What is a wetland?

Illinois is the second flattest state in the nation! Have you ever wondered why? The answer has a lot to do with mammoths, growing corn, and far-away rocks. Glaciation has had a significant impact on forming the topography in the Midwest United States, specifically in Illinois. Illinois was a moving ground for glaciers, carving the land underneath it, making it super flat. The answer has a lot to do with mammoths, growing corn, and far-away rocks. Before the ice age there were no Great Lakes , only shallow basins, except for Lake Superior, which had formed earlier as a result of the midcontinent rift system. Glaciers that originated in Eastern and Central Canada extended into parts of Illinois during long cold periods, where they reshaped the land. There are three glacial periods which have affected Illinois, known as the Pre-Illinoian, Illinoian, and Wisconsinian, and they invaded Illinois during the Ice Age, which extended from 2.4 million years to 10,000 years ago. During this time, glaciers were invading Northern Illinois repeatedly, forming the modern landscape we know and see today.

My Story

Community Science is an important part of what we do here at Severson Dells Nature Center, but community Science can often be an ill-defined idea. So in this blog, I will define what Community Science means to us, I will explain how Community Science benefits our community, and I will reveal what we have planned for Community Science in 2025.

The impact that the moon has on life can not be underestimated. Many aspects of life, such as time, tides, and light are all affected by the moon. For many animals the moon is essential to migration and navigation, while for other animals the lunar cycle is used to time reproduction. Organisms, such as corals, synchronize their spawning patterns with the lunar cycle.

Now that winter is here and snow is on the ground, it seems like nature is quieting down. In Northern Illinois, winter can be a very intense season for wild living things, especially for plants! They can’t migrate south as lots of animals do, nor can they put layers on or go inside, they aren’t humans. Instead, plants have special adaptations that allow them to survive, even in subfreezing temperatures! Thanks to some amazing genetics, plants have thrived in the changing seasons for longer than humans have been around! Let’s explore some of these winter survival strategies.

Amid the ongoing challenges of climate change and other threats to the environment, 2024 has also brought encouraging stories of resilience and progress. Around the globe, efforts to restore ecosystems, protect endangered species, and innovate for sustainability have made a meaningful impact. These successes remind us that even in the face of adversity, positive change is not only possible, but essential, for securing a healthier future for our planet. Local News Severson Dells Nature Center Acquires 168 acres of the former Elliot Golf Course for Rewilding and Nature Education : Severson Dells Environmental Education Foundation purchased the property from the Rockford Park District and will aid the ecosystem in succession, the process by which ecosystems become more diverse over time. Native seeds will be reintroduced, the creek will be daylighted and re-meandered, and natural pressures such as fire bill be reestablished. In addition to the rewilding, the purchase will increase the reach of the environmental education that we offer. The Natural Land Institute Acquires 327 Acres for Conservation on the Stateline : The property, named the Jerry and Kathy Busse Prairie Preserve on Raccoon Creek for donors, adds to the network of protected land along Racoon Creek east of Rockton that includes Lost Flora Fen and Nygren Wetland. The land is home to many threatened and endangered plants and animals including Hine’s emerald dragonflies, rusty patched bumble bees, and Blanding’s turtles. The Natural Land Institute will perform habitat restoration on the wetlands, lake, and grasslands and the property to ensure that these endangered populations can exist in perpetuity.

Last December, we let you know about the exciting new after-school program Severson Dells was doing with a couple of schools from Rockford Public School District. It was a wonderful way to bring nature to the community and connect with more students. This year, we are bringing our hands-on after-school curriculum to two of the local Boys & Girls Clubs here in Rockford! The Severson Dells team will be visiting the Stenstrom Boys & Girls Club unit, formerly known as Fairground, closer to the west side of Rockford and the Flodin unit across the street from the former Elliot golf course towards the east side until April. We are already a couple of weeks into the program, and it has been amazing so far. The Severson Dells team is learning so much about the students and has already had meaningful conversations about nature. During the rest of the visits, we will be building habitat models, touching animal skulls and pelts, acting out the water cycle, going on an animal track scavenger hunt, and more. We are excited to continue bringing bits of nature to different parts of the community!

Shoreline Stabilization

Ice . . . snow . . . wind chill, these are the terms that best describe the winter weather here in Rockford. On average we have 37 inches of snow each year and have the average high temperatures being 30 degrees Fahrenheit over the winter. I think that we all know how rough this type of weather can be on us, but at least we have access to shelter and technology to keep us warm- our bird friends don't have that luxury. Luckily many of the species that we know and love made the smart decision to migrate to warmer areas in the Southern States and in South America. That has resulted in a decrease in both the number of species and number of individual birds that we can regularly see. But for the ones we’ll be covering today, the cold doesn't bother them anyway. They spend their entire winter here no matter how much snow falls, how scarce resources become, or how hard the wind blows. They have behavioral or biological adaptations that help them survive in frozen areas.

Why Some Mountains are Dormant While Others Aren't