June 2009
Wildflower Walkabout:
Kishwaukee Gorge North Forest Preserve
Thursday, June 4, 6:00 pm
Mark Keister, NLI Board member will lead this hike. The “Gorge North” is one of the many beautiful spots along the Kishwaukee River Valley. We will explore a nice hill prairie, enjoy a scenic over-look of the Kish, and walk to the river’s edge. Moderate hiking due to hills. Co-sponsored by Natural Land Institute. No fee for the walks, but membership in SDNC and/or NLI is encouraged! 1-815-335-2915
Wildflower Walkabout:
Sugar River Alder Forest Preserve
Wednesday, June 10, 6:00 pm
Bruce and Mary Anne Mathwich from Wild Ones will lead this walk in the far northwest corner of Winnebago County. It hosts numerous ecosystems providing great habitat for many species of birds and plants. Also great hiking trails in one of the most quiet forest preserves in the district. Easy hiking. 1-815-335-2915
Hike the Dells Orienteering Day
Saturday, June 13, 9:30 am-12:00 noon
Challenge your map reading and compass skills while enjoying the beautiful scenery of Severson Dells Forest Preserve. This is a great activity for individuals, families or scout groups. Come anytime within the times designated above and choose between one of two courses, beginner or intermediate. Then head out and hunt for your checkpoints. Those wishing for a lesson on map and compass should come at 10:00 for a short class before heading out on the course. There is no fee. Call 1-815-335-2915 for more information.
Camp Peek Into Creek #1
Tuesday-Thursday, June 16-18
(This program is full). See June 24-26.
Wildflower Walkabout:
Harlem Hills Nature Preserve
Thursday, June 18, 6:00 pm
Gary and Judy Anderson will offer their guidance on this visit to Harlem Hills Prairie. If the season is progressing typically, the hills should be pink/purple with thousands of Pale Purple Coneflowers. Always a great place to see a sunset. Easy hiking. 1-815-335-2915
Denizens of the Pond
Saturday, June 20, 8:00 am-12:00 noon
Leader: Keith Blackmore. For ages: junior high to adult. We will begin with an introductory lecture about ponds and pond life and then spend a couple of hours exploring the pond environment and collecting representative organisms. The organisms will be identified, discussed, and released back into their natural community. Those who have hip boots or old sneakers and shorts can help with the sampling. Others can sort materials on shore. Fee: $5. Call 1-815-335-2915 to register.
Hiking the Appalachian Trail
Saturday, June 20, 3:00-4:30 pm
In 2006, David Burke fulfilled his dream to hike the entire Appalachian Trail. The Appalachian Trail is a 2,175 mile footpath that extends from Springer Mountain in Georgia through fourteen states ending at Mount Katahdin in Maine. He successfully completed this journey over six months while at times encountering harsh weather conditions such as snow, rain, cold and heat as well as sickness.
David will deliver a presentation on his experience including a slide show of over 100 photos taken along the way. The presentation will include details on his experience, how he planned the trip, some of his reasons for deciding to do the hike and stories about the many great people he met along the way.
David and his wife Rachel currently reside in Palatine, IL, a northwest suburb in the Chicago area. They moved to Palatine from Cincinnati, OH in 2006 shortly after David completed a ’thru-hike’ of the entire length of the Appalachian Trail. David and his wife enjoy the pleasures of the outdoors and in their spare time, bike and walk many miles together. In his professional career, David works in the financial services industry at Fidelity Investments, which he has for over 11 years. Call 1-815-335-2915 for registration.
Grandparents and Kids Camp #1
Monday-Tuesday, June 22-23, 9:00-11:30 am
(for grandparents and their grandchildren ages 5-12) Come One, Come All, Young and Young at Heart. “There is no such thing as a grown up person”
Spend two fabulous mornings with your grandchildren enjoying the out-of-doors. We offer a variety of activities to complement differing levels of ability. No need to be an expert — just come and have fun. “It is not half so important to know as to feel when introducing a young child to the natural world.” — Rachel Carson
$30 for members of “Friends of Severson Dells” for grandparent(s) and one child ($4 each additional child); $40 for non-members for grandparent(s) and one child ($6 each additional child). Please call to register, or for more information: 1-815-335-2915.
Camp Peek-Into-Creek #2
Wednesday-Friday, June 24-26, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
Grade level: 2nd-5th Grade (2009-10 school year)
Dive into the ecology of stream life; whet your appetite and wet your feet. Take part in the A, B, Sees (appreciation, biology and silliness) of this watery world. We will explore the creeks located at Severson Dells Forest Preserve and Seward Bluffs Forest Preserve. (Campers will be expected to be dropped off and picked up at the appropriate scheduled locations.) The camp will be led by a professional staff with a 5 to 1 student to teacher ratio. (Maximum number of campers is 20.) The camp will end with the legendary creek slosh through the dells in the beautiful Hall Creek of Severson Dells. $55 per member of “Friends of Severson Dells.” $70 per non-member. (Multiple sibling discount available). (Early and late drop offs and pick-ups can be arranged). Please call to register, or for more information. 1-815-335-2915.
Honoring Engraved Patio Paver Brick Donors
Sunday, June 28, 1:00 pm
Our thanks to all who donated to our engraved patio brick project. The work is now completed, including a new ramp and railing, thanks to the Winnebago County Forest Preserve District. All donors are invited to mingle, admire the finished project, and share stories of special Severson Dells experiences. Stay for all or part of the Open House as well!
Summer Open House
Sunday, June 28, 1:00-4:30 pm
The whole afternoon is free thanks to the memory of David and Neva Burdick.
A great afternoon to spend at Severson Dells Nature Center. Check out the “new” Bur Oak Library with over 2,000 nature titles. We have had some hard working volunteers who have made our library user friendly and ready to go. Take some time this afternoon to browse it. Refreshments will be available. Free Treasures Among the Trees books written by Sheryl Pitts Wolff, for each family or individual who visits the library.
At 1:30 — Come listen to Artist/Illustrator Richard McFarland present on his book Grandfather’s Wrinkles. This program will be interesting to the whole family as he reads the story and tells what goes into illustrating a book. Richard will share his personal feelings and humorous moments as well. Afterwards he will be available to sign books. Richard was born and raised near Wrigley Field, on Chicago’s North Side, where he won a scholarship to the Art Institute of Chicago. He is a great-grandfather with smile wrinkles, and this is his first picture book.
At 3:00 — Back by popular demand is Snakes Alive! with snake guy, Tom Kessenich. Join this Madison, WI herpetologist for this program designed to give the audience an inside view of the world of snakes. Tom’s interest started as soon as he could crawl out of the house and his passion for snakes is obvious. His presentation will help you understand snakes more completely and remove any fears if you have them. In addition to learning about the individual snakes, you’ll get an up-close look at the true beauty of snakes. A fascinating experience for all ages.
July 2009
Nature Play for Little Kids
Monday-Wednesday, July 6-8, 9:00-11:30 am
Designed just for younger explorers, 4-6 years old. Fun! Mud! Water! Bugs! Outdoors! Cost: $25 for members of “Friends of Severson Dells”; $30 for non-members. Please call to register, or for more information: 1-815-335-2915.
Grandparents and Kids Camp #2
Thursday-Friday, July 9-10, 9:00-11:30 am
See Camp #1 (June 22-23) for details.
Biology of Streams
Saturday, July 11, 8:00 am-12:00 noon
Leader: Keith Blackmore. Ages: junior high to adult. Participants will spend about an hour learning about the geology of streams and then sample, observe, and study stream life. We will examine molusks, insects, fish, and any other critter that is found. Those who have hip boots or old sneakers and shorts can help with the sampling. Others can sort materials on shore. Fee: $5. Call 1-815-335-2915 to register.
Dr. Pond Scum
Sunday, July 12, 1:30 pm
Program is directed for kids ages 6-11, but others may attend. Foolishness, fun and of course, education is what the Doctor has on order, so you won’t want to miss it. Local area science teacher Gary Pasch mucks and yucks it up as his lovable and laughable character, Dr. Pond Scum. Meet at the Nature Center. Free to all, kids must be accompanied by adults. Please call to reserve a spot for your family. 1-815-335-2915
Adventure Quest
Monday-Wednesday, July 20-22, 9:00 am-3:00 pm (Monday);
8:00 am-4:30 pm (Tuesday & Wednesday)
Grade Level 6th-9th grade (2009-10 school year)
It’s fun! You won’t want to miss it! These three days are for students going into the 6th-9th grade who want to experience some exciting places and learn hands-on about rivers, wetlands, woodlands, and caves. Day 1 will be spent at Severson Dells walking in and exploring our creek. Day 2 we will travel by van to a mystery destination. Day 3, also by van, will take us to Maquoketa Cave State Park in Iowa to investigate the wonderful world of caves. Cost: $125 per member of “Friends of Severson Dells.” $140 per non-member. (Early drop-offs and late pick-ups can be arranged.) 1-815-335-2915
The Extraordinary Ordinary:
A Night of Amazing Words and Thoughts
Thursday, July 23, starting at 6:30 pm
There will be nothing ordinary about this evening. It will be talked about on a variety of levels for weeks, if not months, quite possibly years. Come hear one of the “nation’s most persnickety” poets, Pattiann Rogers of Colorado, and one of the nation’s “oddest essayists,” Brian Doyle of Oregon. “The thesis for the evening: there are no small things, only moments crammed with story and song and revelation and epiphany, if only we could see — we are swimming in a sea of the most particular and amazing miracles. We search for them and embrace them with our senses and our stories, our music and our joys, our visions and our intellect.”
The evening will begin with accomplished local poets, Mary Caskey and Chris Swanberg sharing some of their words and thoughts. Then Rogers and Doyle will share the podium as they sway back and forth from poems to “proems” in a crescendo of words and feelings.
Brian Doyle is the editor of Portland Magazine at the University of Portland — the best university magazine in America, according to Newsweek. He is the author of numerous books and his essays appear in a wide variety of periodicals and anthologies.
Pattiann Rogers, born and raised in Missouri, has spent most of her adult life in Texas and Colorado. She is the author of 13 books of poetry and has been awarded five Pushcart Prizes, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and a Lannan Literary Award. Rogers has taught as a visiting writer at several universities. Her papers are archived at Texas Tech University.
Free to all, but please call for registrations at 1-815-335-2915. This program is in honor of the memory of Dr. Alan Hutchcroft.
Hall Creek Scamper Green Run and Walk
Saturday, July 25
Green, serene, and lean. The Hall Creek Scamper will combine these three elements on July 25 in a morning full of fitness and education in nature. The event includes a 5k Open Race, a 5k Youth (high school and under) Race, and a 1 Mile Walk Scavenger Hunt. The Open 5k will begin at 8:00 am. The youth event will begin at 8:45 and the walk at 9:30 am. Click here to register and pay online.
The event will take place on the scenic trails and roads of Severson Dells Forest Preserve. Participants will traverse through woods, meadows, and an optional creek crossing. Participants in the walk will have the opportunity to lean about Northern Illinois wildlife by participating in a scavenger hunt highlighting the unique scenery on the course.
Proceeds from the run will benefit education programs at the Severson Dells Nature Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. If you don’t want to participate in the Hall Creek Scamper, but would still like to get involved, we are in need of race day volunteers. Please e-mail don@seversondells.org if you would like to volunteer.
