Natural Enquirer: November/December 2014 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.5 no.6 • Nov.-Dec. ‘14

In this issue...

One of the things that has always set humans apart from much of the rest of the animal kingdom is our ability to adapt to different environments. Nature provides most living things with physical adaptations that permit them to live within a particular environment, whether it is the rain forest, a mountaintop, deep oceans, the high Arctic, or a desert. Humans, according to scientific estimations, evolved originally on the tropical savannas of Africa. There we learned to walk upright and honed our strong social sensibilities. In order to survive (indeed thrive) in so many other places in the world, we have had to use our brains to devise tools that overcome our natural shortcomings. Thus, we devised clothing, built homes, learned to build fire and hunt with weapons, cultivate crops, etc. This issue of the Natural Enquirer points a spotlight on our adaptations (or lack thereof), and how we use our intelligence to observe our environment and adapt to adverse conditions.

Inside Coping with the Cold............................................2

Volunteer News Contents

Lessons from the River ......................................3

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

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

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

Hot Shoes for Cool Horses .................................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 • N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4

Coping with the Cold

by Derek Gronlund

love winter. One of the things I like the most is the cold and the snow. No, seriously. Even last year’s heavy snowfalls and polar vortexes did little to change my mind. Besides its beauty, winter always reminds me of how amazing life on Earth is at adapting and surviving even the most extreme conditions. It also fills me with a sense of awe that we fragile humans are able to tolerate the cold at all.

Temperatures don’t even have to drop that low before they become dangerous. An unsheltered naked person will start to feel cold and shiver when temperatures drop to around 75°F. If you watch the survival show Naked and Afraid, then you have seen how quickly people can become hypothermic, even in tropical climates. This is because humans are terribly inefficient at retaining heat. We have large expanses of fleshy skin, sparse hair, long limbs, and a tendency to sweat during physical exertion. All of these factors put together equal rapid heat loss. While this can be desirable in a steamy jungle, it is deadly in cooler climates. To survive the cold, humans have had to make behavioral adaptations including wearing clothing, using fire, and building shelters. But behaviors alone don’t account for our ability to withstand a chill. Humans also have several physiological responses that help us survive when the mercury plunges.

neys to excrete more water, which is why we experience the need to urinate more frequently when it is cold. Eventually, skin will need to reestablish Being active outdoors is a great way to acclimate to the cold contact with the blood supply, so the vessels will dilate briefly. dangerous level of cold. When the brain This floods the cold skin with warm, detects that core body temperature is nutrient-rich blood. The vessels constrict dropping below safe levels, the shiver again, reducing blood flow and retaining response kicks in. Shivering involves heat. Soon the vessels will dilate again, the rapid, involuntary contraction of sending a new burst of blood to the muscle fibers. This activity produces skin’s surface. The result is a rosy tint to tremendous amounts of heat, but it is cheeks and noses. extremely energy inefficient. In a 2014

The second automatic response to the cold is an increase in non-shivering thermogenesis. Basically, this is a fancy way to say the body produces more heat. You could think of it like a house; when it starts to get cold, the thermostat turns the furnace on to warm up the house. In the case of our bodies, sensory cells detect Vasoconstriction temperature changes is the body’s first and signal our thyroid response to feeling gland to release cold. This process compounds that alter Cold constricts blood vessels in the skin to begins before we metabolism. Metabominimize heat loss even realize we lism refers to the sum are becoming uncomfortable. As temof all the chemical reactions that take peratures drop, the vessels that supply place in our body. During any given day, blood to the skin squeeze shut. Less our bodies are the sites for billions of blood flowing to the surface of the skin chemical reactions. A good portion of minimizes heat loss to the environment. the energy used in these chemical reacIf temperatures continue to drop, the tions is lost as heat. When metabolism vessels that supply the legs and arms is increased in response to cold, these also constrict. Since all of the blood that chemical reactions take place more would normally be filling up the vessels frequently, and more heat is generated in the skin and limbs is forced inward, to warm us up. we experience a rise in blood pressure. The final way the human body regulates Stretch receptors in our arteries are temperature is by shivering. This is an activated, and signal to our bodies to automatic survival response and can reduce this pressure. One of the ways signal that your body is approaching a our bodies do this is by telling the kid2

NIH (National Institutes of Health) study, researchers determined that 15 minutes of shivering is the metabolic equivalent of an hour of vigorous exercise. Due to the large energy requirements, the body cannot maintain shivering for long periods of time. If you are outside and notice yourself shivering uncontrollably, it is time to move indoors. Now if you aren’t a winter lover like myself, it may sound tempting to rely solely on these behavioral adaptations and curl up under a blanket with a hot drink and wait for the cold days to end! However, doing so may actually make your winter seem worse! In order to prepare for the chill, it is important to beef up your physiological responses as well. The more our bodies are exposed to the cold, the more acclimated we become. There are many simple ways to do this including turning the thermostat in your house down a few degrees and going outside without a coat for short periods of time (walking from the car to a store, getting the mail, feeding the birds, etc.). However, the best way to acclimate to the cold is to spend as much time outdoors as possible. You may feel a chill, but unless the temperatures are extremely cold and windy, it is not dangerous to be outdoors in winter.

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 4

Lessons from the River There is something special about a day spent on a river. It is tough to pinpoint exactly what it is or why I feel relaxed upon leaving…but it happens every time. Whether it is the slow methodical current, the meandering turns, the seemingly endless flow or the combination of all three; growing up near a river has changed the way I look at things and taught me some lessons along the way. The fact that rivers are constantly changing has always interested me— slowly gouging out new deeper pools or swiftly rearranging island banks. A passing thunderstorm will hide sun baked sand bars and turn trickling feeder creeks into class 3 rapids. A river even has a sweet earthy smell. The mixture of churned plant material along with blended soil, sand, and rock always reminded me of a bowl of soggy Wheaties. Exploring the banks of the Fox River has provided some of the most memorable moments from growing up, and I would like to take a little time to wade back through the years of being a glorified River Rat. As a youngster, I remember begging my parents to take me to the Fox River to go fishing. Saturday morning fishing shows made the opportunity for 10 pound walleye and 20 inch smallmouth seem as easy as baiting a hook. After some delaying, and worrying, my parents finally agreed and took my friend and me to the Fox for our first dip. After a few hours of stumbling over submerged rocks, finding out what a “hole” was, and snagging our lines on every other cast, we left the river defeated and soaked but smiling. Wading was an entirely new and exciting venture for us, and more fishing was the only thing on our agendas. As time passed, we learned about eddies, deeper pools where the current’s flow is changed or slowed usually from a structure. Slack water in between two fast moving riffles or downstream of rock piles, fallen trees, and bridge pylons are a great place to look for fish. Our casts quickly targeted any area where floating mayflies or cottonwood seeds would swirl in a large circle or even, in some cases, back upstream. We found that the change in the direction and intensity of the current

by Matt Streitmatter

brates into provided a respite for insects, craya whirlwind. fish, turtles, and fish alike. As tactics We have changed, whether it was dough balls for kayaked carp, stinkbait for catfish, minnows for past beaver walleye, or soft plastic lures for smalldens, mouth each technique expanded our expracticing perience and knowledge of the river. Difour stealth ferent tricks were discovered; like if you turned your body to face the shoreline, rather than up or Eagle on the River downstream, there was less surface to watch the busy area for the curfamily at work. We rent to grab. The have observed a tip of your fishing dead elm filled with rod made a great about 20 turkey wading staff to see vultures that made if there was a dropWinter Scenery on the Fox River me wonder if I was off ahead of you in watching them or they were watching uncharted waters. And walking with your me. I’ve tripped over shopping carts, weight on your back foot rather than garbage cans, crates, bicycles (thanklunging ahead helped to stay reasonfully unattended), and seen old boats ably dry. There is no worse feeling than on islands run aground years before. taking a step forward only to realize that As we know from previous experiences the bottom of the river is no longer there. at Spring Valley, a creek cleanup can Forward momentum can end an October provide some unexpected treasures. wading trip very quickly. I’ve even snagged someone else’s pole As the years passed, landing fish that was dragged into the river by a 10 (although still very important) took to pound carp. I reeled in the fishing pole, the backburner a bit and was not the unhooked my lure from the rod, and determining factor of a successful trip. then caught the carp that was still on the We watched bald eagles hunt for fish line. But as they say, “All fishermen are where the current kept the river open liars, except me and you…and I’m not from ice. We saw deer swim from bank so sure about you.” to bank through deeper stretches. I’ve seen snapping turtles so big that I questioned my sanity for entering the water, and realized the turn of a rock can send an entire ecosystem of aquatic inverte-

Kayaking on the Fox River

Time on the river allows the mind to turn off for a moment and reboot. I would not trade the feeling of disconnect for anything. No cell phones, internet, or other distractions besides the current, your surroundings, and the potential holes ahead. In addition to patience and a deepened appreciation for the outdoors, one lesson I have taken from fishing the Fox is: If you think you are on a pattern that should be working, but for some reason is not…downsize your presentation and cast again. I have tried my best to incorporate that thought into the “un-wadered” side of life while dealing with stressful situations…and even if it is forgotten or the simple life approach doesn’t apply, at least it usually works to land a few smallies on a slow day.

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 4

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!

Project Learning Tree: Educators’ Workshop

Saturday, Nov. 8 • 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. An award-winning environmental education program for teachers, scout leaders, parents and community leaders working with youth through grade 12.

Early Childhood Educators’ Combo

Saturday, Nov. 15 • 9:00 a.m.-3:00 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 up-to-date information, visit www.parkfun.com/SpringValley/programs.

Growing Up Wild: Early Childhood Teacher Workshop

Saturday, Jan. 24 • 9:00 a.m.-Noon Take part in a hands-on workshop designed for early childhood educators.

ADULT or TEEN

Home School Naturalist Group Programs

Harper College & Spring Valley

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

Blacksmithing for Beginners

Saturday, Nov. 22 • 9:00 a.m.-Noon Warm yourself by the red glow of the forge as you discover the timeless and practical craft of blacksmithing. Course: LEI 0078

Winter topics: • Biscuits & Butter – Learn about 19th century farm life as you cook on the wood bring stove and churn your own butter. • Endangered Species – Learn what it means to be endangered or threatened, and search for Illinois’ endangered species at Spring Valley. • Winter Trees – Discover how trees prepare for winter and learn to ID common ones. • Tracking Basics – Read the story that animal tracks tell. • What’s a Mammal? – Identify what makes an animal a mammal and go on a safari.

Blacksmithing for Beginners II

Saturday, Nov. 22 • 1:00-4:00 p.m. This follow-up to the beginning blacksmithing class allows participants to take their skills to the next level. Course: LEI 0079

Dutch Oven Cooking

Friday, Dec. 19 • 7:00-9:00 p.m. Learn different cooking techniques while making and sampling various foods you prepare.

Available every Winter: Conservation in Action, Woodlands, Owls: Predators of the Night, Winter Ecology, Farms and Food, Nighttime Nature

Kitchen Traditions: Woodstove Cooking

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

Saturday, Nov. 1 • Noon-4:00 p.m. Using historic recipes make dishes that highlight the woodstove’s capabilities.

ALL AGES

Pumpkins Post October 31

Full Moon Hike

Sunday, Nov. 2 • 11:00 a.m.-Noon Discover uses for your old jack-o-lantern other than compost!

Saturday, Nov. 8 • 6:00-7:30 p.m. Look for animals of the night and enjoy a full moon walk with something warm afterward.

Weekly Yoga at the Cabin

Nature Cornucopia

Saturday, Nov. 22 • 1:00-2:30 p.m. Create a cornucopia and fill it with nature items that represent what you are thankful for.

Tuesday, Jan. 6 - March 3 • 6:00-7:00 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6 - March 3 • 7:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8 - March 5 • 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8 - March 5 • 8:00-9:00 p.m. Enjoy a weekly yoga class in the woods at the Merkle Cabin.

EARLY CHILDHOOD Dolled Up for Fall

Sunday, Nov. 9 • 10:00-11:00 a.m. Make a traditional Native American toy - the corn husk doll!

Spring Valley Holiday Bazaar

Getting Ready for Winter

Saturday, Nov. 15 • 10:30 a.m.-Noon Find out how the different plant and animal residents are getting ready for winter.

Saturday & Sunday , Nov. 29 & 30 • 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 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. Event is sponsored by the Spring Valley Nature Club. For information, call Spring Valley at 847/985-2100.

Time for Turkeys

Saturday, Nov. 22 • 9:00-10:00 a.m. Help a naturalist determine if turkeys are hiding at Spring Valley by going on a turkey safari.

Hoghouse to Smokehouse SUNDAY, NOV. 9 NOON-4 p.m. Volkening Heritage Farm

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

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

Sponsored by

S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4

YOUTH

Schaumburg Park District presents...

Awesome Opossums

Saturday, Nov. 22 • 10:30 a.m.-Noon Study real opossum artifacts, make a pouch and see if you could survive as an opossum.

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

Spring Valley Winter Break Camp

Mon./Tues., Dec. 22-23 • 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Mon./Tues., Dec. 29-30 • 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Mon./Tues., Dec. 22-30 • 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Spend winter break exploring animal tracks, looking for birds, experimenting with snow, and snowshoeing.

Sat./Sun., Dec. 6 & 7 • Noon-4PM $3 per person • $12 per family • 3 yrs & younger Free

FAMILY

Horse Drawn Wagon Rides at the Farm

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.

Relax and enjoy a 15 minute horse-drawn wagon ride through the Heritage Farm as staff relay information about the farm, animals and the history of Schaumburg’s Farm families. Dress for the weather.

Bird Buffet

Sunday, Dec. 14 • 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Design, make, and fill a birdfeeder for the birds in your backyard to enjoy during the upcoming winter months.

Wagon Ride Schedule Weekends through Nov......11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Prairie Family Pioneers

Wagon rides will not be available 11/8, 11/9, 11/15 & 11/16

Sunday, Nov. 16 • 1:00-3:00 p.m. Experience firsthand how the early settlers in this area lived, play games and cook a snack.

• Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis the day of the ride, starting one-half hour prior to the first ride and until 15 minutes prior to the last ride of the day. • 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. Please call 847/985-2100 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 847/985-2100.

Snowshoe Ramble

Saturday, Jan. 10 • 1:00-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21 • 1:00-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14 • 1:00-2:30 p.m. Strap on snowshoes and explore Spring Valley from a different perspective— off the trail.

Winter Campfire in the Cabin

Saturday, Jan. 10 • 6:30-8:00 p.m. Tell stories, sing a few songs, enjoy hot chocolate and even practice some pioneer skills!

FREE - Spring Valley Winter Fest Saturday & Sunday, Jan 17 & 18 • Noon - 3 p.m.

Get bundled up and join in some winter fun. Enjoy free snowshoe walks through the prairie; horse-drawn wagon rides throughout the grounds; winter snacks, crafts and activities inside the Nature Center; and marshmallows roasted on a winter bonfire! This is just a taste of what awaits you at this FREE event!

Winter Solstice Celebration Saturday, Dec. 20 • 3-5 p.m.

Families are invited to celebrate the first day of winter as the shortest day of the year gives way to the longest night. Discover what is special about the solstice along with ways that ancient societies honored the day. You will be spending time outdoors walking to the log cabin to light the Yule fire, toast the fire with warm drinks and listen to a story. A horse-drawn wagon ride at dusk will conclude the celebration. Program starts at the Nature Center. Fee is per family of four. Individual participants or additional family members pay the $6 rate.

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. 5

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 4

Hot Shoes for Cool Horses If any of you have visited or volunteered at the Heritage Farm this summer on the weekends, you likely have noticed the giant yellow wagon slowly making its way around the farm. Since June, Spring Valley has offered horse drawn wagon rides nearly every weekend and, with this uptick in horse usage, has come a problem. Prince and Duke now walk Horseshoes so much that their feet are from the farm getting sore and it is difficollection used as examples cult for them to walk on the for making farm’s gravel paths. The new handmade solution to this problem is shoes pretty obvious—they need shoes. It is often assumed that all horses wear shoes, which is not the case. Just like human shoes, horse shoes come in a variety of shapes, styles, and sizes and are specific to an activity or need. Race horses wear lightweight aluminum racing plates; Polo horses wear high traction polo shoes; and pulling horses wear shoes with aggressive calks and toe cleats. When looking at putting shoes on a horse, the owner must first ask why the horse needs shoes. From a farrier’s perspective (a farrier is someone who sizes, makes, and installs horseshoes), there are three main reasons to shoe horses. The first is to correct problems of conformation or disease. Horses may be toes in or toes out, they may have cracks in their hooves, or they may suffer from navicular disease or laminitis. All of these can be treated with corrective shoeing. The second reason is to provide traction. Sporting horses, such as jumpers or runners, or horses that walk on slick surfaces like ice or a wet pavement need special shoes that provide

by Jonathan D. Kuester

the appropriate traction for the condition. This is similar to a person wearing cleats; but they must be the right kind of cleat. For instance, a baseball cleat is good for baseball but bad for running on a track. The last reason for shoeing a horse is to protect the hoof from certain surfaces. Horses that walk continuously on asphalt or concrete need shoes with rubber pads under them to protect their joints form Duke fitted with finished shoe the concussion of walking on the hard surface every day. In the case of our horses it was decided that they needed shoes on their front hooves to elevate the soles of their feet up off the hard gravel. We did not think it necessary to shoe their rear hooves as horses carry more weight on their front feet and these hooves did not show the signs of bruising that the front feet did. Now, shoeing a horse is not usually a big issue, but Prince and Duke are not normal horses. These twenty-two hundred pound giants require giant shoes and giant nails to hold them on. Since farriers in our area don’t normally carry such large shoes it was decided that staff would make custom handmade shoes for the horses. The process started a few days before the farrier was even scheduled to arrive. First, an eighteen inch long steel bar half an inch thick and an inch wide was shaped into a shoe. This process must

be done when the steel is red hot and each size nine shoe can take up to an hour to form. To add traction to the shoes a groove known as a fuller was punched into the face of the shoe and finally holes punched for the size ten horseshoes nails. Now we waited for the farrier. Monday morning the farrier arrived. The first job was to trim each horse’s hooves. This is a process much like trimming your own fingernails but on a much larger scale. Next, the shoes must be fitted to the hoof. This process involves heating the shoe back up and bending or stretching the shoe until it fits the hoof perfectly. The horses were then ready to be hot shoed, where a red hot shoe is held against the hoof to burn the outer surface to the shoe. Hot shoeing sounds dangerous but if done correctly it is the best way to insure a perfect fit. It is worth noting that this does not hurt the horse and a hot shoe will be more comfortable for the horse in the long run. Once the burn is complete the shoes are quenched in water, nailed on, and finished with a quick rasping to ensure there are no sharp edges. From the time the farrier arrived to the last hoof finished it took us a little over three hours per horse to shape and install the shoes. Luckily, the horses were very patient with us and are enjoying their walks around the farm pain free. Note about the Farriers: Jonathan Kuester is a graduate of the Oklahoma Horses shoeing school and has been trimming and shoeing draft and riding horses for 15 years. He is currently the Farm Operations Coordinator for the Volkening Heritage Farm. Sarah Coltrin is an American Farrier Association Certified Farrier and proprietor of Iron Rose Forge. She attended Midwest Horses shoeing school in Springfield Illinois and competes in AFA team farrier contests.

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!! 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 • N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4

Dates to Remember

Volunteer Want Ads

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

Conservation Workday

Nov. 15 • 9 a.m.-1 p.m. We’ll be out on the grounds working on a conservation project. Come for all or part of the day!

Christmas in the Valley

Dec. 6 & 7 • 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 December 12 **Please note date change!** If you have logged at least 25 hours of volunteer time this past year or are a new Spring Valley volunteer who joined in 2014, 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 Mileage Club. 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... • Eve Carter, Barb Dochterman, Lynn Eikenbary, Marilyn Mottley, Donna Turner, Joan Vodraska, Angela Waidanz, and Carolyn White for helping to cover the Farm front counter.

• In preparation for Autumn Harvest Fest: Carol Anagnostopoulos, Dean Bruckner, Lynn Eikenbary, Jay Laski, Nancy Mamsen, Barb Mitchell, Kristi Overgaard, Roy Svenson, and Angela Waidanz for picking apples; Duane Bolin, Dean Bruckner, Suzanne Cannella, Elaine and Ray Deibert, Lynn Eikenbary, Arthur Jeczala, Bruce Kuhnhofer, Tony Meo, Barb Mitchell, Mike Pizzo, Donna Turner, 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. 7

• Sun., Nov. 9...................Noon-4 p.m. Hoghouse to Smokehouse • Mon., Nov. 10.................1-4 p.m. Handy Crafters Meeting • Sat., Nov. 15..................9 a.m.-1 p.m. Conservation Workday • Mon., Nov. 24.................1-4 p.m. Handy Crafters Bazaar Prep • Sat., Dec. 6....................1-5 p.m. Christmas in the Valley • Sun., Dec. 7...................1-5 p.m. Christmas in the Valley • Mon., Dec. 8...................1-4 p.m. Handy Crafters Meeting • Fri., Dec. 12...................6-9 p.m. Volunteer Holiday Celebration

Welcome New Volunteers… • Natalie Liverant

Happy Birthday to… November

5 8 9 10 11 13 14 19

Deanna Bruckner Mert Rutledge Walter Plinske Renata Riccobon Bernadette Kolasa Paula Waterman Judy Leon Robin Barr Gretchen Coleman

December

1 2 3 9 11 12 17

Susan Champagne Heather Hartman Victoria Mann Jay Laski Steven Zanfardino Bill Forst Bill Schooley Caroline Bezik Arissa Sato Jennifer Harkin

21 23 24 28 29

18 20 22 23 25 30 31

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

Tom Perles Tony Satoh Adam Miller Laura Walsh Elizabeth Moorman Rich Ringfelt George Bailey Helga Niewiadomski Larry Netzer

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 2014

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Farm Closed

•Kitchen Traditions: Woodstove Cooking Noon

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

•Pumpkins Post October 31 11am

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

•Dolled Up for Fall 10am Hoghouse to Smokehouse Noon

Handy Crafters Meeting 1pm

Spring Valley Nature Club 6:30pm

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6:30pm

•Full Moon Walk 6pm

Conservation Workday 9am •Getting Ready for Winter 10:30am

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

•Prairie Family Pioneers 1pm

Schaumburg Community Garden Club 7pm

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

Handy Crafters Bazaar Prep 1pm

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6:30pm

Holiday Craft Bazaar 10am

Thanksgiving 8

•Blacksmithing for Beginners 9am •Time for Turkeys 9am •Awesome Opossums 10:30am •Blacksmithing for Beginners II 1pm •Nature Cornucopia 1pm

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 2014

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Saturday

Friday

Christmas in the Valley Noon

Spring Valley Nature Club 6:30pm

Christmas in the Valley Noon

Handy Crafters Meeting 1pm

Volunteer Holiday Recognition 6pm

•Bird Buffet 11:30am

Hanukkah

22 M-Tu

•Winter Solstice Celebration 3pm

•Dutch Oven Cooking 7pm

•Winter Break Camp 9:30am

Christmas

29 M-Tu

Farm Closed Cabin Closed

•Winter Break Camp 9:30am

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

S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4 Spring Valley • Schaumburg Park District • 1111 East Schaumburg Road • Schaumburg, Illinois 60194 Schaumburg Rd.

N Plum Grove Rd.

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

Vera Meineke Nature Center

Volkening Heritage Farm

PHONE VERA MEINEKE NATURE CENTER...............................................847/985-2100 VOLKENING HERITAGE FARM......................................................847-985-2102

135 acres

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

Vera Meineke Nature Center

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

NATURE CENTER/MUSEUM HOURS: Year Round.............Daily*.......... 9AM-5PM FARM INTERPRETIVE PROGRAM HOURS: Nov. - March............Open for Special Events April 1 - Oct. 31.......Sat/Sun....... 10AM-4PM Tue-Fri........ 9AM-2PM Mon............ Buildings Closed

Volkening Heritage Farm

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

Spring Valley Birthday Parties

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

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

Spring Valley Firepit and Shelter Rentals

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

Programs at Spring Valley

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

Scout Badges

Hourly use fees:

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

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

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

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

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

SCHAUMBURG PARK DISTRICT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS:

NATURAL ENQUIRER STAFF: Mary Rice.......... Editor

Mike Daniels Sharon DiMaria David Johnson George Longmeyer Bob Schmidt

Judy Vito............ Volunteer Coordinator Dave Brooks...... “In this Issue...” Scott Stompor.... Graphic Artist

SCHAUMBURG PARK DISTRICT WEBSITE: www.parkfun.com

E-MAIL:

springvalley@parkfun.com

MEMBER:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Tony LaFrenere

Participants should dress appropriately for weather conditions.

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

Environmental Outreach Program

SPRING VALLEY MISSION STATEMENT:

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