Horizons quarterly // fall 2015

HORI Z ON S LAKE COUNTY FOREST PRESERVES

PRESERVATION, RESTOR ATION , EDUCATION AN D RECRE ATION

QUARTERLY FALL

2015

VOLUME 24, ISSUE 4

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On the cover: Captain Daniel Wright Woods, Mettawa more than

30,200 acres are

LAKE COUNTY FOREST PRESERVES

protected

by the lake county forest preserves .

A MESSAGE from

BOARD of COMMISSIONERS

ANN B. MAINE PRESIDENT LAKE COUNTY FOREST PRESERVES

PRESIDENT

Ann B. Maine, Lincolnshire VICE PRESIDENT

Linda Pedersen, Antioch

Children today spend less time playing outside than any previous generation. As the number of screens competing for our attention has multiplied, fewer of today’s parents and teachers may have grown up with a connection to nature—leading some, in turn, to feel less comfortable spending time outdoors with their kids. Compounding the problem, parents and teachers now are tackling the ubiquitous draw of the Internet, while development has caused a loss of open space, diminishing access to natural areas. Too many limits on outdoor play means that kids may be missing out on the positive effects of direct nature experiences.

As a teacher and a mother of four sons (all Eagle Scouts), I’ve spent a lot of time playing in the backyard—lots of digging in the mud or building rock collections. I’ve learned to appreciate the benefits of a regular relationship with the outdoors, and I’m so glad that the Lake County Forest Preserves can offer this opportunity to others.

Spending time in nature is good for a child’s cognitive and social development, creativity, and physical and emotional health. Studies have shown that schools that use outdoor classrooms or other forms of experiential education show significant gains in testing scores, self-esteem, problem-solving skills, cooperation, and motivation to learn. By studying subjects through outdoor experiences, students also connect to their local environment, and become stewards of their community’s natural resources.

Fall is back-to-school time, and for many classes that means it’s time for a field trip.

Whether teachers want to schedule a program with our trained staff or lead activities on their own, forest preserves can provide the perfect setting. The feature on the following pages highlights our offerings for school and scout groups. These programs are just the tip of the iceberg. Every forest preserve offers different opportunities for independent exploration and discovery. Let your kids take the lead—with their natural curiosity, they will quickly find something interesting.

Cooler days and colorful foliage also make fall the perfect time to hit the trails. The annual Hike Lake County program runs through November 30, challenging participants to hike trails they may not have visited before. New this year: Join us for Guided Hike Lake County and hike this year’s trails with a naturalist. Hike a different trail each week. See the calendar on page 9 for details.

Check our program schedule online at LCFPD.org/calendar, and in any season you’re sure to find a family-friendly program. Our preserves are open every day of the year from 6:30 am to sunset. These are your Lake County Forest Preserves—I encourage you to use them, enjoy them, and share them with your loved ones.

TREASURER

S. Michael Rummel, Lake Forest ASSISTANT TREASURER

Audrey H. Nixon, North Chicago Chuck Bartels, Mundelein Carol Calabresa, Libertyville Steve Carlson, Gurnee Bonnie Thomson Carter, Ingleside Mary Ross Cunningham, Waukegan Bill Durkin, Waukegan Sandra Hart, Lake Bluff Diane Hewitt, Waukegan Aaron Lawlor, Vernon Hills Steven W. Mandel, Highland Park Sidney Mathias, Buffalo Grove Brent Paxton, Zion Nick Sauer, Lake Barrington Craig Taylor, Lake Zurich Tom Weber, Lake Villa Jeff Werfel, Grayslake Terry Wilke, Round Lake Beach EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Ty Kovach

HORIZONS VOLUME 24, ISSUE 4

Fall 2015

EDITOR

Susan Hawkins horizons@LCFPD.org PHOTOGRAPHY

Dwight Burdette, Pete Capp, Magnus Manske, Chip Williams.

SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES HOTLINE: 847–968–3335

Photo and videos are periodically taken of people participating in Forest Preserve District programs and activities. All persons registering for Forest Preserve District programs/ activities or using Forest Preserve property thereby agree that any photo or video taken by the Forest Preserve District may be used by the District for promotional purposes including its website, promotional videos, brochures, fliers and other publications without additional, prior notice or permission and without compensation to the participant.

School & Scout Programs

R

emember school field trips? The signed permission slip carried like treasure to class...maneuvering for that coveted bouncy seat in the back of the bus...the thrill of getting out of the regular routine and venturing out into the world. You probably didn’t realize your teacher had an ulterior motive: learning. The day was too cleverly disguised as an adventure.

BRINGING EDUCATION BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Our school and scout programs emphasize interactive learning from local specialists. All programs incorporate hands-on activities and satisfy recently revised Illinois State Learning Standards (for specific standards for each program see LCFPD.org). Instructors are professional educators, college interns and trained volunteers.

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Teachers know the value of a good excursion. School field trips give students the opportunity for authentic experiences—getting children out of the classroom and into the world to learn, discover and apply what they know.

Experience is one of life’s greatest teachers.

Our professional educators work hard to make sure every field trip is great. Forest Preserve field trips give students experience with the real deal.

Nature programs include outdoor exploration.

History programs involve actual artifacts. All our

programs emphasize the kind of hands-on activities not offered in a library or classroom.

Our school programs earn high marks from participants: a survey of teachers who had recently been on a Forest Preserve field trip gave our programs an “A” for overall educational value and relevance, and an “A” for staff performance. Many of our education programs have earned state and national awards for excellence, but we’re not resting on our laurels. We continually refine our material and teaching techniques to stay on the cutting edge of great education today.

We’ve learned that even the most relevant material does not translate to understanding unless the instructor is able to connect with the kids. That’s why our education staff works to keep abreast of current educational theories and teaching strategies. Our school programs are designed to address recently revised Illinois State Learning Standards and can be customized to fit your needs. Programs offer hands-on learning incorporating science,

MEETING LOCAL CURRICULUMS We continually review our programs to ensure they fit local curriculum objectives. Individual programs can be further customized for specific lesson plans if desired.

Browse school and scout programs online at LCFPD.org/education/school-scout.

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history and language arts, and feature experts, local historians and naturalists. By giving teachers the tools and programs they need to help young people explore their community and world, we’re ultimately helping to develop better citizens and responsible stewards of our future.

throughout the county to minimize bus transport.

Special discounts are available for multiple programs booked in a single day—call 847-968-3321 for details. Browse available school and scout programs online at LCFPD.org/education/school-scout and sign up for our educator e-newsletter for special offerings year-round. One teacher open house is scheduled this fall—see calendar on page 12 for details.

CONVENIENT AND AGE-APPROPRIATE Each program is delivered at an appropriate age and ability level for the group. Field trip opportunities are offered at forest preserves throughout Lake County and at the Lake County Discovery Museum (Wauconda).

Programs can be mixed-and-matched to allow several classes to attend on the same day or to fill a specific time frame. Classrooms can pair up and flip-flop to make the most of their time.

The Lake County Discovery Museum (Wauconda) has been selected as the Illinois host site for First Folio! The Book that Gave Us Shakespeare a national traveling exhibition of the 1623 Shakespeare First Folio, one of the world’s most treasured books.

Accompanying the rare book will be a multi-panel exhibition exploring the significance of Shakespeare, past and present. Exhibition to open February 2016—see page 7 for details or visit LCFPD.org/Museum. Educators: sign up now First Folio! exhibition field trips, space will be limited.

In addition to field trips, our environmental and cultural education programs and staff are packed and ready to travel. Programs are economically priced and designed for one classroom of students.

Programs are available at convenient locations

Reservations are taken by phone at 847-968-3321, weekdays, 8 am–4:30 pm.

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PRESERVENEWS OAKTOBER 2015 IS OAK AWARENESS MONTH

This October has been named Oak Awareness Month in Illinois, with a proclamation signed

by Governor Bruce Rauner. Every individual, organization, community, park district, forest preserve district, and public or private landowner can play an important role in celebrating oaks and oak ecosystems throughout the month of October—OAKtober!

PADDLE DAY!

Need more reasons to get your canoe or kayak on the water? Join the “Paddle Day!” email list to find out about impromptu programs that take advantage of prime weather and water conditions, such as full moon paddles, sunrise paddles, and river excursions. Contact jsazama@LCFPD.org to join. Participants must bring their own canoe/kayak and equipment, and properly wear a life jacket while on the water.

ETHEL’S POET-TREE

Help us honor the late Ethel Untermyer (1925–2009), leader of the 1958 referendum founding the Lake County Forest Preserve District, by writing a short poem and hanging it on “Ethel’s Poet-Tree,” which will be on display for the month of October at the Ryerson Woods Welcome Center.

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Majestic oaks create a sense of awe and wonder. Scientists consider them keystone species, meaning that entire ecosystems of plants and animals depend on oak trees, especially in the Midwest. These trees work for us by cleaning our air and water, reducing ambient air temperature and usage of energy.

They reduce flooding and support our native wildlife. Our oaks, and trees in general, improve our well-being and support a sense of community.

Learn what we are doing to help local oaks— join us Sunday, October 18, 1:30–3 pm at Ryerson Woods for the Ethel Untermyer Conservation Forum. See page 13 for details.

SUPPORTERS ENJOY SPECIAL EXPERIENCES IN THE FOREST PRESERVE

Donors and friends of the Preservation Foundation receive invitations to special events year-round. This past summer, Director of Natural Resources Jim Anderson led supporters on a guided nature walk up Gander Mountain, Lake County’s highest natural elevation.

Other events have included a Moonrise Hike at Fort Sheridan, a narrated tour of Civil War Days at Lakewood, and an off-trail science hike to explore the Woodland Habitat Restoration Project along the Des Plaines River. Join the Preservation Foundation with a gift at any level – and sign up for the Foundation’s e-newsletter to receive your exclusive invitation to our next event­—by visiting ThePreservationFoundation.org.

GOLF SAVINGS Comfortable temperatures make this the best time for golfing. Look online for seasonal rates and specials: LCFPD.org/golf.

HIKE LAKE COUNTY

Enjoy fall breezes and autumn colors while exploring designated Hike Lake County trails.

At each preserve, look for the Hike Lake County logo at the trailhead to get your start on the right route. Complete just seven of the hikes before November 30 and you’ll earn a commemorative shield for your walking stick.

To participate, use the Travel Log to record each hike. Submit your completed Travel Log by January 31, 2016, to receive your free commemorative shield. Travel log, trail maps and details available at LCFPD.org/HLC. New this year: Join us for Guided Hike Lake County and hike this year’s trails with a naturalist. Hike a different trail each week. See the calendar on page 9 for details.

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HORIZONS READERSHIP SURVEY

We’d like your opinion about this newsletter’s content, appearance, frequency and value.

Please share your thoughts via our online survey at LCFPD.org/survey. Responses will be collected through October 9. Thank you!

SPRING BLUFF RECEIVES RECOGNITION

Illinois and Wisconsin conservation partners are pleased to announce that the Chiwaukee Prairie Illinois Beach Lake Plain has been placed on the List of Wetlands of International Importance: The Ramsar List. The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for protection of exemplary wetland systems around the world.

This Lake Plain complex, which includes our Spring Bluff Nature Preserve (Winthrop Harbor), joins Everglades National Park in Florida and San Francisco Bay Estuary in California as one of only 38 sites in the United States to achieve this designation.

CONTROLLED BURN SEASON IS HERE

Specially trained staff routinely conduct controlled burns in the fall. Fire is the most efficient and economical tool for managing our natural communities. Find daily updates at LCFPD.org/burninfo.

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CHICAGO WILDERNESS OAK RECOVERY PLAN

Chicago Wilderness is leading a coordinated recovery effort with scientists from The Morton Arboretum, Lake County Forest Preserves and other conservation partners to preserve and restore oak ecosystems across the region. Remnant oak ecosystems and future oak populations face serious threats ranging in scale from individual trees to entire landscapes. To achieve oak ecosystem recovery goals, we will be mapping the rest of the Chicago Wilderness region, prioritizing areas in greatest need of intervention, engaging with landowners and stakeholders, and coordinating efforts for maximum impact. Success will require collaboration and aligned regional action. Our vision is for a sustained stewardship network that advocates and cares for our region’s oak ecosystems, so that the mighty oak may reclaim its position as an integral part of our regional story and cultural heritage, providing improved habitat and quality of life.

SHAKESPEARE’S FIRST FOLIO EXHIBITION

WEEKEND HABITAT RESTORATION

In one weekend morning you can make a real difference to the wildlife and natural habitats at your Lake County Forest Preserves. Restoration workdays happen every week at preserves throughout the county. No prior experience is necessary: all ages are invited.

For details and a workday schedule, visit LCFPD.org/restoration.

Macbeth, Julius Caesar, Twelfth Night. These famous plays and 15 others by Shakespeare would probably have been lost to us without the First Folio. Published in 1623, the First Folio is the first collected edition of Shakespeare’s plays, and only 233 copies are known today. Next year, to mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, the Folger Shakespeare Library is sending a First Folio exhibition to only one institution in every state in the United States. The Lake County Discovery Museum has been selected as the host site for Illinois. Join us in February 2016 as we celebrate the greatest playwright of the English language with this exhibition from the world’s largest Shakespeare collection. For more information, visit LCFPD.org/Shakespeare.

PICNIC SHELTER RESERVATIONS

Plan your 2016 family reunion, company picnic or other group gathering early to ensure your first choice of shelter and date. Picnic shelter permit reservations begin Monday, October 19. For locations, fees or to reserve a shelter online, visit LCFPD.org/shelters.

FREE SENIOR MUSEUM ADMISSION

Senior admission to the Lake County Discovery Museum (Wauconda) is free for the entire month of October. Daily admission for seniors (62 and up) is just $3 all other months.

See page 15 for exhibitions.

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Special Feature

FUNGI IN LAKE COUNTY

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3 FUNGI can be found in all shapes, sizes and colors. An easy mushroom to identify is the morel (1).

This chef’s favorite has a sponge-like cap and grows to about six inches tall. Beware of its dangerous look-alike, the false morel. Another common species is the puffball (2). Some of these reach the size of basketballs. When popped, its spores explode into the air. Some mushrooms, like the jack o’lantern, even glow in the dark, using a form of bioluminescence similar to fireflies (3).

Scientists don’t know exactly why these and other luminescent mushrooms glow.

They’re overlooked and uprooted. They’re not always as pretty as wildflowers, and they can kill you if you’re not careful.

However, life just wouldn’t be the same without mushrooms and other fungi.

Take yeast for example. Without this single-celled fungus, it would be impossible to have bread, or alcoholic drinks with which to wash it down. A soil fungus provided us with penicillin.

Another fungus offers a drug that suppresses rejection of organ transplants. The mushrooms growing in your forest preserves play important roles, too. One chief role is decomposition. Roll over a fallen log in the forest, and you’re likely to see a web of white filaments laced across the wood—evidence of a fungus hard at work.

The living body of a fungus is a web of tiny filaments called mycelium, usually hidden in soil, wood, or another nutrient source. These webs live unseen until they develop into mushrooms or other fruiting bodies. The hidden body of a fungus can be surprisingly extensive and long-lived.

One fungus detected using molecular techniques in Michigan was found to cover 37 acres, with the estimated weight of a blue whale. Another was reported to cover over 1,500 acres in Washington state. Yet each of these began with the germination of a pair of spores over a thousand years ago.

Fungi are one of the world’s least studied life forms. Once treated as plants, botanists and mycologists now group them in their own kingdom and consider them taxonomically closer to animals.

Fungi share with animals the ability to digest food, but rather than using a stomach, fungi live in their food and simply grow into new food as their

environment becomes depleted of nutrients. In the Chicago region, more than 1,200 species of fungi have been documented. This diversity is primarily due to the wide variety of habitats found in the region.

New research has focused on mycorrhizal fungi, or fungi that have a beneficial symbiotic relationship with plants. These fungi may actually enable plants to share resources, thereby helping an entire community of trees and plants flourish.

Microscopic experiments have revealed that fungi actually move carbon, water, and nutrients between trees, depending on their needs. Some researchers speculate that older, larger “mother” trees may help manage the resources of the surrounding community via this network of fungal threads. While the verdict is still out, one thing is for certain—there is much to be learned and more than meets the eye in the fascinating world of fungi.

PICKING WILD MUSHROOMS OR COLLECTING OF ANY SORT IS PROHIBITED IN THE FOREST PRESERVES AND COULD RESULT IN A FINE. PRACTICE LEAVE NO TRACE PRINCIPLES TO ENSURE THAT YOU LEAVE THE OUTDOORS AS BEAUTIFUL AS YOU FOUND IT­­­—­FOR MORE INFO VISIT

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lnt.org.

FALL CALENDAR Registration required for all programs unless otherwise indicated.

For detailed program descriptions, specific meeting locations, directions and registration visit LCFPD.org or call 847–968–3321.

For updates outside of normal business hours, call 847-968-3113.

SEPTEMBER Soil Sustains Life Join us as we explore the unexpected ways in which our lives are connected to soil—a fascinating and surprisingly nonrenewable resource. Learn about the sustainability of healthy soils from the preserves to your own backyard, the amazing abundance of life that soil supports, and how the unique soil and landscapes of Lake County formed.

Thru Nov 30 Hike Lake County Hike seven of 12 designated trails throughout the county to earn a commemorative hiking shield.

Details and materials: LCFPD.org/HLC. All ages. FREE. No registration required.

2 Habitat Walk for Seniors Explore some of the many habitats found in Lake County, learning as you walk. Walks are paced to the group’s ability.

Wednesday, 9–10 am, Lakewood—Winter Sports Area.

Seniors.

FREE. No registration required.

5, 12, 19, 26 Forest Fitness Group fitness walks feature a new preserve each week.

Saturdays, 8–9 am, for locations see LCFPD.org/FF. Adults.

FREE. No registration required.

5 Walk with a Naturalist One-hour guided nature walk. Explore a new preserve each month.

Saturday, 9–10 am, Lyons Woods. Adults. $1 residents, $2 nonresidents. No registration required.

5, 19 Museum Family Hour Visit the museum to view our latest exhibition, Growing Up in Lake County, and participate in a free family drop-in activity.

Saturday, 11 am–12 pm, Lake County Discovery Museum.

Families with children ages 12 and under.

FREE with museum admission, no registration required.

6 Guided Hike Lake County Guided walk on this year’s Hike Lake County trails. Walk a new trail each week.

Sunday, 2–3:30 pm, Old School—Trails Lot. All ages. Adult supervision required.

FREE. No registration required.

9 Little Sprouts: All About Apples Learn about different types of apples, how they grow and the best time to pick and eat them.

Wednesday, 10–11 am, Bonner Heritage Farm.

Children ages 2–5, with an adult. $3 residents, $5 nonresidents, no charge for chaperones.

10 Connecting Kids with Nature Connect your kids with nature through outdoor exploration.

Along the way, learn about the benefits of nature play.

Thursday, 10:30–11:45 am, Greenbelt Cultural Center.

Children of all ages, caregivers. FREE. No registration required. A Leave No Child Inside program.

12 Bilingual (Spanish/English) Nature Hike One-hour guided nature hike. Explore a new preserve each month.

Saturday, 9–10 am, Half Day. All ages. Adult supervision required. FREE. No registration required.

13 Fiestas Patrias Celebrate Mexican and Central American Independence with live music and authentic food at this family friendly event.

Sunday, 2–6 pm, Greenbelt Cultural Center.

All ages.

FREE. No registration required.

13 Guided Hike Lake County Guided walk on this year’s Hike Lake County trails. Walk a new trail each week.

Sunday, 2–3:30 pm, McDonald Woods.

All ages. Adult supervision required.

FREE. No registration required.

15 Hikin’ Tykes—Bats Nature-based story, craft and outdoor exploration for you and your pre-school child.

Tuesday, 9:30–10:45 pm, Lakewood—Shelter E. Children ages 2-4 with an adult. $5 adult/$2 child residents, $7 adult/$3 child nonresidents.

17 Playdate with Nature Move your kids outdoors for unstructured seasonal play activities, proven to be healthy and beneficial to children of all ages.

Thursday, 2–4 pm, Grant Woods—Monaville Road.

Children of all ages, caregivers. FREE. No registration required. A Leave No Child Inside program.

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Registration required for all programs unless otherwise indicated.

For detailed program descriptions, specific meeting locations, directions and registration visit LCFPD.org or call 847–968–3321.

For updates outside of normal business hours, call 847-968-3113.

SEPTEMBER (continued) 18 Creatures of the Night So many animals are busy at night! Join us and learn about some of these animals and their nightly habits.

Friday, 6:30–8 pm, Lakewood—Shelter E. Adults, families with children ages 6 and up. $6 residents, $8 nonresidents.

19 Quickstart Kayak Intro to paddling in an open-cockpit recreational kayak. We’ll cover the basics: attire, safety and paddling skills.

Saturday, 9 am–12 pm, Independence Grove—Funbrella.

Adults, families with children 9 and older. $29 residents, $41 nonresidents.

19 Rx for Health—Walking in Nature Join a health professional and an educator on this walk to explore the preserve as we improve our health.

Saturday, 4–5 pm, Fort Sheridan.

All ages. Adult supervision required.

FREE. No registration required.

19 Night Voyageur Paddle our giant canoe while learning about the fur trade in 18th-century Lake County.

Saturday, 6–8 pm, Van Patten Woods.

Adults, families with children ages 8 and up. $7 residents, $10 nonresidents.

20 Adlai E. Stevenson II Historic Home Public Tours Learn about this Illinois governor and ambassador to the United Nations as you tour his home, a National Historic Landmark.

Sunday, 11–12 pm, 1:30–2:30 pm, Adlai E. Stevenson II Home.

Adults, families with children ages 8 and up. $5 residents, $7 nonresidents.

20 Guided Hike Lake County Guided walk on this year’s Hike Lake County trails. Walk a new trail each week.

Sunday, 2–3:30 pm, Grant Woods­—Monaville Road.

All ages. FREE. No registration required.

Adult supervision required.

20 In the Footsteps of Giants Learn how mammoths and other large extinct animals lived and died in Illinois while searching for the signs of their existence still found today.

Sunday, 4–5 pm, Lakewood—Youth Group Campground.

Adults, families with children ages 10 and up. $5 residents, $7 nonresidents.

23 Little Sprouts—Crows in the Corn We’ll revisit the corn we planted earlier in the summer and learn all about this marvelous plant and its many uses.

Wednesday, 10–11 am, Bonner Heritage Farm.

Children ages 2–5, with an adult. $3 residents, $5 nonresidents, no charge for chaperones.

23 Paddle the Big Canoe Have you ever seen that big canoe buoyed in North Bay at Independence Lake and wondered what it’s used for or how you can get in it? Here’s your chance to try it out.

Wednesday, 5–7:30 pm, Independence Grove—North Bay Pavilion. Adults, families with children ages 4 and up. $5.

24 Hikin’ Tykes—Growing Up in Lake County History-based story, craft and outdoor exploration for you and your preschool child.

Thursday, 9:30–10:45 pm, Greenbelt Cultural Center.

Children ages 2-4 with an adult. $5 adult/$2 child residents, $7 adult/$3 child nonresidents.

25 Community Campfire Friday Nights Bring your friends and family to roast marshmallows, share stories and enjoy nature at night. Activities vary monthly.

Friday, 7–9 pm, Greenbelt Cultural Center.

All ages. FREE. No registration required.

A Leave No Child Inside program.

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26–27 Farm Heritage Festival 23rd annual family festival celebrates Lake County’s agricultural roots. Tractor parade, sheep herding, wagon rides, animals and more—see LCFPD.org/farmheritage. Saturday & Sunday, 9 am–4 pm, Lakewood. Daily: $10 adults, $5 ages 4–17 and seniors. Weekend pass: $15 adults, $7 ages 4–17 and seniors. Children 3 and under FREE. No registration required. Purchase tickets online and save $1.

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Join the Skokie Valley Astronomers at Ryerson Woods on select Fridays. Learn about topics in astronomy and stargaze with members’ telescopes, weather permitting. For dates and topics, visit LCFPD.org/astronomy.

SEPTEMBER (continued) 27 Guided Hike Lake County Guided walk on this year’s Hike Lake County trails. Walk a new trail each week.

Sunday, 2–3:30 pm, Waukegan Savanna—Dog Sled Area. All ages. FREE. No registration required.

Adult supervision required.

29 Beneath Your Feet—Skunks Read a story, make a “smelly” craft and go on a scavenger hunt to search where skunks find food and live underground.

Tuesday, 10–11 am, Grant Woods—Shelter A. Adults, families with children ages 4 and up. $5 adult/$3 child residents, $7 adults/$5 child nonresidents.

SEP 30–NOV 7 TreeKeepers Take an in-depth look at urban trees and their care in this multi-session, award-winning certificate program. Learn and gain hands-on experience from regional tree experts.

Wednesdays, September 30, October 14, 28, November 4, 6:30–9 pm, and Saturdays, October 3, 17, 31, November 7, 1–4:30 pm, Ryerson Woods Welcome Center.

Adults. $80 residents, $95 nonresidents.

OCTOBER 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Forest Fitness Group fitness walks feature a new preserve each week.

Saturdays, 8–9 am, for locations see LCFPD.org/FF. Adults.

FREE. No registration required.

3 Walk with a Naturalist One-hour guided nature walk. Explore a new preserve each month.

Saturday, 9–10 am, Gander Mountain. Adults. $1 residents, $2 nonresidents. No registration required.

3, 17 Museum Family Hour Visit the museum to view our latest exhibition, Growing Up in Lake County, and participate in a free family drop-in activity.

Saturday, 11 am–12 pm, Lake County Discovery Museum.

Families with children ages 12 and under.

FREE with museum admission, no registration required.

3 Scout Saturday—Reptile and Amphibian Merit Badge Discover the reptiles and amphibians that live in Lake County as you earn your Merit Badge.

Saturday, 1–5 pm, Ryerson Woods—Classroom Cabins.

Ages 10–17. $20 residents, $28 nonresidents.

3 Rx for Health—Walking in Nature Join a health professional and an educator on this walk to explore the preserve as we improve our health.

Saturday, 4–5 pm, Wright Woods.

All ages. Adult supervision required.

FREE. No registration required.

4 OAKtober Hike Celebrate Oak Awareness Month with a guided hike through an oak woodland.

Sunday, 10–11:30 am, Van Patten Woods—Shelter A. Adults. $5 residents, $7 nonresidents.

Celebrate Fall

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Crisp autumn air and fall colors provide the perfect backdrop for getting outdoors. Visit Ryerson Woods on Sunday, October 4, for an afternoon of activities.

4 Playdate with Nature Move your kids outdoors for unstructured seasonal play activities, proven to be healthy and beneficial to children of all ages.

1–3 pm, Ryerson Woods—Classroom Cabins. Children of all ages, caregivers FREE. No registration required. A Leave No Child Inside program.

4 Fall Color Hike Learn why leaves change color and how critters adapt to the coming cold weather.

1–2 pm, Ryerson Woods—Classroom Cabins.

All ages. $5 adult/$1 child residents, $7 adult/$2 child nonresidents.

4 Fall Camouflage Hike Learn about animal camouflage and then search for hidden critters in the fall forest.

2–3 pm, Ryerson Woods—Classroom Cabins. All ages. $5 adult/$1 child residents, $7 adult/$2 child nonresidents.

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Registration required for all programs unless otherwise indicated.

For detailed program descriptions, specific meeting locations, directions and registration visit LCFPD.org or call 847–968–3321.

For updates outside of normal business hours, call 847-968-3113.

OCTOBER (continued) 4 Guided Hike Lake County Guided walk on this year’s Hike Lake County trails. Walk a new trail each week.

Sunday, 2–3:30 pm, Van Patten Woods—Car Top Canoe Launch. All ages. Adult supervision required. FREE. No registration required.

6 Beneath Your Feet—Chipmunks Read a story, make a craft, and play games while hiking to learn how chipmunks search for and carry food underground.

Tuesday, 10–11 am, Independence Grove Visitors Center.

Adults, families with children ages 4 and up. $5 adults/$3 child residents, $7 adults/$5 child nonresidents.

7 Habitat Walk for Seniors Explore some of the many habitats found in Lake County, learning as you walk.

Wednesday, 9–10 am, Van Patten Woods.

Seniors.

FREE. No registration required.

7 Little Sprouts—Harvest Hoe-Down Help pick the last vegetables of the season and prepare the garden for winter. Then celebrate with songs and games.

Wednesday, 10–11 am, Bonner Heritage Farm.

Children ages 2–5, with an adult. $3 residents, $5 nonresidents, no charge for chaperones.

8 Connecting Kids with Nature Connect your kids with nature through outdoor exploration.

Along the way, learn about the benefits of nature play.

Thursday, 10:30–11:45 am, Greenbelt Cultural Center.

Children of all ages, caregivers. FREE. No registration required. A Leave No Child Inside program.

8 Museum Teacher Open House Learn about programs and resources for your class, tour the exhibitions and take part in guided teacher training sessions.

Thursday, 4:30–6:30 pm, Lake County Discovery Museum.

Lake County Educators.

FREE.

10 Paddle the Big Canoe Have you ever seen that big canoe buoyed in North Bay at Independence Lake and wondered what it’s used for or how you can get in it? Here’s your chance to try it out.

Saturday, 2:30–5 pm, Independence Grove—North Bay Pavilion. Adults, families with children ages 4 and up. $5.

11 Quickstart Kayak Intro to paddling in an open-cockpit recreational kayak. We’ll cover the basics: attire, safety and paddling skills.

Sunday, 9 am–12 pm, Independence Grove—Funbrella.

Adults, families with children 9 and older. $29 residents, $41 nonresidents.

11 Guided Hike Lake County Guided walk on this year’s Hike Lake County trails. Walk a new trail each week.

Sunday, 2–3:30 pm, Wright Woods Canoe Launch.

All ages. Adult supervision required.

FREE. No registration required.

12 Scout Monday: Fur, Feathers and Ferns Badge Join the Lake County Forest Preserves and work towards earning your scout badge on this day off school.

Monday, 10–11 am, Independence Grove Visitors Center.

Webelos. $6 residents, $8 nonresidents.

12 Playdate with Nature Move your kids outdoors for unstructured seasonal play activities, proven to be healthy and beneficial to children of all ages.

Monday, 2–4 pm, Greenbelt Cultural Center.

Children of all ages, caregivers. FREE. No registration required. A Leave No Child Inside program.

13 Hikin’ Tykes—Leaves Nature-based story, craft and outdoor exploration for you and your preschool child.

Tuesday, 9:30–10:45 am, Independence Grove Visitors Center. Children ages 2–4, with an adult. $5 adults/$2 child residents, $7 adults/$3 child nonresidents.

15 Adlai E. Stevenson II Historic Home Public Tours Learn about this Illinois governor and ambassador to the United Nations as you tour his home, a National Historic Landmark.

Thursday, 1–2 pm, 2:30–3:30 pm, Adlai E. Stevenson II Home.

Adults, families with children ages 8 and up. $5 residents, $7 nonresidents.

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Cranes are often seen in large groups as they prepare for their journey south. Listen for their calls, a warbling bugle. Keep an eye out at dusk as they forage in fields.

OCTOBER (continued) 16 Community Campfire Friday Nights Bring your friends and family to roast marshmallows, share stories and enjoy nature at night. Activities vary monthly.

Friday, 7–9 pm, Greenbelt Cultural Center.

Bring a blanket or chair.

All ages. FREE. No registration required.

17 Woolly Bears Search for woolly bear caterpillars while these short, fuzzy critters are out looking for a cozy winter home.

Saturday, 10–11:30 am, Nippersink—Shelter A. Families with children ages 3 and up. $5 residents, $7 nonresidents.

18 Ethel Untermyer Conservation Forum: Celebrating Trees in OAKtober Trees play an important role wherever they are found, with oaks being vitally important to woodland habitats in Lake County. Learn what the Lake County Forest Preserves is doing to help local oaks and how the work of other agencies is shaping how we think about trees in the Chicago Region. Sunday, 1:30-3 pm, Ryerson Woods Welcome Center. FREE. Registration suggested.

18 Guided Hike Lake County Guided walk on this year’s Hike Lake County trails. Walk a new trail each week.

Sunday, 2–3:30 pm, Nippersink.

All ages. Adult supervision required.

FREE. No registration required.

21 Small Discoveries: A Happy Halloween Celebrate Halloween traditions with stories, games and a variety of spooktacular activities. Costumes encouraged.

Wednesday, 10–11 am, Lake County Discovery Museum.

Children ages 2–5, with an adult. $6 adult/$2.50 child, includes museum admission.

22 Settling Lake County This lecture will explore Lake County through the eyes of settlers as they selected where to farm, build roads and develop towns.

Thursday, 7–8 pm, Lake County Discovery Museum.

Adults. $7 residents, $9 nonresidents.

25 Guided Hike Lake County Guided walk on this year’s Hike Lake County trails. Walk a new trail each week.

Sunday, 2–3:30 pm, Cuba Marsh.

All ages. Adult supervision required.

FREE. No registration required.

23–24 Halloween Hikes Join a guided group hike along a candlelit path to watch fun nature-themed skits, followed by donuts and cider. Not scary. Even your littlest will enjoy this family favorite.

Friday & Saturday, 90 minute event. One-hour hikes begin every 30 minutes from 6–8 pm. Ryerson Woods.

All ages. $9 residents, $11 nonresidents.

28 Homeschool Companion: Civil War Journey Explore the new exhibition Civil War Journey (see page 15) and learn about the Civil War both on the front lines and on the homefront through primary source materials.

Wednesday, 10 am–12 pm, Lake County Discovery Museum.

Ages 5–12. $5 residents, $7 nonresidents.

NOVEMBER 1 Hawk Migration Look for hawks and other raptors as they migrate south.

Learn about raptors’ unique adaptations and how to identify them overhead by their field marks.

Sunday, 1:30–3 pm, Gander Mountain.

Adults, families with children ages 12 and up. $5 residents, $7 nonresidents.

1 Guided Hike Lake County Guided walk on this year’s Hike Lake County trails. Walk a new trail each week.

Sunday, 2–3:30 pm, Lyons Woods.

All ages. Adult supervision required.

FREE. No registration required.

LAK E COUNTY FOR E ST PRES E RVES

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Registration required for all programs unless otherwise indicated.

For detailed program descriptions, specific meeting locations, directions and registration visit LCFPD.org or call 847–968–3321.

For updates outside of normal business hours, call 847-968-3113.

NOVEMBER (continued) 4 Habitat Walk for Seniors Explore some of the many habitats found in Lake County, learning as you walk.

Wednesday, 9–10 am, Hastings Lake—Playground Lot. Seniors.

FREE. No registration required.

4 Small Discoveries—Potawatomi Play Explore the lives of early Lake County Native Americans and learn how they obtained food, clothing and shelter.

Wednesday, 10–11 am, Lake County Discovery Museum.

Children ages 2–5, with an adult. $6 adult/$2.50 child, includes museum admission.

4 Playdate with Nature Move your kids outdoors for unstructured seasonal play activities, proven to be healthy and beneficial to children of all ages.

Wednesday, 2–4 pm, Cuba Marsh.

Children of all ages, caregivers. FREE. No registration required. A Leave No Child Inside program.

7, 14, 21, 28 Forest Fitness Group fitness walks feature a new preserve each week.

Saturdays, 8–9 am, for locations see LCFPD.org/FF. Adults.

FREE. No registration required.

7 Walk with a Naturalist One-hour guided nature walk. Explore a new preserve each month.

Saturday, 9–10 am, Buffalo Creek. Adults. $1 residents, $2 nonresidents. No registration required.

7, 21 Museum Family Hour Visit the museum to view our latest exhibition, Growing Up in Lake County, and participate in a free family drop-in activity.

Saturday, 11 am–12 pm, Lake County Discovery Museum.

Families with children ages 12 and under.

FREE with museum admission, no registration required.

8 Guided Hike Lake County Guided walk on this year’s Hike Lake County trails. Walk a new trail each week.

Sunday, 2–3:30 pm, Heron Creek—Shelter A. All ages. Adult supervision required.

FREE. No registration required.

10 Hikin’ Tykes—Seeds Nature-based story, craft and outdoor exploration for you and your preschool child.

Tuesday, 9:30–10:45 am, Ryerson Woods.

Children ages 2–4 with an adult. $5 adult/$2 child residents, $7 adult/$3 child nonresidents.

12 Connecting Kids with Nature Connect your kids with nature through outdoor exploration.

Along the way, learn about the benefits of nature play.

Thursday, 10:30–11:45 am, Greenbelt Cultural Center.

Children of all ages, caregivers. FREE. No registration required. A Leave No Child Inside program.

15 Guided Hike Lake County Guided walk on this year’s Hike Lake County trails. Walk a new trail each week.

Sunday, 2–3:30 pm, Fox River.

All ages. Adult supervision required.

FREE. No registration required.

18 Beneath Your Feet—Foxes Read a story, make a craft, and take a hike in search for the underground places foxes call home.

Wednesday, 10–11 am, Heron Creek—Shelter B. Adults, families with children ages 4 and up. $5 adult/$3 child residents, $7 adult/$5 child nonresidents.

18 Small Discoveries: Turkey Tales Join us for a morning of storytelling, crafts and games to learn the history behind our Thanksgiving traditions.

Wednesday, 10–11 am, Lake County Discovery Museum.

Children ages 2–5, with an adult. $6 adult/$2.50 child, includes Museum admission.

22 Thanksgiving for Nature Scavenger Hunt Have fun searching for clues about gifts from nature.

Sunday, 1–3 pm, Half Day—Shelter A. Activity is self-paced— arrive any time to start exploring. All ages. $2.

22 Guided Hike Lake County Guided walk on this year’s Hike Lake County trails. Walk a new trail each week.

Sunday, 2–3:30 pm, Oak Spring Road Canoe Launch.

All ages. Adult supervision required.

FREE. No registration required.

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SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS

Through September 27

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Yards: Sports Photography of Walter Payton Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Chicago Bears Superbowl victory with photography by some of the nation’s top sports photographers, featuring some of the best images of Payton on and off the field.

Lake County Discovery Museum

Through November 1

Regeneration: The Nature of Transformation In 1942, the builders of Brushwood (home of Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods) constructed the Ryerson Family’s summer home using materials salvaged from demolished buildings. Through this purposeful act of reuse, the builders transformed discarded materials­—bricks, floorboards, windows, mantels, and stoves—into something new, a process that reflects regeneration in nature.

October 3, 2015–January 3, 2016

Civil War Journey: The Maps and Sketches of Private Robert Sneden

This exhibition brings together the work of artists and designers who explore the concept of regeneration­—material, biological, and spiritual— with a focus on furniture, lighting, and artwork created from reclaimed materials. Curated by WM FitzPatrick and Franck Mercurio.

This national touring exhibition features eyewitness accounts and images from Union soldier Robert Knox Sneden’s (1832–1918) memoir, showcasing 45 of his watercolor maps and drawings, which provide a unique and mesmerizing perspective on the Civil War. Sneden was a Union soldier who served as a mapmaker in the Army of the Potomac. His scrapbooks came to light in 1993 after spending more than 60 years in a bank vault. Additional research led to the discovery in 1997 of this five-volume memoir in a storage unit outside Tucson, Arizona. The exhibition was curated and toured by the Virginia Historical Society to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War.

Brushwood Gallery, Ryerson Woods

Lake County Discovery Museum

November 8–December 23

Botanical Art Exhibition: Enriching Life at Brushwood Center A display of the finest works of botanical art created over the last year in Brushwood Center’s Botanical Art Open Workshop, this exhibition features not just finished pieces, but also preliminary sketches and drawings that showcase the students’ painstaking process and development as artists over the course. Each piece in the Botanical Art Exhibition has been hand-picked by teacher and renowned botanical artist, Heeyoung Kim. Artist Reception Sunday, November 8, 1–3 pm Brushwood Gallery, Ryerson Woods

Ongoing

Growing Up in Lake County: Exploring History through the Stories of Children Have you ever wondered what life was like for children in the past?

Growing Up in Lake County shares the everyday and extraordinary stories of children who grew up in the county we call home today.

Try your hand at living and working on a pioneer homestead. Discover what life was like for a young drummer boy in the Civil War. Learn about the first African-American family to settle in the county. Attend school in a one-room schoolhouse and play as children did over 100 years ago.

Through real artifacts, historical accounts and hands-on experiences, children connect the stories of the past to their own lives in this exhibition for everyone.

Lake County Discovery Museum LAK E COUNTY FOR E ST PRES E RVES

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SPECIAL FACILITIES Directory GENERAL OFFICES

OPERATIONS AND PUBLIC SAFETY

1899 West Winchester Road Libertyville, Illinois 60048

19808 West Grand Avenue Lake Villa, Illinois 60046

847-367-6640 tel 847-367-6649 fax 847-968-3155 TDD

847-968-3411 tel (Operations) 847-968-3244 tel (Public Safety) 847-968-3116 fax

8 am –4:30 pm, Monday–Friday

6:30 am –3 pm, Monday–Friday

911 emergency 847–549–5200 nonemergency public safety issues

OUTDOOR RECREATION

EDUCATION & CULTURE

GOLF

LCFPD.org

INDEPENDENCE GROVE

RYERSON CONSERVATION AREA

THUNDERHAWK GOLF CLUB

16400 West Buckley Road Libertyville, Illinois 60048

21950 North Riverwoods Road Riverwoods, Illinois 60015

A Robert Trent Jones Jr. championship golf course

847–968–3499 Main 847–247–1111 Banquets, Meetings

847–968–3320

39700 North Lewis Avenue Beach Park, Illinois 60099

IndependenceGrove.org Visitors Center Hours 9 AM–4:30 PM, unless otherwise posted For beach, marina and café seasonal hours and fees visit our website.

Parking Fee Lake County residents FREE Nonresidents $5 per car Monday–Thursday $10 per car Friday–Sunday and holidays Vehicle window stickers allow entry without stopping to verify residency. Fee is $5, available at the Visitors Center.

FOX RIVER MARINA 28500 West Roberts Road Port Barrington, Illinois 60010 847–381–0669 FoxRiverMarina.org Boat Launch & Marina Hours 7 AM–sunset, daily, in season

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LCFPD.org/Ryerson Welcome Center Hours 9 AM–5 PM, Tuesday–Saturday 11 AM–4 PM, Sundays Restroom only, Mondays Brushwood Gallery Hours 9 AM–3 PM, Monday–Thursday 1–3 PM Sundays, or by appointment LAKE COUNTY DISCOVERY MUSEUM Lake County History Archives Curt Teich Postcard Archives 27277 North Forest Preserve Road Wauconda, Illinois 60084

847–968–3100 847–968–3441 847–489–1931 847–968–3450

Tee Times Golf Gift Cards Golf Outings Banquets

ThunderHawkGolfClub.org COUNTRYSIDE GOLF CLUB Prairie & Traditional Courses 20800 West Hawley Street Mundelein, Illinois 60060 847–968–3100 Tee Times 847–968–3441 Golf Gift Cards 847–489–1931 Golf Outings CountrysideGolfClub.org

847–968–3400 Main 847–968–3381 Archives, Research

BRAE LOCH GOLF CLUB

LakeCountyDiscoveryMuseum.org

33600 North US Highway 45 Grayslake, Illinois 60030

Museum Gallery Hours 10 AM–4:30 PM, Monday–Saturday 1–4:30 PM, Sunday Adults $6, Youth 4–17 $2.50, 3 years and under FREE 62 and up $3 daily, FREE in October Discount Tuesdays: Adults $3, Youth 17 and under FREE GREENBELT CULTURAL CENTER 1215 Green Bay Road North Chicago, Illinois 60064 847–968–3477 GreenbeltCulturalCenter.org Gallery & Office Hours 11 AM–5 PM, Tuesday–Friday

847–968–3100 847–968–3441 847–489–1931 847–247–1119

Tee Times Golf Gift Cards Golf Outings Banquets

BraeLochGolfClub.org

LAKE COUNTY FOREST PRESERVES FOREST PRESERVE Entrance/Parking

More than 30,200 acres make up your Lake County Forest Preserves.

Most preserves are open 6:30 AM –sunset, daily.

MAP CURRENT AS OF

Friday, July 17, 2015

FOREST PRESERVE EASEMENTS STATE LAND (Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources) CANOE LAUNCH

LCFPD.ORG DES PLAINES RIVER TRAIL Planned section M CCLORY TRAIL / NORTH SHORE PATH

MILLENNIUM TRAIL Planned section GRAND ILLINOIS TRAIL Planned (Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources)

(L.C.Division of Transportation)

MIDDLEFORK GREENWAY Planned section

FORT HILL TRAIL Planned (L.C. Division of Transportation)

DOG AREA COMMUNITY GARDEN GENERAL OFFICES OPERATIONS FACILITY

PRAIRIE CROSSING TRAIL (L.C.Division of Transportation)

CASEY TRAIL Planned section

CHAIN O’ LAKES BIKE PATH Planned section

LAKE COUNTY FOREST PRESERVES GENERAL OFFICES 1899 WEST WINCHESTER ROAD LIBERTYVILLE ILLINOIS 60048

PLEASE DELIVER PROMPTLY—

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TIME- SENSITIVE MATERIAL

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THIS PUBLICATION IS PRODUCED USING 100% RECYCLED PAPER, ALLOWING US TO SAVE 62 MATURE TREES, 20,180 LBS GREENHOUSE GASES, 6,144 LBS SOLID WASTE

Remember the preserves in your year-end giving

HIKE LAKE COUNTY

As you consider your year-end giving, remember that

Enjoy fall breezes and autumn colors while exploring designated “Hike Lake County” trails. Complete just seven of the hikes by November 30 and earn a commemorative shield: LCFPD.org/HLC.

95 cents of every dollar received by the Preservation Foundation goes directly to Forest Preserve programs or projects. Mission gifts can be directed to habitat restoration, education, or cultural programs. You can Adopt an Acre or Mile of your favorite preserve or trail, or your gift to the Annual Fund will be used where it is most needed. Learn more or donate by visiting us online at ThePreservationFoundation.org or call 847-968-3434.

Good morning —We’re open!

Preserves open at 6:30 am daily. In order to open all gates by 6:30 am, some gates will open earlier. If a preserve gate is open before 6:30 am, the preserve is considered open for use. Come on in!

◄ INSTAGRAM PICK Such a pretty visitor at Ryerson Woods: a luna moth! Shared via Instagram @LCFPD. Share your #fallcolor photos with us on Instagram this season, and your photo may be featured in an upcoming issue of Horizons.

Connect with us! For up-to-the-minute forest preserve news and events: Find us on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Instagram or YouTube @LCFPD. Download our mobile app in the Apple App Store or Android Play Store—search for “Lake County Forest Preserves.”