Creek Cider Mill, 4480 Orion Dr. Ben VanderWeide Road. Normal office hours are from 8am to Stewardship Specialist Alyssa Radzwion 4:30pm Monday through Friday. Seasonal Land Stewardship Technicians Alex Roland, Grant VanderLaan, Marisa Kaddis Maintenance and Recreation Staff Clif Selent, Robert Zbytowski Parks and Recreation Commissioners Colin Choi, Chairman Hank Van Agen, Vice Chairperson Oakland Township Park Rules are enforced by Craig Blust, Treasurer the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. Emily Barkham, Secretary FOR EMERGENCIES CALL 911 Dan Bukowski, Commissioner If you have information or questions concerning a reported crime or accident, call the substation at 248-652-4617 Cathy Rooney, Commissioner Monday-Friday, 8 am-4 pm. All other calls please use Dan Simon, Commissioner dispatch at 248-858-4950.