September 2008
Guided Bird Hike
Saturday, September 6, 8:00 am
Join volunteer naturalist Phil Schwab as he leads a hike to look for late summer and early fall migrants. Severson Dells Forest Preserve is a great place to spot numerous bird species. The hike will be easy in difficulty and will begin at the Nature Center. No fee. 1-815-335-2915
Walkin’ Jim Stoltz, “Forever Wild” Show
Sunday, September 21, 2:00-4:15 pm
Family Program. Join us for Walkin’ Jim’s multimedia show “Forever Wild” a concert that shares the life he experiences on his long walks and consists of his live music and poetry, backed by Jim’s stunning photographs. Walkin’ Jim has walked close to 25,000 miles through America’s back country, writing songs and taking photos along the way. He is a nationally known folk artist, traveling extensively and spreading the message of wilderness preservation. He is one of the founders of Musicians United to Sustain the Environment. He has received an “Outstanding Achievement Award” from the EPA for his sharing the magic of the wilderness. Free! Please call 1-815-335-2915 for reservations. Very limited seating available. Sponsored in honor and memory of Dr. Alan Hutchcroft.
October 2008
Used Book Sale
Saturday, October 4, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
(One Day Only!) This year’s donations of used books provides a wonderful selection on a variety of topics. Proceeds are used to purchase new books for the Severson Dells Libraries. Used book donations will be accepted through October 2. 1-815-335-2915
“Loving Creation” presented by author Scott Russell Sanders
Sunday, October 5, 6:00 potluck dinner, 7:00 pm lecture
at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 920 Third Ave, Rockford, IL
Join Severson Dells and Four Winds Center for Spiritual Ecology for an evening with one of our era’s most insightful and compelling writers. Sanders says of his most recent book, “I’d like to believe that A Private History of Awe belongs to the tradition of American wisdom literature running from Emerson and Thoreau to Wendell Berry and Annie Dillard. I set out to describe my own brushes with the ground of being, the holy source of all that rises and passes, and to record my search for a language and way of life adequate to those experiences. The resulting book may irk true-believers at one extreme and militant secularists at the other. But I hope that readers who dwell between those extremes will find, as the Quakers say, that A Private History of Awe speaks to their condition.” Free and open to the public. Call Emmanuel Church for more information, 1-815-963-4815.
Bird Hike at Rock Cut State Park
Saturday, October 18, 8:00 am
Join volunteer naturalist Phil Schwab at Rock Cut State Park as he leads a hike to look for fall birds. We will be hoping for some great migrants as well as a host of water birds. The hike will be easy in difficulty and will begin at the Lion’s Shelterhouse. No fee. 1-815-335-2915 Sinnissippi Audubon Society at Severson Dells
Coolest Turtles in Our Region
Tuesday, October 21, 7:00 pm
Blandings turtles are the most endangered of our native northern Illinois turtles. Dr. Jeffrey Behr has worked with Blandings turtles in captivity, creating both summer habitat for them and the conditions they need for hibernation. He has successfully bred Blandings turtles and is raising young ones. In conjunction with the DNR, he is formulating plans for reintroducing turtles in the wild. Dr. Behr will give a talk and PowerPoint about his experience with turtles, and be available for questions. Free and open to the public.
November 2008
Family Night Hike
Saturday, November 8, 7:00-8:30 pm
Join Severson Dells naturalist Don Miller on this family night hike to listen for owls and other night sounds. Listen to see if we can discover what goes bump in the night. All ages welcome. Free to members of Friends of Severson Dells; $3 per family non-members. Call 1-815-335-2915 to register.
Winter Bird Feeding Workshop
Saturday, November 22, 9:00-10:30 am
Bill and Pat Hoople, owners of Wayne’s Feed Store on Auburn Street in Rockford, will be instructing this annual birdfeeding workshop. The workshop will benefit beginner as well as long time feeders. Registration is required, call 1-815-335-2915
Feeder Watching Basics
Saturday, November 22, 10:45-11:45 am
What are those feathered critters visiting your feeders? Severson Dells staff educator Richard Benning will cover ways to learn about those birds. Selecting bird identification guides and binoculars will also be discussed. Call for reservations. 1-815-335-2915
