Greg Keilback	Emily Keilback	Diane Kuehl
Three people have been elected to the Severson Dells Nature Center board. They are Diane Kuehl, Greg Keilback and Emily Keilback. Diane Kuehl recently retired from Rock Valley College, where she held various administrative positions. She earned a bachelor’s degree in speech education from Bradley University and a master’s of arts in teaching at Rockford College. She has served on several boards and is currently involved with Phi Delta Kappa, Colonial Dames and CASA. Greg and Emily Keilback, both 26, are Winnebago natives. They are Winnebago High School graduates and both attended programs at Severson Dells Nature Center as children. They married two years ago and recently purchased a house two miles west of the Nature Center. Greg holds a degree in natural resources conservation biology and ecology from the University of Idaho – Moscow. He is a restoration ecologist with the Natural Land Institute. Emily earned bachelor’s degrees at the College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, in communications and English. She earned a master’s degree in environmental communication from Washington State University. She is Director of Resource Development and Major Gifts for United Way of Rock River Valley.

e-Notes From the Dells

July 2008

1. Last Chance to Save on Hall Creek Scamper
2. Canoeing with Carter & Connelley
3. Reprise: Carter and Connelly’s Everybody Needs a River
4. A Few Bricks Shy of a Load
5. Whaddya Mean There’s Nothing to do Around Here?
6. Remembering Neva Burdick, 1922-2008
7. Arson at the Witness Tree

Click here for more

Bugs! Mud! Water! Fun!

David and Neva Burdick

Neva Burdick never stopped thinking about Severson Dells Nature Center. She and her late husband Dave were friends, benefactors, volunteers, board members and incredible evangelists for the work we do connecting people to nature through education.

We lost Neva on July 6 and it is a big loss. Neva and Dave were instrumental in shaping the future of our non-profit organization through their leadership, philanthropy and guidance.

David, who died in 1993, was a teacher. He knew the impact the natural world has on children and he was an incredible champion of environmental education. After school, David’s favorite way to connect himself to nature was through the camera lens. He was a terrific photographer and left an incredible catalog.

Neva, too, championed nature education and was a long-time member of the Severson Dells Education Foundation Board, the governing group of not-for-profit nature group.

After David died, Neva entered the publishing world in 1998 with a picture book, "Treasures Among the Trees," to honor Dave and to raise money for Severson Dells. The book featured nature photos taken by Dave, wrapped around story written by Sheryl Pitts Wolff about a grandfather’s and grandson’s walk through the forest preserve in search of nature’s gems. In the end, they find that the best treasure of all was sharing the natural world with someone else.

Copies of the book are available in the Severson Dells Nature Center Gift Shop. Here’s Neva’s obituary.

Stoughton, Wis. - Neva Burdick, age 85, died on Sunday, July 6, 2008. She was born in Stephenson County, Illinois on July 14, 1922, the daughter of Frank and Anna Schramm. Neva was united in marriage on June 22, 1947 to David Livingston Burdick.

She was employed as an x-ray technician for many years at Woodward Governor in Rockford, IL. In 1990 she and her husband moved to Vennevoll in Stoughton. Neva was currently a member of the Stoughton United Methodist Church and a former member of Third Presbyterian Church in Rockford. She was also a former board member of the Severson Dells Environmental Education Foundation, and since moving to Stoughton, was a volunteer and promoter for the Skaalen community.

Neva is survived by many special nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, David, in 1993; her sister and best friend, Evelyn Heitz and her forever friend, Faye Keister, both in 2007.

A celebration of Neva’s life will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, July 14, 2008 at the Skaalen Chapel, 400 N. Morris Street, Stoughton. A gathering of friends and family will be held from 10:00 AM until the time of service Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Severson Dells Nature Center, 8786 Montague Road, Rockford, IL 61102.

Neva, we thank you for all of your love, support, generosity, nurturing, quick wit, and sage advice throughout our lives.

Click here to give a memorial gift for Neva Burdick.

Summer camp isn’t just for kids.

This week, 15 grandparents and their grandkids came to Severson Dells Nature Center for an outdoor adventure, and the chance to bond in nature. 

Creek sloshes, butterfly catching, pond mucking and scavenger hunts were among the activities that people from age 7 to 70 took part in.

One of our campers was Rockford Register Star Columnist Geri Nikolai, who grew up on a farm but hadn’t dipped her toes in a creek since she was in grade school. She wrote about the camp on the paper’s Website in a story, Camp reveals creepy — and fun — side of nature.

It wasn’t the first time I’d waded through a creek, but it’s been 50 years since the last time. And I would not have been there, except that granddaughter and I were at Severson’s grandparents/grandkids nature camp, and the 9-year-old insisted I go in the creek with her. I’m glad she did.

I had forgotten how cold the water feels in some spots, and warm in others where the sun is hitting it. How fun to maneuver over the rocky bottom and discover what’s living under the rocks. Our group found bugs, jellylike eggs, and two crawfish — one live and one dead.

For Geri and her granddaughter, fun was a byproduct; the camp had a purpose. Her granddaughter was afraid of the woods. See related video: Overcoming Fear of Deer

One reason I signed us up for this camp was my grandchildren’s fear of anything approaching wild. Last summer, when we were searching for 17-year cicadas at another forest preserve, 9-year-old refused to walk down a trail surrounded by woods. Bears, she shrieked.

At Severson, she walked down wooded paths with groups, found no dangerous animals, and let on that it was kind of pretty out there. She freaked when we discovered a snake in a downed tree, but later forgot about that as she entered prairie grass to net a butterfly.

Experience is a great way for kids to overcome fear. And there’s now better way to experience nature than with grandma, grandpa, or both.

Read Geri’s story:  Camp reveals creepy — and fun — side of nature.

A fine time was had by all!

Video

WTVO Stateline Green Visits
Camp-Peek-Into-Creek

e-Notes From the Dells

June 2008

Spread the word about Severson Dells to your people! Forward this newsletter by clicking the link at the bottom of this page.

  In this issue . . . . .

1. A World Class Butterfly Dude and A Top Shelf Author
2. Butterfly Hikin’ With the Pros
3. Kiddie Lit and Outdoor Discovery
4. What You’ve Missed in the Rock River Times
5. Whaddya Mean There’s Nothing to do Around Here?
6. Hall Creek Scamper: Run Green on July 26
7. What Kids Say About Nature
8. Leopold Project: Using A Sand County Almanac as a Curriculum Guide (Register by Sat.  June 21)
 

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   1. World Class Butterfly Dude & Top Shelf Author

Over the years some of the country’s greatest naturalists, conservationists, authors and artists have come to Severson Dells.

  We’ve got a double header you won’t want to miss: World renown butterfly expert Robert Michael Pyle and a Severson Dells’ favorite, writer extrordinaire Scott Russel Sanders.

Pyle’s Bio: http://www.xerces.org/Butterfly_Conservation/butterflyathon.html
Sanders Bio: http://www.scottrussellsanders.com/biog.html

They’ll be at the Nature Center on Friday, June 27 for a twin bill, starting at 6:30 p.m. The program is entitled The Extinction of Experience. IT’S FREE! Sponsored in memory of Dr. Alan Hutchcroft.

Scott will read from his forthcoming book, First Boy in the Woods.  

Bob is making a return trip, too, as he traverses North America on a quest to find as many of the 800 species of butterflies that call the continent home.  He’ll talk about how close daily involvement with nature is the only true antidote to alienation and what he calls “the extinction of experience.”

Then, they’ll lead a group discussion on how we can reconnect a society that has pushed nature away.

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    2. Butterfly Hikin’ With the Pros
  Note: These hikes are open to members only and there are fees. But they’ll be worth every penny!
To join, call (815) 335-2915. 

Come, be in the presence of butterfly greatness. Bob Pyle and Jim Wiker know Lepidoptera.  They want you to know butterflies, too. They’ll lead Severson Dells members on two separate hikes to discover our region’s flying jewels on Saturday, June 28.

Bob, is founder of the Xerces Society, a worldwide organization that  seeks to protect and conserve invertebrates. He is one of the top butterfly experts in the world. Jim wrote the book, literally, on Skippers of Illinois.    You won’t find a higher caliber nature walk this summer, if ever. So call and sign up.

Click here to learn more.

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3. Children’s Lit as Springboard to Outdoor Discovery 

If you read to a child, you need to join us this Sunday, June 22, to help make kid’s books truly come alive.   You’ll explore cross-cultural picture books and venture afield for activities suggested in the stories.

The workshop will be co-led by Mira Reisberg and Clifford Knapp.

Click here to learn more

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4. What You’ve Missed in the Rock River Times

Severson Dells staffers are writing weekly columns for the Rock River Times. Please pick up a copy of the paper, or buy an ad to support our work!  

The candied fable – by Don Miller My Weeds — by Brian Leaf The last float – by Don Miller Seeking a sense of place — by Don Miller The gift of nature education — by Brian Leaf

 

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Support Severson Dells: Shop at our Gift Store

Books, puzzles, jewelry, natural lotions and more. Proceeds support environmental education.

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5. Whaddya Mean There’s Nothing to Do Around Here?

June 2008
22: Using Children’s Literature as Springboards to Outdoor Discoveries, 1:00 pm
23-25: Grandparents and Kids Camp, 9:00 am
27: Extinction of Experience, featuring Robert Michael Pyle and Scott Russell Sanders, 6:30 pm
28: Butterflies in the Field with Robert Michael Pyle and Jim Wiker, 9:30 am and 1:30 pm.

July 2008
08-10: Nature Play for Little Kids, 9:00 am
12: Leopold Education Project, 8:30 am
22-24: Adventure Quest Camp
26: Hall Creek Scamper
26: In Flow With Nature’s Inspirations, 8:30 am
26: A Night of Music: Everybody Needs a River, 7:00 pm
27: Bats at the Beach (at Pec River FP), 7:00 pm

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6. Hall Creek Scamper: Run Green!

Come run with us on a trail race that’s more than just a romp through the woods. Hall Creek Scamper Race Director Stephanie Baliga has applied the 4 Rs — reduce, reuse, recycle and rethink — to this event. Her goal: Create a running event in a beautiful setting that minimizes waste and energy inputs.

So on July 26th, there’s a 5k open race, a 5k youth race and a 1 mile run-walk-scavenger hunt. In addition to individual awards, we’ll score the 5k races like a cross country meet, so get a few running pals together and compete as a team.

Register online now!

Race begins at 8 a.m. Register now as entries after July 23 will cost more.

There will also be a green expo where area businesses will display their environmentally friendly wares.
Someday, we hope this will become a template for other race directors to follow.

Click here for a video about the race (produced by Phil Pilcher of The Abilities Center).

Volunteers needed: Contact Stephanie at dellsgreenrun@gmail.com

Learn More About The Hall Creek Scamper.

We need a race director for 2009. Know anybody? dellsgreenrun@gmail.com

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7. What Kids Say About Nature   Do you remember seeing your first deer? Jasmine saw her first whitetail during a visit to Severson Dells.

Click here and she’ll tell you her story.

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  8. Leopold Project: Using A Sand County Almanac as a Curriculum Guide

When: Saturday, July 12, 8:30 am-3:30 pm

Where: Severson Dells Nature Center, 8786 Montague Road

For Whom: Teachers and Youth Leaders (Illinois teachers can earn 6 CPDUs!)

What: The Leopold Education Project is a curriculum that guides learning through direct observation of the natural world. Aldo Leopold’s book, A Sand County Almanac, forms the basis around which the curriculum is centered. Participants will receive a curriculum guide, a copy of A Sand County Almanac and a set of task cards.

How Much: $45 (Full Scholarships Available Through Winnebago County Pheasants Forever)

Instructors: Dr. Clifford Knapp, Professor Emeritus at NIU and Richard Benning, Severson Dells Nature Center.

Pre-registration is required. Deadline June 21. Call (815) 335-2915 to register.

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About Severson Dells Nature Center

What: Your link to the Natural World in Northern Illinois Where: 8786 Montague Road, Rockford, IL 61102 When: Open Mon.-Sat., 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Sun., 1-4:30 p.m.
Call: (815) 335-2915
Write: info@seversondells.org

Severson Dells Nature Center is a 501(c)3 non profit organization. Our mission: To Link People to Nature Through Education.

We rely on donors to support our work. Click here now to show your support.

© Severson Dells Nature Center

 

Sunday, June 22, 1:00-4:30 p.m.

At Severson Dells Nature Center

This workshop introduces teachers, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and anyone else to children’s literature that leads to outdoor discoveries and learning from nature.

Carefully selected picture books from a wide range of cultures will be read to the group and then we will venture out into nature to do a range of activities suggested in the stories.

These storybooks are springboards to a range of activities designed to delight and inspire children.

The workshop will be co-led by Mira Reisberg and Clifford Knapp.

Dr. Reisberg teaches art education courses with a place-based focus at Northern Illinois University. She is also an award-winning children’s picture book illustrator. Dr. Knapp is a place-based educator who retired from NIU’s Department of Teaching and Learning. He continues to lead workshops and make nature-related presentations.

Call for more information. 1-815-335-2915. Sponsored in memory of Dr. Alan Hutchcroft.