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		The Nature Conservancy in Illinois Illinois   Contact   Places We Protect   Field Trips & Events   Press Releases   Volunteer   Ways of Giving

 

Earth Day - April 22, 2008

Everyday is Earth Day for volunteer groups across the Volunteer Stewardship Network, 
however, to honor the official day many groups will host a special workday or celebration.
Below is a listing of events held across the state.

Northern Illinois

Group/Organization: Nachusa Grasslands, The Nature Conservancy
Date and Time: Saturday, April 26, 2:00 – 4:00 PM
Location: Nachusa Grassland Preserve
Activity: Hike to view oak savanna restorations
Directions: Visit the website:www.nature.org/illinois
Contact: Becky Hartman, 630/309-2110

Group/Organization: Friends of Indian Boundary Prairies
Date and Time: Saturday, April 26 at 10:00 AM
Location: Indian Boundary Prairies – Dropseed Prairie Nature Preserve
Activity: Prairie hikes, Search for spring plants & birds, games, refreshments, prizes
Directions: (15600 Homan Avenue, Markham, IL) South on either 294 or I-57; exit at 159th street. From 294 exit west to Kedzie Avenue. North on Kedzie 2blocks to 157, West on 157 to Homan, then Homan to 15600. From I-57 exit East at 159th, continue to Kedzie Ave, then North to 157th, West on 157 to Homan.
Contact: Pat Brownlow, 708/560-5536 or hbrownlow@juno.com

Group/Organization: Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
Date and Time: Saturday, April 26, 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Location: Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie – Jackson Creek Woods
Activity: Give a wildflower a chance to grow! Join us for the Great Garlic Mustard Pull at Jackson Creek Woods.
Directions: Meet at Jackson Creek Woods: The entrance is on the north side of Mississippi Road. From I-55: Travel east on Arsenal Road to the Baseline Road intersection. Proceed south on Baseline Road to the stop sign at Mississippi Road. Baseline Road is now the main entrance to the Deer Run Industrial Park, so there is heavy truck traffic; drive carefully! The entrance and interim parking to the Jackson Creek Woods area will be on the left; look for the workday sign. From State Route 53: Travel west on Strawn Drive (3.5 miles north of the Supervisor’s Office) to Deer Run Drive. Turn right (north) on Deer Run Drive, then left (west) on Mississippi Road. The entrance and interim parking to the Jackson Creek Woods area will be on the right; look for the workday sign.
Contact: RSVP to Allison Hedden, 815/423-2149
Special Notes: Garlic Mustard, Alliaria petiolata is an invasive species that is taking over many woodland areas. This plant dominates the woodland floor and suppresses valuable native wildflowers within years. Garlic Mustard not only threatens native plants but all other wildlife that depends on those plants for survival. This plant produces large amounts of seed that allows the weed to spread rapidly. With your help, we can slow down the Garlic Mustard invasion by eliminating individuals before they set seed. Please help us rip out as much of this weed as possible. We will supply tools, gloves, and water. Bring a lunch, grab a friend and help give the native wildflowers a chance to flourish again.

Group/Organization: Spring Creek Stewards and Citizens for Conservation Sierra Club, RCBH, Friends of Spring Creek, Cook County Forest Preserve District
Date and Time: Saturday, April 19, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Spring Creek Forest Preserve, Barrington Hills, IL (Cook County)
Activity: Clear invasive brush; scatter native seeds to restore vegetation; educational tours
Schedule: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 pm restoration work; 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. free lunch and music by Windy City Tom; speakers Stephen Packard & Rep. Melissa Bean followed by educational tours.
**Wear long pants and long sleeves and a hat to protect your hair from sparks. Bring work gloves. Wear sturdy shoes or boots. Tools and water to drink will be provided.
**Complimentary lunch provided by Whole Foods Market. Free water bottles provided by R.E.I.
Directions: North of I-90 on Rt. 72 (W. Higgins Rd.). Turn north on Wichman Road to the Headwaters parking lot (about 1 mile west of Rt. 59). Follow the signs.
Contact: D. Hriljac, 708/967-7835 or misky272000@yahoo.com

Group/Organization: Friends of the Forest Preserves, Chicago Department of Environment, Sierra Club, The Field Museum, Forest Preserve District of Cook County
Date and Time: Saturday, April 19th, 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Locations: Powderhorn Prairie and Hegewisch Marsh
Activity: Nature walk, stewardship demonstration, lunch, tour of Hegewisch Marsh
Directions: Exit Bishop Ford (I 94 East) at 130th St. East.  Go right (south) at Saginaw Ave. which will become Brainard Ave.  Parking lot is on the east side past Burnham Rd.
Contact: Christy Page, 312/665-7443, cpage@fieldmuseum.org
Special Notes: Please RSVP for this event by April 11th. 

Group/Organization: North Park Village Nature Center
Date and Time: Sunday, April 20 and Wednesday, April 23
Location: North Park Village Nature Center 
Activity: Garlic Mustard Blitz & Litter Patrol
Directions: 5801 N. Pulaski, Chicago
From the Edens: Exit at Peterson/41 eastbound; the end of the ramp puts you at Peterson & Cicero; drive 1 mile east to Pulaski; turn right/south onto Pulaski and drive ¼ mile to the lighted intersection at Ardmore; turn left into the North Park Village complex and proceed straight ahead to the second stop sign; at the second stop sign, turn left and follow the gently curving road to the parking lot just before the cul-de-sac.  Free parking.  Walk towards the building with the large native plant landscaping in front.
From Lake Shore Drive: Exit at Lawrence; drive west to Pulaski; turn right/north onto Pulaski to Ardmore (1/4 mile north of Bryn Mawr); turn right into the North Park Village complex and proceed straight ahead to the second stop sign; at the second stop sign, turn left and follow the gently curving road to the parking lot just before the cul-de-sac.  Free parking.  Walk towards the building with the large native plant landscaping in front.
Contacts: Bob Porter or Julie Sacco at 312-744-5472
Special Notes: This work is not strenuous and makes a great family activity for children 4 years old and up.  Children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult the entire time.  No pets allowed.  Dress for the weather—the workdays are "on" rain or shine.

Group/Organization Name: Save the Prairie Society
Date and Time:  Saturday, April 19, 9:00 AM - Noon
Location: Wolf Road Prairie Nature Preserve
Activity: Brush cutting
Directions: Meet at the Prairie House, 11225 Constitution Drive, Westchester.  See directions to Wolf Road Prairie on our web site - www.savetheprairiesociety.org
Contact: Valerie Spale, 708/865-8736 or stpsspale@aol.com
Special Notes: We are also having a program on Thursday, April 24th at 7:30 pm at the Prairie House. Green Design and Your Building's Eco Value.  The presenter is Mike Jackson, FAIA, Chief Architect, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, Preservation Services Division.  Contact information - same as above. More information about the program is posted on our web site.

Group/Organization Name: Poplar Creek Prairie Stewards
Date and Time:  Saturday, April 19, 9:00 AM - Noon
Location: Poplar Creek Prairie
Activity: Restoration work and trash pick up
Directions: Contact below for directions or questions. 
Contact: Jan Ahrensfeld, 847/358-0019 or jahrensfeld@sbcglobal.net  

Group/Organization: Bartel Grassland Volunteers
Date and Time: Saturday, April 19 and Sunday, April 20, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM each day
Location: Bartel Grassland New Wetland Site (Central Avenue north of Vollmer Rd)
Activity: Plentiful plug planting of 5,450 wetland plug plants!
Directions: I-57 to Vollmer West Exit, turn north on Central Avenue
Contact: Dick Riner, 708/720-5683 or dickriner@gmail.com

Group/Organization: Palos Restoration Project
Date and Time: Saturday, April 19 9:00 AM – Noon
Location: Hidden Pond (Meet in the parking lot at 94th and Kean Ave. in Hickory Hills)
Activity: We will be pulling garlic mustard if it's up enough and cutting brush along with burning brushpiles in the prairie.  Hidden Pond is in the Cook County Forest Preserves and has one of the highest quality prairies in the Palos division.  Come out and see what's up.
Directions: I-57 to Vollmer West Exit, turn north on Central Avenue
Contact: Roger Keller, 708-598-2234 or palosrestor@comcast.net

Group/Organization: North Branch Restoration Project
Date and Time: Saturday, April 19, 9:00 AM - Noon
Location: Bunker Hill
Activity: Join us at our regular morning workday from 9:00am to noon, then stay and enjoy good food, fun activities, demonstration booths and other events.
Directions: Visit the website: www.northbranchrestoration.org
Contact: Jane Balaban, 847/679-4289 or balx2@comcast.net

Group/Organization: Des Plaines River Valley Volunteers
Date and Time: Saturday, April 19, 9:00 AM - Noon with an invitation to stay later to put fires "to bed"
Location: Theodore Stone Forest
Activity: Clearing brush along La Grange Road and burning brush piles. 
Directions: Contact Barbara Birmingham
Contact: Barbara Birmingham, 708/386-0579 or BarbBirm@aol.com

Group/Organization: Lake Forest Open Lands
Date and Time: Saturday, April 26th, 9:00 AM - Noon
Location: Mellody Farm Nature Preserve
Activity: Celebrate Earth Day at the Mellody Farm Nature Preserve and join us for our Fifth Annual Prairie Restoration Planting. Thanks to Open Lands Associate Board and a generous donation from R.E.I., we are transforming an old agriculture field back to native prairie. This is event is perfect for families. Free. Directions: Meet at the Lockhart Family Nature Center at 350 N. Waukegan Road in Lake Forest.
Contact: For more information or to register call 847/482-1928 or visit www.lfola.org/events_earthday.html

Group/Organization: I&M Canal Civic Center Authority, The Santa Fe Prairie Volunteers, and the Forest Preserve District of Cook County
Date & Time: Tuesday, April 22, 10:00 AM - Noon or beyond. We will also be working the following weekend with the same hours.
Location: Santa Fe Prairie Nature Preserve (and the adjoining area along the Des Plaines River) on River Road in Hodgkins, IL.
Activity: Weed (Mugwort and garlic mustard) pulling, brush cutting and general maintenance around the prairie and along the river bank.  Depending on the weather and the state of the prairie we may be able to attack the Reed Canary Grass on the prairie. Loppers, saws, gloves and supplies will be available but bring along any equipment that is available. Lunch is being planned. We are expecting a number of Jewel/Osco employee volunteers to participate. Similar activities will also be conducted on the following weekend. Directions: From the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) go north on Mannheim Road/La Grange Road (Rte. 45) about 1/2 mile and turn right, going east, onto 67th St. Proceed about 1 mile and turn right, going south, onto East Ave./Santa Fe Drive. Follow the winding road about 1/2 mile and at the stop sign turn left onto Leon Cook Drive (also 71st St.). Go over the over pass, turn right at the bottom of the bridge and you will see a bright red Santa Fe RR caboose. We will meet there. (Distances are approximate.)
Contacts: Greg Starr (He is coordinating a major group of Jewel/Osco employee volunteers to work with us.) 708/598-6139 or Stan Johnson (SFP Coordinator) 708/937-0009 for more information.  

Group/Organization: Forest Preserve District of Kane County
Date and Time: Saturday, April 26, 10:00 AM - Noon
Location: Blackberry Maples Forest Preserve in Elburn
Activity: We’ll be planting native oak tree saplings.
Directions: Blackberry Maples is about 6 miles west of Batavia on Main St. and about ½ mile east of Rt. 47. If coming from Rt. 47, head east onto Main St. and the preserve will be on the south side of the road. If coming from Randall Rd., head west on Main St., and the preserve is about 5 miles up the road, on the south side of the street.
Contact: Julia Bourque, 630/762-2741 or BourqueJulia@kaneforest.com

Orland Grassland Volunteers will be hosting two events, a library presentation on Earth Day and an event on the site.  Below are the specifics.

Group/Organization: Orland Grassland Volunteers 
Date and Time:  Tuesday, April 22 at 7:00 PM
Activity: Orland Grassland is about healing and nurturing our little corner of the Earth. Join Pat Hayes, Master Steward volunteer, to see and hear about restoration successes already happening. Learn about important next steps with the Army Corps of Engineers. Find out about the Chicago Wilderness passport youth program. Take home beautiful Cook County Forest Preserve maps and 2008 calendars.  Come a little early to enjoy the library's beautiful, 26 x 8 foot mural done by nationally known illustrator John Dawson,  "More Than Just Grass".  It's a wonderful depiction, complete with a key, of our native prairie biodiversity above and below ground. Celebrate. Whether it's through volunteering, getting your kids reconnected with nature, or enjoying the Forest Preserve District's natural treasures...participate.
Location:  Orland Park Public Library (14921 Ravinia Avenue, Orland Park IL  60462, 708-428-5100) Directions:  http://orlandparklibrary.org/aboutgen_maps.htm
Contact: Pat Hayes, 708/220-9596 or ptihys@yahoo.com or "Contact Us" at www.orlandgrassland.org

Group/Organization: Orland Grassland Volunteers
Date and Time: Saturday, April 26, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM 
Location: Orland Grassland
Activity: Celebrate Earth Day by participating in prairie habitat restoration activities. We’ll be brush cutting, and we’ll be spring cleaning. This is a great opportunity for families, students, individuals, and community or company groups to come out and make a difference. This counts toward school community service hours. Necessary tools are provided…and refreshments, too. Come to the Orland Grassland parking lot at 167th just west of La Grange.  Bring yourself, your family, your club or organization.  
Directions:www.orlandgrassland.org  
Contact: Kathy Hamilton, 708/532-4621 For directions, visit

Group/Organization: McHenry County Conservation District
Date and Time: Saturday, April 19, 12:00 - 4:00 PM
Location: Prairieview Education Center
Activity: Join the McHenry County Conservation District and the McHenry County Defenders in an Earth Day Celebration for the whole family! This event is both indoors and out, and will go on rain or shine! Environmental Exhibits and Vendors, Musical Entertainment & Drum Circle, Hands-on Children's Activities, Recycling Fashion Show ....and much more! We will recycle the following items: Computers, Gym Shoes, CD's, Videos and Cell Phones
Directions: 2112 Behan Road, Crystal Lake
Contact: McHenry County Conservation District, 815/338-6223

Group/Organization: Alliance for the Great Lakes
Date and Time: April 19-30 (see specifics below)
Location: Various Locations (see specifics below)
Activity: Adopt-a-Beach Spring Kickoff to Celebrate Earth Day, April 19-30. The cold temperatures and piles of snow make the beach season seem like light years away -- yet the Alliance’s Adopt-a-Beach program is revving up for action. Adopt-a-Beach involves community groups, schools, businesses and families in caring for our beaches through litter pickup, beach monitoring and water quality testing. The information gathered is used in pollution prevention activities and education throughout the region. It’s fun! It’s easy! Learn how to be part of the Alliance’s Adopt-a-Beach Spring Kickoff to celebrate Earth Day. This year Adopt-a-Beach will be unveiling new data collection forms and protocol so seasoned and new adopters should plan to attend a training session.  Contact your state coordinator to find out how to get involved and about scheduled training dates in April for the program. Training dates are as follows:

Illinois:
April 8, 6 – 8 p.m., Alliance for the Great Lakes Office, 17 N. State Street, Suite 1390, Chicago
April 9, 6 – 8 p.m., Evanston Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Boulevard, Evanston

Indiana:
April 10, 6 – 8 p.m., Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Calumet Interpretive Center, U.S. Highway 12 & Kemil Road, Chesterton

Michigan: April 9, 6 – 8 p.m., Grand Haven, location to be determined

Wisconsin:
April 14, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Volunteer Center of Racine, 6216 Washington Avenue, Suite G, Racine
April 17, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Milwaukee Environmental Consortium, 1845 N. Farwell Avenue, Suite 100, Milwaukee

Ohio:Contact us for times and dates

Adopt-a-Beach program contact information:
Michigan: Jamie Cross at 866-850-0745 ext. 12
Wisconsin and Ohio: Stephanie Smith at 312-939-0838 ext. 226, or adoptabeach@greatlakes.org
Indiana and Illinois: Frances Canonizado at 312-939-0838 ext. 228, or fcanonizado@greatlakes.org

Central Illinois

Group/Organization: Prairie Rivers, Champaign and Urbana Park Districts, Cities of Urbana and Champaign, UIUC, Ward and Association
Date and Time: Saturday, April 19, 9:00 AM to Noon 
Location: Scott Park, Champaign, IL 
Activities: Stream cleanup, invasives removal, storm drain stenciling 
Directions: Visit the website: http://www.boneyardcreek.org/
Contact:csmith@prairierivers.org

Group/Organization: Embarras Volunteer Stewards
Date and Time: Saturday, April 19, 9:00-11:00 AM
Location: Douglas-Hart Nature Center, Mattoon, IL
Activity: Planting trees and shrubs
Directions: Corner of Lerna Road and DeWitt Avenue, Mattoon, IL
Contact: Larry Thorsen, 217/345-6476 or thors@cmecwildblue.com

Southern Illinois  

Group/Organization: Sierra Club
Date and Time: Saturday, April 19, 9am-4pm; 2 hr shifts
Location: Alton Square Mall Lower level Sears parking lot; 200 Alton Square Drive; Alton, IL 62002
Activity: Unloading computers from vehicles & organizing them into bins; direct traffic
Contact: Christine Favilla;cfavilla10@sbcglobal.net; 618-462-6802

Group/Organization: Sierra Club
Date and Time: Sunday, April 20, 12-3pm
Location: Hamel Township
Activity: Clean up trash and debris on roadsides and ravines in Hamel, IL.
Directions: Call to find exact driving directions, as location is changing with highwater in some low lying ravines we want to clean…
Contact: Christine Favilla; cfavilla10@sbcglobal.net; 618-462-6802

Group/Organization: Community Cultivators
Date and Time: Sunday, April 20, 3-5pm
Location: Discovery Garden; LaVista Park; 2421 West Delmar Avenue; Godfrey, IL 62035
Activity: Set up area to look nice; greet participants
Directions: www.thediscoverygarden.org
Contact: Christine Favilla; cfavilla10@sbcglobal.net; 618-462-6802

Group/Organization: Sierra Club
Date and Time: Friday, April 25, 8:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Location: Environmental Demonstration Area’s Field station
Activity: Work with youth at booth on hands-on bird activity
Directions: 301 Riverlands Way; West Alton, Missouri; Riverlands Environmental Demonstration Area is located near West Alton, Missouri. From US-67 turn onto Riverlands Way (at the FISCA station) near the Clark Bridge. http://wingsofspring.org/
Contact: Christine Favilla; cfavilla10@sbcglobal.net; 618-462-6802

Group/Organization: Sierra Club
Date and Time: Saturday, April 26, 8am-5pm
Location: Environmental Demonstration Area’s Field station
Activity: Work with youth at booth on hands-on bird activity
Directions: 301 Riverlands Way; West Alton, Missouri; Riverlands Environmental Demonstration Area is located near West Alton, Missouri. From US-67 turn onto Riverlands Way (at the FISCA station) near the Clark Bridge. http://wingsofspring.org/
Contact: Christine Favilla; cfavilla10@sbcglobal.net; 618-462-6802.