Severson Dells

If you missed it last week, Severson Dells Nature Center and the Natural Land Institute teamed up with 74 6th graders from Rockford Christian to sow 6.5 acres of drainage area with the 40 native species.

The site drains the Red Oak Estates subdiivsion on Rockford’s east side, near the southwest corner of Bell School and Rote roads.

Rockford Register Star reporter Melissa Westphal and photographer John Elbers came out to cover us, as did a videographer WTVO 17 and Fox 39.

Click here to read the story.

PDF version

It was a great, fun and muddy day! Thanks to the students, for giving back to nature, to Greg Keilback of the Natural Land Institute, to Rockford Christian science teacher Julie Rohl and especially to Rockford developer Herb McKiski, who had the idea to bring nature into his subdivision.

Tune in Thursday morning, Oct. 18, to Channel 13 WREX-TV for live broadcasts from Severson Dells Nature Center.

Weatherman Adam Painter will be here and will talk about the center with Don Miller and Brian Leaf between 5:30 and 8 a.m.

This is part of our efforts to let people know about Severson Dells and its mission of linking people to nature. 

Severson Dells inaugural race gets friendly with nature

By Mike DeDoncker
ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
ROCKFORD — Running a race certainly affects an individual’s health, but one local runner wants people to understand that it also affects the health of the environment.

Former Rockford Auburn track and cross country standout Stephanie Baliga, now an economics and geography major with a minor in an environmental fellows program at the University of Illinois, is the race director for the Hall Creek Scamper, scheduled for July 21.

Click here for the full story  (.pdf)

Severson Dells Nature Center was presented with the Chairman’s Special “Eye on the Future” Award by the Winnebago County Soil and Water District for a rain garden project at the Hudson Place Condominiums on North Main Street.

Severson Dells partnered with William Charles Investments and Spectrum School to plant a drainage basin with native plants that will filter urban runoff before the water is discharged into the Rock River watershed, while providing habitat for birds and butterflies. Spectrum students seeded the basin and will use it to for nature studies.

William Charles, which built the condos on the site of a former Kmart store, was also recognized by the district for the rain garden project, receiving the “Innovation in Urban Development” award. The awards were presented Jan. 26 at the district’s annual meeting.

Severson Dells Nature Center, 8786 Montague Road, Rockford, is a non-profit organization that provides nature programming for about 15,000 people each year. It’s mission is to link people to nature. The Nature Center is based at the Severson Dells Forest Preserve.

Related Links:

Bison, Hula Hoops, Rain Gardens and Smart Growth

Pictures from Planting the Hudson Place Rain Garden