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On the cover: The native white trout lily (Erythronium albidum) is a common spring ephemeral wildflower found in sizable colonies. The blooming period starts earlier than many other flowers and lasts only for two weeks. more than 31,000 acres are protected by the lake county forest preserves .
BOARD of COMMISSIONERS PRESIDENT
A MESSAGE from
Angelo D. Kyle, Waukegan VICE PRESIDENT
ANGELO D. KYLE PRESIDENT LAKE COUNTY FOREST PRESERVES AKYLE@LAKECOUNTYIL.GOV
John Wasik, Grayslake TREASURER
Gina Roberts, Beach Park ASSISTANT TREASURER
This spring marks an important anniversary in natural resource conservation. Ninety years ago, on April 5, 1933, the federal government established the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). A major component of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, the CCC provided work relief and major investments in parks and natural lands in every state. At one point, 300,000 people or workers were housed, fed and employed through the CCC. In Illinois alone, CCC workers planted 60 million trees, constructed 1,192 miles of trail and installed nearly 400 bridges. The program also led to a greater public awareness and appreciation of our nation’s vast natural resources. Today we enjoy healthier, more accessible parks and preserves thanks to the CCC program. And the model lives on. Lake County has its own Youth Conservation Corps, which began as a Forest Preserves program in 1974 and evolved into our current partnership with Waukegan-based YCC, Inc. Later this spring, dozens of high school students from across Lake County will apply to spend their summer working on important Forest Preserves projects. As they build fences, install boardwalks, or sow native plants as part of a landscape-scale restoration project, they will gain valuable job skills and experience in conservation. Our Youth Conservation Corps is critical to the Forest Preserves today and to cultivating the next generation of conservation leaders. I am particularly pleased that grants from donors and the Preservation Foundation will fund an additional crew of students this summer from the communities of North Chicago, Waukegan and Zion. If you have a young person in your life, please encourage them to apply before Friday, April 28 at LCFPD.org/jobs. They will certainly change Lake County for the better, and it just may change their life! Thank you for your continued support.
Paul Frank, Highland Park Marah Altenberg, Buffalo Grove Esiah Campos, Round Lake Beach Carissa Casbon, Lake Villa Jennifer Clark, Libertyville Mary Ross Cunningham, Waukegan Michael Danforth, Fox River Grove Sandy Hart, Lake Bluff Diane Hewitt, Zion J. Kevin Hunter, Ingleside Sara Frederick Knizhnik, Vernon Hills Ann B. Maine, Lincolnshire Paras Parekh, Highland Park Linda Pedersen, Antioch Adam Schlick, Wauconda Jessica Vealitzek, Hawthorn Woods EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Ty Kovach
HORIZONS
VOLUME 32, ISSUE 1 Spring 2023 EDITOR AND DESIGNER
Jeanna Martinucci Cristino Horizons@LCFPD.org CONTRIBUTORS
Kim Mikus, Brett Peto, Rebekah Snyder, Erika Stergos, Costello Communications PHOTOGRAPHY
Bob Callebert (cover), Jenny Sazama, Jason Cristino, Michelle Wendling, Jeff Goldberg, John D. Kavc, Tim Elliott, Paul Klonowski, WhereRu via Flickr, Briana Suriano, Liz Rose Fisher, Isavel Gonzalez, Peter Schulz SUBSCRIBE, UNSUBSCRIBE, UPDATE ADDRESS: 847–968–3335 | Horizons@LCFPD.org
Horizons is the quarterly publication of the Lake County Forest Preserve District. Subscriptions are free. Subscribers may also receive mailings from the Preservation Foundation of the Lake County Forest Preserves. Photos 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 District 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 or agency social media, promotional videos, brochures, fliers and other publications without additional, prior notice or permission and without compensation to the participant.
YCC AT GRASSY LAKE (LAKE BARRINGTON)