MSU Forestry Alumni & Michigan DNR Tree Planting at Belle Isle Park

Project Description

Join MSU Forestry Alumni and the Michigan DNR in an effort to add more ‘green’ to Belle Isle Park in Detroit!  Volunteers can help plant native, locally sourced trees in the picnic area as part of the DNR’s Happy Little Trees effort to increase canopy cover where it is needed most.  Volunteers should plan on bringing water to drink, work gloves and a pointy-tip shovel and wear sturdy shoes.  Volunteers will meet at the James Scott Memorial Fountain Parking Lot and walk a short distance to the planting site.   Event is limited at 20 volunteers, please contact Heidi Frei (freih@michigan.gov) to register in advance.  Please note: entry to Belle Isle and all Michigan State Parks requires a Recreation Passport. 

Community Partner - Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Michigan Department of Natural Resources Accommodations

• Additional registration or documentation required: Email
  Contact Heidi Frei at FreiH@michigan.gov or (517) 202-1360.

About Michigan Department of Natural Resources

The tree planting program - where seeds are placed in the care of inmates in a Michigan Department of Corrections education program - began in 2004, but grew into the "Happy Little Trees" program in 2019, when the DNR and Bob Ross Inc. partnered on programming to help raise awareness of tree planting and forest protection efforts in state parks.

The program has produced more than 100,000 native plants, shrubs and trees since its start in 2004. With support from the Bob Ross partnership, more than 2,100 trees have been planted in 20 state parks across Michigan.

Collection of local native seeds is key to growing trees, shrubs, grasses and plant products for use in state parks within the same geographical region to provide the best opportunity to survive and to emulate local plant communities.

Visitors to state parks where trees have been planted will see bright green "Happy Little Trees Ahead" signs to note the program's important contributions.

Website: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/places/state-parks/happy-little-trees

Project Date

Sept. 17, 2022

Project Locations and Shifts

Belle Isle Park
James Scott Memorial Fountain-parking lot, 82P3+G3F, Detroit, MI 48207
Detroit, MI 48207

• 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
  (17 spots available)

Volunteer registration is closed.