Severson Dells

It’s time to get your winter reading material. Come to the annual Severson Dells Nature Center book sale this Saturday, Oct. 4, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The sale is in the maintenance barn just east of the Nature Center.

There are thousands of hard and soft cover books that need new homes. You can adopt them cheaply, too: $1 for hardcovers, $0.50 for paperbacks and magazines 12 for a buck.

And check the table with half-priced merchandise from the Severson Dells Gift Shop.Proceeds from the book sale will be used to buy new books for the Severson Dells libraries.

When you enter the voting booth in Winnebago County Nov. 4 you’ll see this on your ballot:

Shall the Winnebago County Forest Preserve District be governed by an independent elected nonpartisan board consisting of no less than 5 and no more than 7 Commissioners, replacing the current 28 member Board ofCommissioners?

This is an advisory referendum. If approved it will not raise taxes. It is on the ballot to gauge public sentiment on the issue.

The Winnebago County Board voted in June to put the issue on a ballot. Proponents say it makes sense. The Rockford Register Star reported the County Board and Forest Preserve District have conflicting missions. The Forest Preserve District’s mission is to protect and preserve open space and natural areas; the County Board’s mission is to attract retail shops, industry and other sorts of economic development, according to reporter Chris Green’s story.

According to a Winnebago County Forest Preserve press release:

“The idea to separate the Forest Preserve District board from the County Board gained momentum after it became recognized that commissioners symbolically wear two hats. One hat, their green one, identifies them as Forest Preserve District commissioners, stewards of the land and preservers of flora and fauna. The other hat, worn as Winnebago County Board members, requires them to execute road developments, manage storm water, zone properties and issue permits for suburban development.”

The Severson Dells Board of Directors voted this summer to support the advisory referendum. When you enter the voting booth next month, please make an informed decision.

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4. Fall stuff
October 2008
04 - Used Book Sale, 9:00 am
05 - at Emmanuel Lutheran: Loving Creation by Scott Russell Sanders, 6:00 potluck; 7:00 program
18 - Bird Hike at Rock Cut State Park, 8:00 am
21 - Coolest Turtles in Our Region, 7:00 pm (SAS)

November 2008
08 - Family Night Hike, 7:00 pm
22 - Winter Bird Feeding Workshop, 9:00 am
22 - Feeder Watching Basics, 10:45 am

Save the Date:
December 2008
13 - Luminary Lights, Refreshments and Song: Severson Dells Forest Preserve’s two-thirds of a mile hard surface trail lit up with hundreds of luminary candles, music in the building, 6:00 pm

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Breakfast sets the foundation for a healthy day. And it sets the health of the Severson Dells Education Foundation each year.

Each year we celebrate the great educational programs over a free breakfast. It’s our opportunity to share our message with the community, old and new friends,  and donors.These are pivotal times for environmental education. We need people of all ages to connect with nature so they can understand why wild places and wild things are vital to human beings and the health of our planet. We want you to come and share an hour with us over breakfast. Maybe you want to share the morning with a friend.

There will be an “ask” during the program. How much people give is their business. We hope our presentation inspires everyone to support SDNC.

The breakfast is by invitation only. If you want to come, please call Brian Leaf at (815) 335-2915 or send an email to brian@seversondells.org

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6. Volunteers NeededWhen you volunteer at Severson Dells Nature Center, you help give children life experiences.

We rely on education volunteers to help our staff deliver important lessons on nature. You can become an education volunteer. Don’t worry, we’ll train you so you can help raise the next generation of Earth Stewards.

If you can’t volunteer during the week, we also need folks to serve as center hosts during the weekend. We need people to volunteer for half-day shifts so we can keep the center open on Saturday and Sunday. And what a wonderful place to be a volunteer.

For more information, call us at (815) 335-2915.

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We’re not pushing the season. We’re just letting people know that we have a lot of great gifts and stocking stuffers for under $15 in our gift shop.Keep us in mind. Shop Severson Dells. Support Nature Education.

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Rockford Photographer David Olson is donating a free half-hour holiday photo shoot in his studio and a free 14-inch print in exchange for a $100 donation to Severson Dells Nature Center.

This is a great opportunity for you to get a professional photo of your family, children or grandchildren for holiday cards, gifts or just to make memories. And you’ll be supporting the great programs we offer at the Nature Center.

For more information or to make an appointment, contact David Olson Photography at 815-873-1777.

  

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9. Spotting Scope