HORI Z ON S LAKE COUNTY FOREST PRESERVES
PRESERVATION, RESTOR ATION , EDUCATION AN D RECRE ATION
QUARTERLY
fall 2017
VOLUME 26, ISSUE 4
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On the cover: Colored leaves captured in the flow of the river’s stream create an artistic display. Photographed by Garen Johnson along the Des Plaines River at Captain Daniel Wright Woods (Mettawa). nearly
31,000 acres are
protected
by the lake county forest preserves .
A MESSAGE from ANN B. MAINE PRESIDENT LAKE COUNTY FOREST PRESERVES AMAINE@LAKECOUNTYIL.GOV
LAKE COUNTY FOREST PRESERVES BOARD of COMMISSIONERS PRESIDENT
Ann B. Maine, Lincolnshire VICE PRESIDENT
Linda Pedersen, Antioch TREASURER
S. Michael Rummel, Lake Forest ASSISTANT TREASURER
Fall offers a perfect respite from the hustle and bustle of summer. The air is crisp and cool, with that characteristic snap that promises cold to come. Shadows are long and the sky is its bluest blue. The sun filters through the red, orange and golden leaves in a way that spreads magic onto the forest floor. We all want to be kids again and kick the leaves along a path, looking for the brightest red or yellow leaf. This desire to be outside is universal; the Japanese have a concept called shinrin-yoku or forest bathing. Established in the early 1980s, shinrin-yoku is simply a new name for the ancient idea that being among trees — in a forest —lowers stress levels and promotes general well-being. One of the joys of living in our climate is welcoming the change of seasons. While each season has its splendors, fall is especially magnificent. The Lake County Forest Preserves provide the public access to nearly 31,000 acres of open land on which to enjoy the luminous, color-drenched beauty of autumn. As a biologist, I find myself thinking about the wonders of nature in two ways. My training and research have taught me why nature is the way it is; why leaves change colors in the fall and how this process fits into the growing cycle of a plant. But I also simply marvel at the beauty of our woodlands and meadows as fall turns into winter. Two of my favorite places to go are Rollins Savanna (Grayslake), which provides an array of colors for those who take a few minutes and look at the tiny flowers on the native grasses. When my sons were little, Wright Woods (Mettawa) offered the perfect fall afternoon — a walk around the pond fringed with the bright yellow sugar maples, leaning (carefully) over the fishing deck to look for frogs and then some time at the playground. I’d love to hear about your favorite fall memory in the preserves. Consider some shinrin-yoku this fall. Go to one of our forest preserves and simply take in the wash of color, the swish and crumple of the leaves beneath your feet, the shimmering silver stillness of a pond, or the rush and hurry of the river flow. It’s all there just waiting for you.
Jeff Werfel, Grayslake Chuck Bartels, Mundelein Carol Calabresa, Libertyville Steve Carlson, Gurnee Mary Ross Cunningham, Waukegan Michael Danforth, Lake Barrington Bill Durkin, Waukegan Paul Frank, Highland Park Sandy Hart, Lake Bluff Diane Hewitt, Waukegan Aaron Lawlor, Vernon Hills Judy Martini, Fox Lake Sidney Mathias, Buffalo Grove Brent Paxton, Zion Craig Taylor, Lake Zurich Tom Weber, Lake Villa Terry Wilke, Round Lake Beach Vance Wyatt, North Chicago EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Ty Kovach
HORIZONS
VOLUME 26, ISSUE 4 Fall 2017 EDITOR
Susan Hawkins, Horizons@LCFPD.org CONTRIBUTORS
Brett Peto, Nan Buckardt PHOTOGRAPHY
Garen Johnson (cover), Jeff Goldberg, Colin Michaelis, Emma England, Eileen Saltzman, Jonathan Hartsaw, Carol Freeman, Chip Williams, Kim Karpeles, Janet Hauck, Melissa Alderson, Penny Franklin, Joyce Dever SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES HOTLINE: 847–968–3335 Horizons is the quarterly publication of the Lake County Forest Preserves. Subscriptions are free. To subscribe, unsubscribe or update your address, call the hotline or email Horizons@LCFPD.org. Subscribers may also receive mailings from the Preservation Foundation of the Lake County Forest Preserves. 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.
In your mind’s eye, you can see the wardrobe of a whole season. The loud reds and soft purples of sumac leaves. The brittle browns of oak leaves. The yellow and orange leaves of cottonwoods, sugar maples, and poison ivy greeting the air like so many small flares. But how, and why, does Mother Nature create the colors in her fall palette?
Sugar maple might be the first tree that comes to mind when you think of fall. The orange and yellow pigments stored in its leaves seem to set the tree on fire. These organic pigments are called carotenoids. They’re revealed when chlorophyll becomes transparent. Most may not think of poison ivy as a desirable plant, but it’s one of the first species to change colors, adopting mottled yellows and oranges as it wraps around trees and fences. Silver maple, shagbark hickory, American elm, slippery elm, and eastern cottonwood lean toward the yellow end of things. So do tamaracks, one of the few conifers to lose its needles in the fall. Sumac, dogwood, red oak, and some maple leaves flash reds and purples. These colors are caused by plant pigments called anthocyanins, which also make apples red. How red or purple a leaf becomes depends on how much sunlight touches it. You’ll often find leaves in direct sunlight aglow with fire-engine reds, while leaves on lower branches take on subtler, brick-like reds. Virginia creeper, a flowering vine often seen alongside poison ivy, shows off leaves of rich burgundy by fall’s end. Balancing the bright colors of other flora are oak leaves, which simmer into muddy browns. That’s because they contain a lot of tannins, the chemicals that make tea and red wine pucker your mouth. As the name suggests, tannins are also integral to tanning animal hides into leather. It’s not only trees that adopt breathtaking fall colors. Autumnblooming plants, like gentians, asters, heleniums, turtleheads, goldenrod, and witch hazel, add blues, whites, pinks, golds, and purples to the familiar browns and greens of prairie landscapes.
All this hard work makes fall a gorgeous time to head outside into your forest preserves. From top: sugar maple; poison ivy; silver maple; Virginia creeper; red oak; New England aster; fringed gentian.
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We’re always getting questions about the best places and peak times to view fall color in the preserves. While all the preserves are beautiful and unique, we asked our fellow staff to share their faves. Fall color, it turns out, is in the eye of the be-leaf-er. Nan Buckardt,
deep burgundy—and every color in
Phil Hogan,
Director of Education
between.
Survey Technician
Favorite preserve:
Favorite trail location: Hiking from
Favorite preserve:
Van Patten Woods
the Drury Lane entrance of Rollins,
Ryerson Woods
(Wadsworth).
past the observation platform, out
(Riverwoods).
Best time: I love the deep, rich
to the 1.2-mile loop, and back.
Best time: Second week of October. Great plant: Sugar maple.
maroons and browns of oak trees. Enjoy oaks after the maples have
Ellen Granda, Major and
Favorite trail locations: Des Plaines
gone yellow.
Planned Gifts Manager
River Trail mile markers 30 to 31.4,
Great plant: The colors on oak leaves
Favorite preserve:
plus Cahokia Flatwoods.
are so saturated and rich.
Middlefork Savanna
Fun fall fact: Colors are brightest
(Lake Forest).
Ken Klick,
when the fall frost strikes early.
Best time: Late September, because
Restoration Ecologist
of good color plus mild yet crisp air.
Favorite preserve:
Eileen Davis,
Favorite trail location: Trail between
Education Manager
Captain Daniel Wright Woods and
Woods (Mettawa).
Favorite preserve:
Half Day.
Best time: Early October.
Captain Daniel Wright
Great plant: Sugar maple.
Ryerson Woods (Riverwoods).
Katherine Hamilton-
Notable quote: Recycling at its
Best time: Second to third week of
Smith, Director of
purest.
October.
Public Affairs and Development
Great plants: Goldenrods, asters,
April Vaos,
sugar maples, and oaks.
Favorite preserve: Grassy Lake
Environmental
Favorite trail location: Pine Dunes in
(Lake Barrington).
Educator
mid-to-late September has beautiful
Best time: Early October.
asters.
Great plant: Birch trees.
McDonald Woods (Lindenhurst).
Special story: When growing up in
Great plants: Maple trees, Virginia
Allison Frederick,
rural Nebraska, in the fall, my family
creeper, and little bluestem.
Assistant Public
would go on Sunday drives. We
Favorite fall find: I love seeing the
Affairs Manager
would stop at country dinners,
cool ways animals are prepping for
Favorite preserve:
served on the lawns of small-town
winter, from eating to prep for
Rollins Savanna (Grayslake).
churches. So simple, nothing special,
hibernation to migrating.
Great plant: Virginia creeper! This
and surrounded by the magnificence
vine slowly morphs from green to
of fall color.
Favorite preserve:
Share your fall faves with us via our social media handle @LCFPD.
CONTROLLING A
HOW FIRE CAN BE HELPFUL
hen the oak leaves fall at the end of October, Landscape Ecology Manager Leslie Berns knows it’s time for our controlled burn program to begin. “We sometimes start burning grasslands before that,” said Leslie, who manages the program, which restores around 3,000 acres of grassland and woodland each year. “But then again, grasslands dry out at the same time oak leaves are coming down, since all these species evolved together with fire.”
Controlled burns are prescribed to recycle nutrients into the soil, remove thatch from previous growing seasons, and top-kill invasive woody plants. It’s like pressing a reset button. Because wind and weather conditions for a controlled burn are so specific, the program may only get 25 suitable days per year. “The vegetation has to be dry, so we’re talking about dormant season,” Leslie said. “There can be no snow on the ground and
temperatures must be above freezing. You have to have some wind, but not too much wind.” Another factor is relative humidity. “Often the relative humidity may be too high, generally more than 50 percent,” said Restoration Ecologist Ken Klick. “The fire doesn’t get going, or it’s spotty.” While crews conduct controlled burns only in spring and fall, Leslie prepares for them every month of the year. Plans and permits are organized well ahead of a burn day.
Just days after a controlled burn, a white trout lily (left) and sedges and grasses (right) regrow at Middlefork Savanna.
“We update our burn plans, including databases,” Leslie said. “We develop the priority list; these are the sites we’re going to attempt to burn this year.” Parcels are chosen based on where they are in the restoration cycle. “ Established prairies, we’ll try to burn once every three years,” said Leslie. “Woodlands tend to burn at further intervals, except when we have a problem with woody invasive plants.” Under a burn boss’ supervision, crews of three to 15 staff members and volunteers don fire-resistant Nomex® suits and head to the day’s site. Burn bosses are certified by the Illinois Prescribed Fire Council. All crew members must complete training from the U.S. Forest Service or Chicago Wilderness.
average burn days per year
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average acres per burn day
“The burn boss is in charge of how the burn is conducted. Then you have crew chiefs, oftentimes two, who are in charge of their squad of two to four members. One crew secures one edge of the burn unit, the other crew secures the other edge,” Leslie said. Each crew has an igniter. Igniters are equipped with a drip torch to lay fire on the ground. The rest of the crew holds a containment line with backpack water sprayers, plus all-terrain vehicles and pickup trucks that contain water pumps. Flames are kept in check by considering the fire triangle: fuel, oxygen, and heat. “Frequently, we’re eliminating fuels,” she said. “Gravel and asphalt don’t burn. Sometimes we don’t have trails or a river, so we’ll wet down fuels so much they won’t light, or
more acres burned in the past 10 years
put a fire in a small area and put it out. Those fuels can’t reignite.” Once a burn ends, the land can look charred, but it’s all the better for it. Controlled burns remove the leaf litter of previous growing seasons. “The thatch builds up so thick, it smothers seeds and the growth of existing plants. You’re also returning potassium and phosphorus into the soil,” Ken said. With the soil enriched, more wildflowers and seeds grow, serving as food sources for wildlife. “Wild raspberries produce fruit on first-year stems, so by burning off last year’s growth, you now have raspberries that produce lots of fruit, and animals benefit,” Ken said.
of burn days resulted in more than 75% of target acreage burned
acres burned since 1998
Opening up the ground-level vegetation also helps marshland birds, mice, and voles navigate through the landscape. Two to three years out, one can expect less growth from invasive plants, since most are not adapted to the area’s fiery tradition. “There is long-term vegetation monitoring where we track changes,” Ken said. “Our data does show those units that are burned regularly have achieved the greatest improvement in quality.” Controlled burns aren’t just efficient. They’re also cost-effective. “ We can treat acres with a burn less expensively than if we went in and mowed or hand-cut them,” Leslie said. There are fire-sensitive species of wildlife. For example, crews won’t burn diverse marshes in late spring or early fall, since certain fire-susceptible reptiles and turtles are active then. The majority of native species adapt well, having lived with fire for thousands of years. Wildfires were once common, ignited both by natural causes and Native Americans. “Back when this was one contiguous landscape, and it wasn’t broken up by roads and buildings and cities and farms, once a fire started, there was nothing to stop the fire,” said Leslie, “until it hit a river or it started raining.”
that our controlled burn program helps maintain. “You don’t want to treat all acres the same way with fire, because then you favor certain species that are most tolerant of fire. Our goal is to create microcosms within each preserve to maintain its biodiversity,” Ken said. “We have to be careful not to homogenize our landscape.”
WHERE THERE’S FIRE … THERE’S SMOKE Our ecologists and burn bosses know residents who live or work adjacent to a preserve are concerned about the smoke created during a controlled burn. When a controlled burn is done right, smoke is either blown across a preserve until it dissipates, or is lifted up and away from the site. “We will never burn where smoke is blowing directly toward schools, hospitals, or other smoke-sensitive sites,” Leslie said. “Our burn plans specify a wind direction for a particular unit.” We accommodate residents with health concerns. “ We send a postcard to everyone who lives within a quarter-mile of a burn site,” said Leslie. “If they have a health concern, they can call and identify their location, and we will take added precautions.”
The age of allowing wildfires to span thousands of acres in one landscape-altering inferno is over. Prescriptions must be completed in controlled pockets.
Burns are done primarily during the workday when many residents are not at home. For those sensitive residents who are at home, we recommend staying inside and keeping all windows and doors closed for the burn’s duration. Residents can call us at 847-3676640 if smoke is a concern.
But it’s this phoenix-like heritage— grow, burn, grow again—that helped create the stunning biodiversity of Lake County, and
Visit LCFPD.org/burninfo to learn more about our controlled burn program and to view an interactive map of daily burn locations.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF THERMOMETER Crews don’t just set fires, contain them, put them out, and go home. Staff members track data—acres burned, fire intensity, percentage burned, thatch removed—and conduct follow-up vegetation and animal studies to know where and how to burn in the future. Achieved prescription per year 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50%
06/07 08/09
10/11
12/13
14/15
16/17
MAPPING FREQUENCY We maintain a database of how many times staff members have burned each unit. Wadsworth Savanna’s southern half, for example, has been burned frequently, while the northern half has experienced fewer burns.
Number of burns completed in a parcel since 1998 1
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PRESERVENEWS SPARKING SAFETY Controlled burns can exceed temperatures of 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Our Superintendent of Natural Resources, Dave Cassin, describes below the equipment crews use to start a burn, keep it contained, put it out, and stay cool. Nomex® jacket and pants: First invented in the early 1960s, this fire-retardant clothing is used by firefighters, military pilots, and other professionals who might be exposed to intense heat. Firefighter boots and helmet with shield: “Everyone has firefighter boots, which are rated by OSHA,” Cassin said. The helmet also has a Nomex® wraparound to protect the neck. Drip torch: Each drip torch has a fuel canister with a handle, a valve to let air into the canister while fuel is consumed, a spout to stop fire from sneaking into the canister, and a wick. Hand launcher: This piece of equipment uses compressed carbon dioxide to launch hollow spheres full of potassium permanganate up to 320 feet. These spheres ignite on impact, allowing crews to maintain safer distances from the flames and start burns in hard-to-reach places. Backpack sprayer: Crew members create wet lines, hold containment lines, and put out spot fires with this sprayer. Polaris Ranger: This six-wheel drive vehicle puts out large spot fires with its 100-gallon pump. Flapper: “It’s a broom handle with a rubber rectangle on the end of it for smothering a fire,” Cassin said. For more about our controlled burn program, visit LCFPD.org/burninfo.
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Along with the Lake County Health Department, we remind you to continue to “Fight the Bite” as the season shifts from summer to fall. Protect yourself and your family from mosquitoes by practicing the 4 Ds of Defense. Find more tips at FightTheBiteNow.com. 2017 HIKE LAKE COUNTY CHALLENGE
Get active outdoors for your good health by taking our Hike Lake County Challenge. Enjoy fall breezes and autumn colors while exploring designated “Hike Lake County” trails. Complete seven of the hikes between August 15 and November 30 to earn a commemorative shield. For the 2017 hike locations, visit LCFPD.org/HLC or view them on our new interactive trail map at LCFPD.org/maps. STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE | LEADERSHIP & CONSERVATION
LCFPD.org/vision
In 2015, the Chiwaukee Prairie Illinois Beach Lake Plain (Lake Plain) was designated a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention, an intergovernmental treaty for protection of exemplary wetland systems around the world. In June, the Lake Plain received added recognition by the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) as a Wetland of Distinction. This publicly and privately protected ecosystem connects 14 different community types along Lake Michigan in southeast Wisconsin and northeast Illinois. Our partnership in this restoration project supports two of five strategic directions to help us achieve our 100-year Vision for Lake County. Details: LCFPD.org/vision.
E X C E L L E N C E I S I N O U R N AT U R E LAK E COUNTY FOR E ST PRES E RVES
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TOGETHER, ACHIEVING MORE FOR OUR FOREST PRESERVES.
The Preservation Foundation is the charitable partner of the Lake County Forest Preserves. Gifts of all sizes are meaningful and help support projects and initiate programs that may otherwise go unfunded or take many years to complete. Learn more at LCFPD.org/donate or call 847-968-3110. ENGAGING VOLUNTEERS FOR NATURE
CITIZEN SCIENTISTS NEEDED
Walking through Greenbelt Forest Preserve
The 2017 Ethel Untermyer Conservation Forum
this fall, you can’t miss the changes. Where
will be part education, part call to action. Learn
there was once a dense wall of buckthorn, now
about white-nose syndrome and how it threat-
you can look out across a rare combination of
ens bat populations. Then learn what you can
prairie, interspersed with native shrubs and
do about it by becoming a citizen scientist in
small trees. This unique shrubland habitat
our bat monitoring program.
draws migrating birds, such as eastern kingbird, northern flicker, and brown thrasher.
It’s a fitting tribute to our founder, Ethel Untermyer, an artist, poet, and homemaker who
People, too, are flocking to enjoy Greenbelt
turned her concern for lack of open space into
and to help with restoration efforts. In 2016,
a call to action, organizing the 1958 public
a $100,000 grant from the Illinois Coastal
referendum that established the Lake County
Management Program supported our resto-
Forest Preserves. Celebrate her legacy on
ration work and funded our partner, Audubon
Sunday, October 15, at the Ryerson Woods
Great Lakes, to engage the community.
Welcome Center. Register at LCFPD.org/events.
From April 2016 to April 2017, nearly 400 volunteers logged more than 1,000 hours
ANNUAL FUND SPOTLIGHT
cutting and burning brush, weeding, shrub
Engaging volunteers at Greenbelt is exactly
and seed planting, and seed collecting. On one workday, 30 students from Abbott Middle School donned work gloves, loppers, and saws to cut buckthorn.
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the kind of project the Preservation Foundation Annual Fund was created to support. With limited staff, the District cannot reach into every Lake County community to engage volunteers we need to help care for our preserves. With a grant in 2016, Audubon Great Lakes got off to a great start in North Chicago. To build on that success, the Foundation Board awarded a $20,000 grant so the District can continue working with Audubon Great Lakes. The goal is to build a self-sustaining volunteer corps to support our ongoing work at Greenbelt.
NEW INTERACTIVE TRAIL MAP AVAILABLE
Did you hear that? The preserves are calling your name. Find your next adventure with our new interactive trail map, built on GIS technology.
NEW TRAILS TO TRAVEL
Millennium Trail Extension We are partnering with the Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) to construct a 1-mile section of the Millennium Trail along Russell Road connecting Pines Dunes and Van Patten Woods forest preserves. When complete, this segment of the Millennium Trail will connect the Des Plaines River Trail “Mile 0” and equestrian parking lot at Van Patten Woods with the recently completed equestrianfriendly trails at Pine Dunes. The new trail is expected to open later this fall.
This easy to use map will help you locate trails, preserves, activities and amenities within your Lake County Forest Preserves from your phone, tablet or computer. The 2017 Hike Lake County trails are also included on the map. Start exploring today at LCFPD.org/maps.
Nippersink Forest Preserve Trail Connection LCDOT is constructing a new multi-use path along Cedar Lake Road that will connect existing trails at Nippersink to the new path. This trail connection is part of LCDOT’s project to reconstruct Cedar Lake Road from Route 120 to Nippersink Road. Road and path construction are ongoing. Completion of the entire project is expected by the end of 2018. To learn more about these and other trail and preserve improvement projects, visit LCFPD.org/projects. LAK E COUNTY FOR E ST PRES E RVES
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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 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, 9, 16, 23, 30 Forest Fitness One-hour group fitness walks featuring a new preserve each week.
Saturdays, 8–9 am, for weekly locations see LCFPD.org/FF. Adults. FREE. No registration required.
2 Walk with a Naturalist Discover the diversity of plant and animal life on this naturalist-guided walk. Join us each month to experience and learn about seasonal changes within the preserves.
Saturday, 9–10:30 am, Marl Flat. Adults. FREE. No registration required.
6 Habitat Walk for Seniors Explore one of the many habitats found in Lake County, learning as you take part in this series of walks. Walks are paced to the group’s ability and average 1.5 miles long.
Wednesday, 9–10:30 am, Lyons Woods. Seniors. FREE. No registration required.
7 Playdate with Nature Move your kids outdoors for unstructured seasonal play activities, proven healthful and beneficial for children of all ages.
Thursday, 1–2:30 pm, Grant Woods— Monaville Rd. entrance. Children of all ages, caregivers. FREE. No registration required. A Lake County Nature Network Event.
9 Owls: Help Protect our Backyard Neighbors Learn about local owl species, their behaviors and how human activities can impact owl survival. Find out what you can do to help owls in Lake County.
Saturday, 2–3:30 pm, Greenbelt Cultural Center — Education Wing. Adults, families with children ages 8 and up. $3 per person.
9 Carp-O-Rama Compete to catch the largest and the most carp. Help reduce carp overpopulation. Cash prizes awarded. Saturday, 6:30 am–12 pm, Independence Grove marina. All ages. Adult supervision required. $10 per person. 10, 17, 24 Guided Hike Lake County Guided walk on the 2017 Hike Lake County trails. Walk a new trail each session.
Sundays, 2–3:30 pm, for weekly locations see LCFPD.org/GuidedHLC. All ages. Adult supervision required. FREE. No registration required.
12 Hikin’ Tykes: Monarch and Regal Fritillary Learn with your preschooler about the 12 priority animal species of Chicago Wilderness and how you can help them. Hands-on activities, craft and outdoor exploration.
Tuesday, 9:30–10:45 am, Independence Grove Visitors Center. Children ages 2–4, with an adult. $5 adult/$2 child residents, $7 adult/$3 child nonresidents.
13 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.
14 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 Lake County Nature Network Event.
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Taste the results of the Green Youth Farm: fresh produce organically grown in Greenbelt Forest Preserve (North Chicago) by local youth. Farm stand sales Wednesday mornings through October 12—see LCFPD.org/produce for details.
SEPTEMBER (continued) 14 Adlai E. Stevenson Historic Home Public Tours Drop in during the afternoon to learn about this Illinois governor and ambassador to the United Nations as you tour his home, a National Historic Landmark, at your own pace.
Thursday, 12–4 pm, Adlai E. Stevenson Historic Home. Adults, families with children ages 8 and up. $5 residents, $7 nonresidents.
16 Bees and Wasps: Painful Pests or Powerful Pollinators? Learn the differences between the good guys and the bad guys. Hear about bee habits and talk with a local beekeeper.
Saturday, 9:30–11 am, Ryerson Woods Welcome Center. Adults, families with children ages 8 and up. $5 residents, $7 nonresidents.
16 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, 4–5:30 pm, Grant Woods— Route 132 entrance. All ages. Adult supervision required. FREE. No registration required.
16 Night Voyageur Paddle our 34-foot canoe while learning about the fur trade in 18th-century Lake County and the lives of the Voyageurs.
Saturday, 6–8 pm, Van Patten Woods—Sterling Lake Boat Launch. Adults, families with children ages 8 and up. $10 residents, $14 nonresidents.
17 Guided Nature Paddle Explore nature from a different perspective — on the water in a canoe.
Sunday, 1:30–3:30 pm, Independence Grove — North Bay Pavilion lot. Adults, families with children ages 4 and up. $13 residents, $18 nonresidents.
17 Sunset Stroll Stroll to the overlook and watch the sunset while learning about a few crepuscular creatures.
Sunday, 6:30–8 pm, Raven Glen— Route 45 entrance. All ages. Adult supervision required. FREE. No registration required.
20 Small Discoveries: Play with Clay Play with clay and make a work of art to take home.
Wednesday, 10–11 am, Greenbelt Cultural Center. Children ages 2–5, with an adult. $3 residents, $5 nonresidents. No charge for chaperone.
21 Hawks in Flight Join local raptor enthusiast Vic Berardi as he discusses the nuances of hawk identification, using his own photographs to differentiate species. Thursday, 7–9 pm, Ryerson Woods Welcome Center. Ages 12 and up. Adult supervision required. $5 residents, $7 nonresidents. 22 Bilingual (English/Spanish) Nature Hike Enjoy a night out with the family while exploring Nippersink Forest Preserve. Join us for a guided walk, followed by roasted marshmallows around a cozy campfire.
Friday, 6–8 pm, Nippersink— Shelter C. All ages. Adult supervision required. FREE. No registration required. Partnered event with Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods.
22 Community Campfire Friday Nights Bring your friends and family to roast marshmallows, share stories and enjoy nature at night.
Friday, 7–9 pm, Greenbelt Cultural Center. All ages. Adult supervision required. FREE. No registration required. A Lake County Nature Network Event.
23 Sensory Discovery Nature Walk Celebrate the wonders of fall and awaken your five senses in nature through mindful activities during an afternoon hike.
Saturday, 10 am–12 pm, Ryerson Woods— Classroom Cabin. Families with children 12 years and younger. Adult supervision required. $5 residents, $7 nonresidents. Ages 3 and under are free.
27 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.
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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) 29 Forest Folklore, Legends, Myths and Stories Join us for a night of sharing cultural folklore and stories about forest plants, fungi, and animals. Friday, 7–9 Fox River— Shelter A. Ages 12 and up. Adult supervision required. $5 residents, $7 nonresidents. 30 Raptor Watch Drop in anytime and visit the bird observation deck at Lyons Woods Forest Preserve. Local raptor identification experts will teach you how to identify migrating raptors.
Saturday, 10 am–2 pm, Lyons Woods. All ages. FREE. No registration required.
30 Wildflower Wonders Lake County has over 600 different species of wildflowers. Come appreciate their beauty in a different preserve each month as we explore what makes them so wonderful.
Saturday, 10 am–12 pm, Grant Woods— Monaville Rd. entrance. Adults, families with children ages 8 and up. $5 residents, $7 nonresidents.
pm,
OCTOBER 1–31 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. Write a short poem and hang it on “Ethel’s Poet-Tree,” which will be on display for the month of October at the Ryerson Woods Welcome Center. 1, 8, 15, 29 Guided Hike Lake County Guided walk on the 2017 Hike Lake County trails. Walk a new trail each session.
Sundays, 2–3:30 pm, for weekly locations see LCFPD.org/GuidedHLC. All ages. Adult supervision required. FREE. No registration required.
1 Fall Color Hike Learn why leaves change color and how critters adapt to the coming cold weather. Sunday, 11 am–12 pm, Ryerson Woods. All ages. Adult supervision required. $5 adult/$1 child residents, $7 adult/$2 child nonresidents. Ages 3 and under are free. 1 Adlai E. Stevenson Historic Home Public Tours Drop in during the afternoon to learn about this Illinois governor and ambassador to the United Nations as you tour his home, a National Historic Landmark, at your own pace.
Sunday, 12–4 pm, Adlai E. Stevenson Historic Home. Adults, families with children ages 8 and up. $5 residents, $7 nonresidents.
4 Habitat Walk for Seniors Explore one of the many habitats found in Lake County, learning as you take part in this series of walks. Walks are paced to the group’s ability and average 1.5 miles long.
Wednesday, 9–10:30 am, Captain Daniel Wright Woods. Seniors. FREE. No registration required.
4 Little Sprouts: Harvest Hoedown 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.
5 Full Moon Night Hike Hike under the magical glow of the full moon. This is your chance to enjoy the peace and serenity of a preserve after dark. Thursday, 7–8:30 pm, Raven Glen— Route 45 entrance. Adults, families with children ages 8 and up. $5 adult/$2 child residents, $7 adult/$3 child nonresidents. 7, 14, 21, 28 Forest Fitness One-hour group fitness walks featuring a new preserve each week.
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Saturdays, 8–9 am, for weekly locations see LCFPD.org/FF. Adults. FREE. No registration required.
Watch out for massive clusters of mushrooms appearing in early fall. They often grow at the base of trees and appear in the same locations each year. Inky caps, seen here at right, are a great example.
OCTOBER (continued) 7 Walk with a Naturalist Discover the diversity of plant and animal life on this naturalist-guided walk. Join us each month to experience and learn about seasonal changes within the preserves.
Saturday, 9–10:30 am, Old School— Trails lot. Adults. FREE. No registration required.
7 Oak Woodland Walk Celebrate “OAKtober” while discovering the beautiful oak woodlands that define the unique natural landscape.
Saturday, 1–2:30 pm, Ryerson Woods Welcome Center. Adults. $5 residents, $7 nonresidents.
8 Fungi Scavenger Hunt Join us in discovering the diversity of fungi and the secret world of mycelium. A smartphone or tablet is recommended to help identify fungi.
Sunday, 10 am–12 pm, Ryerson Woods Welcome Center. All ages. $5 residents, $7 nonresidents. Ages 3 and under are free.
9 Playdate with Nature Move your kids outdoors for unstructured seasonal play activities, proven healthful and beneficial for children of all ages.
Monday, 1–2:30 pm, Greenbelt Cultural Center. Children of all ages, caregivers. FREE. No registration required. A Lake County Nature Network Event.
10 Hikin’ Tykes: Little Brown Bat Learn with your preschooler about the 12 priority animal species of Chicago Wilderness and how you can help them. Hands-on activities, craft and outdoor exploration.
Tuesday, 9:30–10:45 am, Lakewood—Shelter E. 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 Lake County Nature Network Event.
14 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, 4–5:30 pm, Lyons Woods. All ages. Adult supervision required. FREE. No registration required.
15 2017 Ethel Untermyer Forum Championing Wildlife: Acoustic Bat Monitoring Our Acoustic Bat Monitoring program engages non-scientists to collect important data, sometimes called citizen science. Adults, join our educator and resident bat expert, Melissa Alderson, to learn how it all works. Includes an update on white-nose syndrome in Midwest bats. (A special kids-only bat program will be offered to children ages 5–12 during the adult presentation.) Sunday, 1:30–3 pm, Ryerson Woods Welcome Center. Families with children ages 5 and up. FREE. 18 Tinkering Through Time: Awesome Adaptations Test your engineering and science skills as you explore how native people utilized a vast array of natural resources, then investigate a variety of local wildlife adaptations.
Wednesday, 3:30–4:30 pm, Hastings Lake — Shelter A. Children ages 5–8, with an adult. $3 residents, $5 nonresidents, no charge for chaperones.
20–21 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 and Saturday. Hikes begin every 30 minutes from 6–8 pm. Total event time 90 minutes. Total distance walked about 1.5 miles. Ryerson Woods. All ages. $9 residents, $11 nonresidents. Ages 3 and under are free. 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.
OCTOBER (continued) 27 Community Campfire Friday Nights Bring your friends and family to roast marshmallows, share stories and enjoy nature at night.
Friday, 7–9 pm, Greenbelt Cultural Center. All ages. Adult supervision required. FREE. No registration required. A Lake County Nature Network Event.
NOVEMBER 1 Habitat Walk for Seniors Explore one of the many habitats found in Lake County, learning as you take part in this series of walks. Walks are paced to the group’s ability and average 1.5 miles long.
Wednesday, 9–10:30 am, Middlefork Savanna. Seniors. FREE. No registration required.
4, 11, 18, 25 Forest Fitness One-hour group fitness walks featuring a new preserve each week.
Saturdays, 8–9 am, for weekly locations see LCFPD.org/FF. Adults. FREE. No registration required.
4 Walk with a Naturalist Discover the diversity of plant and animal life on this naturalist-guided walk. Join us each month to experience and learn about seasonal changes within the preserves.
Saturday, 9–10:30 am, Heron Creek—Shelter A. Adults. FREE. No registration required.
5, 12, 19 Guided Hike Lake County Guided walk on the 2017 Hike Lake County trails. Walk a new trail each session.
Sundays, 2–3:30 pm, for weekly locations see LCFPD.org/GuidedHLC. All ages. Adult supervision required. FREE. No registration required.
8 Homeschool Companion: Digital Field Guides In the world of technology, there are many apps from which to chose. User-friendly digital field guides and apps will be shared and used while hiking. A smartphone or tablet is recommended. Wednesday, 9:30–10:30 am, Nippersink. Ages 12 and up. $3 residents, $5 nonresidents. 9 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 Lake County Nature Network Event.
10 Playdate with Nature Move your kids outdoors for unstructured seasonal play activities, proven healthful and beneficial for children of all ages.
Friday, 1–2:30 pm, Hastings Lake — Playground lot. Children of all ages, caregivers. FREE. No registration required. A Lake County Nature Network Event.
12 Feast for Survival Join us for a family-friendly hike at as we explore the topic of the natural foods found in nature.
Sunday, 3–4:30 pm, Hastings Lake — Shelter A. All ages. $5 residents, $7 nonresidents. Ages 3 and under are free.
14 Hikin’ Tykes: Grassland Birds Learn with your preschooler about the 12 priority animal species of Chicago Wilderness and how you can help them. Hands-on activities, craft and outdoor exploration
Tuesday, 9:30–10:45 am, Rollins Savanna—Washington St. entrance. Children ages 2–4, with an adult. $5 adult/$2 child residents, $7 adult/$3 child nonresidents.
18 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 Cabin. Boy Scouts. Ages 10–17. $20 resident, $28 nonresidents.
19 Thanksgiving for Nature Scavenger Hunt Discover what we should be thankful for in nature. Find clues along the trail in this self-paced activity.
Sunday, 1–3 pm, Ryerson Woods Welcome Center. All ages. Adult supervision required. FREE.
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MUSEUM taking
SHAPE We made it! Construction is well underway, artifacts have been moved, exhibitions are being installed, and we have a brand new name to share.
BESS BOWER DUNN MUSEUM of Lake County
We are pleased our Commissioners approved naming
Forest Preserve in Wauconda), are now securely
the Museum after Bess Bower Dunn (187 7–1959).
housed in Libertyville, in a modern environmentally
Dunn deserves much credit for her work preserving
controlled storage facility. The move was quite
the early history of Lake County, Illinois. She was a
amazing to watch. Museum staff packed all of the
founding member of the Lake County Historical
artifacts, carefully wrapping, boxing and labeling
Society (LCHS) where she personally collected many
where each item would be placed in the new facility.
of the items in the LCHS collection—which we now own. She was a 60-year employee of Lake County, and upon her retirement, was named the first official Lake County Historian. She was known for traveling throughout Lake County early in the 20th century photographing historic sites and meeting with early residents to collect their stories. The Museum’s collections, which comprise nearly 20,000 artifacts and items from the Lake County History Archives (previously stored at Lakewood
The gallery space is taking shape as we continue to install the new exhibitions. This former office environment has been transformed into a dynamic museum everyone can enjoy, complete with artifacts, interactive items, and a dinosaur—everything you would expect from a nationally accredited museum. Our educators are also developing new programs for schools and the public. We’re excited to share the Dunn Museum with you later this year. Check our website for opening details.
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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) 847-968-3404 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
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
LCFPD.org/Ryerson Welcome Center Hours 9 AM–5 PM, Tuesday–Saturday 11 AM–4 PM, Sundays Restroom only, Mondays
847–968–3100 847–968–3441 847–489–1931 847–968–3450
Tee Times Golf Gift Cards Golf Outings Banquets
ThunderHawkGolfClub.org
GREENBELT CULTURAL CENTER
BRAE LOCH GOLF CLUB
1215 Green Bay Road North Chicago, Illinois 60064
33600 North US Highway 45 Grayslake, Illinois 60030
847–968–3477
Office Hours
847–968–3100 847–968–3441 847–489–1931 847–247–1119
Open for events or by appointment.
BraeLochGolfClub.org
BESS BOWER DUNN MUSEUM
COUNTRYSIDE GOLF CLUB
Closed. Reopening in late 2017 at new Libertyville location. Call or visit our website for move updates.
20800 West Hawley Street Mundelein, Illinois 60060
GreenbeltCulturalCenter.org
Tee Times Golf Gift Cards Golf Outings Banquets
Prairie & Traditional Courses
FoxRiverMarina.org
847–968–3100 Tee Times 847–968–3441 Golf Gift Cards 847–489–1931 Golf Outings
Boat Launch & Marina Hours
CountrysideGolfClub.org
847–381–0669
For hours and fees visit our website.
HORI ZONS QUARTERLY FALL 2 01 7
847–968–3400 Main
LAKE COUNTY FOREST PRESERVES FOREST PRESERVE Entrance/Parking
Nearly 31,000 acres make up your Lake County Forest Preserves. Most preserves are open 6:30 a m –sunset, daily. If a preserve gate is open before 6:30 a m , the preserve is considered open for use. MAP CURRENT AS OF
Tuesday, August 1, 2017
FOREST PRESERVE EASEMENTS STATE LAND (Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources) DES PLAINES RIVER TRAIL CASEY TRAIL PRAIRIE CROSSING TRAIL (L.C. Division of Transportation)
LCFPD.ORG GENERAL OFFICES and FUTURE HOME OF THE MUSEUM, LATE 2017
CANOE LAUNCH
OPERATIONS FACILITY
COMMUNITY GARDEN
MILLENNIUM TRAIL Planned Section
MIDDLEFORK GREENWAY Planned Section
FORT HILL TRAIL Planned (L.C. Division of Transportation)
M CCLORY TRAIL / NORTH SHORE PATH Planned (L.C. Division of Transportation)
CHAIN O’ LAKES BIKE PATH Planned (L.C. Division of Transportation)
DOG AREA
GRAND ILLINOIS TRAIL Planned (Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources)
LAK E COUNTY FOR E ST PRES E RVES
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LAKE COUNTY FOREST PRESERVES GENERAL OFFICES 1899 WEST WINCHESTER ROAD LIBERTYVILLE ILLINOIS 60048
PLEASE DELIVER PROMPTLY—
t
TIME- SENSITIVE MATERIAL
HORI Z ON S
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SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES HOTLINE: 847–968–3335 email : Horizons@LCFPD.org
THIS PUBLICATION IS PRODUCED USING 100% RECYCLED PAPER, ALLOWING US TO SAVE 58 MATURE TREES, 18,737 LBS GREENHOUSE GASES, 5,703 LBS SOLID WASTE
AUTUMN GOLF SAVINGS Comfortable temperatures make autumn the best time for golfing. Look online for seasonal rates and specials, or subscribe to our golf e-newsletter: LCFPD.org/golf.
2018 picnic shelter reservations Reservations for 2018 picnic shelter rentals begin Monday, October 16. Purchase permits online starting at 12:01 am; by phone or in person starting at 8 am. For locations, permit requirements and fees, call our General Offices, 8 am–4:30 pm weekdays, at 847-367-6640 or visit LCFPD.org/picnics.
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INDOOR BOAT STORAGE Protect your boat or personal watercraft this winter in our secure, enclosed building at Fox River (Port Barrington). For fees, visit LCFPD.org/Fox-River-Marina.
◄ FLICKR PICK Holding on to fall. Milkweed seed caught on a small twig on a cold, windy October day at Cuba Marsh (Deer Park). Posted by local photographer Jeff Goldberg via Flickr. Connect with us! For up-to-the-minute Lake County Forest Preserve news and events: Find us on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Snapchat or YouTube @LCFPD. Download our mobile app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store — search for “Lake County Forest Preserves.”