Natural Enquirer: January/February by Schaumburg Park District

Natural Enquirer N e w s l e t t e r f o r S p r i n g Va l l e y S u p p o r t e r s a n d Vo l u n t e e r s

Vo l 1 0 • J a n . / F e b . 2 0 1 9

In this issue...

Some things are meant to go together, fitting neat and cleanly, like the notched logs in a well-built log cabin. Winter days and sitting by the fire (or the modern approximation of a fire – the gas fireplace) with a cup of tea or cocoa are just such a pairing. Foods are often paired with particular sauces, and of course, wines. Since Spring Valley has both a log cabin and abundant cardinals, consider the two articles in this issue of the Natural Enquirer a pairing for your winter enjoyment. In fact, if given the opportunity to rent the Merkle Cabin for a family gathering, by all means do so (call us for details). You can sit comfortably by the fire or watch the cardinals flit back and forth at the feeders outside the windows. Another good pairing is concern and action, especially as it relates to environmental sustainability. Many people profess concern for the state of our environment but getting them to take the next logical step – action – can be a challenge. In this issue, we provide you with a roadmap to personal actions you can take to help mitigate the effects of climate change – the perfect pairing to your passion for protecting the environment!

Inside A Flash of Crimson........................................... 2-3

Volunteer News Contents

This Old Cabin ................................................. 4-5

Volunteer Information...................................10-11

What’s Happenin’.............................................. 6-8

Volunteer Calendar....................................... 12-13

New Year’s Resolutions.......................................9 Spring Valley General Information....................14

Schaumburg Park District

Visit parkfun.com and take our Spring Valley Program Survey.

S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 9

A Flash of Crimson

by Dave Brooks

Female and Male Cardinals

s the sun sinks below the horizon on a winter afternoon, the temperature begins to plummet and the landscape is quickly reduced to various shades of gray. At the backyard bird feeder, chickadees, juncos, finches, and woodpeckers (along with the usual gang of chubby squirrels) eat feverishly, stoking their inner furnaces for the long cold night ahead. Suddenly, a flash of brilliant crimson appears against the snowy backdrop, a bold stroke of color that makes you temporarily forget about the lengthening shadows and the impending gloom. The cardinals have arrived for their evening feast of sunflowers.

No bird is probably more recognizable to Midwesterners than the northern cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis. Not only is it among the showiest of our local resident birds, its visual charisma has earned it the role of mascot for numerous sports teams and Male Cardinal official state bird designation in no less than seven states.11 As though responding to their popularity, cardinals have been steadily expanding their range both north and west. Wisconsin and Minnesota didn’t always have cardinals, but they do now. The same is true of Arizona and other southwestern states. Cardinals are just starting to extend their range into California after being introduced there. The notion that humans can contribute to the survival of a wild native bird may seem strange to many, accustomed to hearing more about the negative impacts we have on the environment. Nonetheless, it is guessed that the presence of backyard bird feeding stations has contributed to the expansion of the cardinal’s range, especially its northward expansion.22

(Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia, and Virginia) The only other bird with as many state bird designations is the western meadowlark. 2 This is true for several other native birds as well, most notably mourning doves, house finches, and red-bellied woodpeckers. 1

S p r i n g Va l l e y â&#x20AC;˘ N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r â&#x20AC;˘ J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 9

Cardinals are blessed with both looks and a fine voice. Their high, clear whistled wacheer wacheer can be heard on sunny days in late winter, well before the first migrants return to signal the approach of spring. Both the male and female are songsters, unlike many other birds in which the males get all of the singing ability. The female cardinal, while not as gaudily attired as her mate, is in some ways just as beautiful. Her olive green and brown are accented by washes of red on her wings and a bright red bill. Both sexes are easily recognizable as cardinals due to the bushy crest on their heads and their large thick bill. The large thick bill (technically, cardinals are grosbeaks), perfectly designed for crushing seeds, means that they can survive wherever seeds and berries are plentiful and accessible. The cardinal is non-migratory and so remains as a permanent resident wherever it is found. The heavy winter snows in the northern states and mountains, as well as the near lack of shrubs and trees in the Great Plains, explain why cardinals are rarely found in these areas. One can also understand how bird feeders, with their easily accessible supply of seeds, have helped to extend the range of the cardinal. Not only is the cardinal one of the most attractive birds to see at the backyard feeder, it is also one of the most interesting to watch. During the nesting season, mated pairs are quite territorial, singing often to mark their territory and sometimes Male Singing attacking their own reflection in a window. In fall, though they usually form small flocks divided by sex. The males become dominant at this time, especially near the feeder, and the females often feed separately from the males. Anyone who has seen cardinals at their backyard feeder knows that unlike many other birds, which visit the feeder on and off during the day, cardinals visit primarily in early morning and in the late afternoon. During the remainder of the day, they apparently travel throughout their winter-feeding territory and forage for naturally occurring berries and seeds. In mid-winter, as the days begin to noticeably lengthen, the temperament of male cardinals begins to soften and they begin to treat the females with more respect. In fact, if there was ever a behavior resembling tenderness in birds, the mate-feeding of cardinals surely qualifies. The male will snatch a seed in its beak, fly over to the female, and then turning its head to one side, the two will momentarily touch beaks before the female takes the seed. This, of course, is only one part of the courtship and pair-bonding rituals displayed by cardinals. As mentioned earlier, both the male and female sing. During courtship, they will often engage in counter-singing, where they sing back and forth to each other, repeating the notes of the other. Periodically, one will alter the phrasing of notes sung, and the other will imitate the change. Males on adjoining territories will also counter-sing to one another as a way of staking out their territory. Females, while on the nest, have a particular song which is thought to be a call to the male to bring food. Once courtship has begun, the winter flocks break up, and mated pairs establish their nesting territories. Cardinals will continue to visit feeding stations, but will tend to do so in pairs rather than flocks. During most of the nesting season, their diet will shift to include more insects, since these have the protein that growing little cardinals need. While many of our resident birds seem to become lost in all of the new spring foliage and the singing of numerous newly arrived migrants, cardinals manage to remain noticeable. How can they not, given that voice and those looks? In fact, the only thing commonplace about cardinals is the fact that they are, well...commonplace. We are fortunate to have such a bird in our midst!

Male Feeding Female

S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 9

This Old Cabin

by Walter Plinske

ver since people decided there were certain disadvantages to living in caves, they have contrived to erect more or less free-standing abodes from the resources that could be found at hand. In the warm, dry climates of river valleys, weathering action was not a big problem, so mud bricks were formed with the chaff of the fields. Houses made totally of riverine reeds were devised in places from Mesopotamia to the Andes. Worldwide, in a scaled up version of basket-making, woven wooden lattices coated with mud, dung, and straw came to be called “wattle and daub”. The development of bronze and iron making, three to four thousand years ago, led to the crafting of metal tools, such as axes and saws, for working wood. Less effort was required to fell and work large trees. This led to new building techniques; timbers were cut and shaped, hewed into square posts, sawed into planks, and split into shingles. Log cabin construction appeared in forested Europe and timber framing became more sophisticated. It was settlers from Sweden who first brought log cabin construction to the new world. Many settled in Maryland and Delaware, where their quick and easy construction techniques took hold and spread. The first English settlers did not widely use log cabins, building instead in forms more traditional to them. They, along with the Scots and the Irish who followed them, quickly adapted the Swedish style. Later groups of Germans, where log housing was familiar, grafted their own cabin elements on to the earlier Swedish ones. Log cabins were regarded at the time to be temporary and makeshift. They were built by people with little or no cash, out of whatever trees were at hand. The expectation was that in time when the owner became more prosperous, the cabins would be demolished and replaced with sawmill board houses. It was some time before the “pioneer log cabin” began to take on its mythical place in Americana. This began in 1840 when William Henry Harrison ran for president. His opponents mocked him for his humble background by sneering that he had lived in a log cabin. Harrison, however, embraced the caricature and in an instance of 19th century spin-doctoring, the log cabin was tied to selfsufficiency, social mobility, the frontier, and the war of independence. Harrison won the election but died of pneumonia 31 days into his term.

The iconic nature of the log cabin was sealed with the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Not only had he been an authentic frontier rail-splitter and cabin dweller, but his life adhered to the conditions of the ethos. With his murder in 1865, the log cabin came to represent the lost Eden that was pre-Civil William Henry Harrison’s Cabin War America. Log cabins purporting to be his birthplace began making tours at fairs and exhibitions. By the 1900s the log cabin symbol had seeped into everyday life. In 1916, Lincoln Logs, children’s building blocks in the shape of logs, were invented by the son of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. And during the same time, Log Cabin maple syrup made its appearance, which to this day sports an image of a log cabin. 4

S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 9

Log cabins were built from logs laid horizontally and interlocked with a “notch and saddle arrangement”, where the upper log has a semicircular notch cut into it which saddles the lower log firmly into place. The first pioneers were able to “cherry pick” their logs from old growth trees that had few lower branches and were straight with little taper. Such logs did not have to be hewn to fit closely together. Careful notching minimized the size of the gap between the logs and reduced the amount of chinking, with rocks and sticks, or daubing with mud, needed to fill the gap. Cabins were set on stone foundations to keep them off of the damp soil. Some cabins had wood floors made of split logs that were called puncheons. These floors were so rough and uneven that only three legs of a chair would rest on the floor at one time, making 3-legged stools indispensable! The earliest floors were hard packed earth and the constant fallout of grease from the daily domestic activities formed a fairly impenetrable wax-like surface. Here at Spring Valley, early on in its construction in 1927, our cabin’s builder Notch and Saddle Arrangement constructed a cabin in the Adirondack style of log cabin architecture, which was popular at the time. These cabins were not built as temporary structures but were designed to be finished permanent homes that had that log cabin look and feel, much as log homes do today. Construction was simplified by forgoing the classic notch and saddle construction and substituting an approximation. In contrast to those early cabins, our cabin has 7 windows instead of a single one, a stone chimney instead of one made of sticks and clay, and asphalt in place of wooden shingles. It was also placed over a poured concrete foundation and included a basement. In spite of this, the desired rustic feeling manages to shine through, particularly now that the area around Spring Valley’s cabin is wooded and preserved as a nature area, an advantage it didn’t have when it was first built.

Types of Cabin Building Styles

S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • S e p t e m b e r / O c t o b e r 2 0 1 8

Click on program/icon for information and to register online.*

*To create a new account, visit the registration desk at the CRC or download an internet registration form at parkfun.com under the registration tab. Programs will be cancelled three days in advance if minimum is not reached, so register early! Spring Valley offers an early bird discount on programs. Prices in the current brochure reflect that discount and will be in effect until one week before the date of the program. At that time, fees will increase 15%. Programs with insufficient registration will be cancelled at noon three days before the program. Please take advantage of this opportunity. It is our attempt to serve you better!

Growing Up Wild: Early Childhood Teacher’s Workshop | Saturday, Jan. 12 • 9 a.m.- noon Have fun with crafts, music, reading and math and receive an activity guide correlated to the NAEYC Early Childhood Standards and the Head Start Learning Outcomes.

Early Childhood Educators’ Combo | Saturday, Feb. 2 • 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Receive two nationally acclaimed curricula, Project Learning Tree Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood and Growing Up Wild.

Project Learning Tree | Saturday, Feb. 9 • 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.

Project Learning Tree® is an award-winning environmental program designed for educators, parents and community leaders. Enjoy a fun filled day learning about and participating in many of the 96 interdisciplinary activities.

NEW • A Beginner’s Intro to Yoga at the Cabin

ADULT Farm to Table Cooking Series

Tuesday, Jan. 8-March 5 • 7:30-8:30 p.m. This yoga class is designed to introduce new students to yoga. All ages are welcome.

Learn ways to use simple farm fresh ingredients to create wholesome, delicious dishes at home.

NEW • Hand-Churned Ice Cream

Saturday, Feb. 2 • 10 a.m.-noon Bring your muscles and your sweet tooth as we explore ice cream possibilities on the farm

Spring Valley Winter Fest

NEW • Cookin’ with Iron

Saturday & Sunday, Jan 19 & 20 • Noon - 3 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 16 • 10 a.m.-noon Learn to cook with ironware and take your creation and pan you cooked it in home to share!

NEW • Smooth as Butter

Saturday, March 2 • 10 a.m.-noon See how butter is made and what ingredients you can add to butter to enhance its flavor!

Weekly Yoga at the Cabin

Nature Center

Tuesday, Jan. 8 - March 5 • 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10 - March 7 • 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10 - March 7 • 7:30-8:30 p.m. Nurture your mind and body in this rustic setting and connect with nature.

Get bundled up and join in some winter fun. Enjoy snowshoe walks through the prairie, horse-drawn wagon rides, winter snacks, crafts and activities inside the Nature Center and marshmallows roasted on a winter bonfire! Sponsored by the Spring Valley Nature Club. Admission: $3/person or $12/family, children 3 and under free. 6

S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • S e p t e m b e r / O c t o b e r 2 0 1 8

EARLY CHILDHOOD

FAMILY Family Winter Tree Hunt

Pot o’ Gold Hunt

Sunday, Feb. 17 • 10-11:30 a.m. Learn all about local trees and their unique features while following the clues on a map.

Saturday, March 9 • 10-11:30 a.m. Follow the leprechaun’s trail and hike through the prairie and woods to find the hidden treasure!

Family Woodworking

WINTER

Sunday, March 10 • 1-2:30 p.m. Construct and decorate a birdhouse to spruce up your yard.

HOURS

Sundown Supper in the Sugar Bush

Saturday, March 2 • 4-6 p.m. Help tap maple trees, gather sap, tend the boil down and enjoy a pancake ‘supper’ at the cabin.

Winter Campfire in the Cabi

Friday, March 8 • 6:30-8 p.m. Enjoy a hike to the cabin, tell stories, sing songs, enjoy hot chocolate and practice pioneer skills!

Winter Moon Hike

Saturday, Jan. 19 • 5-6:30 p.m. Explore Spring Valley after hours as we hunt for nocturnal animals and enjoy the moonlight.

YOUTH While Spring Valley’s grounds and trails are open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. throughout the winter, certain areas of Spring Valley close for the winter due to hazardous conditions resulting from snow and ice.

Cub Scout Saturdays

Select Saturdays Throughout the Winter CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS Scouts will complete the requirements for their Cub Scout Adventures through these hands-on programs offered by an experienced naturalist. Register for one or all!

Bison’s Bluff Nature Playground will be CLOSED any time there is snow or ice on the ground. If you see these signs posted at the entrances to the play area, for your safety, please do not enter the nature playground.

Girl Scout Saturdays

Select Saturdays Throughout the Winter CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS Girls will complete the requirements for their Girl Scout Badges through these hands-on programs offered by an experienced naturalist. Register for one or all!

Thanks!

Snowshoe Rentals Available Beginning Dec. 1

Experience the beauty of the winter landscape in a new way! The following rental policies apply: • There must be four inches of snow on the ground before rentals will be made available. • First-time renters will be asked to view a short video on the proper way to use snowshoes prior to taking them out. • A rental application and liability waiver must be completed at the Nature Center Visitor Center. • A driver’s license or some other form of ID is required as a deposit. • Rental rate is $5 for a maximum of three hours for use at Spring Valley. • Rentals are available on a first come, first served basis from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. All rentals must be returned by 4:30 p.m. • Special youth group rates are available after 3 p.m. on weekdays. Call to inquire. No youth groups on weekends. • To take snowshoes off-site, a deposit of $50 is required. The cost is $10 per day.

Call 847/985-2100 for more information. 7

S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • S e p t e m b e r / O c t o b e r 2 0 1 8

Frozen Scientists

Sugar Bush Schaumburg Park District's

Saturday, Jan. 26 • 3-4 p.m. Join us for an afternoon of snow and ice related experiments and crafts.

Fair

Painting with Nature

Saturday, Feb. 16 • 10:30 a.m.-noon Gather with fellow artists and create a winter masterpiece to brighten up your walls.

Pioneer Pancakes

Saturday, March 9 • 1-3 p.m. Help make maple syrup the old-fashioned way. Then enjoy some maple syrup on pancakes.

Scout Sugar Bush

Saturday, March 9 • 9-11 a.m. Join us for this new scout venture into the world of maple trees, sap and syrup.

Spring Valley Spring Break Camp

Monday-Friday, March 25-29 • 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Spend spring break at Spring Valley. We’ll cook over an open fire, look for signs of animals, make crafts, play games and more.

FREE ADMISSION! MAPLE SUGARING-Originally published by Currier & Ives

Saturday & Sunday, March 16 & 17

Home School Naturalist Group Programs

9 a.m.-noon

Enjoy a pancake breakfast with real maple syrup, sausage, juice and coffee. See authentic demonstrations of maple syrup production, a pioneer sugar camp, children’s puppet show, hayride and sales of syrup and other goodies. Breakfast tickets will be available for purchase midFebruary. Click here for more information.

Spring Valley Nature Center and Heritage Farm are the perfect places for hands-on, exploration based science programs.

This winter the following topics are offered: • Winter Trees – Discover how trees prepare for the winter and learn to ID common trees.

Sponsored by

• Tracking – Learn to read the story that animal tracks tell. • What is a Mammal? – Identify the characteristics of mammals and go on a mammal safari.

NEW • Winter Day of Fun

• Mighty Acorns – Get connected to your local Illinois ecosystems! Enjoy an adapted format of the popular Mighty Acorns program, which gets children involved in hands-on outdoor exploration and conservation work. The program spans the seasons (fall, winter and spring), so check back this spring for the next offering!

Monday, Jan. 21 • 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30 • Noon-3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14 • Noon-3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15 • 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18 • 9 a.m.-3 p.m. No school? No problem! Spend the day having winter-themed fun exploring Spring Valley.

• Available every winter: Conservation in Action, Owls: Predators of the Night, Winter Ecology, Nighttime Nature

NEW • Winter Wanderers

For more information about programs and pricing, or to schedule a program, call 847/985-2100.

Wednesdays • 3-5 p.m. Jan. 16 - Tracking Animals Feb. 20 - Snow Birds March 20 - First Signs of Spring Take a walk through the winter woods, explore animal tracks and solve winter mysteries. 8

S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 9

New Year’s Resolutions

by Mary Rice

t’s another January and time for New Year’s resolutions!! I’d like to invite you to join me in some concrete actions to address climate change. Climate change is a fact, whether or not we agree with it, understand it, or want to be bothered about it. AND even small changes in our everyday life will have a BIG impact on the outcome.

Climate change is not a political issue; it is a scientific issue and a moral issue. Unfortunately, it seems that all issues become political and, I guess they are in the sense that they demand we understand and then act. We don’t need reporters on the evening news to tell us what to think; however, we need to be responsible world citizens knowing what is happening and doing something about it.

The 4th National Climate Assessment (from the US Global Change Research Program – a consortium of 13 federal agencies including the Department of Defense, the EPA, and NASA) was released the day after Thanksgiving. This assessment, required by law, echoes the basic themes from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) written in September: that climate change is already happening; that it’s going to get worse; that it’s going to cost us dearly; AND that we can still do something about it (Take Aways). COP24 met in Poland in December. The members worked on actions to be taken by their respective countries to reduce carbon emissions. In an attempt to bring all citizens to the meeting, a chair was designated as “The People’s Chair” and noted British naturalist David Attenborough brought to the opening session the demands of people worldwide for action to be taken immediately. On that day, the UN launched a new initiative, the ActNow.bot — a fully interactive and responsive chat bot, located on the UN’s Facebook page that suggests everyday actions, determined by the user’s interaction with the bot, that can be taken to preserve the environment and logged on the platform to be shared with social media followers to persuade them to take action, too. The collective actions will be presented during the United Nations Secretary-General’s Climate Summit in New York in September 2019. These actions include: 1. Taking shorter showers 2. Buying local produce 3. Driving less 4. Using energy saving light bulbs 5. Unplugging electronics & appliances when not in use (these draw power even when turned off) 6. Turning off lights (even a few seconds saves more energy than it takes for the light to start up, regardless of the bulb type) 7. Recycling what can’t be reused 8. Bringing your own bags to the store 9. Eating at least one meat-free meal a week 10. Refilling & reusing drink containers rather than purchasing bottled water in order to cut down on plastic waste and the energy required to produce, collect, recycle, etc. This innovative UN campaign was created with the support of Facebook and harnesses advances in artificial intelligence (AI) to engage people in the growing movement to take climate action. The initiative comes as global decision makers are being asked to intensify efforts in the battle against climate change and to agree the implementation guidelines of the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement. The Climate Action Bot aims to highlight popular global commitment to reducing climate change, and to stand behind decision makers worldwide in taking actions to preserve our environment. None of the suggestions listed on the Bot is beyond any of us. Each of us CAN make a difference. By joining the Bot and visiting it when we perform one of the actions, we will be taking cumulative action and letting governments know that we, the people, want action now. Summary of the 4th National Climate Assessment. David Attenborough’s Speech

S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 9

Volunteer News Spring Valley Volunteer Recognition for 2018

Spring Valley held its Volunteer Holiday Celebration and Recognition event on Friday, December 7. It was wonderful that so many volunteers could join us for the evening’s festivities. Activities included the chance to socialize with fellow volunteers, the toasting of wassail, the pleasure of delectable food, and of course, the recognition of our fantastic volunteers. Spring Valley volunteers, along with the help of local church, corporate, school, and scout groups, contributed 13,915 hours in 2018. It’s wonderful to see such strong community support. Thank you to everyone who has contributed their time and talent to Spring Valley. We simply could not accomplish as much as we do without you! As is traditionally done this time of year, we would like to specifically recognize people for their accomplishments over the past year. First 25 hours of service Rich Banducci Laura Brefeld Barry Clark Cynthia Clark Debra Eriksen Alex Flint Eliana Ford Tammy Haman Dale Harper Lee Hirstein Carol Johnson Jackson Kalmar Valerie Kot Darlene Nicholson Marianne Ommundson Janet Orpet Hedy Otte Savannah Pennington Carol Pletz Jack Ponzetti Delores Potter Dolores Samp Amanda Szotek Kathy Tyler Lorenzo Vendramin Alexis White 50 to 99 Hours Jeanne Banducci Laura Brefeld Deanna Bruckner Cynthia Clark Dennis Colbert Rosemary Colbert Gretchen Coleman Christine Curin Daryle Drew Dave Farnsworth

200 to 299 Hours Andy Farnham Valerie Kot Don Olszewski Dick Ruffolo

Nancy Griffin Dale Harper Arthur Jeczala Barb Kuhn Nancy Lyons Nancy Mamsen Sandy Meo Barb Muehlhausen Roger Nelson Penny Perles Tom Perles Walter Plinske Hope Rapp Barb Royce Dolores Samp Tony Satoh Tessa Sheeks Lydia Tarasiuk Carol Thomas Carolyn White Judy Wood Rich Wysocki

300 to 399 Hours Roy Svenson 400 to 499 Hours Lynn Eikenbary Barb Mitchell Ken Ogorzalek 500+ Hours Duane Bolin Carol Johnson Tony Meo Al Vogel Two Years Jeanne Banducci Cathy Blecker Liz Entwhistle Gloria Moritz Steve Prorak Hope Rapp Max Schmidt Tessa Sheeks Kayley Stoner

100 to 199 Hours Carol Anagnostopoulos Barry Clark Barb Dochterman Peg Dorgan Andrea Farnham Sue Gallios Pete Gigous Louis Handke-Roth Donna Johnson James McGee Gloria Moritz Marianne Ommundson Delores Potter Laurie Tatom Angela Waidanz

Five Years Caroline Bezik Andrea Farnham Andy Farnham Bill Flesch Nancy Griffin Elizabeth Moorman Nancy Schaefer 10

Roy Svenson Rich Wysocki Ten Years Nancy Fallen Donna Johnson Penny Perles Tom Perles Bob Royce Tom Walsh Fifteen Years Andy Caccavari Jan Costis Pete Gigous Berni Kolasa Mert Rutledge Carolyn White Twenty Years John Curin Roger Nelson Thirty-Five Years Sandy Meo Tony Meo Forty Years Barb Dochterman

Note: if you are due an award and have not yet received it, please stop by the Nature Center by Feb. 1 so we can personally present it to you. Thank you!

S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 9

Volunteer News Volunteer Want Ads

If you are interested in helping with any of the following activities, please call Judy at 847/985-2100 or e-mail her at juvito@parkfun.com.

Conservation Workday Saturday, Jan. 26

Put on your grubby clothes, dress for the weather, and help us cut buckthorn. The workday run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

in spring and fall. Training is scheduled from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Nature Center classroom.

Sugar Bush Set-Up

Thursday, March 14 Can’t help at the Sugar Bush Fair, but still want to be part of it? Join us the Thursday before the event to help set-up. We have a variety of activities which need to be done. Come at 9:30 a.m. and stay for all or part of the day!

Winterfest

Saturday & Sunday, Jan. 19 & 20 Get bundled up and join in some winter fun. Volunteers are needed to assist with various winter-related activities, both inside and out. Shift time is 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Prescribed Burn Training

Saturday, Feb. 16 Learn the philosophy behind controlled burns and why we use this important management tool at Spring Valley. Volunteers who attend the training will then be eligible to assist with the prescribed burns we do

Dates to Remember

• Monday, Jan. 14........................ 1-4 p.m. Handy Crafters Meeting • Saturday, Jan. 19................ Noon-3 p.m. Winterfest • Sunday, Jan. 20.................. Noon-3 p.m. Winterfest • Saturday, Jan. 26...............9 a.m.-1 p.m. Conservation Workday • Wednesday, Feb. 6..............6:30-9 p.m. Volunteer Meeting • Monday, Feb. 11........................ 1-4 p.m. Handy Crafters Meeting • Saturday, Feb. 16..............9 a.m.-2 p.m. Burn Training

Welcome New Volunteers… • Donald Anderson • Will Trejo

Sugar Bush

• Diane Crater • Tina Van Hoose

Saturday & Sunday, March 16 & 17 It’s not too early to start thinking about the Sugar Bush Fair. If you think you’ll be available to help, please give me a call. Shift time is 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Remember – there’s a free pancake breakfast for all volunteers!

Happy Birthday to… January

Pats on the back to the following volunteers... • Daryle Drew, Dave Farnsworth, Alex Flint, Eliana Ford, Amanda Greco, Sophia Holmes, Amanda, Janet and Al Kraus, Janet Neally, Kristi Overgaard, Barb and Bob Royce, Dick Ruffolo, Roy Svenson, Laurie Tatom, Will Trejo, and Lorenzo Vendramin for their continuing weekly animal care assistance at Volkening Heritage Farm. • Arthur Jeczala for helping with a variety of administrative support activities on a regular basis. • Duane Bolin, Tony Meo, Ken Ogorzalek, Roy Svenson and Al Vogel for their ongoing assistance with grounds maintenance at the Nature Center and the Farm. 11

2 4 11 12 17

Gary Glatzhofer Andrea Farnham Jackson Kalmar Barb Dochterman Jennifer O’Reilly Marilyn Dvoratchek Louis Handke-Roth

February 1 7 9 10 11

Dave Farnsworth Mary Harlos Arthur Jeczala Allison Longueil Tina Van Hoose Karen Wood Sandy Meo Carol Pletz

22 23 24 27 28 30

Maile Fidale Eileen Skiba Andy Farnham Corina Najjar Dan Greco Ann Scacco

14 19 23 24 25 27

Bill Flesch Leo Salais Diane Atkan Roger Nelson Jeanne Banducci Dean Bruckner Janet Neally

S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • Vo l u n t e e r C a l e n d a r

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Farm Closed Cabin Closed Bold indicates volunteer activities Italics indicates programs which may be taken as complimentary by volunteers See “What’s Happening” for program descriptions

JANUARY 2019

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

Spring Valley Winter Fest Noon

•Winter Day of Fun 9am

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Thursday

Friday

•Winter Break Camp 10am

Saturday

•Cub Scout Saturday 9am •Girl Scout Saturday 11am

New Year’s Day

Handy Crafters Meeting 1:30pm

2 W-F

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

Wednesday

Schaumburg Community Garden Club 7pm

•Winter Wanderers 3pm

Spring Valley Nature Club 6:30pm

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

•Winter Day of Fun Noon

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

Sierra Club 6:30pm

Spring Valley Winter Fest Noon

•Winter Moon Hike 5pm

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

Conservation Workday 9am •Frozen Scientists 3pm

•Cub Scout Saturday 5pm

S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • Vo l u n t e e r C a l e n d a r

Sunday

FEBRUARY 2019

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Farm Closed Cabin Closed Bold indicates volunteer activities Italics indicates programs which may be taken as complimentary by volunteers See “What’s Happening” for program descriptions

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

Handy Crafters Meeting 1:30pm

•Winter Day of Fun 9am

Presidents’ Day

Volunteer Meeting 6:30pm

•Winter Day of Fun Noon

Schaumburg Community Garden Club 6:30pm

•Winter Day of Fun 3pm

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

•Winter Day of Fun 9am

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm Sierra Club 6:30pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

•Hand Churned Ice Cream 10am

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

Valentine’s Day •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

•Family Tree Hunt 10am

Saturday

Friday

Prescribed Burn Training 9am •Cub Scout Saturday 9am •Cooking with Iron 10am •Paint with Nature 10:30am •Girl Scout Saturday 11am

S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 9

SPRING VALLEY | Schaumburg Park District • 1111 East Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg, Illinois 60194 Spring Valley is a refuge of 135 acres of fields, forests, marshes and streams with over three miles of handicapped-accessible trails, a museum featuring natural history displays and information, a new nature playground and an 1880s living-history farm. Spring Valley is open to the general public. Admission is free.

Hours:

Schaumburg Road

Plum Grove Road

Volkening Heritage Farm

Grounds and Trails April 1 - Oct. 31.............. Daily................. 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Nov. 1 - March 31........... Daily................. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Vera Meineke Nature Center & Bison's Bluff Nature Playground

Nature Center/Museum Hours Year-round...................... Daily................. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Bison’s Bluff Nature Playground April 1 - Oct. 31.............. Tue-Sun........... 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.................. Noon -8 p.m. Nov. 1 - March 31........... Daily................. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (weather permitting)

Merkle Cabin

Volkening Heritage Farm April 3 - Nov. 18.............. Daily................. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.................. Museum buildings CLOSED Dec. 1 - March 31........... Open for Special Events & programs only

Spring Valley 135 acres

Unless otherwise noted, all programs are held rain or shine. Participants should dress appropriately for weather conditions.

Vera Meineke Nature Center 847/985-2100

Volkening Heritage Farm 847-985-2102

The earth-sheltered visitor center provides an introduction to Spring Valley’s 135 acres of restored prairies, woodlands and wetlands and three miles of trails. The center contains natural history exhibits that change seasonally, a demonstration Backyard for Wildlife, an observation tower, classrooms, an extensive library, gift sales area and restrooms.

Step back into the past for a look at Schaumburg as it was in the 1880s – a rural German farm community. Help with seasonal farm chores, participate in family activities and games of the 1880s, or simply visit the livestock and soak in the quiet. Authentically dressed interpreters will welcome and share activities with visitors throughout the site.

Environmental Outreach Program

Scout Badges

We’ll bring our outreach program to your site. Topics include forests, worms, spiders, mammals, owls, food chains, food webs, wetlands, and the water cycle. Students will participate in hands-on activities, songs, and games. Topics may be adapted to students in grades one through six, and are aligned with Illinois State Standards and NGSS.

We offer many opportunities for scouts. Our programs will help with your badge, pin or patch requirements. Call for more information or stop in for a brochure.

Spring Valley Firepit and Shelter Rentals

Make your next scout group, business or family gathering something special! Spring Valley offers the use of a picnic shelter and fire pit in a wooded setting near the Merkle Log Cabin. Use of the site includes firewood, trash/recycling receptacles and benches, as well as picnic tables. No alcohol or amplified music permitted. Restrooms are available at the Heritage Farm or Nature Center, a 5–10 minute walk. The adjacent Merkle Log Cabin contains a restroom and may be rented for additional fees.

Programs at Spring Valley

School, Scout and adult groups are encouraged to take advantage of Spring Valley’s Environmental Education Program. Programs change seasonally and are geared for specific age groups. Correlations to the state standards, connections with NGSS, and activity sheets are available on the SPD website, www.parkfun.com. Learn local history with a visit to the Heritage Farm. Elementary and high school students recreate farm life in the 1880s with Hands on History; second graders experience it through Heritage Quest. Children from the age of four through second grade will learn about food, farmers, and farm animals in Farms and Foods.

SPRING VALLEY MISSION STATEMENT:

Spring Valley’s mission is to educate area residents regarding the natural and cultural history of the Schaumburg area and how people have and continue to interact with and upon the landscape.

Hourly use fees:

SCHAUMBURG PARK DISTRICT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS:

Residents:.............. $25

Civic groups:...............................$25

Non-residents:....... $40

Corporate/business groups:.......$55

NATURAL ENQUIRER STAFF: Mary Rice.......... Editor

Mike Daniels Sharon DiMaria David Johnson George Longmeyer Bob Schmidt

Judy Vito............ Volunteer Coordinator Dave Brooks .... “In this Issue...” Scott Stompor.... Graphic Artist

SCHAUMBURG PARK DISTRICT WEBSITE: parkfun.com

E-MAIL:

springvalley@parkfun.com

MEMBER:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Tony LaFrenere