Natural Enquirer - November/December 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.7 no.6 • Nov.-Dec. ‘16

In this issue...

Life is full of surprises! This is a cliché, of course, but when one visits a place like Spring Valley, surprises can literally be found around every bend in the trail. Opening one’s eyes and awareness to these hidden surprises can be the difference between a ho-hum walk along a trail and a transformative moment that stays with you for the rest of the day. This issue of the Natural Enquirer zeroes in on the surprises that can result when we choose to engage with the world around us, particularly Taking a Step Back, our first article. While the decision to play a virtual reality-based game may not seem like something likely to create surprises, Pokémon Go has surprised many people with its phenomenal ability to get millions of people outdoors and moving. Lastly, those who fretted over the decision over 35 years ago to preserve the Boeger-Meginnis farmhouse probably could not have imagined the impact that their decision would have today, the point made in our final article. Never doubt that the simplest decisions we make can have far-reaching effects and don’t forget those hidden surprises!

Inside Taking a Step Back........................................... 2-3

Volunteer News Contents

Catching Poké-Fever............................................4

Volunteer Information..........................................9

Should It Stay or Should It Go?...................4 & 8

Volunteer Calendar........................................10-11

What’s Happenin’.............................................. 6-7 Spring Valley General Information....................12

Schaumburg Park District

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

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Taking a Step Back

by Matt Streimatter

otivation can come from the strangest of places. Recently, I found inspiration in the bottom of a five gallon plastic pot. This black pot used for holding shrubs has influenced my whole outlook on the durability and strength of native plants. Before you turn the page, let me try to explain. Every year at our native plant sale in April, we sell a variety of native species in an attempt to promote native gardening and landscapes around resident’s homes. Two years ago, one shrub that was purchased did not make it through the early summer heat, and was returned to us in an exchange. Since the shrub was dead, it eventually became a door stop for our back greenhouse exit. While staff milled around for events, programs, and everyday tasks…this plastic pot was slid back and forth, rarely catching a glance. But, as time passed, this once forgotten container of soil began to change and quickly gained our attention. This past summer, we noticed that our door stop was coming back to life. To date, there is now little bluestem at full height within the pot. The little bluestem is healthy and actually producing seed. The nearby opportunistic prairie has once again worked its magic. Airborne seed floated across the trail to eventually set root, showing a true display of diligence, adaptability, and a willingness to survive. Thinking about this door stop prairie, made me want to take a little time to share some other moments that I have experienced during my time in the field. Moments that made me take a step back and realize how special these plants and animals are. Each season brings a different activity within our hoop house. While the spring, summer, and fall months are definitely the busiest times, there is a unique relaxing quality about spending time in the hoop house during winter. As snow builds up along the sides of the structure, it transitions from a plastic green house to an arctic igloo. After a heavy blizzard, the roof of the house will be completely covered with a sheet of snow. The sun will beat down on these layers causing the snow to melt. If you are inside at the perfect moment, the snow shield above gives way and slides to the ground in a thunderous crash. It’s as close as I would like to get to being inside an avalanche. Through these colder months the hoop house traps solar heat and maintains its own climate. Every now and then, when the conditions are right, the trapped humidity within the poly walls actually produces snow inside the hoop house! It really is amazing to walk into the hoop house on a clear sunny day to see tiny snowflakes falling inside. During winter, we grow flats from seed from a variety of prairie species in our heated

greenhouse. Once the plants have firmly rooted, they are ready to be hardened off in our hoop house. Because it is

Snow on Hoop House Roof

Prairie Doorstop

not heated but remains warmer than the outside air, this process allows the plants to experience the colder night time temperatures gradually, before we plant them in the field. We also dry collected seed, which occasionally find their way to the ground from wind or a passing mouse. Because of this, our hoop house has become a living ecosystem. As different species have gone to seed over the years, the limestone path that covers the floor is flourishing with many rare species. Some of these plants reach 7 feet tall, slowly spreading upwards along the structure’s plastic walls. We look at the hoop house as a tool to help us grow prairie plants for the future. But as time passes, in some ways this very tool turned into a prairie on its own. If you plant it…they will come. Wildlife at Spring Valley is fairly elusive but definitely present. They are accustomed to daily walkers, programs, and rumbling John Deere gators, utilizing their natural gifts to remain hidden many times yards away from a passing patron. Over the years, we have

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experienced some special moments with different animals in the field. Many leave us in awe, only to eventually float out of our memory bank like a red-tailed hawk through the smoke of a prairie burn, but some remain. One late spring day, the crew was milling about around the scout shed, loading shepherd’s hooks and other equipment for an upcoming event. Focused on the task at hand, we almost walked right by something special a few feet away. One of the crew happened to look towards our wood pile and noticed the mulch was moving. From our vantage point, each individual wood chip was shifting about and even leaping a few inches off the ground! Puzzled, of course, we walked over for closer inspection to ensure our sanity and found thousands of immature American toads covering the ground. While relieved that there was a logical explanation, we noticed that all of the toads were gone only a few days later. They found their way under logs and fallen leaves to mature and grow and we were grateful to be in the right place at the right time. A prairie in the fall months can look sparse and vacant from afar. The summer bloom has come and gone and the enduring goldenrods and asters provide the last proof of life for the season. This time of year, the crew is dialed in on seed collecting before the cold winds and snow flatten the remaining chaff. While collecting seed, it is very easy, and actually preferred, to zone in on one species at a time. Once the eyes get focused on a particular plant, it seems to stand out among the tall grasses and other species; however, in another “take a step back moment,” it is easy to pass by an abundance of things happening around you. The prairie is far from dormant at this time of year. Sunshine on a colder fall day seems to bring many animals and insects out of the woodwork. Countless times I have taken a quick break from seed collecting to notice a praying mantis on a big bluestem stalking inches from my face. Garter snakes also climb up the tall compass plant stems to gather the last warm rays of sun before hibernation. Argiope spider webs can also go

unseen until they catch the glare of the sun. Sometimes upon spotting them, we have realized that we are completely surrounded by the webs. And it makes us wonder how we even got to that location without walking through one. We have hiked through countless deer beds; these flattened grasses are a sign that the area was occupied the night before. When empty, they are not very exciting;

He was quite shocked when I told him that it was not a recording! The nearby yips and howls definitely added to the experience and reminded all of us that wildlife is never too far away. I am very grateful to have had a chance to witness some of these experiences out in the field. I guess I should learn to expect the unexpected, but each day usually surprises me somehow. I even

Argiope Web

but, when occupied, it can really get your heart rate pumping…as whitetail tend to wait until the last second to leap from their beds to safety. Haunting in the Valley is a popular Halloween event at Spring Valley. Patrons are shuttled away from the Nature Center in a covered wagon for a night time walk through the woods, with stops along the way where actors tell a tale. A few years back, I was towing a group in our tractor and reached our destination. Upon arrival I shut off the engine so the group could unload for their walk. As soon as they got off the wagon, an ambulance drove by in the distance with its sirens blaring. This in turn, set off a pack of coyotes that was just past a nearby shrub line. Coyotes often call back to any sirens or alarms at night, but the timing of this coincidence was perfect for our event. One patron even said to me jokingly, “Nice job on the sound effects.” 3

recently noticed maple and box elder tree saplings growing out of our brush chipper. Piles of woodchips and mulch built up in the cracks of the chipper and seeds sprouted to create this ironic ecosystem. These are constant reminders that before we left our footprint on the land, the outdoor world was here first; and it will do all it can to remain and flourish. From snapping turtles laying their eggs near the cabin to coopers hawks slicing through gaps of the tree limbs in the arboretum, these moments are what make natural areas so unique. Whether it as at Spring Valley or at the bird feeder in your backyard, occurrences like these are happening every day. I have learned that, if I take a step back, these moments can even occur away from our surrounding prairies and woodlands. Places like detention areas along our highways, in plantings within our parking lot islands and, in some rare cases, in our door stops.

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Catching Poké-Fever

he three hunters pause briefly to check their position. Consulting their GPS units, they confirm that they are on the right path and it shouldn’t be long before they stumble across their quarry. While stopped, they take a sip of cool water to ward off the heat of the day, and then continue down the path. As the group makes its way through the tall prairie grass, they can feel the piercing gaze of unseen eyes studying their every move. It isn’t until they round a corner that it happens. Appearing out of nowhere, the creature leaps into their path, blocking the way forward. Without hesitation, the leader of the trio reaches into her backpack and seeks a weapon. Fumbling through the group’s supplies, her hand closes around a sphere. Without hesitation, she hurls the red-and-white Pokéball at the beast and it disappears in a flash. All that remains is the Pokéball, rocking gently on the path, the beast now trapped within. The group celebrates, and continues down the path, seeking more creatures to collect. While the scenario described above may seem like a scene out of an adventure novel or a sci-fi movie, it is one that has played out thousands of times daily at Spring Valley this summer. Since its release in July, Pokémon Go has quickly become one of the most popular mobile games in history with an estimated 75 million players worldwide today. The game is based on the popular 1990s game Pokémon where players catch, train, and battle virtual creatures that

by Amanda Anderson & Derek Gronlund inhabit a world similar to our own. In the new Pokémon Go game, these creatures are brought to life using GPS and cell phone camera technology that allows players to see and interact with Pokémon in real world locations. It is this blend of nostalgia and augmented reality that have helped make this game so popular so quickly. While it may be easy to dismiss this game as a fad, or highlight the bad behaviors of a few players (catching Pokémon at the Holocaust Museum, for example) Pokémon Go has many points that align with Spring Valley’s mission, and these should be acknowledged. By playing this game, people are spending more time in nature, coming together to interact with like-minded people, and learning about their local communities, First, this isn’t a game you play from the couch. The game uses a cellphone’s GPS to determine location and movement. If you are standing still, you won’t encounter any Pokémon, gain supplies, or be able to advance in the game. The more a player walks (or runs, skates, bikes, etc.) the more likely they are to find a variety of Pokémon. Players must also look for and walk to waypoints called Pokéstops where players can find items and gain experience. In order to make progress, players must go out into the real world and move! Another unique feature of the game is the focus on teamwork. All players are divided into one of three teams, Mystic, Valor, and Instinct. These teams can battle each other to win control of virtual training gyms in the game. Players can either battle an opponent’s gym to take it over or help their team defend from invaders. The more players that help defend a gym, the harder it becomes for the other teams to overthrow it. This encourages players to work together and as a result it has become common for players to gather in large groups to play. 4

Finally, Pokémon Go is a fun way for people to learn about their communities and visit new areas. The game uses data from actual historical and cultural landmarks to create virtual points of interest. Prominent places in the real world, such as town squares, monuments, and parks are often designated as gyms and Pokéstops. Here at Spring Valley, there are three different gym locations and dozens of Pokéstops. This summer, hundreds of people a day came to Spring Valley to hunt Pokémon. For many, it was their first visit to the site, and most of them had never heard of Spring Valley prior to this. Education staff regularly spoke with visitors who came from all over the Chicagoland area, including the city itself, just to collect Pokémon at the Nature Center and Heritage Farm. And surprisingly, many of these new visitors became regulars. It became common to see the same groups of people hiking the trails at least once a week. While it may seem to the contrary, this mobile game has been the spark that many needed to get out into the real world and enjoy the natural beauty around them. With a large number of historical markers that act as Pokéstops and gyms, along with user friendly trails, Spring Valley has quickly become one of the best places in Schaumburg to play Pokémon Go. So grab some friends (or children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc.), charge your phone, and try to catch ‘em all. Who knows, you just might catch Poké-Fever, too!

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Should It Stay or Should It Go?

hen visitors come to the Volkening Heritage Farm, they see a collection of historic buildings arranged as they might have appeared on a typical Schaumburg farmstead during the 1880s. The farmhouse, in particular, is a focal point, set next to the large kitchen garden and bordered by a white picket fence. This building is the cornerstone of programming and yet, 37 years ago, the value of preserving it was questioned. Today, students can Boeger House, 1950 bake on a wood burning stove and become immersed in history, due in part to decisions that were made back when Spring Valley was in its infancy. In 1979, the Boeger-Meginnis farmhouse was saved through the efforts of many people. Community members came together for a common cause and saved the then 131 year old house from demolition. Teenagers from Schaumburg High School, community leaders, and early Spring Valley advocates, as well as the Schaumburg Park District and Board all helped save what the newspapers at the time called a “historic landmark.” Why the house was originally set for demolition was simple and straightforward; Cook County decided to straighten Plum Grove Road and the house and barn were right in the path. If only the house’s historic significance and reason for saving it were as simple! Many newspaper clippings from the spring of 1979 show a fascinating conflict between those who wished to save the house and those who opposed it. By reading the articles, one can see that people on each side of the argument became passionate. One park board member disputed the house’s historic significant by stating that it actually had none. In July, the Tribune Suburban edition stated, “[The park board member] is still wondering why the house will be moved at all. He says that historically it may be important but that the structure

by Patty Kennedy Green

itself is not unique. Since May 10, he has conferred with an historical architect, who has agreed with his assessment.” (“Landmark all but saved” Bill Utter, Trib-Suburban, 7/5/79).

Boeger House moving off ground

The park board member also did not wish to see the farmhouse moved and then sit idle. He believed there were enough old structures on the west side of the property doing that already. In his defense, his concerns were very real. Many old farm buildings already existed at Spring Valley and adding one more would have made it look even less like a nature preserve (which was what Spring Valley was supposed to become.) Other house saving advocates, like David Meineke and Alice Whyte, disagreed and believed the farmhouse to be very historically significant regardless of its architectural style. As the July 9, 1979, Herald states, ‘Mrs. Whyte said…”The most important thing is that this is the second oldest building in the village. If it sits there [on Spring Valley grounds] and it’s painted on the outside and nothing done, it still should be saved.” (“Efforts to move building causes fight for control.” John Morrissey. Paddock – Herald. 7/9/79). 5

Some local teenagers from Schaumburg High School got into the debate to save what would be the Heritage Farm’s farmhouse, as well. Cathy Edlemann, Mary Edlemann, Al Maday, and Tammie Ford wanted to prove the house’s historic significance by researching its history. Their ultimate goal was to get the house on the National Register of Historic Places. They even interviewed Herman Redeker, a former resident of Spring Valley, to learn what he knew about the house. Local lore stated that the house was built by Johan Boeger, the great-grandfather of Herman Redeker. While Redeker couldn’t give them much history on the house, he did, as the Suburban Trib stated, offer the perspective of age. The newspaper went on to say, He told the students how it was crucial to save places like Spring Valley, or how moving the Meginnis house, which was planned to become a museum, will add even more to the preserves… “This is the last outpost. The last place for the raccoons and the foxes. We are living in a wonderful world, if only we keep it that way.” (“Dash of Youth joins search for proof.” Suburban Trib. Bill Utter. 8/29/79.) The house debate went on all summer and it wasn’t until fall that things were settled and the house was moved to Spring Valley. Since then, we have learned a lot more about the farmhouse through research. Today the debate seems unreal to most of the employees and volunteers working here because we now know that the house is historically significant both architecturally and culturally. Through serendipity we found a letter written in 1848, which states that Fred Bartels originally bought the land on which the farmhouse once stood. We have also learned that the house was most likely built for the Bartels family and not for the Boegers. We have even found documentation that the house has gone through many owners and renters Continued on page 8.

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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!

Project Learining Tree

Saturday, Nov. 5 • 9:00 a.m.- 3 p.m. Join in a fun-filled day learning how to use the activities and receive a copy of the PLT K-8 curriculum guide with 96 interdisciplinary activities.

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

Early Childhood Educator’s Combo

Saturday, Nov. 12 • 9:00 a.m.- 3 p.m. Receive two nationally acclaimed curricula, Project Learning Tree Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood and Growing Up Wild. Both build on a child’s sense of wonder about nature and invite you to explore nature through art, music, science inquiry, math, reading and health.

Prepare for winter at the Farm!

Hog House to Smokehouse

Discover how 1880s farm families put meat on their tables and preserved food for the long, cold winter. Click here for more information.

Sunday, Nov. 20 Noon-4 p.m. Volkening Heritage Farm

$3 per person • $12 per family • 3 yrs & younger Free

ADULT or TEEN

EARLY CHILDHOOD

Dutch Oven Cooking

Follow Those Feathers

Saturday, Dec. 10 • 2:00-5:00 p.m. We will cover cooking techniques, Dutch oven care, and make different foods to sample.

Saturday, Nov. 19 • 1:00-2:30 p.m. Discover why some birds migrate, how they know where they are going and decide if we could make such a long journey.

Hike with a Naturalist

Getting Ready for Winter

Saturday, Nov. 12 • 9:00-10:30 a.m. Enjoy a guided nature hike and discover a new portion of Spring Valley each month.

Saturday, Dec. 10 • 10:30 a.m.-Noon Explore the woods and prairie around Spring Valley to find out how the plants and animals are getting ready for winter.

Photo by Schaumburg Area Photographic Society.

Historic Trades Series

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.

Johnny Appleseed

Sunday, Nov. 6 • 10:00 a.m.-Noon Make apple prints, eat apple cobbler and read the story of Johnny Appleseed.

Spring Valley Holiday Bazaar

Reindeer Watch

Saturday, Dec. 17 • 1:00-3:00 p.m. Rumor has it that one of Spring Valley’s deer has a red nose! Read a story, make a craft and search for signs of this mysterious deer.

Saturday & Sunday, Nov. 26 & 27 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nature Center

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.

The Nature Center becomes a festive holiday gift shop for two days as numerous vendors of hand-crafted items display their unique creations. Admission is free. Sponsored by the Spring Valley Nature Club.

Bird Buffet

Saturday, Nov. 19 • 10:30 a.m.-Noon Create a birdfeeder to prepare birds for their long journey south for winter. Collect leaves, twigs and seeds to decorate your feeder.

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YOUTH

Home School Naturalist Group Programs

Cub Scout Saturdays

Saturday, Nov. 5 • 9:00-11:00 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 17 • 9:00-10:30 a.m. Join an experienced naturalist to get a handson approach completing some requirements for their achievements and electives.

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

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

Spring Valley Winter Break Camp

Tues.-Fri., Dec. 27-30 • 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tues.-Fri., Jan. 3-6 • 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Spend winter break at Spring Valley exploring, tracking animals, looking for birds, experimenting with snow and snowshoeing (if there’s enough snow). Schaumburg Park District presents...

Volkening Heritage Farm & Merkle Cabin

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

Experience the holidays season as it was in 1880s Schaumburg. Enjoy Victorian decorations, holiday kitchen aromas and music at the Heritage Farm. A wagon shuttle will transport you to the Merkle Cabin to visit Father Christmas, make crafts and sip soup. Click here for more information.

Weekend Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides at the Farm

Sat./Sun., Dec. 3 & 4 • Noon-4 p.m.

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.

$3 per person • $12 per family • 3 yrs & younger Free

Spring Valley Winter Fest

• 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.

Saturday & Sunday, Jan 14 & 15 • Noon - 3 p.m. Nature Center

Get bundled up and join in some winter fun. Enjoy snowshoe walks through the prairie, horse-drawn wagon rides, winter snacks, crafts and activities inside the Nature Center, marshmallows roasted on a winter bonfire and a visit by a live wolf and coyote.

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.

Admission: $3/person or $12/family, children 3 and under free.

Snowshoe Rentals Available Beginning Dec. 1

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

Call 847/985-2100 for more information.

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Should It Stay or Should It Go? Continued from page 5.

between its constructions, circa 18481852, and the time when it was saved from demolition, most of which helped contribute to the history of Schaumburg.

by Patty Kennedy Green

other known structures in Schaumburg Township which no longer exist. The first example is referenced in an oral history account in 1999 by Ester Steinmeyer

The most significant thing we have learned about the farmhouse is that it is actually very architecturally significant from a vernacular perspective. The Pfostenwohnhaus is a folk design that dates to the early-medieval period of Lower Saxony. This folk design is deBoeger House (front - during renovation) fined by a first floor layout which consists of one Bierman, a locally born large all-purpose kitchen, a central chimSchaumburg resident. ney, and two symmetrical rooms behind She discusses the the hearth. This design fits the house house she was born in perfectly and according to Building by clarifying that was Community, Keeping the Faith: German their “old house” with Catholic Vernacular Architecture in Rural “the kitchen-like room Minnesota Parish by Fred W. Peterson, in the front and two litthe Pfostenwohnhaus can be found tle rooms in the back.” throughout areas where Low Saxons This “old house” was settled in the United States. The historic torn down by 2012. house appears to not only be one of The other example of the first framed houses in Schaumburg, a Pfostenwohnhaus but it also happens to be one of (if not floor plan was the the last) example of Pfostenwohnhaus Thies House, also architecture in the township. located in Schaumburg Evidence of this vernacular architectural Township. This house style can be documented in at least two had two wings that

used the Pfostenwohnhaus floor plan. Unfortunately, this house was torn down in the 1970s. In the end, it is interesting to learn about the debate over the farmhouse. It is amazing to ponder how such a debate could have taken place, knowing today the cornerstone the house plays in the cultural story of Schaumburg and its early settlers. And with over 5,000 school children making pretzels in its kitchen every year, I believe it was not saved in vain. Boeger House

SHOPPING AT OUR

WOODS & FIELDS

In addition to our natural areas, walking trails, living history farm, and wonderful programs, Spring Valley also provides some great gift ideas. While we may not be Woodfield Mall, you can be sure that the items sold in our gift case are educational and reasonably priced. Spring Valley honey, Spring Valley t-shirts, bug boxes, children’s games, and a variety of excellent books on nature and history are available. All proceeds from these sales ben-efit Spring Valley. The Spring Valley Nature Club also has attractive Spring Valley shirts, the sale of which benefits the Club. So, forget the high-priced malls, the traffic and parking, and purchase meaningful gifts at our Woods and Fields!! 8

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 • N o v e m b e r / D e c e m 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. Conservation Workday Saturday, November 19 • 9am-Noon We’ll be out on the grounds working on a conservation project. Come for all or part of the day! Christmas in the Valley Saturday, Dec. 3 & Sunday, Dec.4 Noon-4pm Volunteers are needed to assist with our Victorian Christmas celebration on Saturday and Sunday, December 7 & 8. We’re looking for farm interpreters as well as other volunteers to assist

with craft projects, food sales, and the information booths. Volunteer Holiday Celebration and Recognition Friday, Dec. 9 If you have logged at least 25 hours of volunteer time this past year or are a new Spring Valley volunteer who joined in 2015, we hope you can join us for our annual volunteer recognition event. Keep an eye out for your invitation and be sure to RSVP for this festive evening.

It’s that time of year again! November 30 marks the end of the year as far as Spring Valley Volunteer recordkeeping goes. PLEASE be sure that all of your hours are recorded!! There are volunteer record books located at both the Nature Center and the Farm. If you can’t make it in to log the hours yourself, drop Judy an e-mail or give her a call and she’ll do it for you. All hours must be compiled by the end of November. Thanks! Recorded volunteer hours aid us in writing grant applications and are a tangible way of showing community support of our programs. Volunteer hours also benefit you in the form of points which may be redeemed as part of the Park District’s Parkfun Volunteer Reward Program. This is the program in which you receive one point for every hour you volunteer. Points can be redeemed in increments of ten for such things as Water Works passes, golf outings, massages, fitness passes, and discounts on class registrations. To redeem your points, call Judy Vito at 847/985-2100.

Pats on the back to the following volunteers... • Deanna Bruckner, Eve Carter, Elaine Deibert, Barb Dochterman, Babs Eddington, Lynn Eikenbary, Eileen Skiba, Gerri Svenson, Carol Thomas, Donna Turner, and Carolyn White for helping at the Farm Visitor Center. • Pat Ramos, Ann Scacco, Roy Svenson, and Ellie Vogel for their assistance at Trails and Ales. • In preparation for Autumn Harvest Fest: Carol Anagnostopoulos, Rosemary and Dennis Colbert, Lynn Eikenbary, Barb Mitchell, and Angela Waidanz for picking apples; Lynn Eikenbary, Eileen Skiba and Donna Turner for making cornbread; Dennis and Rosemary Colbert, Lynn Eikenbary, Arthur Jeczala, Tony Meo, Barb Mitchell, Ken Ogorzalek, Joe Scacco, Donna Turner, Al Vogel, and Angela Waidanz for cleaning and general set-up. • All the volunteers who donated their time to help make Autumn Harvest Festival and Haunting in the Valley enjoyable events for all of our patrons. 9

Dates to Remember

• Monday, Nov. 14........................... 1-3pm Handy Crafters Meeting • Saturday, Nov. 19....................9am-1pm Conservation Workday • Sunday, Nov. 20.................... Noon-4pm Hoghouse to Smokehouse • Saturday, Dec. 3........................... 1-5pm Christmas in the Valley • Sunday, Dec. 4............................. 1-5pm Christmas in the Valley • Friday, Dec. 9............................... 6-9pm Volunteer Holiday Celebration

Welcome New Volunteers… • Christopher Borro • Michael Borro

Happy Birthday to… November 5 8 9 10 11 14 15 19

Deanna Bruckner Mert Rutledge Walter Plinske Renata Riccobon Bernadette Kolasa Judy Leon Steve Prorak Gretchen Coleman

December 1 2 3 7 9 12 17 18

Susan Champagne Victoria Mann Jay Laski Steven Zanfardino Angelo Catalano Bill Forst Caroline Bezik Jennifer Harkin Tom Perles

21 23 28 29

Dennis Colbert Elaine Deibert Louisa Walsh Bob Royce Nancy Craft Nancy Mamsen Bob Schmidt Sharon Ogorzalek

20 23 25 30

Tony Satoh Luke Schmidt Max Schmidt Laura Walsh Elizabeth Moorman Rich Ringfelt George Bailey Helga Niewiadomski

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

NOVEMBER 2016

Monday

Farm Hours: Tues-Sun 10am-4pm through Nov. 20

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Cabin Closed Bold indicates volunteer activities

Saturday

•Cub Scout Saturdays 9am •Leather 10am

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

Daylight Savings Time Ends •Johnny Appleseed 10am

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

Handy Crafters Meeting 1pm

Spring Valley Nature Club 7pm

Schaumburg Community Garden Club 7pm

•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

Hoghouse to Smokehouse Noon

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

Thanksgiving

Holiday Craft Bazaar 10am

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

•Hike with a Naturalist 9am

Veterans Day

Conservation Workday 9am •Bird Buffet 10:30am •Follow those Feathers 1pm

•Howl at the Moon 7:30pm

Holiday Craft Bazaar 10am

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

DECEMBER 2016

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Farm Closed

Cabin Closed Bold indicates volunteer activities Italics indicates programs which may be taken as complimentary by volunteers

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

Spring Valley Nature Club 7pm

•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

Christmas in the Valley Noon

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

See “What’s Happening” for program descriptions

Christmas in the Valley Noon

Saturday

Friday

•Tinsmithing 10am •Getting Ready for Winter 10:30am •Dutch Oven Cooking 2pm

Volunteer Holiday Recognition 6pm

•Cub Scout Saturdays 9am •Reindeer Watch 1pm

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

Hanukkah

27 Tu-F

•Winter Break Camp 9:30am

Christmas 11

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 • N o v e m b e r / D e c e m 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.