Natural Enquirer: September/October 2015 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.6 no.5 • Sept.-Oct. ‘15

In this issue...

In this issue, as we often do, we take a look back and a look forward. The historical significance of a recently donated tenor horn to Spring Valley’s collections is explored in an article describing the rise of community concert bands in America—timely since Spring Valley will be hosting Schaumburg’s own community concert band on September 12 at our Concert at the Cabin event. A glimpse into some of the latest thinking on water storage technology can be seen in the article on cisterns. Many forward thinking people agree that fresh water will soon replace petroleum as the most valuable natural resource in the decades to come. It is interesting to note that while some politicians and armchair scientists continue to quibble over the accuracy of climate change data and its implications, important work on solutions to the resultant problems associated with an already changing climate are being done on the forefront of science and engineering.

Inside Beyond Cisterns...................................................2

Volunteer News Contents

Julius Bauer’s Tenor Horn...................................3

Volunteer Information..........................................7

What’s Happenin’.............................................. 4-5

Volunteer Calendar........................................... 8-9

2015 Interns..........................................................6 Spring Valley General Information....................10

Schaumburg Park District

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 5

Beyond Cisterns

by Walter Plinske

isterns have been successfully used for the storage of water for thousands of years up till the present day. In light of the climatic aberrations fostered by global climate change and recalling that the root of the word cistern is from the Latin cista (chest or box), future water storage schemes shall need to be literally outside the box. These initiatives will involve innovative alternatives for water storage, solutions for water collection during heavy downpours (emergency storage), and options to delay the discharge of rainwater.

Water storage in an urban environment can be established by the use of a “green roof”. A large-scale application of green roofs can provide temporary area-wide water Green Roof storage during heavy rainfalls. Green roofs use living plant material and soil on top of a building. They absorb, collect, and reuse rainwater while preventing runoff. The collected water can then be used for watering exterior plants at ground level to flushing toilets inside. In addition it can double the life of the roof, add insulation to the building, mitigate noise and glare, and create habitat for birds and other wildlife. Rain gardens are another way to allow rainwater to be absorbed Rain Garden into the ground rather than running into storm drains and ultimately creeks and rivers, causing erosion and flooding. A rain garden is a planted depression or a hole that allows rainfall runoff from roofs, driveways, walkways, and parking lots to collect. The plants are usually a selection of wetland edge vegetation such as rushes, sedges, ferns, wildflowers, shrubs, and small tress. The plants take up the excess water that flows into the rain garden. Water filters through soil

layers before entering the ground water levels. Root systems enhance infiltration and sustain microbial populations that aid in degrading pollutants that may be present in the water.

storage. When the downpour is over, the rainwater will be Double Use Car Park pumped into the sewers. A car park in the Netherlands is being designed to hold 10 million liters of water. Coordination of cars, spaces, and floodwater could be interesting.

An alternative approach to rainwater capture is the use of multi-purpose buildings and landscape schemes. One of these is the construction of water plazas. These water plazas fill up in a controlled manner during heavy rainfall preventing nearby streets from flooding. In an urban setting the water plaza is constructed of concrete and stone. Similar to a rain garden, it is a depression lined not with The most straight forward approach plants but with amphitheater to storing water is to inject it back into like seating with space for wells and aquifers that have been gathering and other such depleted through overuse or climatic public factors. In the U.S., this events. has been done since During the 1960s. Typically, cloudwater is injected into an bursts of aquifer, stored, and then rain, the pumped back up to the architecture of the surface for disinfection water plaza creand use. The advanates small streams, tages of this method brooklets, and petit Water Plaza are many: storing water ponds for children to underground averts the play in and around. need to flood land in above-ground reserA similar structure is voirs, alleviating tenknown as a “water sions for people already square” because of occupying the area; its shape. It consists bottomland forests of two parts—a are not flooded, sparsports field and a ing both trees and the surrounding hilly play Water Square creatures that live there; area. The sports field thousands of acres of cropland are not is sunk one meter into the ground and taken out of service, saving crops that is surrounded by steps that double as are needed worldwide; and water is not a grandstand where spectators can sit lost to evaporation, a problem in some and watch a game. Interspaced between reservoirs in arid areas of the world. the steps are spaces set at different levels where people can relax and have So why is water storage a timely topic? picnics. All parts are enclosed in a green As the glaciers of the world dwindle, the frame of grass and trees. During times rivers that depend on their melt-water of heavy rains, the sports field doubles will shrivel. As desertification advances, as a temporary reservoir. agriculture without irrigation will become Another approach to water storage is the multifunctional underground vehicular parking garage. Whenever heavy rains threaten to cause the sewage system to overflow, with certain safety precautions taken, the garage can be ready to accept thousands of gallons of water 2

untenable. As sea levels rise due to the ablation of the polar ice caps, fertile coastal areas will be inundated, forcing huge population shifts to hitherto scorned regions. Water storage will be a key factor to survival!

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 5

Julius Bauer’s Tenor Horn

In the previous issue of the Natural Enquirer, Patty Kennedy Green wrote about a 19th century high chair donated by Lavonne Thies Presley to the Heritage Farm at Spring Valley. Along with the high chair, Lavone also donated her ancestor Heinrich Thies’ brass horn which he played as a member of the Schaumburg Brass Band in the late 19th century.

by Dan Hess

occasions including the Columbus Day celebrations of 1892. Although not pictured in the band’s image, Heinrich Thies’ instrument was an important part of brass band music. The brass horn was known as an e-flat tenor horn in the 1800s and it has a similar sound to the French horn common in bands and orchestras today.

(Antique Piano Website). The maker’s mark has allowed us to determine who made the instrument, but it also gives insight into the date the horn was made. This particular maker’s mark was used by the Julius Bauer company from 1866 till 1877. This clearly shows that the instrument was not only within the timeframe of the Schaumburg band, but also within the time frame interpreted by the Volkening Heritage Farm at Spring Valley.

At that time, if people We are very happy to have such an wanted to listen to music, important part of Schaumburg history they had two choices—to in Spring Valley’s collection—one that seek out a live performance shows how our community was part or play it themselves. Until of the larger national culture of band the 1850s, large ensemble music. music was mostly played in concert hall settings. In 1852, music journalist John Sullivan Dwight in his Journal of Music wrote, “When shall we have music for the People? Music that all who will may hear, without money and without price; free to all ears, as the sparkling fountain on Enlargement of “Julius Bauer & Co. CHICAGO” etching Julius Bauer’s Tenor Horn the [Boston] Common is, Although tenor horns like this are to all eyes” (Dwight’s Journal of Music, no longer common, they were a May 29, 1852, p. 63). Dwight’s vision staple of brass bands during the of free music for all came to fruition in 19th century. Traditional brass the form of brass bands. After attending bands had six types of brass an 1853 brass band concert in Boston, instruments that fell into six Dwight said the music might have been categories going from highest better with a bigger and “more especial in pitch to lowest: soprano, alto, organization” but otherwise “it has been tenor, baritone, bass and contra very good, and has been drunk in with bass (Dodworth 13). Our tenor every sign of attention and delight by a horn falls into the tenor category. continually increasing crowd of listeners” (July 15th, 1853, p. 119). There are many signs of wear and age on the instrument but Part of what made the brass band upon a closer look, there is also movement so attractive and successful Schaumburg Brass Band a maker’s mark on the horn’s bell. was that it provided amateur musicians Etched into the brass are the words, an outlet for playing music with a group “Julius Bauer & Co. CHICAGO.” Julius of people. The music they played Editor’s Note: Community bands Bauer was an instrument importer and was often popular music, dances and continue to thrive and perform locally manufacturer who operated a music marches. The brass band movement today throughout America! You are store in Chicago starting in 1859. Bauer continued to grow in popularity from its invited to enjoy the stirring music of was the first manufacturer of brass military roots and was played for nearly Schaumburg’s own Spring Valley instruments in the city of Chicago (Olde every occasion in small communities. Community Band at Spring Valley Towne Brass Website). His company on Saturday, September 12. See the The Schaumburg community was a continued to make and import brass Concert at the Cabin listing in What’s part of this movement and formed instruments until they were bought by Happenin’ for more information. its own band which played for many the Wurlitzer Piano Company in 1930 3

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 5

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 from www.parkfun.com. The form can be found under the registration tab. Programs will be cancelled three days in advance if minimum is not reached, so register early! Spring Valley is now offering an early bird discount on programs. Prices in the fall 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. We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity. It is our attempt to serve you better!

Growing up Wild

Saturday, Sept. 19 • 9:00 a.m.- Noon Have fun with crafts, music, reading, and math and receive an activity guide that is correlated to the NAEYC Early Childhood Standards and the Head Start Domains.

Additional workshops are being developed. For information, visit www.parkfun.com/Spring-Valley/ programs.

Project Learning Tree: Early Childhood Teacher Workshop

Saturday, Sept. 26 • 9:00 a.m.- Noon Join us for a half day of curriculum exploration! Developed with Pre-K educators and early childhood specialists.

Insects for the Classroom

Friday, Oct. 9 • 5:00-9:00 p.m. & Saturday, Oct. 10 • 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Become familiar with the characteristics of the major insect orders and learn to identify many of the common insects.

ALL AGES

Concert at the Cabin

Howl at the Moon Hike

Friday, Oct. 30 • 7:00-8:30 p.m. Brave the dark to see what happens at Spring Valley when the sun goes down.

Saturday, Sept. 12 • 5-7:30 p.m. • FREE

Come enjoy wonderful music in a beautiful setting! The Spring Valley Community Concert Band will perform under the shelter on the wooded cabin grounds as evening settles in. Picnic fare and beverages will be available for purchase or bring your own food, lawn chairs and a blanket. Picnic tables will be available. The music will begin at 6PM. The Merkle Log Cabin is an easy 10-minute walk from the Nature Center parking lot, or you can take a wagon shuttle.

Warbler Watch

Saturday, Oct. 10 • 8:00-9:30 a.m. Spend a morning in the woods seeking colorful warblers as they journey south.

Weekend Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides at the Farm

Harvest Moon Bonfire

Saturdays & Sundays • 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Through end of November

Saturday, Sept. 19 • 6:30-8:30 p.m. Heritage Farm

Relax and enjoy a horse-drawn wagon ride through Heritage Farm as staff relates information about the farm, animals and the history of Schaumburg’s farm families. Dress for the weather.

Help celebrate this rare time of the year by taking a wagon ride through Spring Valley, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over an open fire, and enjoying a lantern-lit tour of the farm.

• Tickets sold on a first-come, first-served basis the day of the ride, no earlier than 15 minutes before start time. • Tickets are $3/person; children 3 and under are free. • Wagon holds a maximum of 15 people. • Rides begin and end next to the Farm Visitor Center. Note: Wagon rides may be cancelled due to extreme weather (storms or heat) and/or animal health issues. Wagon ride will not be offered on Special Event days. Please call 847/985-2102 or check www.parkfun.com for updated information.

ADULT or TEEN Dutch Oven Cooking

Saturday, Nov. 14 • 3:00-5:00 p.m. Learn the ins and outs of cooking over an open fire using a cast iron Dutch oven.

Groups of 15 and larger are encouraged to schedule their own group wagon rental. For more information, call Heritage Farm at 847/985-2102.

Food Preservation

Sunday, Sept. 13 • 2:00-5:00 p.m. Learn the historic importance of food preservation and preserve your own take home samples.

Trails and Ales

Saturday, Sept. 26 • 4:00-7:00 p.m. Enjoy fine seasonal beers, tasty seasonal breads and a jaunt through the fall prairie.

Weekly Yoga at the Cabin

Tuesday, Sept. 1 - Dec. 15 • 6:00-7:00 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1 - Dec. 15 • 7:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3 - Dec. 17 • 6:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3 - Dec. 17 • 7:30-8:30 p.m. Enjoy a weekly yoga class in the woods at the Merkle Cabin.

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

National Public Lands Day

Sponsored by

Saturday, Sept. 19 • 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 4 • Noon-5PM

Participants will learn how people work with nature to heal the land and help restore rare plants and animals. All participants will receive a packet of native wildflower seeds. Refreshments will be available.

Step back in time and see history come to life at a 1790s frontier encampment and an 1880s working farm! Food, beverages and children’s activities are available throughout the day. Click here for more information.

The Fall Sky

Saturday, Sept. 19 • 8-9:30 p.m.

Come to the Nature Center to find out about the stars, constellations, and planets of fall. Saturn will be the highlight of the night, but that’s only a beginning. Would you recognize Pegasus or Andromeda or the Great Square? Find out about these and more, as you discover the joys of the summer sky. Saturn will be low in the southwest and that’s always great through a telescope.

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 5

DROP-IN PROGRAMS AT THE NATURE CENTER Footprints Series – Adult + Child

Leave your footprints while exploring the beautiful trails at Spring Valley! We’ll explore a different topic and notice the changes nature makes throughout the year!

September: Prairie Plants Saturday, Sept. 19 • 10 a.m.-Noon

October: Falling Colors Saturday, Oct. 17 • 10 a.m.-Noon

Walk through the tall grasses. See the plants that make up the prairie. With fall quickly approaching, we’ll see many changes that the plants are going through.

The Heritage Grove is a wonderful place to see fall in all its beauty. Enjoy the changing leaves during an autumn hike.

EARLY CHILDHOOD

FAMILY

The following programs have a special family rate. By registering ONE child, it is assumed that a minimum of two people (one adult and child) or a maximum of four people are attending. Do NOT register additional people, they may pay on the day of the program.

Follow that Leaf

Saturday, Oct. 10 • 10:30 a.m.-Noon After listening to the story Leaf Man, we will go on a hike, following the clues leaf man left behind.

Farm, Family, Food

Friday, Sept. 11 • 5:30-7:00 p.m. Let the whole family get down and dirty while experiencing farm life firsthand!

Getting Ready for Winter

Saturday, Nov. 14 • 10:30 a.m.-Noon Explore Spring Valley to find out how the plant and animals are getting ready for winter.

Prairie Family Pioneers

Saturday, Oct. 10 • 1:00-3:00 p.m. Experience how the early settlers in this area lived, play games and cook a snack.

Turtle Trek

Saturday, Sept. 19 • 1:00-3:00 p.m. Visit the turtles inside the Nature Center then venture outside on a turtle hunt.

Unbeelievable Honeybees

Saturday, Sept. 26 • 11:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Unearth the hidden world of the honeybees, learn their dance, observe a hive and more.

Stroller Strolls - NEW

Wednesday, Sept. 9 & Oct. 7 • 10:00-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23 & Oct. 21 • 2:30-4:00 p.m. Enjoy the breezes and scents of fall while exploring Spring Valley’s stroller friendly trails. Please call 847/985-2100 to RSVP; however, no cost is involved!

YOUTH Botanical Sketching

Wednesday, Sept. 9-16 • 3:00-4:30 p.m. Learn how to make biological drawings and practice on different subjects.

Jammin’ Round the Campfire

Girl Scout Badge Blitz

Saturday, Sept. 12 • 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Spend the day at Spring Valley earning badges, learning outdoor skills, working with others and having fun! Visit the Spring Valley page on www. parkfun.com to download a registration form or call 847/985-2100 for more information and registration materials.

Saturday, Oct. 17 • 6-8 p.m. Free Enjoy an evening filled with songs, stories and more! Grab your favorite instrument (even if it’s just your hands, feet, and voice) and circle around the campfire! We’ll sing classic campfire songs and learn a few new ones, as well. After singing and playing up a storm, satisfy your sweet tooth with roasted marshmallows.

Harvest Garden Party

Sunday, Sept. 13 • 10:00 a.m.-Noon Help harvest the bounty of Spring Valley’s Kids’ Garden and cook up some tasty food.

Leaf Collecting 101

Saturday, Oct. 17 • 1:00-3:00 p.m. Autumn is the time to collect leaves! You can easily make a colorful collection with little effort.

A Haunting in the Valley Fri. & Sat., Oct. 23 & 24 • 6:15-9:30PM

Spider Web Hunt

Saturday, Oct. 10 • 10:00-11:30 a.m. With Halloween around the corner, get in the creepy crawly mood by looking for SPIDERS!

Before Oct. 23: $5 per person • Walk-in: $6 per person Enjoy a covered wagon ride to a trail of fun and adventure! Games, refreshments, a live owl and bonfire at the Nature Center.

Spooky Campfire Cooking

Saturday, Oct. 31 • Noon-2:00 p.m. Get into the Halloween spirit by creating your own edible ghoulish treats.

Click here for more information.

Undercover Agents

Saturday, Sept. 26 • 1:00-2:30 p.m. Hike around Spring Valley exploring underground habitats on a scavenger hunt for nature’s recyclers.

Trick or Treating at Spring Valley Saturday, Oct. 31 • 3-6 p.m. Free

Spring Valley Winter Break Camp

Mon.-Wed., Dec. 21-23 • 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Mon.-Wed., Dec. 28-30 • 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Mon.-Wed., Dec. 21-30 • 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Spend winter break at Spring Valley exploring, tracking animals, experimenting with snow and more.

Spring Valley will be open from 3-6 p.m. for trick or treating. Visitors are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes, explore the doors and nooks of the Nature Center, travel from building to building at the Heritage Farm and enjoy a wagon ride between both sites.

For Teachers at Brookfield Zoo

Fridays, 4-10 p.m. & Saturdays, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Join staff from Brookfield Zoo and Spring Valley Nature Center for these workshops.

Exploring Nature with Children

Home School Naturalist Group Programs

Friday, Oct. 2 & Saturday, Oct. 3 There is so much to see, to hear and to smell this time of the year. Share experiences with other teachers and have fun while learning. Bring back creative ideas to use in your classroom to get your students interested in nature.

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.

Fall topics: •• Orienteering – Calculate your pace and learn how to navigate with a map and compass. • • Habitat Study – Compare and contrast Spring Valley’s different habitats using scientific techniques. • • Super Soil – Develop your own recipe for soil, search for decomposers and analyze soil samples.

Science Talk: Communicating Science

Friday, Oct. 16 & Saturday, Oct. 17 “How do we communicate about science to our students?” Talking, writing, texting, drawing, graphs, charts, photos and videos are most often used; however, recording and reporting results, can be the most fun! Participate in science activities and create interesting ways to share results and assess your students.

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

$145 ea. Held at Brookfield Zoo. To register, contact Lanis Petrik at Brookfield Zoo (Lanis.petrik@czs.org) or (708) 688-8372. Call Mary Rice (847) 985-2100 at Spring Valley for more information.

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

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 5

2015 Interns Dan Hess

Since my time growing up south of Chicago in Bourbonnais, I have had an interest in history. My grandfather and father gave me the opportunity to explore history during my childhood by exploring battlefields, historic sites, and museums. I have also been a Civil War reenactor and living historian for 14 years. At a young age, I decided I wanted to work in the museum field to share my passion for history and to teach others. At Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, I continued on that path by studying history, anthropology, and museum studies. During my time there I had the opportunity to intern with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and the National Park Service. Both internships involved collections management of very diverse collections. Since completing my Bachelors of Arts degree, I am now seeking my Masters of Arts in Historical Administration at Eastern Illinois University. I will be interning with the Volkening Heritage Farm at Spring Valley from June until December. I have already learned a lot from the staff and volunteers and I am very excited to work and to learn about what is needed to run a living history museum.

Diane Hill

When I was eight years old, I visited the National Air and Space Museum with my grandfather, who had worked on an aircraft carrier during WWII. From that moment on, I was in love with museums. Growing up in Minnesota I spent a considerable amount of time at the Walker Art Museum (most people know it for Spoonbridge and Cherry). However as much as I enjoy art, history museums have always been my true love. Since moving to Illinois in 2011, I’ve worked and volunteered at several museums in the Chicagoland including the Robert R. McCormick Museum at Cantigny Park. I’ve earned a B.A. in English Literature from Saint Michael’s College, a certification in Museum Studies from Northwestern University, and am currently enrolled at Eastern Illinois University as a graduate student in the Historical Administration program. Now I’m completing a six month internship with Volkening Heritage Farm at Spring Valley. My career focus is collections care and management. My dream is to work as a collections manager and write a children’s book series to help kids understand what museums do. 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 5

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, Sept. 19, 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.

Autumn Harvest Festival Sunday, Oct. 4, Noon-5pm We’re looking for volunteers to help at Spring Valley’s largest event – Autumn Harvest Festival. Activities are

Dates to Remember

held at both the cabin and the farm and include children’s activities and crafts, 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 setup on Thursday, October 1. Call if you can lend a hand!

• Wed., Sept. 2.................. 6:30-8:30pm Volunteer Meeting • Mon., Sept. 14................ 1-4pm Handy Crafter Meeting • Sat., Sept. 19.................. 9am-1pm Conservation Workday • Thurs, Oct. 1................... 9:30am-3pm Autumn Harvest Set-up

A Haunting in the Valley

• Sun., Oct. 4..................... Noon-5pm Autumn Harvest Fest

Friday, Oct. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 24 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!

• Mon., Oct. 12.................. 1-4pm Handy Crafter Meeting • Fri., Oct 23...................... 5:30-9pm A Haunting in the Valley • Sat., Oct 24..................... 5:30-9pm A Haunting in the Valley.

Happy Birthday to… September

Pats on the back to the following volunteers... • Angela Waidanz for maintaining the Native American Garden.

• Lynn Eikenbary, Kristi Overgaard, Janeen Ross, and Simona Stalev for assisting with Nature Center summer camps. • Gail Ameer, Eve Carter, Lynn Eikenbary and Carolyn White for representing Spring Valley at Schaumburg’s Farmers Market.

to Dennis and Rosemary Colbert for being awarded the 2015 Ellsworth Meineke Award for their extraordinary effort in preserving our living heritage through their various volunteer efforts at Spring Valley.

• Rick Domme (Welcome back!)

• Jessica D’Souza

• Natalie Lichtenbert

Nancy Lyons Peggy Kulis Nancy Ruffolo Dick Ruffolo Lynn Eikenbary Ellen Hanes Barb Lam

October

Congratulations…

Welcome New Volunteers…

1 8 11 18 20

• Leanna Rice

4 5 8 9 12 14 15

Rosemary Colbert Don Olszewski Julie Nilson Marilou Vandrush Sue Ringfelt Bruce Kuhnhofer Ken Ogorzalek Pat Heiberger

• Luke Schmidt

• Kayla Song

25 Kim Savino 26 Jim Peterson Phil Skultety 28 Gail Ameer Barb Mitchell

16 18 19 21 22

Eve Carter Susanne Cannella Gene Niewiadomski Simona Stalev Denise Suender Tony Meo Emily Steele Margie Vollkommer

• Julie Worsham

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 2015

Monday

Tuesday

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

Labor Day

•Harvest Garden Party 10am •Food Preservation 2pm

Handy Crafters Meeting 1pm

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

Wednesday

Volunteer Meeting 6:30pm

•Stroller Strolls 10am •Botanical Sketching 3pm

Schaumburg Community Garden Club 7pm

•Stroller Strolls 2:30pm •Botanical Sketching 3pm

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

Friday

Saturday

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

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

•Farm, Family, Food 5:30pm

•Girl Scout Badge Blitz 9am

•Concert at the Cabin 5pm

National Public Lands Day 9am •Prairie Plants 10am •Turtle Trek 1pm •Harvest Moon Bonfire 6:30pm •The Fall Sky 8pm

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

Thursday

•Unbeelievable Honeybees 11am •Undercover Agents 1pm •Trails and Ales 4pm

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

Farm Hour: Tues-Fri 9:00am-2:00 pm • Sat/Sun 10:00am-4:00pm 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

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

OCTOBER 2015

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

FarmHours: Tues-Fri 9:00am-2:00 pm • Sat/Sun 10:00am-4:00pm

Autumn Harvest Festival Set-Up 9:30am

Cabin Closed Bold indicates volunteer activities

Saturday

Friday

Autumn Harvest Festival Set-Up 9:30am

Italics indicates programs which may be taken as complimentary by volunteers See “What’s Happening” for program descriptions

Autumn Harvest Festival Noon

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

Handy Crafters Meeting 1pm

Columbus Day

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

•Stroller Strolls 10am

Spring Valley Nature Club 6:30pm

Schaumburg Community Garden Club 7pm

•Stroller Strolls 2:30pm

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

•Warbler Watch 8am •Spider Web Hunt 10am •Follow that Leaf 10am •Prairie Family Pioneers 1pm

•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

•Falling Colors 10am •Leaf Collecting 101 1pm

•Jammin’ Round the Campfire 6pm

A Haunting in the Valley 6:15pm

•Howl at the Moon Hike 7pm

A Haunting in the Valley 6:15pm

•Spooky Campfire Cooking Noon Trick or Treating at Spring Valley 3pm

Halloween

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 5 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.

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 aligned with Illinois State Standards and NGSS.

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, 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.

Scout Badges

Hourly use fees:

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’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.

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

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

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

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...” Scott Stompor.... Graphic Artist

SCHAUMBURG PARK DISTRICT WEBSITE: www.parkfun.com

E-MAIL:

springvalley@parkfun.com

MEMBER:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Tony LaFrenere

Participants should dress appropriately for weather conditions.

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

Environmental Outreach Program

SPRING VALLEY MISSION STATEMENT:

Unless otherwise noted, all programs are held rain or shine.