Enjoy the warm temps - get out and about in the parks this weekend

Interim outdoor ice arena closures due to the weather
Buhr Park Outdoor Ice Arena will be altering its schedule due to the warm weather in an effort to preserve the ice. Programming on Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8 are as follows:

Open skate, March 7, 2:45-4:30 and 7:15-8:30 p.m. (cancelled)
Sticks and pucks March 7, 1:30-2:30 p.m. (cancelled)
Open skate, March 8, 3:15-5:30 p.m. (cancelled)

Sunday, March 8, sticks and pucks will be offered from 9-10 a.m. as of right now. Staff will be closely monitoring the weather over the next few days. We apologize for the inconvenience and ask that you check the website before visiting. Thank you.

It's that time of year - hit the links We're happy to share that the first seven holes at Huron Hills Golf Course are now open (3465 E. Huron River Drive). Stop by the pro shop and pay only $1 per hole. As the weather permits we'll open the remainder of the course soon. Stay tuned for a spring opening date for Leslie Park Golf Course too. Visit the website for location information. A tee time is not necessary at this time.

FREE: Intro to Improv - Three part series Intro to Improv at Ann Arbor Senior Center. Class series is offered Mondays March 9, 16 and 23, 5-6:30 p.m. Registration required. Class is designed for adults ages 18+. This class is designed for people who have little to no improv experience who want to come learn about it and give it a try without the commitment of paying for a class or joining a troupe. In this three class session participants will learn the basic rules of improv and partake in some fun beginning level improvisation and exercises to get a taste of the art of improv! Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Sign up here. NEW: Hip hop dance class for ages 18+ This free workshop Thursday, March 12 at 5 p.m. will be taught by a professional choreographer. and includes a group stretch, a dance taught by the instructor and a set break mid-class. This class is intended for participants eighteen years and older; no dance experience required. Each person should wear shoes and clothes they are comfortable moving in and bring a water bottle. Registration required to attend. Sign up here. Cobblestone Farm, 2781 Packard Road. FREE: Family Trivia Night Family Trivia Night at the Ann Arbor Senior Center (1320 Baldwin Ave.), Friday, March 27, 5-6:30 p.m. Suitable for ages 5+. Looking for a fun event for the whole family? Questions will range in difficulty from things your kiddos will know to things that might be challenging for our adult kids at heart! Registration required to attend. Sign up here.

Eat local with the Ann Arbor Farmers Market On Saturday, March 7 the Ann Arbor Farmers Market will be open 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at 315 Detroit St. We will have warm drinks, plentiful produce, artisan goods, jams and honey, protein options, prepared food from Rite Spice and Tacos El Mariachi Loco Truck and more. In-season, locally grown produce that you can find at the market this time of year includes the following: apples, kale, chard, beets, carrots, lettuce, potatoes, cabbage, onions, garlic, mushrooms, winter squash, brussels sprouts, parsnips, salad greens, turnips and more. Vendors accept cash, and tokens for credit/debit card, mobile payment and SNAP/EBT are available at the construction trailer in the parking lot. Service animals only. Accessible restrooms are available. More information at our website.

Tuesdays in March: Spring Story Time Join us for a series of spring story times with seasonal themes, songs and hands-on fun. For preschool-aged children and caregivers. Dates and themes are listed below. Please preregister: Tuesday, March 10, 10:30–11:30 a.m. – Birds Tuesday, March 17, 10:30–11:30 a.m. – Worms Tuesday, March 24, 10:30–11:30 a.m. – Flowers First Saturday Story Time at the Burns Park warming hut Saturday, March 7, 10:30-11:30 a.m. – Bird Nests. A special story time focused on birds and their nests, with stories and simple activities. For ages 2-6. Free; registration required. Questions: epotter@a2gov.org. Preregister here. K–5 Events Birding and Bird Feeders in the Gallup Park Meeting Room, Tuesday, March 10, 1-2:30 p.m. Search for local birds and create your own bird feeder using pinecones and peanut butter to take home. Not suitable for those with peanut allergies. For K–5 students with an adult. Free; registration required. Plants to Jam inside the Burns Park warming hut, Tuesday, March 31, 1-2:30 p.m. Plant a local berry seed to grow at home and make fresh jam using berries and sugar. For K–5 students with an adult. Free; registration required. Programs for adults 18+ in the parks Women’s Bird Walk, Tuesday March 24, 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Dolph Nature Area. Let's make new friends and meet new birds! We'll look for waterfowls, raptors and spring migrants. Be prepared for a two mile hike on a dirt trail. Wear sturdy shoes. Bring water and warm clothes. Binoculars provided. Meet at the Dolph Nature Area parking lot off of Wagner Road. Register here. Questions? Email epotter@a2gov.org  Nature Nerds Book Club, Thursday March 26, 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Ann Arbor Senior Center. Let's celebrate Women's History Month by reading The Sense of Wonder by the grandmother of the United States environmental movement, Rachel Carson. Meet at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Register here. Questions? Email epotter@a2gov.org

There's still time to register for a boat locker Bandemer boat locker applications are available online. Complete and return the application via email to a2parks@a2gov.org thru Sunday March 15. Lottery drawing will take place on Monday, March 16.

Join Natural Area Preservation for hands-on training
Saturday, March 7 – Salamander Survey Kickoff and Training: 1-3 p.m. at the Ann Arbor Senior Center. Learn how to help monitor salamanders in Ann Arbor’s parks – there are five species here! Volunteers will select parks to survey and learn how to identify these rarely-seen silent amphibians. Register here.

Friday, March 13 – Frog  and Toad Survey Kickoff and Training: 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Ann Arbor Senior Center. Everyone is invited to help monitor frog populations in Ann Arbor! No experience required. You will learn to identify frogs mainly by ear, optionally by eye, and chose an area of the city to survey. Register here.

Register today for volunteer opportunities in the Ann Arbor parks
Check out the Ann Arbor Parks Volunteer Program website on VolunteerHub to register for upcoming volunteer events. All experience levels are welcome and we provide tools/supplies. Dress for the weather, wear closed-toe shoes and bring water. Help beautify, maintain and steward parks and natural areas. 

* Saturday, March 7, 1-4 p.m. At this event, you’ll help protect Ann Arbor’s biodiversity and public lands by cutting and removing invasive shrubs with hand saws and loppers. Register here. Meeting Point: Kuebler Langford Nature Area entrance off of Beechwood Drive.

* Saturday, March 14, 1-4 p.m. Cut shurbs at Furstenberg Nature Area (meet in the parking lot) e for native plants to thrive, providing food and habitat for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife. Register here.

* Saturday, April 11, 1-4 p.m. Cut and remove invasive shrubs with hand saws and loppers. Mary Beth Doyle Park (meet at the natural area entrance on east side of Mary Beth Doyle Park at the intersection of Cardinal Avenue and Sharon Drive). Register here.

Upcoming Ann Arbor Senior Center programming

Brunch & Learn: Music therapy benefits for seniors Monday, March 9, 10-11 a.m. Join Rachael Lawrence-Lupton, music therapist and owner of Gentle Care Music Therapy to explore how music impacts the aging brain—supporting memory, mood, connection, and overall quality of life for older adults. We’ll look at the neuroscience behind music’s effects, basic music therapy interventions that are utilized with older adults, and share practical, accessible ways caregivers, families and individuals can intentionally use music in everyday settings. The goal is to empower anyone working with seniors to use music thoughtfully, even outside of formal music therapy. Light brunch provided. Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Preregistration required. Click here or call 734.794.6250. Free of charge.

Drive-thru: National Eat Your Noodles Day Wednesday, March 11, noon-1 p.m. Join Interim of Washtenaw for this fun and informative event where you'll learn about short-term and long-term care provided. Enjoy coffee, snacks, socialize and pick up information. Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Preregistration required. Click here or call 734.794.6250. Free for members; $5 nonmembers. ​

Travels With George: The Soul of Southeast Asia Thursday, March 12, 1:30-4 p.m. Join host George Jabol for a travelogue through Southeast Asia, exploring the rich cultures, history, and landscapes of Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Highlights include Phnom Penh’s Royal Palace and Killing Fields, Bangkok’s Grand Palace and Ayutthaya ruins, a Mekong River cruise in Laos and Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay, water puppet theater and bustling Hanoi streets. This journey offers meaningful insight into the people and traditions of the region. Open to ages 18 and up. Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Free of charge. Preregistration required. Click here to register or call 734.794.6250.

Mind Matters – Fun brain games with students from the AFA U-M Chapter Friday, March 20, 1-2 p.m. Join us for this special Mind Matters session that will be hosted in person by representatives from the Alzheimer’s foundation of America at the University of Michigan. The AFA organization is dedicated to promoting brain health and wellness, raising awareness about Alzheimer’s disease, and encouraging proactive approaches to brain care. Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Preregistration required. Click here or call 734.794.6250. Free of charge.

Registration for camp opens Monday, March 16 Blaze & Blue is a free, hands-on career camp for young women 15-18 years of age. Participants will experience the most challenging and exciting tasks in firefighting, first response and law enforcement in a supportive, educational and interactive environment. The activities also provides access to the women that work in these roles who are breaking down barriers and stereotypes in these non-traditional career fields. Save this link to sign up.