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.7 no.5 • Sept.-Oct. ‘16
In this issue...
As community nature centers go, Spring Valley is somewhat unique in also interpreting 19th century agriculture as part of our educational mission. Some may see the Heritage Farm as distinct from the Nature Center and its focus on local ecology, but in truth, one cannot learn the story of the natural landscape without also looking at the ways human society interacts with that landscape. This issue of the Natural Enquirer has a decidedly agricultural focus, with a fascinating treatise on silos and silage along with a short article on the planting of autumn crops (no, it’s not a typo) and an update on the Heritage Farm’s resident team of draft horses. We hope that these short teasers inspire you to come out to the farm to see what is new. The changing seasons provide just as many new insights on the farm as they do on Spring Valley’s prairies and wetlands!
Inside An American Icon.................................................2
Volunteer News Contents
October Means Planting at the Farm..................3
Volunteer Information..........................................7
What’s Happenin’.............................................. 4-5
Volunteer Calendar........................................... 8-9
New Horses Make Schaumburg Home ..............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 6
An American Icon
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by Walter Plinske
n 1873, on a dairy farm outside of Spring Grove, Illinois, a young man came home after graduating from the Illinois Industrial College (which later became the University of Illinois). Fred Hatch was filled with new ideas acquired in school and one that intrigued him most came from Germany. It involved the storage and preservation of animal feed stuffs. Over there, farmers were making something called “silage” by burying corn plant material in the ground. Fred convinced his father, Lewis, who owned the farm, to go along with him in an attempt to make their own silage. The result was the invention of that American icon, the silo, and the rest is history. Fred Hatch had learned that farmers in Europe used pits and trenches to store their animal feedstuffs to use over the sometimes extended cold periods of the year. To farmer Hatch, this was apparently a novel idea but, in fact, the concept was as old as agriculture itself. In Europe, the practice of burying foodstuffs of all kinds in carefully layered constructs called “clamps” had been done for thousands of years. The Native Americans, especially those in colder climes, constructed something similar, later referred to by the French as “cache”. The conditions common to both of these methods were constant temperatures, darkness, and humidity levels which were ideal in preventing the spoilage of food.
the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there were only 91 silos in the U.S. in 1882. By 1895, there were more than 50,000 silos across the country, and by 1903, there were an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 silos dotting the landscape. The rise in the dairy industry and in the number of dairy farms with silos went hand-in-hand. According to a Minnesota Historic Farms Study, “Dairy cattle only gave milk from spring to fall when they were fed on green pastures. Limited to this schedule, farmers (in the northern climates) were unable to participate in higher-priced markets for milk. The silo transformed dairy farming by allowing animals to be fed green fodder year-round, which encouraged cows to give milk through the winter.”
The Hatch team decided to modify the idea by digging an 8- foot deep pit inside their dairy barn lined with rocks and mortar. Upon this they built up walls made of a double thickness of wood with tarpaper sandwiched in between. The entire above ground part reached up 16 feet and was a rectangle 10 x 16 feet. A horse-powered chopper was used to The high cut corn stalks nutritional Wooden Stave into small value of feeds pieces with an elevator to dump it into such as chopped corn stalks, grasses, the top of the silo. They found that as legumes, sorghum, and field corn could be maintained when placed in a silo, long as they later removed the top layer called ensiling. Silage not exposed to of silage on a daily basis, they had little air ferments until all the air in the silage spoilage; however, there was spoilage is used up. The silage then stabilizes in the corners of the boxy structure. This and the nutritional value preserved. To led them to later build a circular silo. remove that daily layer that the Hatches Because their herd of cows showed found would limit spoilage, the farmer so much improvement after their new had to climb up the side of the silo, step feed, the Hatches built two circular silos onto the top layer of silage, and pitch three years later in 1876. According to the surface 2 to 4 inches down a chute 2
Cement Stave
constructed parallel and part of the silo itself. This labor-intensive practice was eventually alleviated with the invention of the automatic unloader that did not come into general use until the 1950s. The first vertical silos were built of wood and were prone to deterioration. Silos then began to be constructed from brick, concrete, and tile blocks. The poured concrete silo became a common approach. These were made by consecutive pours of concrete stacked one upon the other until the desired height was met. The cement-stave silo was widely diffused throughout the country and perhaps is the most iconic. Similar to the wooden-stave silo where vertical staves are held in place by iron bands and turnbuckles, the cement version provided strength, durability, and economy. Following WW2, silos were assembled with fiberglass and or metal panels. Though it has been many years since a dairy farm operation existed here in Schaumburg, examples of silos can still be found. Hiding in plain view, all are cement-stave silos. One is at the Mennonite church on Roselle road. Another is located in Bock Park, at the Senior Center Barn. Lastly, we have one here at the S.V. Nature center: Ask us why!
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 6
October Means Planting at the Volkening Heritage Farm
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by Jon Kuester
ctober, more than any month, evokes images of harvest time. Corn shocks and pumpkins have been interwoven into our common psyche as signs of fall and harvest. For most corn loving American farmers this is true, but for the grain loving Germans of Schaumburg in the 19th century, October meant planting time.
Schaumburg Township, located just west of Chicago, was a haven for German Lutherans in the last half of the 19th century. Starting around 1850, German immigrants developed a conservative closed society based around their Missouri Synod Church. These new settlers from the Old World knew little to nothing about corn and chose instead to focus their attention on small grain production. In 1880, Schaumburg farmers produced more than nine times as many bushels of oats than the national average for farms across the country. They also produced more than three times as many bushels of wheat and twice as many bushels of flax, rye, and buckwheat. With all of these crops coming ready for harvest between July and August, the fall was left open for that peculiar practice of planting winter wheat. Today at the Volkening Heritage Farm we follow the patterns and seasons of Schaumburg’s German forefathers. Every October we plow down the oat stubble and plant hard red winter wheat. As Schaumburg farmers were slow to adopt new technology, we also forgo the use of a seed drill and broadcast the seed by hand with the help of several hundred school kids. Children are wonderful little soil tampers, and with a quick harrowing to even out the large piles of spilled grain, we have a finished wheat field ready for the snow.
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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 6
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 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. We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity. It is our attempt to serve you better!
Growing up Wild: Early Childhood Teacher’s Workshop
Saturday, Sept. 10 • 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.
PLT: Early Childhood Teacher Workshop
Saturday, Oct. 8 • 9:00 a.m.- Noon Join us for a half day of curriculum exploration! Developed with Pre-K educators and early childhood specialists.
Historic Trades Series
Concert at the Cabin
Saturday, Oct. 8 • 10:00 a.m.-Noon Saturday, Nov. 5 • 10:00 a.m.-Noon Saturday, Dec. 10 • 10:00 a.m.-Noon Learn simple beginner’s guidelines and skills, create fun take home items.
Saturday, Sept. 10 • 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.
ALL AGES Breakfast with the Birds
Sunday, Sept. 18 • 7:30-9:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 16 • 7:30-9:30 a.m. Grab binoculars and spend a morning in the woods seeking colorful warblers.
Howl at the Moon Hike
Friday, Sept. 16 • 7:30-9:00 p.m. Brave the dark to see what happens at Spring Valley when the sun goes down.
ADULT or TEEN
Harper College & Spring Valley
Register through Harper College or call 847/925-6707. Class held at Spring Valley.
EARLY CHILDHOOD
Home Canning & Food Preservation
Follow That Leaf
Saturday, Sept. 10 • 2:00-5:00 p.m. This class is filled with everything you need to know to start canning and preserving foods! Course: LFS0006-001
Monday, Oct. 10 • 1:00-2:30 p.m. listen to the story Leaf Man and go on a leaf collecting hike, following the clues.
How a Spider Spins its Web
Food Preservation
Saturday, Oct. 22 • 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Join us while we enjoy a book, a short hike and a craft centered around spiders.
Saturday, Sept. 24 • Noon-3:00 p.m. Learn the historic importance of food preservation and preserve your own!
Those Darn Squirrels
Hike with a Naturalist
Saturday, Sept. 17 • 1:00-2:30 p.m. Read a story about squirrels and what they’re doing to get ready for winter.
Saturday, Sept. 10 • 9:00-10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 • 9:00-10:30 a.m. Enjoy a guided nature hike and discover a new portion of Spring Valley each month.
Autumn Harvest Festival
Trails and Ales
Saturday, Sept. 24 • 4:00-7:00 p.m. Join us for an experience of fine seasonal beers, tasty breads and a jaunt through the fall prairie.
$4 per person • $16 per family • 3 yrs & under Free
Weekly Yoga at the Cabin
Tuesday, Sept. 6-Dec. 13 • 6:00-7:00 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6-Dec. 13 • 7:30-8:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 8-Dec. 15 • 6:00-7:00 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 8-Dec. 15 • 7:30-8:30 a.m. Nurture your mind and body in this rustic setting and connect with nature.
National Public Lands Day
Sunday, Oct. 2 • Noon-5 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 24 • 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
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 Sponsored by are available throughout the day. Click here for more information.
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.
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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 6
Home School Naturalist Group Programs
FREE NATURE PROGRAMS Jammin’ Round the Campfire
Spring Valley Nature Center and Heritage Farm are the perfect places for hands-on, exploration based science programs.
Saturday, Oct. 15 • 6-8 p.m.
Enjoy an evening filled with songs, stories and mores! 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.
This fall the following topics are offered:
• Nature’s Art – Get outdoors and get inspired. Participants will complete several art projects that use natural materials or are inspired by nature. • Pollination – Explore flower anatomy, insect adaptations and simulate pollinating a flower. • Predator vs. Prey – Compare and contrast the adaptations that animals have that help them survive, and see what special relationships there are between predators and their prey. • Available every fall: Conservation in Action, Woodlands, Owls: Predators of the Night, Cycling, Farms and Food, Gardening, Wetlands, Nighttime Nature
HERITAGE FARM DROP-IN DAYS Harvest Bonfire
Saturday, Sept. 17 • 6-8 p.m.
For more information about programs and pricing, or to schedule a program, call 847/985-2100.
Help celebrate our fall harvest time by taking a wagon ride through Spring Valley, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over an open fire and enjoying a lanternlit tour of the historic barn and house.
YOUTH
$7 per person • Children ages 3 yrs and younger are free
Cub Scout Saturdays
Saturday, Sept. 3 • 9:00-10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17 • 9:00-10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 • 9:00-10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 5 • 9:00-10:30 a.m. Join an experienced naturalist to get a handson approach completing some requirements for their achievements and electives.
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.
Wooly Bears
Sunday, Oct. 16 • 10:00-11:30 a.m. Search for woolly bear caterpillars! Program is geared for three year olds and their families.
Girl Scout Saturdays
Saturday, Sept. 3 • 11:00 a.m.-Noon Saturday, Sept. 17 • 11:00 a.m.-Noon Saturday, Oct. 8 • 11:00 a.m.-Noon Join an experienced naturalist to get a handson approach completing some requirements for their achievements and electives.
A Haunting in the Valley Fri. & Sat., Oct. 28 & 29 • 6:15-9:30PM
Scout Saturday: Reptiles and Amphibians Merit Badge
Before Oct. 23: $5 per person • Walk-in: $6 per person
Saturday, Oct. 8 • 1:00-6:00 p.m. Join a certified Merit Badge Counselor for an afternoon searching for reptiles and amphibians.
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
Click here for more information.
Saturday, Oct. 22 • 2:00-4:00 p.m. Get into the Halloween spirit by creating your own edible ghoulish treats over a campfire.
Trick or Treating at Spring Valley Tuesday, Oct. 31 • 3-6 p.m. Free
Girl Scout Badge Blitz
Saturday, Oct. 15 • 9 a.m.-4:15 p.m. • NC
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.
Calling all Girl Scouts! Spend the day at Spring Valley earning badges, learning outdoor skills, working with others and having fun! Concurrent badge programs will be offered during the day for Daisy, Brownie and Junior level scouts. All programs are led by experienced naturalists and most fulfill all the requirements to earn the badge. Scouts must register for each program they would like to attend. Registration will be first-come, first-served, so sign up early to secure your spot! Call 847-985-2100 with questions or for more information.
Weekend Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides at the Farm
From noon-3 p.m., 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. • Saturdays & Sundays only • Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis the day of the ride and no earlier than 15 minutes before the 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. Groups of 15 and larger are encouraged to schedule their own group wagon rental. For more information, call Heritage Farm at 847/985-2102.
9-10:30 a.m.
10:45 a.m.12:15 p.m.
Daisy 5-7y
Activities I (15859 • $8)
Use Resources Wisely (15862 • $6)
Brownie 7-9y
Hiker (15863 • $6)
Letterboxer (15864 • $6)
Junior 9-11y
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Camper 9:30 a.m.-Noon (15867 • $12)
12:15-1 p.m.
Lunch & Campfire
1-2:30 p.m.
2:45-4:15 p.m.
Activities II (15861 • $7)
Make the World a Better Place (15860 • $6)
Bugs (15865 • $6)
Senses (15866 • $6)
Animal Habitats 1-3:30 p.m. (15868 • $10)
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 6
New Horses Make Schaumburg Home
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by Jon Kuester
f you pay attention to the livestock at the farm, you have likely noticed the two new horses pulling the big yellow wagon or roaming around the paddocks. After more than six years at the farm, it was time for Prince and Duke, our Percheron geldings, to move on to retirement. Taking their place is a new team of Belgian geldings named Bob and Dick.
Belgian horses are the most direct descendant of the Flemish horse or “Great Horse” of the middle ages. They were bred as knights’ mounts and were required to carry not only their own armor but the knight, his armor, and armaments, as well. This led to the Belgian being the heaviest horse breed on the planet. By the 17th century, the age of knights and armor was coming to an end and the Belgian, like many other heavy breeds, was converted to a draft or pulling horse. The industrial revolution of the late 18 and 19th century led to an increased demand for draft power on farms and in the cities. Innovations like threshing machines and cotton mills meant that farmers could process more in a shorter time; but in order to process more, you must also grow more and this increased the demand for horses to plow, cultivate, and harvest field crops. Those same crops had to be moved from place to place which led to the age of the express wagon. Six and eight horse teams could be seen moving heavy loads
Jon Kuester with New Horses, Bob and Dick
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through congested city streets and unloading them in never ending warehouse districts. While breeds like Clydesdales and shires became popular for city work, the Belgian was better suited for farm life. Their short sleek hair meant that mud did not stick to them as easily as long haired Clydesdales and their tremendous weight meant they could get heavy loads started even in soft farm fields. Today the Belgian is the most common breed of draft horse in America and their
even easygoing temperament makes them perfect for high visitation areas such as living history sites and outdoor museums. Our new horses Bob and Dick came to us from an Amish farm in Indiana where they have lived since they were two year olds. They are young and full of vigor and are right at home pulling our heavy wagon around the farm. We look forward to many years of use and a happy home for them.
Meet Brenda!
I am thrilled to join Spring Valley in the role of Visitor Services Coordinator! Growing up in an environment where unstructured, outdoor play was encouraged, I believe the greatest learning takes place when all senses are engaged. This is why I am especially excited to be coming to Spring Valley as the new Bison’s Bluff nature playground becomes a reality. It amazes me that, no matter your age, nature continuously provides something new to experience, learn, and enjoy. I am honored to contribute to a mission bigger than myself and support Spring Valley’s dedication to conservation, education, and history. I live in Palatine with my husband Barry and our delightfully energetic border collie, Murphy. I have a B.A. in Elementary Education and am certified as an Office Administrator. My experience includes teaching, project coordination, publishing, and customer service.
Outside of work, I delve into my creative side through music and art projects; enjoy walks with my dog; and work in my yard. I also love spending time with my husband enjoying our patio and fire pit while experimenting with new recipes on the grill. 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 6
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. 24 • 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 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. 2 • Noon-5 p.m. 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, 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, September 29. Call if you can lend a hand!
A Haunting in the Valley
Friday, Oct. 28 and Saturday, Oct. 29 We need your help with our Halloween event which will feature a wagon ride to the trail entrance 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... • Lynn Eikenbary, Hilary Ellis, Ann Scacco, Ravi Shah, and Judy Velan for assisting with Nature Center summer camps.
Dates to Remember
• Wed., Sept. 7...................6:30-8:30 p.m. . Volunteer Meeting • Mon., Sept. 12........................... 1-4 p.m. Handy Crafter Meeting • Sat., Sept. 24.....................9 a.m.-1 p.m. Conservation Workday • Thurs, Sept. 29.............9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Autumn Harvest Set-up • Sun., Oct. 2......................... Noon-5 p.m. Autumn Harvest Fest • Mon., Oct. 10............................. 1-4 p.m. Handy Crafter Meeting • Fri., Oct. 28...........................5:30-9 p.m. A Haunting in the Valley • Sat., Oct. 29..........................5:30-9 p.m. A Haunting in the Valley • Mon., Oct 31.............................. 3-6 p.m. Trick or Treating at Spring Valley
Welcome New Volunteers… • Jose Aguirre-Garcia • Cathy Blecker • Jeff Guerrero • Gloria Moritz • Steve Prorak • Hope Rapp • Joe Scacco • Max Schmidt • Kayley Stoner
Happy Birthday to… September
• Gail Ameer, Eve Carter, Lynn Eikenbary and Ellie Vogel for representing Spring Valley at Schaumburg’s Farmers Market.
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• Steven Zanfardino for sprucing up and maintaining the library at the Nature Center.
Congratulations to…
Mert Rutledge for being awarded the 2016 Ellsworth Meineke Award for her extraordinary effort in preserving our living heritage through her various volunteer efforts at Spring Valley. Award presented by Al Larson and Donna Johnson of the Spring Valley Nature Club.
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Nancy Lyons Liz Entwhistle Peggy Kulis Joe Scacco Nancy Ruffolo Dick Ruffolo
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Rosemary Colbert Don Olszewski Julie Nilson Marilou Vandrush Sue Ringfelt Bruce Kuhnhofer Ken Ogorzalek Pat Heiberger Eve Carter Tessa Sheeks
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Lynn Eikenbary Barb Lam Jim Peterson Gail Ameer Barb Mitchell
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Caroline Wygant Susanne Cannella Gene Niewiadomski Simona Stalev Denise Suender Tony Meo Emily Steele Margie Vollkommer
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 2016
Monday
Tuesday
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Farm Hours: Tues-Sun 10am-4pm
Thursday
Friday
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Cabin Closed Bold indicates volunteer activities
Saturday
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•Cub Scout Saturday 9am •Girl Scout Saturday 11am
Italics indicates programs which may be taken as complimentary by volunteers See “What’s Happening” for program descriptions
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Labor Day
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Handy Crafters Meeting 1pm
•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm
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•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm
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•Breakfast with the Birds 7:30am
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Volunteer Meeting 6:30pm
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Schaumburg Community Garden Club 7pm
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•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm
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•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm
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•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm Sierra Club 6:30pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm
•Concert at the Cabin 5pm
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•Howl at the Moon 7:30pm
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Autumn Harvest Festival Set-Up 9:30am
•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm
•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm
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•Cub Scout Saturday 9am •Girl Scout Saturday 11am •Those Darn Squirrels 1pm
•Harvest Bonfire 6pm
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National Public Lands Day 9am •Food Preservation Noon
•Trails and Ales 4pm
•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm
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•Hike with a Naturalist 9am •Home Canning & Food Preservation 2pm
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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 2016
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Saturday
Friday
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Farm Hours: Tues-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
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Autumn Harvest Festival Noon
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•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm
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Handy Crafters Meeting 1pm •Follow that Leaf 1pm
Columbus Day
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•Breakfast with the Birds 7:30am •Wooly Bears 10am
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•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm
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Spring Valley Nature Club 6:30pm
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•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm Sierra Club 6:30pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm
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•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm
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•Hike with a Naturalist 9am •Wood Working 10am •Girl Scout Saturday 11am •Scout Saturday 1pm
•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm
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Schaumburg Community Garden Club 7pm
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•Girl Scout Badge Blitz 9am
•Jammin’ Round the Campfire 6pm
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•Cub Scout Saturdays 9am •How a Spider Spins its Web 11am •Spooky Campfire Cooking 2pm
•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm
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Trick or Treating at Spring Valley 3pm
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Halloween
•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm
•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm
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A Haunting in the Valley 6:15pm
A Haunting in the Valley 6:15pm
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 6 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
Vera Meineke Nature Center
Nature Center Grounds & Trails...............Open Daily...............8AM-5PM Volkening Heritage Farm Grounds..........Closed......................Dec.1-March 1
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.......Tue-Sun...... 10AM-4PM 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.
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