Natural Enquirer: November/December 2018 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.9 no.6 • Nov.-Dec. 2018

In this issue...

In order to uncover a theme for any issue of the Natural Enquirer, articles need time to reveal their hidden meaning. In this issue, we are invited to venture into the cold winter night to view meteor showers; to find out about the discovery and making of cheese; and to look at Spring Valley through the young eyes of high school students. What do these have in common? The invitation to look for more than the eye can at first see or the mind comprehend. What did early man imagine when first viewing light streaking across the night sky? What did he think when first encountering cheese? What did the students at first think of this wonderful 135 acre resource, preserved by those who foresaw how this area would change? Looking more deeply, we see that change is the universal theme tying the universe, as well as this issue of the Natural Enquirer, together.

Inside A Flash in the Dark........................................... 2-3

Volunteer News Contents

Celebrating Grants...............................................4

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

Cheese in Three Steps.........................................5

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

What’s Happenin’.............................................. 6-8 Spring Valley General Information....................12

Schaumburg Park District

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

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A Flash in the Dark

by Derek Gronlund

A NASA camera captures a meteor during the 2011 Geminid meteor shower

s the long summer days give way to cool fall nights, it is impossible to ignore that winter is right around the corner. While many of us may lament the shortening days, nature does provide some reasons to look forward to the long nights. Every winter, sky watchers are treated to two major meteor showers, the Leonids and the Geminids.

Meteors, sometimes mistakenly called shooting stars, can be seen in the night sky year-round. As Earth follows its orbit around the Sun, it occasionally collides with particles travelling through space. These particles, known as meteoroids while in space, are usually small pieces of rock and ice fragments, or debris from a comet. The atmosphere and meteoroid collide with such great force that the atoms in the atmosphere are ionized, producing a bright streak of light. This flash is what we call a meteor. Several times a year Earth’s orbit passes through debris trails left behind by comets, resulting in a proliferation of meteors. These occur about the same time every year, and are known as annual meteor showers. Rarely, a small piece survives and strikes Earth’s surface. Once on the ground, the object is known as a meteorite. November and December are host to two dazzling meteor showers, the Leonids (November 17 & 18) and the Geminids (December 12 & 13). Like all annual meteor showers, their names are derived from the constellations from which the meteors appear to originate. The Leonids emanate from the great lion Leo, and the Geminids streak from Castor and Pollux, the twins of the constellation Gemini. Fortunately, locating Leo and Gemini are not required to enjoy the show. The meteors will radiate out from all directions, so you can hunt for meteors by watching any part of the sky.

Arizona’s Meteor Crater was the first crater to be recognized as being formed by a meteorite

One thing to remember is that while the annual meteor showers occur at the same time each year, the actual meteor streaks are unpredictable. The best way to view them is to relax and be patient. If possible, plan on dedicating 30 minutes to an hour for viewing. You will find that the meteors seem to come in waves. You may see two or three in a row, and then nothing for several minutes.

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Another consideration is your personal comfort. Unfortunately, both the Leonids and Geminids occur when the weather can be cold. If you have a window that faces an open area and gives an unobstructed view of the sky, it is possible to watch for meteors from the comfort of your home. Just make sure to keep all the lights off in the house to minimize the reflections on the glass. If you are a hardy, adventurous type, bundle up and head outdoors! The further you can get from any light pollution (building lights, street lights, roads, etc.) the better the viewing conditions will be. Set out a lawn chair (or spread out a blanket and lay right on the ground!), kick back, and scan the skies. If it is especially chilly, a warm thermos of coffee or hot cocoa can lift spirits. While we’re discussing comfort, make sure to rest up the night before, or make sure you can sleep in the next day. With optimal viewing times for meteor showers peaking between 2 a.m. and dawn, meteor watching is definitely an activity for night owls. More meteors are seen in the hours before dawn because Earth has rotated to face the direction of the planet’s travel around the Sun. This means that space debris is flying at our atmosphere head-on, producing more frequent collisions. Anyone who has had to clean dead bugs off their windshield after driving down a rural road on a summer night is familiar with this phenomenon. Can’t stay up late? Not thrilled about setting your alarm for 3 a.m.? Don’t fret! Meteors can also be seen in the evening before midnight, just at a lower frequency. Since the debris is colliding with the atmosphere at a shallow angle during this time, most particles bounce off the atmosphere and continue into space. Occasionally a particle will hit at just the right angle to enter the atmosphere and burn up. It is during these early evening hours that earthgrazers can be seen. These rare meteors enter the atmosphere at an extremely shallow angle and travel slowly across the sky, almost parallel to the Earth’s surface. While a regular meteor is gone in the blink of an eye, earthgrazers can last for several seconds, illuminating the night sky with a celestial fireball. While winter meteor watching may not be for everyone, those who can brave the late nights and cold weather will be rewarded with a spectacular show. At their climax, these showers can produce 50+ meteors per hour. And for those who prefer the heat to the cold, the annual Perseid meteor shower is always a highlight of July and August. While the warmer weather can make for more comfortable viewing, the mosquitoes can be quite a challenge!

In mid-November, meteors from the Leonid Shower appear to radiate from the constellation Leo

Meteors radiating from the constellation Gemini put on a spectacular show in December

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 benefit 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!! 3

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Celebrating Grants

by Mary Rice

bout a year ago, Spring Valley staff applied to the Environmental Education Association of Illinois (EEAI) for a grant to assist with its high school Wetland Ecosystem/Conservation program. This program was written five years ago at the request of a teacher at Hoffman Estates High School who approached Spring Valley to see what type of experience we could provide her AP Biology and Environmental Science students. She was interested in looking at the biodiversity of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and the abiotic and biotic factors that drive the diversity and adaptations of organisms found within each. She also wanted students to investigate how invasive species can disrupt the delicate balance within these ecosystems. With these goals in mind, the environmental education (EE) staff developed an all-day (8 a.m.-2 p.m.) program that begins in the nature center with a simulated pond dip in which students review the physical properties of a pond (the pH, temperature, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen content) and how these affect the animals living there. Afterward, students spend the rest of the day testing water samples at the pond and Salt Creek using GoDirect probes from Vernier. They then analyze results looking for a correlation between the quality of the water and the type and abundance of macro-invertebrates found there. Students do a stream walk looking for additional animals that can be found under rocks or in the muddy bottom. After lunch, students explore the prairie to see the effects of periodic burning on the dry, mesic, and wet loops near the nature center. The benefits become obvious as they see the diversity of plant and animal life throughout. The program culminates with students cutting buckthorn along the prairie and woodland edges where it has a tendency to thrive. Here are some of the comments written by the Hoffman Estates students after the program: I didn’t realize there were so many factors to water quality. I never thought the oxygen level and the temperature of the water would impact the species that live in that water. It’s amazing how many compounding factors there are. I felt very accomplished after cutting down all those buckthorn trees. My favorite part of the field trip was cutting down buckthorn. I felt proud that I was able to cut down so much and make a difference. The mosquitoes were biting me but I had this fire in me to cut the buckthorn down. I wanted to make a difference. I would have cut down more if the mosquitoes weren’t eating me alive and we had more time. I felt more informed about water quality and the organisms that live in water. I felt I learned more about the interaction of species in the environment. By the creek we had a box and put organisms from the creek inside. Some of them were so small and intricate, it was fascinating. This trip has had an impact on me to see how many beautiful places are close by and how many organisms live close to us. I felt involved in my community and that mosquitoes are so common I need to get better bug spray. EEAI’s generous grant enabled Spring Valley to purchase the Vernier probes mentioned above. It was important for us to be able to entice high schools by offering the latest technology available so that students could more easily gather data and analyze it back at school. The Spring Valley Nature Club also assisted by offering Students Cutting Buckthorn grants to the schools enabling them to visit the site. Without these grants the program could not survive. As it is, the program is thriving, having grown from one high school to four. Knowing the difficulties involved in taking students on field trips, these teachers have really gone where “No one has gone before!” 4

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Cheese in Three Easy Steps

by Jon Kuester

heese is one of the simplest and earliest man-made foods, but few understand what it is and how easily it can be made. The story of cheese dates back to antiquity and was likely discovered by accident. Early farmers, wishing to store the hard earned rewards of their labor, stored liquids like water, milk, and wine in animal bladders. This worked well enough and most of the products came out of the bladder in the same shape they went into it. One exception was milk. If it was stored in the stomach of a young ruminant, like a calf or a lamb, that milk curdled. Hard as it may be to believe, someone tried the curdled milk and found that not only did it not make you sick, but it actually stored better than milk. From there on the story of cheese is one of endless experimentation, success, and failure. There are possibly thousands of variations of cheese in the world. It can be changed and manipulated more than almost any other food and the variables are endless. Despite this, all cheeses share a humble beginning with three simple steps.

Step 1. The Culture

Milk does not naturally want to be cheese and it has its own preservative in the form of lactose to keep it smooth and liquid. Lactose, however, has a natural enemy in the form of lactobacillus, a naturally occurring bacterium that follows milk around looking for a quick meal. Lactobacillus eats the milk sugars and excretes acids in their place. These acids cause the milk to take on a sour flavor eventually spoiling the milk. Before pasteurization, milk was simply left out at room temperature for an hour or two and the bacteria naturally did their work. Today milk is pasteurized; killing these bacteria and making the milk more shelf stable. Cheese makers have to add the bacteria back in to ripen the milk.

Curds and Whey

Step 2. Adding Rennet

Rennet is an enzyme that persists in the stomach lining of young ruminants. This was the magic of the ancient calf stomach. The enzyme converts milk into a form of cheese that the animal’s intestine can slowly break down. Ancient farmers found that by drying the stomach it could be stored and then rehydrated in small pieces and added to milk to make cheese. The enzyme works best at the body temperature of the animal from which it is taken. For calves and sheep, about 100º F or blood temperature works best. By slowly heating milk with rennet, the curd or milk solids will form and the liquid or whey will start to drain out. Today, many natural versions of rennet, both animal and plant based, are available to cheese makers.

Curd

Step 3. Cooking the Curd

Heating the curd helps it to solidify and removes any excess whey. The higher the temperature, the harder and squeakier the cheese will be. Soft cheeses like Mozzarella are heated to relatively low temperatures, about 110 degrees, while string cheese may be heated to as high as 130 degrees. This is like a warm bath that the curd sets in for about an hour releasing its whey and becoming solid enough to work with. Once the curd is sufficiently cooked, the whey is drained off and the cheese is done. Well not exactly done. Most of the variations found in cheese happen after this point. Cheese can be strained, pressed, cheddared, colored, inoculated, bandaged, waxed, aged, and eventually even eaten. The variations are endless and experimentation continues to this day.

Cheese

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

Project Learning Tree | Saturday, Nov. 10 • 9:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.

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

Early Childhood Educators’ Combo | Saturday, Nov. 17 • 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.

Receive two nationally acclaimed curricula, Project Learning Tree Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood and Growing Up Wild. Additional workshops are being developed. For information, visit parkfun.com/Spring-Valley/programs

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. 18 Noon-4 p.m. Volkening Heritage Farm

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

ADULT

EARLY CHILDHOOD

Harper College & Spring Valley

Getting Ready for Winter

Saturday, Dec. 8 • 1:30-3 p.m. Explore Spring Valley to find out how the plants and animals are getting ready for winter.

Backyard Bird Feeding

Saturday, Nov. 10 • 2-3:30 p.m. Learn about the different types of bird feeders and construct your own. Course: LLG1113-001

Reindeer Watch

Saturday, Dec. 15 • 2-4 p.m. Read a story, make a craft and search for signs of deer as we explore their habitat.

Lil’ Gobblers

Sunday, Nov. 18 • 10-11:30 a.m. Make turkey chow, create a craft and go hiking to find if any turkeys are hiding at Spring Valley! 6

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FAMILY

YOUTH NEW • Family Woodworking: Bird Feeders

Cub Scout Saturdays

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

Sunday, Nov. 11 • 10-11:30 a.m. Create a birdfeeder to energize and prepare birds for their long journey south for winter.

NEW • Sunset Hike and Campfire

Saturday, Dec. 8 • 4-6 p.m. Hike through the woods to Merkle Cabin and enjoy a cozy campfire, roast marshmallows.

Girl Scout Saturdays

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

Weekend Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides at the Farm

Spring Valley Winter Break Camp

Through Nov. 17 • Noon-3 p.m.

Dec. 27-Jan. 4 • 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Spend winter break at Spring Valley. We’ll track animals, look for birds, experiment with snow, and snowshoe (if there’s enough snow).

NEW • Winter Adventure

Saturday, Dec. 22 • 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Celebrate the start of winter break with exploration, science and fun. 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.

Home School Naturalist Group Programs

• Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis the day of the ride ($3/person; children 3 and under are free).

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

Call 847/985-2102 or click here for more information.

This winter the following topics are offered:

Spring Valley Holiday Bazaar

• Winter Trees – Discover how trees prepare for the winter and learn to ID common trees. • Tracking – Learn to read the story that animal tracks tell. • What is a Mammal? – Identify the characteristics of mammals and go on a mammal safari. • Mighty Acorns – Get connected to your local Illinois ecosystems! Enjoy an adapted format of the popular Mighty Acorns program, which gets children involved in hands-on outdoor exploration and conservation work. The program spans the seasons (fall, winter and spring), so check back this spring for the next offering! • Available every winter: Conservation in Action, Owls: Predators of the Night, Winter Ecology, Nighttime Nature

Saturday & Sunday, Nov. 24 & 25 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nature Center 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.

For more information about programs and pricing, or to schedule a program, call 847/985-2100. 7

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Schaumburg Park District presents...

Volkening Heritage Farm & Merkle Cabin 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.

Sat./Sun., Dec. 1 & 2 • Noon-4 p.m. $3 per person • $12 per family • 3 yrs & younger Free

WINTER

Spring Valley Winter Fest

HOURS

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

While Spring Valley’s grounds and trails are open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. throughout the winter, certain areas of Spring Valley close for the winter due to hazardous conditions resulting from snow and ice. Bison’s Bluff Nature Playground will be CLOSED any time there is snow or ice on the ground. If you see these signs posted at the entrances to the play area, for your safety, please do not enter the nature playground.

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

Thanks!

Snowshoe Rentals Available Beginning Dec. 1

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

Call 847/985-2100 for more information. 8

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Volunteer News Volunteer Want Ads

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

Conservation Workday

Saturday, Nov. 17, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. We’ll be clearing brush at Oak Hollow. Come for all or part of the day!

Christmas in the Valley

Saturday, Dec. 1 & Sunday, Dec. 2, Noon-4 p.m. Volunteers are needed to assist with our Victorian Christmas celebration. 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. 7 If you have logged at least 25 hours of volunteer time this past year or are a new Spring Valley volunteer who joined in 2018, 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.

Dates to Remember

• Monday, Nov. 12 ....................... 1-3 p.m. Handy Crafters Meeting • Saturday, Nov. 17..............9 a.m.-1 p.m. Conservation Workday • Sunday, Nov. 18................. Noon-4 p.m. From Hog House to Smokehouse • Saturday, Dec. 1........................ 1-5 p.m. Christmas in the Valley • Sunday, Dec. 2.......................... 1-5 p.m. Christmas in the Valley • Friday, Dec. 7.......................6-9:30 p.m. Volunteer Holiday Celebration

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.

Welcome New Volunteers… • David Gola • Jay Johnson • Harold Pletz

• Carol Johnson • Connie Nelson-Sanford • Karen Wood

Happy Birthday to… November

Pats on the back to the following volunteers...

• Diane Atkan, Betty Bei, Cathy Blecker, Laura Brefeld, Deanna Bruckner, Melissa Carpenter, Barry Clark, Cynthia Clark, Debra Eriksen, Venus Gintowt, Kathryn Gotz, Stephen Gotz, Zach Gross, Tammy Haman, Dale Harper, Lee Hirstein, Carol Johnson, Jackson Kalmar, Valerie Kot, Alison Longueil, Nancy Mamsen, Gloria Moritz, Darlene Nicholson, Marianne Ommundson, Jennifer O’Reilly, Janet Orpet, Carol Pletz, Delores Potter, Wesley Ramirez, Dolores Samp, Eileen Skiba, Carol Thomas, Kathy Tyler, Judy Velan, Alice Vogel, Judy Wood and Marcia Wysocki for their work on the monarch rearing project. • Dennis and Rosemary Colbert and Pat Ramos for their assistance at Trails and Ales. • Christine and John Curin, Duane Bolin, Lynn Eikenbary, Arthur Jeczala, Tony Meo, Barb Mitchell, Gloria Moritz, Ken Ogorzalek, Lydia Tarasiuk, Donna Turner, Al Vogel and Angela Waidanz for cleaning and general set-up in preparation for Autumn Harvest Fest. • 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

5 7 8 9 10 11 14 15

Deanna Bruckner Tammy Haman Mert Rutledge Darlene Nicholson Renata Riccobon Stephen Gotz Bernadette Kolasa Judy Leon Steve Prorak

December 1 2 9 10 12 17 18 19

Susan Champagne Janet Orpet Bill Forst Kathy Tyler Ellie Bryant Jennifer Harkin Tom Perles Dolores Samp

19 21 23 28 29

Gretchen Coleman Dennis Colbert Louisa Walsh • Bob Royce Nancy Kraft Nancy Mamsen Bob Schmidt Sharon Ogorzalek

20 23 25 27 30

Tony Satoh Luke Schmidt Max Schmidt Elizabeth Moorman Brian Decker 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 2018

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

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

Daylight Savings Time Ends

Handy Crafters Meeting 1pm

•Lil’ Gobblers 10am Hoghouse to Smokehouse Noon

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

Veterans Day

Friday

Spring Valley Nature Club 7pm

Schaumburg Community Garden Club 7pm

Conservation Workday 9am

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

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

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

Thanksgiving Holiday Craft Bazaar 10am

Saturday

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

•Family Woodworking 10am

Thursday

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 2018

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Saturday

Friday

Farm Closed Cabin Closed

Christmas in the Valley Noon

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

Christmas in the Valley Noon

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

Hanukkah

•Cub Scout Saturday 9am •Girl Scout Saturday 11am •Reindeer Watch 2pm

•Winter Adventure 9am

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

27 Th-F

•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

•Getting Ready for Winter 1:30pm •Sunset Hike and Campfire 4pm

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

Volunteer Holiday Recognition 6pm

Christmas 11

28 •Winter Break Camp 10am

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

Hours:

Schaumburg Road

Plum Grove Road

Volkening Heritage Farm

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

Vera Meineke Nature Center & Bison's Bluff Nature Playground

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

Merkle Cabin

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

Spring Valley 135 acres

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

Vera Meineke Nature Center 847/985-2100

Volkening Heritage Farm 847-985-2102

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

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

Environmental Outreach Program

Scout Badges

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

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

Spring Valley Firepit and Shelter Rentals

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

Programs at Spring Valley

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

SPRING VALLEY MISSION STATEMENT:

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

Hourly use fees: 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 Mary Rice.......... “In this Issue...” Scott Stompor.... Graphic Artist

SCHAUMBURG PARK DISTRICT WEBSITE: parkfun.com

E-MAIL:

springvalley@parkfun.com

MEMBER:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Tony LaFrenere