Spring Valley Natural Enquirer: July/August 2013

Natural Enquirer N e w s l e t t e r f o r S p r i n g Va l l e y S u p p o r t e r s a n d Vo l u n t e e r s

vol.4 no.4 • July-Aug. ‘13

In this issue...

“There are lots of things to see, unwrapped gifts and free surprises. The world is fairly studded and strewn with pennies cast broadside from a generous hand.”

The above quote, from Annie Dillard’s classic book, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, is the author’s description of how the world around us overflows with beautiful surprises and gifts for the senses—and the soul—if we have the presence of mind and the patience to search them out. Many of these ‘pennies’ are things we walk past daily, considering them commonplace and without value, until that day when our eyes are open and our minds awake, and we see the beauty hidden in plain sight. This issue of the Natural Enquirer includes a focus on a few such pennies. Prairie wildflowers, gold, and weddings are all considered beautiful by most people and valuable by many as well. Yet, in our quest for the showiest flower, the brightest gemstone or the perfect wedding for ourselves or our children, we often neglect the hidden beauty found in all of these things, or alongside them, or behind them, etc. Even more concerning is the modern trend to stay so tethered to technology (i.e. smart phones, iPads, etc.) that we essentially live in our own mental constructs and pay no attention to the real world around us, and all of the pennies it has to offer.

Inside A Prairie Star!........................................................2 Stalking the Local Wild Carat..............................3 What’s Happenin’.............................................. 4-5 The Heritage Farm had a Wedding!................ 6-7

Spring Valley General Information....................11 Volunteer News Contents Volunteer Information..........................................8 Volunteer Calendar......................................... 9-10

Visit www.parkfun.com and take our Spring Valley Program Survey.

S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 3

A Prairie Star!

A

by Dave Brooks

mongst the many colorful native prairie flowers that have been adopted by home gardeners in recent years, one stands straight and tall above the rest. Blazingstar or gayfeather, Liatris sp., is such a striking beauty that little cultivation or hybridization was needed prior to introducing it to finicky gardeners. While many native plants are colorful, interesting, and suitable for home gardens, gardeners have often been slow to accept them, fearing that their wild nature will translate into chaos in the orderly garden. Some people are drawn to natives due to their ‘green’ credentials. That is to say, native plants adapted to our climate and soils are the perfect choice for those looking to landscape in a more sustainable way—reducing the use of water, fertilizers, pesticides, etc. Blazingstar is not only sustainable but appeals to gardeners on beauty alone. It naturally became one of the first natives marketed to gardeners. It is ironic, and indicative of the way in which the horticulture trade operates, that much of the Liatris widely available to gardeners comes by way of European breeders. It appears that Europeans discovered this American wildflower and began using it in floral arrangements as well as adding it to perennial gardens. This gem, found growing in our figurative backyards, had to make the trip overseas to horticultural finishing school before American gardeners and florists would accept it.

Liatris Flowers Close-up

Marsh blazingstar, Liatris spicata, or cultivars bearing names such as ‘Blue Bird,’ ‘Snow Queen’ (white flowered), or ‘Kobold’ are the varieties most often found at plant nurseries and garden centers. These are also preferred by florists for use in floral arrangements. A mature plant will display 3–4 foot long spikes of magenta flowers which begin blooming at the top and work their way down the spike. Prairie blazingstar, Liatris pycnostachya, is very similar in appearance to L. spicata but blooms a few weeks earlier in the season. Rough or button blazingstar, Liatris aspera, displays tufts of magenta flower clusters along its 2–3 foot long stems. It blooms even later in the season and is more tolerant of sandy soils. While wild Liatris generally blooms in mid to late summer, cultivars have been created that bloom earlier in the season. Cultivars may also display a shorter stature than the taller natives or bloom in colors not typically found in the wild.

Blazingstars are composite flowers, in the same class as daisies, sunflowers, and asters. Individual flowers are quite small but grow in clusters close to the stem. The leaves of all species are long and narrow, almost grass-like, and tend

to be crowded towards the base of the plant. Like many native prairie species, they are perennial, growing from thick corms (bulb-like root structures) or taproots. As plants mature, the roots enlarge, and older specimens will send up several dense beautiful flower spikes.

In some original tallgrass prairie stands, blazingstar can become quite dense, filling acres with waving wands of magenta in midsummer. Occasional fall or spring fires benefit blazingstar, along with most other natives, by removing dead plant leaves and stems.

Bees and butterflies are drawn to the nectar-rich flowers, making blazingstar a must for butterfly gardens.

One problem sometimes Cultivar Floristan White encountered by gardeners is lodging.

This occurs when plants reach a certain height and then the topheavy blooms flop over. This can usually be prevented by planting native grasses or other plants in close proximity to the blazingstars. This more closely mimics the structure of a natural prairie and seems to insure that plants help to support each other. Like many native plants, insect pests are not a problem. Meadow voles and other rodents will sometimes browse the shoots 2

and roots of blazingstar; otherwise, given a sunny spot in the garden, Liatris is virtually problem-free and needs little watering once established.

Many other native flowers have now joined Liatris in appealing to gardeners, especially as sustainability and resource conservation have become more mainstream within the gardening community. Blazingstars are now often joined by their wild cohorts, the coneflowers, milkweeds, asters, wild phlox, etc. along with some of the comely wild grasses.

In these plantings, blazingstar’s beauty seems not only magnified, but right at home.

Prairie Blazingstar

S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 3

Stalking the Local Wild Carat

by Walter Plinske

Long before humans forged iron into steel or smelted tin with copper to make bronze, they prospected for a metal not to make tools or weapons, but to satisfy a craving of the heart that continues to this day. Prized for its color, malleability, and ability to not rust or corrode, gold is the oldest and first metal used by people. While Stone Age denizens were knapping flints to make sickles and spears, they learned to fashion gold into jewelry and ornaments. Since gold is often found as small nuggets in stream beds, early goldsmiths could collect them and then weld them together by hammering. Gold is found on every continent and could even be had in an unlikely locale such as Northeastern Illinois, if one was an adept at finding needles in haystacks. How could this be?

What is the ultimate source of this preeminent bling?

The search for gold could start right on the beaches of Lake Michigan.

Although there is no minable gold in Illinois, when the glaciers repeatedly invaded the area, they brought material that was scraped up all along the way from their origin in Canada. The Abitibi Gold Belt in Canada, one of the largest gold bearing regions on earth, was situated in line with the movement of the glaciers. Most of the gold in Illinois is concentrated in the terminal moraines left when the glaciers melted. The gold is usually just a few flakes found in the sand and gravel deposits in the bed of a stream or river that erode these moraines.

to a cataclysmic meteorite shower that hit the earth after the core formed.

This violent era, known as the Late Heavy Bombardment, began about Abitibi Gold Belt 3.9 billion years ago.

Hordes of meteors smashed into the earth and the other inner planets.

The aftermath is still evident today by the many craters that cover the face of the End Moraines moon. While the moon is basically frozen in time, the Earth’s surface has been undergoing The Abitibi gold Belt and the numerous dynamic changes due to plate tectonother deposits reveal that gold and other ics. To test this idea, precious metals appear to be relatively abundant on the earth’s surface. This is rocks had to be in conflict with the basic understanding found that predated of how the earth was formed.

During the early period of planet building, materials were combining and differentiating into layers by weight. Lighter Large Nugget material like silicon floated the bombardto the surface to become the ment and crust, while heavier elements were still such as iron sank to the inteassessable. rior to become the core. It is Such rocks, thought that gold would have from Isua, moved with the iron to the core.

Asteroids Shower the Earth Greenland In fact, it is estimated that there were discovered to have a higher tungare enough precious metals in the core sten isotope ratio than modern rocks. to cover the entire surface of the Earth Since primitive meteorites are known to with a four meter thick layer. It has been have depleted levels of the same tungproposed that this discrepancy regardsten isotopes, this similarity to modern ing this crustal overabundance is due 3

rocks suggests that most of the precious elements assessable on Earth came from the meteor strikes. Gold was not tested because it does not decay into other forms over time. Tungsten was tested instead because it is a similar heavy metal.

The universe is thought to contain 70% hydrogen and 28% helium. Of the remaining 2%, where did all the other elements including gold in those meteors come from? They were created by a rare cataclysmic cosmic event called a supernova. Only a massive stellar explosion produces enough energy to fuse the necessary number of protons, neutrons, and electrons into a gold atom. After they were formed, these atoms traveled through the universe in vast dust clouds and eventually combined with other particles to merge into interstellar globs. Under certain critical circumstances, these globs coalesce to form new stars and planets. Other globs may continue travelling until they are captured by the gravitation of a solar system and eventually strike a planet as an asteroid or meteorite. The total mass that arrived during the Late Heavy Bombardment is estimated at 20 quintillion tons. It also has been estimated that all the gold ever mined on this Earth has totaled 165,000 tons.

Geologists believe that the total amount still buried in the ground is about 100,000 tons. So grab your shovels and start digging!

S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 3

Click on program/icon for information and to register online.*

*To create a new account, visit the registration desk at the CRC or download an internet registration form from www.parkfun.com. The form can be found under the registration tab.

Heritage Farm ProgramS the Scenes Farm Tour: Daily Activities at the Farm Behind Drop in program • $2 per person Tuesdays-Fridays............. 9AM-2PM Saturdays & Sundays....... 10AM-4PM

Experience a typical day on a working 1880s Schaumburg farm.

Farm and domestic activities take place Tuesday through Sunday. Come early to see the cow being milked and stay all day for a unique experience.

Join farm staff on a behind the scenes tour of the farm’s buildings and grounds.

Learn the fascinating true stories behind the buildings and structures that make up Volkening Heritage Farm. See Schaumburg’s oldest house and learn its significance in the development of a once inclusive German community.

Wednesday, July 10 • 10:30AM-Noon

ADULT or TEEN

Sunday, July 21 • 2-3:30PM

Up and At’em Animal Chores

Saturday, July 20 • 7:30-9:30AM Saturday, Aug. 10 • 7:30-9:30AM Wake up and help with animal chores. Then enjoy a light breakfast in the farmhouse.

Home Brewing for Beginners

Saturday, Aug. 24 • 11:00AM-2:00PM Quench your thirst and learn the age old art of beer brewing with farm staff.

Early Childhood

All Ages

Little Hoppers

Free - Heaven’s Watch

Sunday, Aug. 24 • Noon-1:00PM Children will read frog stories, play frog games and look for little hoppers that may be hiding.

Sat., July 27 • 9:30PM.....Colorful Multiple Stars Join Chicago Astronomical Society as they set their telescopes for a peek at the night skies.

Meet in the Nature Center.

Nature and Summer

Sunday, July 20 • 11:00AM-Noon Children will explore the world around them, focusing on the season’s special characteristics.

Free - Neighborhood Nature Areas

Fri., Aug. 9 • 7:00-8:30P Gray Farm Conservation Area Discover this hidden jewel and find out what lives there and how this area is managed.

FAMILY

The following programs have a special family rate. By registering ONE child, it is assumed that a minimum of two people (one adult and child) or a maximum of four people are attending. Do NOT register additional people, they may pay on the day of the program.

Sundown Supper on the Farm

Friday, July 12 • 6:00-9:00PM Saturday, Aug. 31 • 4:30-6:00PM After helping with evening chores and making supper, participants will watch the sunset.

Family Campout

Sat & Sun, Aug. 24-25 • 4:00PM-10:00AM Families will sleep overnight at Spring Valley.

Nature walks, campfire cooking, and other activities are scheduled.

Firefly Fandango

Saturday, July 13 • 8:30-9:30PM Witness one of nature’s marvels as the summer sun sets on Spring Valley’s prairies and woods.

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S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 3

Cabin Cooking, Pioneer Style

Summer Camps at Spring Valley

Friday, Aug. 16 • 5:00-7:00PM Step back in time and cook like a pioneer in Spring Valley’s own log cabin.

Habitat Hoppers

Sunday, July 21 • 9:30-11:00AM Hang out at Spring Valley for the morning, hiking the habitats in search of hoppers.

Spring Valley offers a variety of summer camps (full and half-day) for children 5-15 years old.

For more information, call 847/985-2100 or click here.

Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Summer Sleepover at the Farm Friday, Aug. 16 • 7:00-8:30AM The evening includes scavenger hunts, great activities and a homemade snack.

Just Desserts

Wednesday, July 10 • 5:30-7:30PM Wild berries abound at Spring Valley and some are edible. Gather some to make a cobbler.

Summer Discoveries

Saturday, Aug. 24 • 9:30-11:00AM Bring the family to Spring Valley and bask in the warm colors of summer.

Lots of Ladybugs

Saturday, July 20 • 10:00-11:30AM Busy ladybugs are a sure sign summer is here.

These colorful beetles are fun to observe.

Star-Gazing:

Turtle Tracks

Saturday, July 20 • 1:00-2:30PM Go on a turtle hunt and look for those who carry their homes on their back.

Perseid Meteor Party

Youth Bat Basics

Friday, Aug. 16 • 7:30-9:00PM Banish your bat misconceptions and delve into the beautiful world of bats.

Budding Artists

Saturday, July 27 • 10:00AM-Noon Studying the work of Georges Seurat then create a beautiful work of art en plein air!

Saturday, Aug. 10 • 9-11PM Nature Center

Free Merkle Cabin ProgramS

e e Fr

Enjoy a star-studded party celebrating this spectacular annual late summer meteor shower. Telescopes will be set up just south of the Nature Center to view distant objects in the summer sky while watching for “falling stars.”

Interpreters will be on hand to guide all ages through the Summer Triangle and other interesting sights. Additional star-related activities will take place inside. Bring a folding chair or blanket so you can sit back in comfort along the prairie trails and scan the skies for meteors, planets and constellations.

Buzzing About Insects Sunday, July 21 • Noon-4PM

What’s the buzz about? Insects, of course! There are more insects than any other type of animal in the world. Dive into the wonderful life of insects through games, pictures and activities while focusing on the details that make each unique. Drop by the Merkle Cabin and take a hike to explore the buzzing around Spring Valley.

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S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 3

The Heritage Farm had a Wedding!

by Patricia Kennedy Green

During a month traditionally known for at the time, 3000 was quite a number.” festive weddings, the Heritage Farm at (ourlocalhistory.wordpress.com/2011/04/24/ Spring Valley hosted a wedding-themed the-wedding-of-the-century-in-schaumburghistoric dinner theater on Saturday, May township/). Some of the information 18th. Fifty-four gleaned from people attendthe wedding ed the event, account was and a group of used to develcommunity acop the menu for tors comically the reception. portrayed a Additionally, loosely based the account historical wedding party from the 1880s.

Musical enterDancing at the Faux Wedding. tainment was provided by an ensemble of traditional provided musicians. All enjoyed a wonderful a strong evening with food from a local German sense of restaurant and European bakery. the pride the GerMuch like a real wedding, planning man-Amerfor this special event began a year in icans felt advance. One of the initial tasks was about their to research traditional wedding cusethnictoms in the Schaumburg area. The first ity, and the evidence we looked at was the historic grandiose account of the wedding between Emma scale of the Rohlwing and Fred Pfingsten in 1903. wedding Rewritten in a local Schaumburg history for such a book, Genesis of a Township, the wedsmall comding account was originally published in munity.

The “Bride and Groom” The Inter Ocean Magazine, a Chicago magazine (September 6, 1903), and describes the marriage festivities in detail.

The article begins with quotations stating, “the most unique wedding ever held in cook county,” and “three The “Hochzeitsmann” thousand Germans in a rollicking three-day festival.” The local history librarian for Schaumburg Township, Jane Rozek, said it best in her blog about this occasion when she states, “Considering the population of the township was 1003

For more refined information on wedding customs of the period, Jane Rozek was again very helpful. She provided an account passed on to her about the John Christian Bagge and Mary Langhorst wedding from the 1880s. The account states, “There were so many exciting and dramatic preparatory moments that the wedding was almost anti-climactic.”

It goes on to elaborate regarding one of the pre-wedding festivities: The custom of the countryside was to gallop, like Paul Revere, over the hills and dales and distribute the invitations. Will [a brother] and his steed were fancifully be-ribboned, the ribbons twisted and entwined in the horses mane and tail. A plume of white and colored feathers was fastened to the bridle between the ears and the saddle was covered with colored cloth. Will, as the courier, was resplendent in a new suit and a white shirt with a paper collar. But the most important part of his attire was the hat. There was a band of ribbons and long streamers sewn to the hat, but of most importance to Will was the size of the hat, reckoned in square inches.

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Additional sources (Life at Four Corners: Religion, Gender, and Education in a German Lutheran Community 1868-1945 and local historian, Howard Piepenbrink, from Crete, IL) indicated the passage above is describing “The Ride of the Hochzeitsbitter. “ It is a custom that many German communities throughout the Midwest and in Germany practiced. The Hochzeitsbitter (Wedding Inviter) was often a young man and good acquaintance of the bride and groom. He was always decorated with bright ribbons and often received money and drinks from the people he invited.

Upon further research, we found several traditional German customs that are quite different from the American wedding customs we tried to incorporate into the faux wedding celebrations. For one thing, traditional German wedding parties usually included up to three days of feasting— something we felt our modern guests would not be up for.

Even though no other customs can be substantiated through local history research, here is a quick overview of some of the traditions highlighted in our wedding: Polterabend Ceremony – This custom takes place the night before the wedding; the bride and groom have an informal gathering and china dishes are smashed to bits. This is thought to bring good luck, and the bride and groom are supposed to clean up the broken dishes to show how well they will work together in their new marriage.

Brautbecher Toast – This tradition from southern Germany usually involves an adorned cup that includes a smaller cup which swivels at one end.

The groom drinks from the larger cup and the bride from the smaller at the same time. Coordination and teamwork are required.

Bride Kidnapping – This tradition also occurs the night before the wedding and involves the groomsmen

S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 3

The Heritage Farm had a Wedding (continued) kidnapping the bride and taking her to a pub. Once the groom finds her he is supposed to buy the house a drink and cover the bride’s bill. As one might expect, depending on how long it takes the groom to find the bride (proportional to the number of pubs in the vicinity), this tradition can end badly.

Crown to Bonnet – At the end of the wedding party, the bride’s crown is replaced by a bonnet. This signifies that she has become a married woman.

Bridesmaid Dance – Towards the end of the evening, the bride is blindfolded and must catch a bridesmaid who is dancing around her. The bridesmaid she catches will be the next woman to marry.

So, the Heritage were not wearing Farm had a wedTracht; however, ding and it was when word spread a beautiful day; to modern Germany however, the best about our wedding part of the experiresearch, Sophie ence didn’t take Mensching, an place that day, it expert on traditional began a year in clothing and customs advance. Through of Schaumburg, Gerresearch and many, donated some making personal traditional clothing connections, the to the Heritage Farm Heritage Farm collection. She also strengthened wrote and donated its collections a book on traditional Sophie Mensching and Anne Coert and knowledge wear, Rote Röcke with donated clothing. of a topic that we had not previously Trachten und Brauchtum im Schaumexplored. Thanks to everyone for your burger Land. Sophie, with the assishelp, knowledge, and donations! We’ll tance of Anne Coert, of the Sister City let you know when the next wedding is Group in Germany, sent the donated planned. Consider yourself invited! clothing over with a group of visiting Germans in May.

And last but not least, there is the question of the dress. What would the bridal party have worn? In the 1880s, the bride did not always wear white. The bride and groom The clothing the typically farm received is wore their Schaumburg Oesteren nicest attire and it is worn in the but the white north of Schaumburg dress was (east of Stadthagen). only mildly Sophie also donated popular by costuming for special the 1880s occasions such as and not very Sunday-wear, holidays, practical. and church. We put a That being Eating Tent at Pfingsten Wedding. few pieces on display said, the for the wedding event traditional costuming of the German but are also looking at reproducing people who settled Schaumburg was not some of the everyday pieces for farm dirndl or lederhosen. Their costuming use. It is very exciting to have such wonis called Tracht and it is overly ornate in derful handmade pieces and to be able design and purpose. Photographs from to study the costuming of Schaumburg’s 1880s Schaumburg show that brides original settlers.

Meet our Summer Intern

Schaumburg Oesterten-Tracht

My name is Nicholas Ahlstrand and I am working in an internship at Spring Valley. Currently, I am completing my Bachelor’s Degree in the field of geography from Illinois State University. My personal goal is to gain a better understanding and respect for geography by working outdoors and applying what I have learned in the classroom to the real world. I believe that Spring Valley is the perfect opportunity for professional growth because it offers a wide variety of duties, such as conservation, that relate to my major. It also emphasizes a significant interaction between humans and the environment, which is something I am very passionate about. I do not know what my future will be, but for now I will continue to work and learn everything that I possibly can. An old saying goes: “80% of learning is done on the job.”

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Volunteer News S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 3

Helping Hands Mileage Club

Did you know you were automatically enrolled in the Helping Hands Mileage Club? This program offers registered volunteers an opportunity to redeem points for Park District related rewards.

For every hour of volunteer service you give to Spring Valley you earn one point. Points accumulate for one year and may be redeemed at any time up to your anniversary date. Your anniversary date is determined by the month in which you first posted volunteer hours at Spring Valley. Points do not carry over year-to-year so be sure to redeem them before they expire. Have questions about the program or when your anniversary date is? Contact Judy Vito for further explanation.

Dates to Remember

• Monday, July 8................ 1-4pm Handy Crafters Meeting • Friday, Aug. 2.................. 5:30-9pm Volunteer Picnic • Monday, Aug. 12............. 1-4pm Handy Crafters Meeting

Welcome New Volunteers…

• Angie Cornwell • Michal Pierwieniecki • Elizabeth Moorman • Gabrielle Ramos • Stephanie Parkins

Pats on the back to the following volunteers...

• Lynn Eikenbary and Carolyn White for helping with the spring Green Thumbs school programs.

• Gail Ameer, Lynn Eikenbary, Nancy Fallen, Nancy Mamsen, Mary Matz, Carol Thomas, and Angela Waidanz for assisting with the various bird counts.

• Janet Bedsole, Lynn Eikenbary, Venus Gintowt, Penny Perles, Eileen Skiba, and Carolyn White for assisting with the spring Mighty Acorns programs.

Happy Birthday to…

July

• Dean Bruckner for his attention to the peony beds in preparation for Peonies A’Plenty.

1 Ron Haskell 4 Elsie Sears 5 Tony Coonrod 13 Andy Caccavari Katrina Miley 17 Barb Royce 18 Laurie Tatom 19 Mary Matz

Pat Campbell, Eve Carter, Barb Dochterman, Arthur Jeczala, Melina Lynch, and Joan Vodraska for their continuing clerical support.

• Donna Turner for hosting the Chicago Astronomical Society’s Heaven’s Watches.

Aug

It’s Picnic Time!

Mark your calendars for Friday, August 2 and plan to join us at this year’s Volunteer Family Picnic. Bring a family member or friend to join in the fun. We’ll provide all the fixins’, just bring your appetite! The picnic is co-sponsored by the Spring Valley Nature Club which will present its Ellsworth Meineke Award to a deserving club member and/or volunteer. Invitations will go in the mail in July.

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9 12 14

Pat Campbell Dan Gryzik Dave Kives Janet Bedsole Karen DeMay Marilyn Motley Shirley Turpin Bill Bailey Carolyn White Diane Shore Robin Clark

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Donna Turner Tina Rokoszewski Joe Vito Tom Poklen Nancy Fallen Kathy DeGeus Rich Wysocki Elsie Magnussen

18 Janet Kraus 19 Nara Sethuraman 20 Donna Johnson 22 Kristi Overgaard Amanda Kraus 26 Carol Anagnostopoulos 28 Pete Justen 30 Nancy Filo 31 Nancy Schaefer

S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • Vo l u n t e e r C a l e n d a r

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

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July 2013 Wednesday

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•All About Rocks 9am •Sweet Potatoes 9:15am No camps on Thursday, July 4

Thursday

4

•1880s Venture Camp 9:30am

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9

Handy Crafters Meeting 1pm

M-F

•Nature Buddies 9:30am •Safari Adventures 9:30am

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•Behind the Scenes Farm Tour 10:30am •Animal Crackers 9:30am •Victorian Finishing School 9:45am

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

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15 M-F

16 •Animal Crackers Mini 9:30am •Historian’s Apprentice 9:45am

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22 M-F

23 •Wee Sprouts 9am •Cookin’ Up History 9:30am

29 M-F

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6:30pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 8pm

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•Spring Valley Survivor Camp 9:30am •Splish-Splash Water Camp 9:30am

•Valley Ventures 9:15am •Sweet Potatoes 9:15am •Chores and Chortles 9:30am

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Deutsch-heim Day Noon

•Sundown Supper on the Farm 6pm

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•Firefly Fandango 8:30pm

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•Up and At’em 7:30am •Lots of Ladybugs 10am •Nature and Summer 11am •Turtle Tracks 1pm

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6:30pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 8pm

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•Naure’s Night Life 8pm

•Critter Capers 1pm •Farmer Boot Camp 2:30pm

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•Budding Artists 10am

•Chores and Chortles Mini 10am •Science Sleuths 10am

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

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•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

•Habitat Hoppers 9:30am •Buzzing About Insects Noon •Behind the Scenes Farm Tour 2pm

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•Ponds, Puddles and Play 10am •Hoot ‘n Howl Adventure 7:15pm

•Just Desserts 5:30am Schaumburg Community Garden Club 7pm

•All About Fish 10am •Pioneer Adventure 10am

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Saturday

•Half Day bug Camp 1pm

Independence Day

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Friday

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6:30pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 8pm

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•Heaven’s Watch 9pm

Farm Open: Tues-Fri 9:00am-2:00 pm • Sat/Sun 10:00am-4:00pm

•Wiggles, Squiggles and Giggles 9:30am •Campfire Cooking 9:30am •Cookin’ Up History Mini 10am

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

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Cabin Closed Bold indicates volunteer activities Italics indicates programs which may be taken as complimentary by volunteers See “What’s Happening” for program descriptions

S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • Vo l u n t e e r C a l e n d a r

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

August 2013 Wednesday

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Farm Open: Tues-Fri 9:00am-2:00 pm • Sat/Sun 10:00am-4:00pm Cabin Closed

M-F

Bold indicates volunteer activities Italics indicates programs which may be taken as complimentary by volunteers

•Valley Ventures 9:15am •Sweet Potatoes 9:15am •Chores and Chortles 9:30am

See “What’s Happening” for program descriptions

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5 M-F

6 •Curious Kids 9am •Wee Sprouts 9:15am

7 •Lil’ Bugs for Lil’ Tykes 9:30am •Cookin’ Up History 9:30am

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Handy Crafters Meeting 1pm

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Friday

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Saturday

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•Wiggles, Squiggles and Giggles 9:30am •Campfire Cooking 9:30am •Cookin’ Up History Mini 10am

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6:30pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 8pm

Volunteer Picnic 5:30pm

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•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6:30pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 8pm

•Neighborhood Nature Area 7pm

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•Up and At’em 7:30am

•Budding Artists 10am •Farmer Boot Camp 2:30pm

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

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Thursday

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•Perseid Meteor Party 9pm

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•Cabin Cooking, Pioneer Style 5pm •Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Summer Sleepover 7pm •Bat Basics 7:30pm

Schaumburg Community Garden Club 7pm

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•Summer Discoveries 9:30am •Home Brewing 11am •Little Hoppers Noon •Family Campout 4pm

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•Sundown Supper on the Farm 4:30pm

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S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 3 Spring Valley • Schaumburg Park District • 1111 East Schaumburg Road • Schaumburg, Illinois 60194 Schaumburg Rd. Vera Meineke Nature Center

Plum Grove Rd.

N Volkening Heritage Farm

Phone Vera Meineke Nature Center...............................................847/985-2100 Volkening Heritage Farm......................................................847-985-2102

135 acres

HOURS

Vera Meineke Nature Center

The earth-sheltered visitor center provides an introduction to Spring Valley’s 135 acres of restored prairies, woodlands and wetlands and three miles of trails. The center contains natural history exhibits that change seasonally, a demonstration Backyard for Wildlife, an observation tower, classrooms, an extensive library, gift sales area and restrooms.

Volkening Heritage Farm

Step back into the past for a look at Schaumburg as it was in the 1880s – a rural German farm community. Help with seasonal farm chores, participate in family activities and games of the 1880s, or simply visit the livestock and soak in the quiet. Authentically dressed interpreters will welcome and share activities with visitors throughout the site.

Environmental Outreach Program

We’ll bring our outreach program to your site. Topics include forests, worms, spiders, mammals, owls, food chains, food webs, wetlands, and the water cycle. Students will participate in hands-on activities, songs, and games. Topics may be adapted to students in grades one through six, and are correlated with Illinois State Standards.

Programs at Spring Valley

School, Scout and adult groups are encouraged to take advantage of Spring Valley’s Environmental Education Program.

Programs change seasonally and are geared for specific age groups. Correlations to the state standards and activity sheets are available on the SPD website, www.parkfun.com.

Learn local history with a visit to the Heritage Farm. Elementary and high school students recreate farm life in the 1880s with Hands on History; second graders experience it through Heritage Quest.

Children from the age of four through second grade will learn about food, farmers, and farm animals in Farms and Foods.

Scout Badges

We offer many opportunities for scouts. Our programs will help with your badge, pin or patch requirements. Call for more information or stop in for a brochure.

Spring Valley Mission Statement:

Spring Valley’s mission is to educate area residents regarding the natural and cultural history of the Schaumburg area and how people have and continue to interact with and upon the landscape.

Spring Valley is a refuge of 135 acres of fields, forests, marshes and streams with over three miles of handicappedaccessible trails, a museum featuring natural history displays and information, and an 1880s living-history farm. Spring Valley is open to the general public. Admission is free.

Schaumburg Park District BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS: Mike Daniels Sharon DiMaria David Johnson George Longmeyer Bob Schmidt

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Tony LaFrenere

Nature Center Grounds & Trails...............Open Daily...............8AM-5PM Volkening Heritage Farm Grounds..........Closed......................Dec.1-March 1 Nature Center/Museum Hours: Year Round.............Daily*.......... 9AM-5PM Farm Interpretive Program Hours: Nov. - March............Open for Special Events April 1 - Oct. 31.......Sat/Sun....... 10AM-4PM Tue-Fri........ 9AM-2PM Mon............ Buildings Closed

Unless otherwise noted, all programs are held rain or shine.

Participants should dress appropriately for weather conditions.

*All facilities closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day

Spring Valley Birthday Parties

Looking for a unique, fun, and educational venue for your child’s birthday? Spring Valley is the answer! Two party themes are available. A hayride can be added for an extra fee. Call Spring Valley for more information.

Spring Valley Firepit and Shelter Rentals

Make your next scout group, business or family gathering something special! Spring Valley offers the use of a picnic shelter and fire pit in a wooded setting near the Merkle Log Cabin. Use of the site includes firewood, trash/recycling receptacles and benches, as well as picnic tables. No alcohol or amplified music permitted. Restrooms are available at the Heritage Farm or Nature Center, a 5–10 minute walk. The adjacent Merkle Log Cabin contains a restroom and may be rented for additional fees.

Hourly use fees: Residents:.............. $25

Civic groups:...............................$25

Non-residents:....... $40 Corporate/business groups:.......$55

Natural Enquirer STAFF: Mary Rice Editor

Judy Vito Volunteer Coordinator Dave Brooks “In this Issue...”

Scott Stompor 11 Graphic Artist

Schaumburg Park District Website: www.parkfun.com

E-mail:

springvalley@parkfun.com

Member: