OK, so you’re technically not giving a frog a hand, per se. It’s more about letting those folks who keep tabs on our wilder places what’s happening with the amphibians. They can’t be everywhere, so they need the help.

I’m talking about the Michigan Frog and Toad Survey. It’s a Department of Natural Resources and Environment program in which regular people help biologists figure out how the frogs and toads are doing. That’s important because those critters tell us how clean the air and water are by their very existence.

It’s pretty easy. You establish a route of 10 ponds or wetlands, and then three times during the spring you visit each of your spots and listen.

In early April you hear wood frogs and spring peepers. In May it’s tree-frog city. By June the green frogs rule. There are others of course, leopard frogs, chorus frogs, bull frogs and American toads. You keep track of how many your hear and return the survey to the DNRE. Participants receive a CD with the calls of all Michigan’s frog and toads so they know what they’re hearing.

Depending on your distances, each run takes around an hour, give or take. It’s an excellent reason to get outside, and it’s often remarkable just how loud those ponds get after dark. Kids love it, and it’s a great way to connect them to their world, the lack of which is a persistent problem in my opinion.

At the moment there are about 200 routes statewide, and they’re always looking for more. If you’re interested, call or e-mail Lori Sargent at (517) 373-9418 or SargentL@Michigan.gov.