Natural Enquirer: September/October 2012 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

vol.3 no.5 • Sept./Oct. ‘12

In this issue...

Industriousness is a universal characteristic of human societies (although not in equal measure among individual humans). People have always sought new ways to solve problems and designed new tools and gadgets to get the job done. An understanding of how things are made is less common in this day and age (the age of manufacturing), since most gadgets are made for us by others and technology has added layers of complexity that few of us can even begin to fathom. It is always enlightening when someone can explain something to us. Thus, this issue of the Natural Enquirer sheds light on the history and manufacture of greenhouses and barrel spigots—two gadgets that most of us encounter from time to time but likely have never given a second thought. The main idea here isn’t that we all need to learn about and understand the detailed story behind everything we encounter in life, but that doing so for those things we do find essential, interesting, or merely curious adds richness to our understanding of the world in general.

Inside The Specularium..................................................2 What’s That?.........................................................3 What’s Happenin’.............................................. 4-6 Spring Valley General Information....................10

Volunteer News Contents Volunteern Want Ads...........................................7 Volunteer Calendar........................................... 8-9

Visit www.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 • S e p t e m b e r / O c t o b e r 2 0 1 2

The Specularium

by Walter Plinske

he Roman Emperor Tiberius had a special building called a “Specularium”. The French King Louis XIV had a much more imposing but similar structure dubbed an “Orangery”. Not to be left out, President George Washington also had a version, which was his “Pinery”. Although some 1,500 years separated Tiberius and Louis and perhaps a century separated Louis and George, they all possessed what today we would call a “greenhouse”. designed for Louis’s 3,000 orange trees A greenhouse is word specularium at Versailles in 1685, with dimensions of meant “like a a structure made 500’x 42’ x 45’. mirror” and came of glass or clear to mean a window plastic which In America, greenhouses were the or window panes. allows the heat of domain of the elite. In 1789, Washington sunlight to enter a had one built at his home at Mount Although contained space Vernon. In it he grew (his “people” glassmaking and be captured, doing the work, no doubt) oranges, originated in providing an lemons, “one fine balm s(c)ented shrub,” what is now Iraq environment for aloes, and marjoram. In addition, he over 4,000 years the growing of craved pineapples for himself and for ago, its use as plants even when his guests. In time, the place came to a malleable, the temperature be called a pinery. Thomas Jefferson adaptable, Polycarbonate Greenhouse outside the envisioned a greenhouse for himself at multipurpose structure becomes adverse to their Monticello; however, possibly with his material was not developed until survival. In colder climates, such a egalitarianism trumping the perceived the Romans brought peace and structure can extend the growing season elitism of a greenhouse, he decided to organization. This led to the rapid and even make it, artificially, year-round. incorporate one diffusion of glass and As may be surmised by these more within the body its manufacture to illustrious owners, greenhouses for most of Monticello as the farthest corners of their history were the property of the a small glass of their empire. well-to-do. Only today with inexpensive enclosed arched They experimented mass produced components, have loggia, which he with almost every greenhouses become available to the called the South technique and average citizen. Piazza. process employed today. Even double One of the earliest known greenhouses Greenhouses glazing was not was built for Tiberius on the island of became unknown. By a Capri around 30 A.D. The vegetables increasingly century after Tiberius, grown a typical specularium were those common in the tougher and more that were unavailable during the winter 19th century with Conservatory Greenhouse translucent glass that grips even Mediterranean Italy: the reinvention panes had replaced the sheets of mica beets, peas, radishes, lettuce, melons, of the mass production of glass. No in the typical specularium. There is also and his favorite, cucumbers, to name longer a playground for the moneyed evidence of wide use of windowpanes, a few. (Tomatoes and peppers did not class, they became something anyone often of considerable dimensions, in appear until the Spaniards brought them interested in gardening could have for houses and public buildings. from the New World.) Its windows were relatively little cost. Many greenhouses not made of glass but of large crystals of mica the Romans called Lapis specularis. The crystalline structure of mica forms layers that can be split or delaminated into thin sheets. These sheets are Lapis Specularis chemically inert, elastic, insulating, lightweight, resilient, and range from transparent to opaque. They were mined by the Romans in what is now the La Mancha region of Spain because of the clarity, size (up to one meter), and perfect flatness of the crystals found there. The root of the

The use of glass for stained-glass windows and mosaics survived the fall of the Western Roman Empire, (the Eastern Empire continued on until 1453) but it was not until the Renaissance that glass-making technology enabled sufficient expanses of clear glass to be again produced. Gradually, buildings were erected with more and more window area where their wealthy owners vied with one another to grow varieties of tender plants, shrubs, and exotic plants. Growing citrus trees became so in vogue that these greenhouses came to be called “orangeries”. This trend culminated in Europe’s largest orangery, 2

were heated by furnace-warmed air, and some were situated into the earth with warming south facing windows. Today, while these designs are still practical, a greenhouse can go anywhere there is space, be it attached to a house, placed in the backyard, or perched on a deck, roof, or balcony. In addition to becoming more automated, new materials are available today such as aluminum, PVC piping, fiberglass, acrylic, and polycarbonate panels. Coupled with pressure treated wood, these materials can ensure that a greenhouse will stand the test of time.

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 2

What’s That?

by Amy Wywialowski

I have always had a love of living history but it was not until I began college in 2010 that it had a name. I always liked visiting museums and was fascinated to see people reenacting and educating others on the way things used to be done. So when it came to pursuing an internship to help me succeed in this field, Volkening Heritage Farm was the perfect fit. I really enjoy teaching the public things they would not ordinarily know and making them think about things in new ways. In order to practice these skills, I have chosen an object from the Farm collection and “analyzed” it using a theory called Seven Ways to Look at an Artifact by Fred Schroeder. The seven types of analysis used in the article are as follows. 1. How was it made? 2. How was it used? 3. What was its environment? 4. What was the object’s development through time? 5. What are its cross-cultural comparisons? 6. What influenced the development of the object? 7. What are its functional meanings or values? All of the answers to these questions lay with the object and it is up to both historians and the public to find them. The object I chose to analyze is called a bung and it resembles a spigot. It can be used with barrels to control how much liquid is released. The larger piece was tapped into the lower part of the side of a barrel. The smaller piece had a hole in it and, when lined up with a hole in the larger piece, allowed liquid to flow through and out of the barrel. A handle on top of the smaller piece allowed the user to control this line up and flow of liquid. The word “bung” first appears in dictionaries as early as the 15th century (Merriam-Webster, “Bung”). Bungs were used in wooden barrels. That means a bung’s environment would have been wherever the barrel was. Wooden barrels were used to store liquid up through the 20th century but based on where this particular bung was found, we believe it was primarily used on a farmstead. Traditionally, objects like this would have been found in taverns or bars. Beyond the environment of an object it is also important to know how it was made. This aids in the understanding of the type of society that would have used it. This object could have been produced in either a factory or a home on a machine known as a lathe. If factory produced, the farmer could have bought it in a general store. There is a cork lining in the single piece to ensure a tight seal. The entire object is extremely

Bung

smooth so it could easily fit in the barrel and not splinter or break the barrel. While a bung is not a new idea, it is interesting to see how Barrell Bung it evolved through time from a simple cork to a push button spigot. The type of bung I am working with did not appear until the mid 19th century. In doing research, I found many online auction sites claiming to sell “souvenir bungs” from the 1893 Chicago World’s fair. Unfortunately, this was all I could find regarding this claim. The modern day equivalent of this object is a push button spigot used in a large jug to dispense liquid. Americans were not the only people to use this type of apparatus. In order to see how other cultures used it, I translated the term “wooden spigot” into other languages to see what I could find. When Googled in German, I found many replicas; however, when translated into Spanish, I found something slightly different—a simpler apparatus that resembled a piece of wood or cork with a hole In it. My conclusion is that though bungs were commonly used across cultures, there were differences in design and the material from which they were made. If a group of people lived 3

in or near a forest, it would have been easy for them to produce a bung made of wood. If they lived in the desert like the Spanish did in Mexico, they might have had less access to wood. Thus, we see the small version without a handle that does not use as much wood. The Germans often planted small forests near their farms, so wood would have been a commonly used material for them. There may be a cultural significance to why this object is found in the Heritage Farm collection. A bung represents the use of beverages and possibly, alcohol, a well-known “staple” of German culture. Wine and beer were regular beverages of choice for the early settlers in this area. In order to get the liquid out of the barrel, a bung would have been needed. Depending on the condition of the artifact, one might be able to tell what kind of liquor was drunk. From there, we could determine what the drink was made of and, thus, what crops were grown. While this analysis may seem long and complicated, it is this type of interpretation that forces us to think critically. Once we have applied these ways of looking at an object, a better picture may be drawn and this, in turn, makes it easier to educate the public and explain how life used to be.

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 2

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

*To register online you must have a current SPD account with assigned PIN number. To create a new account, visit the registration desk at the CRC and verify residency. Non-residents may call Spring Valley to set up an account.

Growing Up Wild: Early Childhood Teacher Workshop

Saturday, Sept. 29 • 9:00A-Noon Take part in a hands-on workshop designed for early childhood educators.

Project Learning Tree: Educator’s Workshop

Saturday, Oct. 20 • 9:00A-3:00P Learn to use PLT activities and receive a copy of the PLT K-8 curriculum guide.

ADULT

Additional workshops are being developed. For up-to-date information, visit www.parkfun.com/SpringValley/programs.

Concert at the Cabin

Canning for Beginners

Sunday, Sept. 16 • 1:00-4:00P Learn about canning from its early developments to the system used today.

Saturday, Sept. 8 • 5:30-8PM • FREE

The Spring Valley Community Concert Band will perform as evening settles in. Picnic fare and beverages will be available for purchase or bring your own, along with lawn chairs or a blanket. Picnic tables will be available. The music will begin at 6:30PM. Merkle Log Cabin is an easy 10-minute walk from the Nature Center parking lot.

Chair Yoga

Tuesday, Sept. 4-Dec. 18 • 4:30-5:30P Learn all the techniques with personalized modifications while seated in and standing by a chair.

Fall Vegetable Gardening

Monday, Sept. 10 • 7:00-9:00P Learn how to prepare your garden for the fall and discuss which vegetables are ideal.

Nature’s Night Life - ADULTS ONLY! Friday, Sept. 7 • 7:00-9:00P Friday, Nov. 2 • 7:00-9:00P Start your weekend with a relaxing and enlightening evening walk at Spring Valley.

German Beer Brewing

Saturday, Sept. 15 • 5:30-8:30P Quench your thirst and learn the age old art of beer brewing with farm staff - German style!

Oktober Festessen

Saturday, Oct. 13 • 6:00-8:15P Enjoy a traditional German dinner in the historic farmhouse and let Riesling, dessert and good conversation transport you to another time.

Autumn Harvest Festival $4 per person • $16 per family • 3 yrs & under Free

Pilates Mat at the Cabin

Sponsored by

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 2

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

Mondays for Moms and Kids

Schaumburg Park District presents...

Monday, Sept. 17 • 3:30-4:15P Monday, Oct. 15 • 3:30-4:15P Monday, Nov. 19 • 3:30-4:15P Mom, spend time walking and enjoying nature with your child.

at Volkening Heritage Farm & Merkle Cabin Experience the holiday season as it was in 1880s Schaumburg. Victorian decorations and traditional German foods filled the home with light and warmth as farm work continued at Sponsored by its own pace. Click here for more information.

Spring Valley Winter Break Camp

Wednesday-Friday, Jan. 2-4 • 10:00A-2:00P Exploring Spring Valley! Campers will track animals, look for birds, experiment with snow.

Sat./Sun., Dec. 1 & 2 • Noon-4PM $2 per person • $8 per family • 3 yrs & under Free

Teens

Wild and Wacky Wool

Sunday, Nov. 18 • 1:00-3:00P Discover incredible wool facts while you card, spin and weave this amazing fiber.

Forestry Merit Badge Workshop

Saturday, Oct. 13 • Noon-5:00P Boy Scouts, join with certified merit badge counselors to earn your Forestry badge.

Home School Naturalist Group Programs

Science and Nature Explorers

Spring Valley Nature Center and Heritage Farm is the perfect place for hands-on, exploration based science programs. Offerings change seasonally, so check the program guide regularly.

Wednesday, Sept. 12, Oct. 10 & Nov. 14 2:15-4:15P Middle school students will meet once a month to focus on science, nature and the planet.

Fall 2012 topics: • Biscuits and Butter – Learn about 19th century farm life as you cook on the wood burning stove and churn your own butter. • Nature’s Art – Get outdoors and get inspired. Participants will complete art projects that either use natural materials or are inspired by nature. • Pollination Power – Explore flower anatomy and insect adaptations and simulate pollinating a flower. • Predator vs. Prey – Compare and contrast adaptations that animals have that help them survive, and see what special relationships there are between predators and their prey.

Youth Cooking at the Cabin

Friday, Sept. 7 • 5:00-7:00P Leave the stove at home and explore the art of cooking with fire.

A Country Christmas Sleepover

Friday/Saturday, Dec. 14 & 15 • 7:00P-8:30A Need a night for shopping? Drop the kids off at Heritage Farm for a fun sleepover experience!

Creepers and Crawlers

Sunday, Sept. 16 • 9:30-11:00A Discover what a bug’s life is really all about as you look for what’s hanging around.

Available every Fall: Conservation in Action, Woodlands, Owls: Predators of the Night, Cycling, Farms and Food, Gardening, Wetlands and Nighttime Nature

Fall Discoveries

For more information or to schedule a program, call 847-985-2100.

Saturday, Sept. 8 • 9:30-10:30A Explore the beauty of the season and discover what you’ve been missing when you’re inside. 6

Volunteer News 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 2

Dates to Remember

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.

National Public Lands Day

Saturday, September 22, 9am-1pm Join us for our conservation workday and assist with this demonstration of local environmental stewardship. Help spread the message on how people can work with nature to heal and restore it. Any donation of paper grocery bags for use in seed collecting would be greatly appreciated. Drop the bags off at the Visitor Center.

National Public Lands Day

Autumn Harvest Festival

Sunday, October 7, Noon-5pm We’re looking for volunteers to help at Spring Valley’s largest event – Autumn Harvest Festival. Activities are held at both

the cabin and the farm and include children’s activities and crafts, pumpkin decorating, refreshment sales, farm interpretation, and more! Volunteer shifts times are 11am to 2:30pm or 2:15 to 5:45pm. Also, additional help is needed for set-up on Thursday and Friday, September 29 and 30. Call if you can lend a hand!

A Haunting in the Valley

Friday, October 26 and Saturday, October 27 We need your help with our Halloween event which will feature a wagon ride to the Cabin for a guided walk along the night trails. Volunteers are needed for check-in, concessions, family activities, characters, and props. If you’d like to be part of the adventure, give us a call!

Pats on the back to the following volunteers... • Penny Perles for maintaining the Native American Garden.

• Carol Anagnostopoulos, Tony Coonrod, Lynn Eikenbary, Bill Forst, Renata Riccobon, and Nara Sethuraman for assisting with Nature Center summer camps. • Laura Bauch for assisting with Heritage Farm summer camps.

• Wed., Sept. 5.............. 6:30pm-8:30pm

Volunteer Meeting

• Mon., Sept. 10............. 1-4pm

Handy Crafter Meeting

• Sat., Sept. 22.............. 9am

Farm Kitchen Training

• Sat., Sept. 22.............. 9am-1pm

Conservation Workday

• Thurs, Oct. 4............... 10am-3pm

Autumn Harvest Set-up

• Fri., Oct. 5................... 10am-3pm

Autumn Harvest Set-up

• Sun., Oct. 7................. Noon-5pm

Autumn Harvest Fest

• Fri., Oct. 12................. 9am-1pm

Conservation Workday

• Mon., Oct. 15.............. 1-4pm

Handy Crafter Meeting

• Fri., Oct 26.................. 5:30-9pm

A Haunting in the Valley

• Sat., Oct 27................. 5:30-9pm

A Haunting in the Valley

Happy Birthday to… September

1 8 10 11 17 18 20

Nancy Lyons Peggy Kulis Matthew Marrero Nancy Ruffolo Irene Joll Dick Ruffolo Lynn Eikenbary Ellen Hanes Barb Lam

October

• Gail Ameer, Lynn Eikenbary, Leo Salais, Jim and Elsie Sears, Donna Turner, and Norina Waugh for assisting with various programming throughout the summer. • Jeanette Klodzen for her efforts as a butterfly monitor. • Gail Ameer, Eve Carter, Lynn Eikenbary, and Carolyn White for representing Spring Valley at Schaumburg’s Farmers Market. 7

2 4 8 9 12

Rick Jeske Rosemary Colbert Amanda Vanderzee Susan LaDore Julie Tucknott Marilou Vandrush Sue Ringfelt

22 23 26 27 28

14 15 16 18 21

Joan Pangallo Bob Wodka Jim Peterson Phil Skultety Eileen LaBarre Gail Ameer Barb Mitchell

Ken Ogorzalek Pat Heiberger Eve Carter Susanne Cannella Gene Niewiadomski Tony Meo

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

September 2012

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Farm Hours: Tues-Fri 9am-2pm • Sat & Sun 10am-4pm Cabin Closed Bold indicates volunteer activities Italics indicates programs which may be taken as complimentary by volunteers See “What’s Happening” for program descriptions

Labor Day

•Monarch Butterflies: Migration and Tagging 2pm

Handy Crafters Meeting 1pm

•Fall Vegetable Gardening 7pm

•Creepers and Crawlers 9:30am •Pathway to Plants Noon •Canning for Beginners 1pm

•Mondays for Moms and Kids 3:15pm

•Chair Yoga 4:30pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

11 •Chair Yoga 4:30pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

Volunteer Meeting 6:30pm

•Science and Nature Explorers 2:15pm

Schaumburg Community Garden Club 7pm

24 30

13 •Pilates Mat at the Cabin 5pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6:30pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 8pm

•Chair Yoga 4:30pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

•Pilates Mat at the Cabin 5pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6:30pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 8pm

•Chair Yoga 4:30pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

•Pilates Mat at the Cabin 5pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6:30pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 8pm

•Cooking at the Cabin 5pm •Nature’s Night Life 7pm

•Restorative Yoga Experience 6:30pm

•Up and At’Em 7:30am •Fall Discoveries 9:30am •Family Geocaching 1pm

•Concert at the Cabin 5:30pm

•Vermicomposting 9:30am

•German Beer Making 5:30pm

National Public Lands Day 9am Farm Interpreter Kitchen Training 9am

•Twilight Hike 6:30pm

•Restorative Yoga, Wine and Cheese 6:30pm

•Harvest Moon Bonfire 6:30pm

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

Autumn Harvest Festival Noon

Monday

Tuesday

Columbus Day •All About Apples 9:30am

October 2012

Handy Crafters Meeting 1pm •Mondays for Moms and Kids 3:15pm

•Chair Yoga 4:30pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

Wednesday

Schaumburg Community Garden Club 7pm

•Science and Nature Explorers 2:15pm

•Chair Yoga 4:30pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Conservation Workday 9am

•Forestry Merit Badge Noon

•Pilates Mat at the Cabin 5pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6:30pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 8pm

•Restorative Yoga Experience 6:30pm

•October Festessen 6pm

•Pilates Mat at the Cabin 5pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6:30pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 8pm

•Night Hike 6:30pm

A Haunting in the Valley 6:15pm

Farm Hours: Tues-Fri 9am-2pm • Sat & Sun 10am-4pm Cabin Closed Bold indicates volunteer activities

•Chair Yoga 4:30pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

Italics indicates programs which may be taken as complimentary by volunteers

Halloween 9

See “What’s Happening” for program descriptions

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 2 Spring Valley • Schaumburg Park District • 1111 East Schaumburg Road • Schaumburg, Illinois 60194 Schaumburg Rd.

N Plum Grove Rd.

Spring Valley is a refuge of 135 acres of fields, forests, marshes and streams with over three miles of handicappedaccessible trails, a museum featuring natural history displays and information, and an 1880s living-history farm. Spring Valley is open to the general public. Admission is free.

Vera Meineke Nature Center

Volkening Heritage Farm

Phone Vera Meineke Nature Center...............................................847/985-2100 Volkening Heritage Farm......................................................847-985-2102

135 acres

HOURS Nature Center Grounds & Trails...............Open Daily...............8AM-5PM Volkening Heritage Farm Grounds..........Closed......................Dec.1-March 1

Vera Meineke Nature Center

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.

Nature Center/Museum Hours: Year Round.............Daily*.......... 9AM-5PM Farm Interpretive Program Hours: Nov. - March............Open for Special Events April 1 - Oct. 31.......Sat/Sun....... 10AM-4PM Tue-Fri........ 9AM-2PM Mon............ Buildings Closed

Volkening Heritage Farm

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.

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

*All facilities closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day

Environmental Outreach Program

Spring Valley Birthday Parties

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 correlated with Illinois State Standards.

Looking for a unique, fun, and educational venue for your child’s birthday? Spring Valley is the answer! Two party themes are available. A hayride can be added for an extra fee. Call Spring Valley for more information.

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 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.

Hourly use fees: Residents:.............. $25

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

Non-residents:....... $40 Corporate/business groups:.......$55

Scout Badges

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 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.

Schaumburg Park District BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS:

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...”

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:

Scott Stompor Graphic Artist

Tony LaFrenere

Schaumburg Park District Website: www.parkfun.com

E-mail:

springvalley@parkfun.com

Member: