Brian and Julie Bauer appreciate the natural environment surrounding their Independence Township home, and they want their children to appreciate it, too.
The kids are still young, but they’re learning quickly.
‘We’ve raised our kids to monitor for trash,? said Julie. ‘As soon as the canal thaws, we get in our kayak and go pick up garbage. My daughter’s all about saving the earth.?
Kristina, 6, also enjoys helping her dad inspect property for the North Oakland Headwaters Land Conservancy (NOHLC).
As a volunteer property inspector, Brian observes plant and animal life, takes photographs, and notes whether there’s been encroachment by an unauthorized ATV, dumping or other changes.
‘I’ve always enjoyed the woods and nature,? he said. ‘So the idea of helping protect the property and making sure no one is taking advantage of it or dumping on it, or doing anything that could cause damage is just satisfying for me.?
And for the last couple of years, Kristina’s been right at his side.
‘She calls it exploring,? said Brian, an engineering manager with General Motors. ‘She asks a lot of questions about the different things we see when we’re hiking around, like ‘how do the animals sleep at night out here?? She really wants to understand things and I think she appreciates it.?
The NOHLC is hoping to recruit more volunteers like Brian and Kristina to serve as property inspectors, and will offer a two-hour training session this weekend for anyone interested.
‘I always laugh about the title ‘property inspector,?? said Brian. ‘It sounds pretty impressive, like something you need a lot of training for. But it’s super simple, they’re just looking for someone to spend time on the property once or twice a year and make notes of what they see.?
Currently, the NOHLC provides stewardship over 52 properties, with the majority in Independence and Springfield townships’as well as some in Rose, Holly and Brandon.
Each must be inspected periodically to ensure that its unique environmental characteristics are maintained.
At the upcoming training session, said NOHLC Executive Director Katie Anderson, participants will receive instructions on how to inspect preserved properties’requirements include only an interest in preserving the natural environment and a willingness to spend a few hours per year in the woods, a fen or a prairie.
‘We’d love to have 52 property inspectors,? said Anderson, noting she currently has about 20 on the roster, and welcomes individuals as well as families. ‘It’s not a huge responsibility, but it’s an important one.?
Anderson, who noted it’s best to leave children at home during the training session, said participants will be taught to take meaningful photographs, identify common invasive plant species, observe wildlife and look at aerial photographs.
‘Our properties range from one-tenth of an acre, where you could twirl around and do the inspection in about 60 seconds, to 110 acres, which takes someone on an ATV going out with the owner and looking more seriously,? she said. ‘Often, there’s water and wetlands.?
Volunteering as a property inspector and taking along a child, Anderson said, is a great way to get the next generations of land stewards off on the right foot.
‘It’s wonderful opportunity to take along a youngster and share with them why it’s important to preserve what’s out there,? she said. ‘It’s not a park or a soccer field. It’s usually the kind of place they haven’t been before, and they may never have another chance to walk in a frozen wetland.?
An indoor training session for inspectors will be held Sunday, March 22, 2009, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. at the Springfield Township Civic Center Community Room, 12000 Davisburg Road. Refreshments will be served. For additional information or to register for the free class, call 248-846-6547. Also visit www.nohlc.org.