February 2011
Winter Bird Hike
Saturday, February 5, 8:00-10:30 a.m.
Join volunteer naturalist Phil Schwab at Severson Dells Forest Preserve as we begin the walk by identifying birds at the feeders. We then will walk outside with the hopes of seeing the numerous winter residents of Severson Dells. Meet at the Nature Center. Bring binoculars and dress for the weather. No fee. Call 1-815-335-2915 to confirm.
Denali
Tuesday, February 22, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
at Severson Dells Nature Center
“Denali” A presentation with great photos and videos plus a narration by Jim Epperson. Born and raised in Rockford, Jim was introduced to mountain climbing in 1983 when he joined his roommate on a trip to Mt. Rainier. After a 20 year break, in 2003, he once again joined his now former roommate on a trip to Longs Peak. Since then Jim has climbed Mt. Baker, The Grand Teton, Mt. Whitney, Mt. Blanc and most recently Denali. Come out and listen and watch this fascinating tale of adventure. When he’s not “off to the mountains”, Jim rides his bicycle, plays his violin and enjoys a good beer. Free to members of “Friends of Severson Dells†$2/non-member. 1-815-335-2915.
Wolves of the Midwest
Sunday, February 27, 2:00-3:15 p.m.
Canis Lupus, the Gray Wolf, has made a remarkable recovery in the western great lakes region since passage of the Endangered Species Act. Wolves have been part of human folklore for centuries and as a result there are many myths about them. Come to this program and learn the facts about how they live, where they live and how they compare to their more common canine relatives coyotes and foxes. The question that many are wondering about; Do wolves live in Illinois? will also be discussed. Free to members of “Friends of Severson Dells,†$2/non-member. 1-815-335-2915.
March 2011
“Please Don’t Climb the Silos” a reading by Bruce Muench
Tuesday, March 8, 6:30 p.m.
Bruce Muench, a biologist/writer, recently completed a new book, “Please Don’t Climb the Silos”. It chronicles the interaction of his four children with both the wild and domestic animals during the 42 years they lived on a farm in northern Illinois. The book’s thirty some chapters pertain to different animals encounters. Muench has had four prior books published.
He lives in Roscoe, IL and is retired from the IDNR. His college degrees are in zoology and biology, however for this book, he picked the brains of his children for their slant on their animal experiences. A good deal of humor is entwined with biological fact along with some history. Come out and enjoy this reading by Bruce Muench. Free, but please call if you plan on attending. 1-815-335-2915.
Discovering a Sense of Place
Tuesdays, March 15-April 12, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Course lead by Don Miller
5 sessions; Fee: $50
Discovering a sense of place is a five-session discussion class that will be an in-depth study that the participants will:
1. Gain an understanding of the meaning of a bioregional perspective, and what it would mean to develop one.
2. Consider the benefits of consciously developing an intimate relationship with your place
3. Explore what it might mean to protect the place we live.
This class will be based on the Northwest Earth Institute’s discussion guide that all participants will receive. Special guest speakers on northern Illinois history, geology and local flora and fauna will also present during these session. Great reading material from Leopold, Lopez, Sanders, Stegner and so many more! Please call to register by March 7: 1-815-335-2915.
Of all the memberships we identify ourselves by the one thing that is most forgotten, and that has the greatest potential for healing, is place. We must learn to know, love, and join our place even more than we love our own ideas. People who can agree that they share a commitment to the landscape / cityscape — even if they are otherwise locked in struggle with each other — have at least one deep thing to share. – Gary Snyder
Spring Awakening Gathering
Saturday, March 19
At the “Pec Barn” located within the Pecatonica River Forest Preserve;
entrance at 7260 Judd Road, Pecatonica.
Enjoy the celebration of the coming spring
season and have fun with the whole family.
3:00-4:30 p.m. – Boot Scootin’ Barn Dance. (Door prize chances with every dance you do.) Come out and enjoy this fun way to welcome the coming spring. We all will be having such a great time it will seem like the barn is dancing. The whole family is welcome to come and participate or watch. One needs not to worry about dancing abilities, only dancing attitude. Join Linda Halley line dance teacher extraordinaire as she and some friends take us through some easy steps to become the next “dancing with the stars” contestants. (maybe???) Guaranteed to be lots of fun and a great time. Linda teaches dance at the Roscoe Methodist Church and Betty’s Western Wear.
4:45-5:45 p.m. – Community Supper ~ FREE! Enjoy the hard work and great recipes of the folks from the region at this pot luck dinner. Bring your own table ware and dish to pass and take in the feast. Severson Dells will provide lemonade and coffee for drinks as well as frozen custard with maple syrup (while it lasts.) Enjoy some maple syrup on frozen custard or one of the other topping we have to offer. (Thank you to the Culver’s of Winnebago manager Jimmy Smith for providing the frozen custard.) Please call if you plan to attend so that we can have plenty for all. 1-815-335-2915.
6:00-6:45 p.m. – Readings and Stories Shared. Don Miller, Executive Director of Severson Dells Nature Center will kick this session off with reading of a couple of essays/stories just to get us started, but we want YOU to take part. Tell some spring memories or anything that pops into your mind that night. (Well almost anything.) We want to hear some of your stories as well. We don’t tell stories enough and this is a great place to have that happen. Don’t be shy! BUT, you know what, if you happen to come across a paragraph or quote that you think others should hear, that would be fine to share, too. We’ll end with a reading of Aldo Leopold’s “Sky Dance†about the flight of the woodcock.
6:45-8:00 p.m. – Full Moon and Woodcock Watch. What a great way to end a fun day! If the clouds cooperate we will see a bright full moon over the Pecatonica River valley. It might be more appropriate to call it a listen for the woodcock and not a watch, but maybe we will get a glimpse of the male’s beautiful courtship dance. It will be spectacular evening anyway.
OR
6:45 p.m.– Hang Out by a Nice Fire … byom…(bring your own marshmallows).
Skunk Cabbage Potluck
Monday, March 21, 5:30-8:00 p.m.
We are reviving a program from several years ago. Celebrate Spring Equinox (one day late) with a potluck supper by the fireplace on the screen porch at Severson Dells Nature Center. A few “Dutch oven chefs” will be cooking right next to the fire. After supper take a hike to where the skunk cabbage grows to see if it has awakened from its winter slumber. Bring table service and a dish to pass. Coffee and hot cocoa provided.Call to register.1-815-335-2915.
Spring Open House
Tuesday and Wednesday, March 29 and 30,
9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
During spring break, hang out at Severson Dells Nature Center. Check out what birds are visiting the feeders, read a book in our newly decorated bird library, work on a puzzle or do a craft. Invite a staff member to find out what’s happening at the pond (any frogs yet?) or take a walk to see the skunk cabbage. No fee – just fun. 1-815-335-2915.
Training for Education Volunteers
Thursday, March 31, 9:30 a.m.-12:00 noon
A major part of carrying out the Severson Dells mission is offering outdoor field experiences to local schools. This training session is intended to help both experienced education volunteers and those who wish to become volunteers. Pre-registration is required. Call 1-815-335-2915
April 2011
2011 Wildflower Walkabout Kickoff Program
“Saving Nature” with Barbara Fell
Thursday, April 7, 6:30 p.m.
Click here to see Wildflower Walkabout section for details.
The Isle Royale Wolf-Moose Project
Presented by Dr. John A.Vucetich
Monday, April 11, 6:30 p.m.
Free- Sponsored by Hall Creek Headwaters Fund.
Dr. John A. Vucetich is an Assistant Professor at Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI. He is a population biologist that spends most of his time studying the wolves and moose of Isle Royale. He also has great interest in the philosophy and ethics of ecological and conservation science.
“The purpose of the Isle Royale wolf-moose project has been to observe and understand the dynamic fluctuations of Isle Royale’s wolves and moose, in the hope that such knowledge will inspire a new, flourishing relationship with nature.†Isle Royale is located in the northwest portion of Lake Superior. It is ~50 miles long and ~8 miles wide. Isle Royale is home to a population of wolves and moose. These wolves are the sole predator of the moose, and moose represent ~90% of the wolves’ diet. The wolves, the moose, and their interactions have been studied continuously and intensively since 1958. This is the longest study of any predator-prey system in the world.”
- If Isle Royale were smaller than it is, it would be too small to support a wolf population. If Isle Royale were larger than it is, it would be too large to effectively study the moose population.
– If Isle Royale were further from the mainland than it is, wolves and moose may never have made it to Isle Royale.
– If Isle Royale were closer to the mainland than it is, other species which are not on Isle Royale, such as coyotes, deer, and bear, might have made it to Isle Royale. Studying species interactions becomes increasingly difficult with increasing species diversity.
– Isle Royale is not too small, not too large, not too far, and not too close. It is just right!
Click here … OR … also here for more information regarding this project.
Call for reservations. 1-815-335-2915.
Early Morning Bird Walk
Saturday, April 23, 8:00-10:00 a.m.
Join volunteer staff naturalist Phil Schwab on this tour of Severson Dells Forest Preserve looking for early migrating birds. We hope to see Brown Thrashers, Eastern Bluebirds, Yellow-rumped Warblers and much more. Dress for the weather and bring binoculars if you have them. No fee. 1-815-335-2915.
May 2011
Spring Birding Trip to Crex Meadows
May 9-13
Click here for all the details.
Early Morning Bird Walk
Saturday, May 14, 8:00-10:00 a.m.
Join volunteer staff naturalist Phil Schwab on this tour of Severson Dells Forest Preserve. Prime time for warblers, migration should be at its peak. Dress for the weather and bring binoculars if you have them. Meet at the Nature Center. No fee. 1-815-335-2915.
Family Bird Watching Basics
Saturday, May 21, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Bird watching is not just for the experts. It can be a great enticement for a family to get outdoors, and learning a few tricks of the trade can help enhance the experience. This program is designed to teach techniques that can help bird watchers of all ages such as location, movement, observing clues and proper use of field guides and binoculars. Hopefully we will even see some birds during the session. Bring binoculars if you have them and dress for being outdoors. Call to register: 1-815-335-2915.
June 2011
Birding Rock Cut State Park
Tuesday, June 14, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Severson Dells volunteer Phil Schwab will lead a bird hike at Rock Cut State Park. The group will meet at 5:30 p.m. in the parking lot next to the dam. We will then follow Willow Creek and look for the early summer birds of the park. Bring binoculars if you have them; some will be provided. Call 1-815-335-2915 for more information and to let us know you plan to attend. Ages ten and up. Free.
Creek Biology
Wednesday, June 15, 8:30-11:30 a.m.
(Ages 12 and Up)
Discover the geology of streams and then sample, observe and study stream life. Get ready to get wet and dirty as we examine mollusks, insects, fish and any other critter that we can find! BRING: hip boots or old sneakers and shorts. (Or, if you don’t have boots / sneakers, you can be in charge of sorting from the shore). Free to members of “Friends of Severson Dells;†$5/non-member. 1-815-335-2915.
July 2011
Hike the Dells Orienteering Day
Saturday, July 9, 9:30 a.m.-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.
Hope for Butterflies
Friday, July 29, 10:00 a.m.-Noon
Don Miller will present a reading from a book called, “Butterflies Under Our Hats.†It is a beautiful book about hope. After the reading there will be a short discussion about butterflies and then we’ll grab our nets and go out on the prowl. We’ll see how many we can catch and release. It promises to be fun in the sun. Ages 5-12 with adults. Free. Call 1-815-335-2915 to register.
August 2011
Denizens of the Pond
Saturday, August 20, 8:30-11:30 a.m.
(Ages 12 and Up)
Begin with an introduction about ponds and pond life, and then explore the pond to collect specimens! Identify representative organisms and then release them back to their natural home. BRING: hip boots or old sneakers and shorts. (Or, if you don’t have boots/sneakers, you can be in charge of sorting from the shore). Free to members of “Friends of Severson Dells;†$5/non-member. Call 1-815-335-2915 to register.