InsideVolunteer News ContentsSpring Valley Volunteer Recognition Awards ...6Volunteer Information .........................................7Volunteer Calendar .......................................... 8-9

The Smell of Summer on a Winter Afternoon ...2Carp Happens .....................................................3What’s Happenin’ ............................................. 4-5Spring Valley General Information ...................10

In this issue... Decisions we make today affect tomorrow’s world and generations to come. This statement may seem obvious and common sense; however, a look back through history shows time and time again how ill-informed decisions resulted in unforeseen negative consequences. In many cases, the consequences were foreseen and could have been avoided had consideration been made for the future rather than simply present needs. This issue of the Natural Enquirer points to two instances where the landscape of America was modified to suit present needs without much consideration of future impacts. The importation of common carp as food for people and European plants as food for livestock were thought to be innovations that would improve life for people. One proved disastrous to our waterways and native fish; the other has provided benefits to farmers, but resulted in the ultimate destruction of a uniquely American ecosystem. Some Native American societies are said to have considered the impact of any decision on the seven generations to come. If the decision would negatively impact the seventh generation out from the current day, then further consideration was required. Imagine the world our own technologically advanced society could create if this sort of foresight was employed in the decision-making process!

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

Schaumburg Park District

Natural EnquirerNewsle t te r fo r Spr ing Va l l ey Suppor te rs and Vo lun tee rs vo l .6 no .1 • Jan . -Feb . ‘15

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The Smell of Summer on a Winter Afternoon by Dave Brooks

Hay is a fairly recent agricultural inno-vation, having come into common use only a few hundred years ago. Prior to that, farm livestock were mostly left to their own instincts during the cold winter months and allowed to forage for whatever dried grasses and plants they could find beneath the snow. Farmers in Europe and Asia realized that during spring and early summer, plant growth was greater than what was needed by livestock. They figured out that if some of this lush growth was cut and dried, it could be stored for later use.Haymaking in those early days was an arduous task. Fields were cut by hand with a scythe and the grass raked into rows and allowed to dry for several days in the field. If necessary, the raked hay was turned by hand to facilitate drying. The dried hay was then loaded onto wagons to be transported to a shed or carefully stacked into mounds and left in the hayfield. It is estimated that, at best, a skilled farmer could work about one acre of his hayfields per day. As the in-dustrial revolution began to focus its en-ergies on improving agricultural equip-ment, haymaking slowly began to get easier. Mechanical mowers appeared in the early 19th century along with hay rakes. These devices were pulled by horses and, once perfected and in com-mon use, allowed farmers to harvest considerably more hay and in much less time. Nonetheless, haymaking remained

as clover, which provide optimum forage for most livestock. These plants must also be harvested within a short window of time during the growing season. Not only must the farmer make hay when the sun shines (to facilitate proper drying), but the plants should be at their peak of growth and should not have set seed. Most European grasses are early season plants which reach their peak in late spring or early summer. At Spring Valley, a unique aspect of Midwestern haymak-ing is interpreted – the use of wild hay. Most native prairie grasses are warm season grasses, reaching their peak in mid to late summer. Midwestern farmers recognized that livestock would forage on native prairie plants when they were left to graze on unplowed prairie. In areas where wet ground or thin soils discour-aged plowing and the raising of crops, farmers often used these areas as pas-ture or hayfields. Many of Schaumburg’s German farmers had to contend with low marshy grasslands. These native wet prairies often dried out sufficiently by mid-summer to permit hay cutting. Many of these prairies survived years of haying until rising crop prices and the affordabil-ity of tiling encouraged farmers to drain these wet areas for crop production.A barn in winter can appear forlorn with snow drifted around the foundation and many of the doors closed to keep the weather out. This is especially true today since many old barns are vestiges of a time when most farms maintained some cattle and horses. A barn’s size was directly related to the size of the livestock herds on the farm. Most of the space in the upper level was used for storage of hay. A modern Midwestern corn or soybean operation has no need for hay storage, so many an old barn has been knocked down or sits neglected, often with a few decaying old bales of hay still moldering inside. A peek into these old barns on a warm day often reveals subtle hints of the fragrant crop that used to fill the space many years ago.

a difficult task involving many hands and hours of labor.At the Heritage Farm, most of the hay used to feed the live-stock is purchased and shipped to the site; however, traditional late 19th century hay harvesting is demonstrated during early summer. Thus far, our demon-strations have only scratched the surface, so to speak, of the haymaking process due to the amount of time and labor involved. A horse-drawn mower is pulled through a grassy field,

the cut hay allowed to dry for several days, and then raked by hand into rows. Most farmers in the late 19th century would have owned a dump rake, which was pulled by a team of horses, and which raked the cut hay into low piles where it could dry. The dried loose hay still needed to be loaded by pitchfork onto a wagon and transported to the barn, where it was stored as loose hay. This is something we rarely have the time and manpower to accomplish.By the early 20th century, with further ad-vances in mechanization, side delivery hay rakes came into use. These al-lowed the farmer to drive through a field, raking the hay and depositing it in low mounded rows as he went. Tedders also came into use, which turned the hay to facilitate drying. Most importantly, balers came onto the scene. These mechani-cally scooped the dry hay from the field and tied it into compressed bales, which were more easily transported to the barn for stacking. All of these devices, and the haymaking process, was made even more efficient by the common use of gas-powered tractors during the middle of the century.The cultivation of hay has changed over the years, as well. From the earliest days, farmers sought to harvest only the most nutritious plants as hay. Fields were often seeded with grasses such as fescue and timothy and forbs such

When you walk into the upper barn at Spring Valley’s Heritage Farm, the first thing you notice is the smell. I’m not refer-ring to the smell of the lower barn, where the horses and cattle shelter from the weather and produce their own distinct aroma. The upper barn is a much different place, and the air up there is sweetened by the presence of piles and piles of

summer sun-cured hay. While it’s true that a farmer has to make hay when the sun shines, it is during the short dark days of winter that one can appreciate all of the work that went into filling the barn with this sweet summer harvest.

Hay Mowing

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Carp Happens by Walter Plinske

In 1881, the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries imported carp from Germany to plant in the lakes, streams, and rivers across the country to provide food. A native of the East, especially China, it was esteemed as a food in Europe. It did not take many years, however, for observ-ers here to see that the experiment of introducing exotic species had gone terribly wrong. The detrimental effects of carp were that, as a bottom feeder, it would frequently uproot vegetation needed by other fish; suck up mud and other debris thus clouding the water; and out-compete other fish because of the rate of reproduction. Females can lay as many as 2 million eggs! So carp were soon labeled as a trash or “rough” fish and the war to control their numbers began and continues to this day. But were these carp the sole reason for the decline of fish stocks and water qual-ity that occurred coincidentally, or were there other factors?One significant factor began with the arrival of Europeans who saw the wa-ters and the lands bordering them as something to be exploited with impunity and with no bounds. The settlers were astounded by the sheer numbers of fish. For instance in Lake Ontario, the trout and whitefish were so numerous that “you could not put a net in the wrong place to catch fish.” Overfishing and waste became the order of the day. In other instances, fish such as sturgeon were destroyed as a nuisance because of low market value at the time and because they destroyed fish-ing nets. Their carcasses were often piled onto beaches in great funeral pyres and torched. Steam-boats would fuel their boilers with them. Others were simply left to rot and made into farm fertilizer.It would be tempting to blame the demise of fish stocks on overfishing;

settled by man. Towns and cities dis-charged their raw sewage into rivers and lakes. Stockyards, such as the one in Chicago, dumped so much offal that nearby creeks became bubbling cess-pools of certain death to any creature in them. One such creek was dubbed “Bubbly Creek”. Industrial chemicals and wastes, including sulfuric acid, soda ash, muriatic acid, limes, dyes, and wood pulp contaminated the waters. The fouled streams were so polluted that spawning and nursery areas became completely impossible for aquatic life.This is not to deny that carp have nega-tive effects. For over a hundred years, people have battled carp in a war that continues to this day. Early on, crews were employed to remove millions of

pounds through netting. Some were shipped to big cities with minorities who traditionally val-ued them as food. Chemical treat-ment began in the 1940s and con-tinues to this day. The poison called rotenone remains a favorite weapon. Some carp were ground, cooked, and canned to be used as fish food at hatcheries and as animal food at game farms. Fol-lowing the tradition learned from the American Indian, dead carp were spread on farm

fields and plowed under.Waters in which carp are the most prevalent are generally the most polluted, just as weeds are most common on disturbed ground. As we continue to clean up the waters of America, the carp problem can therefore be diminished by supporting the Clean Water Act and other environmental efforts which seek to protect waterways and lakes from overdevelopment and fouling by industry.

however, a number of other factors were also in the mix. Intensive logging in the dense forests, begun in response to the need for agricultural land, totally

deforested some areas. Without trees to protect the land, the resulting soil erosion muddied previously clear streams and rivers, smothering and killing fish. The practice of floating logs downstream en masse scoured stream-beds and banks killing fish eggs and damaging spawning sites. The construc-tion of dams for water-powered grist and saw mills further modified nearly every stream and river in the country. The insurmountable dams prevented fish migration and reproduction.The loss of the tree cover, which retained water from snowmelt and rainfall and maintained equilibrium of water levels, also resulted in an increase in seasonal or short-term fluctuations in stream flow. The lower stream levels occurring in spawning areas further reduced popula-tions. In some cases, springs that once sustained flows through-out the year dried up or be-came in-termittent.

Land clearing also raised water tem-peratures as more sunlight reached the streams. The reproduc-tion of cold water species such as

salmon suffered tremendously.By the mid-1800s, the uncontrolled dumping of waste resulted in the heavy pollution of nearly every body of water

Common Carp

Water Pollution

Over Fishing

Log Jam

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. Programs will be cancelled three days in advance if minimum is not reached, so register early!

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ADULT or TEENFarm to Table Cooking Series-PotatoesSaturday, Feb. 21 • 10:00 a.m.-NoonLearn simple techniques for turning the common potato into quick and easy dishes.

Weekly Yoga at the CabinTuesday, Jan. 6 - March 3 • 6:00-7:00 p.m.Tuesday, Jan. 6 - March 3 • 7:30-8:30 p.m.Thursday, Jan. 8 - March 5 • 6:30-7:30 p.m.Thursday, Jan. 8 - March 5 • 8:00-9:00 p.m.Enjoy a weekly yoga class in the woods at the Merkle Cabin.

EARLY CHILDHOODA Time for StarsSaturday, Jan. 31 • 7:00-8:30 p.m.As the stars begin to arrive for the evening, come to Spring Valley for nature activities.

FAMILYThe 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.

Presidential Birthday PartySunday, Feb. 15 • 1:00-3:00 p.m.Abraham Lincoln and George Washington are having a birthday party and you are invited!

Snowshoe RambleSaturday, Jan. 10 • 1:00-2:30 p.m.Saturday, Jan. 21 • 1:00-2:30 p.m.Saturday, Feb. 14 • 1:00-2:30 p.m.Strap on snowshoes and explore Spring Valley from a different perspective —off the trail.

Sundown Supper in the Sugar BushSaturday, Feb. 21 • 4:00-6:00 p.m.Bring your family out to tap some maple trees, gather sap and tend the boildown.

Winter Campfire in the CabinSaturday, Jan. 10 • 6:30-8:00 p.m.Tell stories, sing a few songs, enjoy hot chocolate and even practice some pioneer skills!

Growing Up Wild: Early Childhood Teacher WorkshopSaturday, Jan. 24 • 9:00 a.m.-NoonTake part in a hands-on workshop designed for early childhood educators.

Additional workshops are being developed. For information, visit www.parkfun.com/Spring-Valley/programs.

Home School Naturalist Group ProgramsSpring Valley Nature Center and Heritage Farm is the perfect place for hands-on, exploration-based science programs. Offerings change seasonally, so check the program guide regularly.

Winter topics:• Biscuits & Butter – Learn about 19th century farm life as you

cook on the wood bring stove and churn your own butter.• Endangered Species – Learn what it means to be endangered

or threatened, and search for Illinois’ endangered species at Spring Valley.

• Winter Trees – Discover how trees prepare for winter and learn to ID common ones.

• Tracking Basics – Read the story that animal tracks tell.• What’s a Mammal? – Identify what makes an animal a mammal

and go on a safari.Available every Winter: Conservation in Action, Woodlands, Owls: Predators of the Night, Winter Ecology, Farms and Food, Nighttime Nature

For more information about programs and pricing, or to schedule a program, call 847/985-2100.

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YOUTH

Phil Predicts the Future?Saturday, Feb. 7 • 2:30-4:00 p.m.Phil the groundhog is out looking for his shad-ow...or is he? Challenge him to see if his predic-tion was correct.

Winter WanderersSaturday, Feb. 21 • 1:30-2:30 p.m.Take a walk through the winter woods, explore animal tracks and solve winter mysteries.

FREE - SpRing VallEyWintER FEStSaturday & Sunday, Jan 17 & 18 • Noon - 3 p.m.Get bundled up and join in some winter fun. Enjoy free snowshoe walks through the prairie; horse-drawn wagon rides throughout the grounds; winter snacks, crafts and activities inside the Nature Center; and marshmallows roasted on a winter bonfire! This is just a taste of what awaits you at this FREE event!

Snowshoe Rentals AvailableBeginning Dec. 1Experience the beauty of the winter landscape in a new way! The following rental policies apply:• There must be at least four inches of snow on the ground before rentals

will be made available.• First-time renters will be asked to view a short videotape on the proper way

to use snowshoes prior to taking them out.• A rental application and liability waiver must be filled out at the Nature

Center Visitor Center.• A driver’s license or some other form of ID is required as deposit.• Rental rate is $4 for a maximum of three hours for use at Spring Valley.• Rentals are available on a first-come, first-served basis from 9 a.m. until

3 p.m. All rentals must be returned by 4:30 p.m.• Special youth group rates are available after 3 p.m. on weekdays. Call to

inquire. No youth groups on weekends.• To take snowshoes off site, a deposit of $50 is required. The cost is $10

per day.

Call 847/985-2100 for more information.

MAPLE SUGARING-Originally published by Currier & Ives

FREE ADMISSION!

Presented by

Enjoy a pancakes breakfast with real maple syrup, sausage, juice and coffee. See authentic demonstrations of maple syrup produc-tion, a pioneer sugar camp, children’s puppet show, hayride and sales of syrup and other goodies. Click here for more information.

Saturday & Sunday, March 14 & 15

Sugar Bush FairSchaumburg Park District's

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Volunteer NewsSpring Valley Volunteer Recognition for 2014

Spring Valley held its Volunteer Holiday Celebration and Recognition event on Friday, December 12. It was wonderful that so many volunteers could join us for the evening’s festivities. Activities included the chance to socialize with fellow volunteers, the toasting of wassail, the pleasure of delectable food, and of course, the recognition of our fantastic volunteers. Spring Valley volunteers, along with the help of local church, corporate, school, and scout groups, contributed 11,853.5 hours in 2014. It’s wonderful to see such strong community support. Thank you to everyone who has contributed their time and talent to Spring Valley. We simply could not accomplish as much as we do without you! As is traditionally done this time of year, we would like to specifically recognize people for their accomplishments over the past year.

First 25 hours of serviceJim Baum

Carline BezikGretchen Coleman

Angie CornwellAndrea FarnhamAndy FarnhamNancy Griffin

Louis Handke-RothJennifer Harkin

Lori KandlAutumn LatusAdam Miller

Elizabeth MoormanMarilyn MottleyDon Olszewski

Mike PizzoElly RogenskiTony SatohKim Savino

Gerri SvensonRich Wysocki

50 to 99 HoursGail AmeerBill Bidlo

Leon BlumDean BrucknerChristine Curin

Ray DeibertDaryle Drew

Louis Handke-RothJennifer HarkinKaren KusekCharlie Loh

Nancy LyonsNancy Mamsen

Mary MatzJanet Neally

Walter PlinskeElly Rogenski

Leo SalaisTony SatohKim SavinoAnn Scacco

Donna TurnerEllie Vogel

Carolyn WhiteJohn Witkowski

100 to 199 HoursCarol Anagnostopoulos

Kaitlyn BallCaroline Bezik

Eve CarterBarb DochtermanAndrea FarnhamAndy FarnhamAmanda GrecoArthur JeczalaAutumn LatusSandy Meo

Barb MuehlhausenDick Ruffolo

Mert RutledgeLaurie Tatom

200 to 299 HoursBruce Kuhnhofer

Roger Nelson

Ken Ogorzalek

Roy Svenson

Angela Waidanz

300 to 399 HoursDuane BolinPete Gigous

Jay Laski

400 to 499 HoursLynn Eikenbary

500 to 599 HoursTony Meo

Barb Mitchell

Two YearsRobin Barr

Megan BonneyKathy DeGeusDaryle DrewBill Flesch

Ellen HanesDave Kives

Amanda KrausRandee Lawrence

Bob PautschJim Peterson

Five YearsGail AmeerBill Bidlo

Ron HaskellPat Heiberger

Cindy HolmbergKristi Overgaard

Tom PoklenChristine Preciado

Diane ShoreLaurie Tatom

Joe VitoAngela WaidanzJohn Witkowski

Ten YearsDuane Bolin

Barb MuehlhausenRenata Riccobon

Bob SchmidtLouisa Walsh

Fifteen YearsMarilyn Dvoratchek

Kevin KaitisRichard LeonhardtDonna Nicolaisen

Walter Plinske

Twenty YearsEve CarterBarb Lam

Twenty-Five YearsNorina Waugh

Note: If you are due an award and haven’t yet re-ceived it, please stop by the Nature Center by Feb. 1 so we can personally present it to you. Thanks you.

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Dates to Remember• Mon., Jan. 12 ................1-4 p.m.

Handy Crafters Meeting• Sat., Jan. 24 ..................9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Conservation Workday• Wed., Feb. 4 .................6:30-9 p.m.

Volunteer Meeting• Mon., Feb. 9 ..................1-4 p.m.

Handy Crafters Meeting• Sat., Feb. 21 ................. 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Burn Training

Volunteer News

Pats on the back to the following volunteers...• Caroline Bezik, Leon Blum, Ray Deibert, Daryle Drew,

Amanda Greco, Jennifer Harkin, Ron Haskell, Amanda, Janet and Al Kraus, Bruce Kuhnhofer, Jay Laski, Mary Matz, Adam Miller, Janet Neally, Roger Nelson, Donna Nicolaisen, Patty Ochs, Don Olszewski, Kristi Overgaard, Tina Rokoszewski, Barb and Bob Royce, Dick Ruffolo, Mert Rutledge, Roy Svenson, Laurie Tatom, and John Witkowski for their continuing weekly animal care assistance at Volkening Heritage Farm.

• Deanna Jason for completing a sewing project for our new exhibits display.

• Sharon Ogorzalek for sewing a costume for this year’s Haunting in the Valley.

• Pat Campbell and Arthur Jeczala who help with a variety of administrative support activities on a regular basis.

• Duane Bolin, Tony Meo, Roger Nelson, Ken Ogorzalek, Mike Pizzo, and Dick Ruffolo for their ongoing assistance with grounds maintenance at the Nature Center and the Farm.

• Angie Cornwell for being presented the Sheriff’s Youth Service Medal of Honor.

Welcome New Volunteers…• Barb Kuhn • Hedy Otte • Judy Woods

February 2 Donna Nicolaisen 6 Randee Lawrence 8 Ray Deibert 9 Jeff Huebner Arthur Jeczala 10 Keith Kramer Sandy Meo 14 Bill Flesch Leo Salais Cheryl Yung

16 Mike Gear 17 Dave Krein 19 Angie Cornwell 23 Roger Nelson 25 Dean Bruckner 27 Janet Neally

Happy Birthday to…January 4 Andrea Farnham 5 Jim Sears 11 Barb Dochterman Jennifer O’Reilly 12 Marilyn Dvoratchek 17 Louis Handke-Roth 21 Arlene Krizka 22 Terri Williams

23 Eileen Skiba 24 Norina Waugh Pat Floreani Andy Farnham 27 Kaitlyn Ball 28 Dan Greco 29 Gaby Ramos 30 Ann Scacco

Sugar Bush Set-UpMarch 12 Can’t help at the Sugar Bush Fair, but still want to be part of it? Join us the Thursday before the event to help set-up. We have a variety of activities which need to be done. Come at 10 a.m. and stay for all or part of the day!

Sugar BushMarch 14 & 15It’s not too early to start thinking about the Sugar Bush Fair. If you think you’ll be available to help, please give me a call. Shift time is 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Remember – there’s a free pancake breakfast for all volunteers!

Volunteer Want AdsIf you are interested in helping with any of the following activities, please call Judy at 847/985-2100 or e-mail her at juvito@parkfun.com.

Conservation WorkdayJanuary 24Put on your grubby clothes, dress for the weather, and help us cut buckthorn. The workday run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Prescribed Burn TrainingSaturday, February 21Learn the philosophy behind controlled burns and why we use this important management tool at Spring Valley. Volunteers who attend the training will then be eligible to assist with the prescribed burns we do in spring and fall. Training is scheduled from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Nature Center classroom.

Sunday WednesdayMonday Tuesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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JANUARY 2015

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Farm Closed

Cabin Closed

Bold indicates volunteer activitiesItalics indicates programs which may be taken as complimentary by volunteersSee “What’s Happening” for program descriptions

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

•Snowshoe Ramble 1pm

•Winter Campfire in the Cabin 6:30pm

Spring Valley Nature Club 6:30pm

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

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

Spring Valley Winter Fest Noon

Handy Crafters Meeting 1pm

Schaumburg Community Garden Club 7pm

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

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

Conservation Workday 9amSpring Valley Winter Fest Noon

•Winter Solstice Celebration 3pm

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

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

•Snowshoe Ramble 1pm

•A Time for Stars 7pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

New Year’s Day

Sunday WednesdayMonday Tuesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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FEBRUARY 2015

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8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Farm Closed

Cabin Closed

Bold indicates volunteer activitiesItalics indicates programs which may be taken as complimentary by volunteersSee “What’s Happening” for program descriptions

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

•Phil Predicts the Future? 2:30pm

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

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

•Snowshoe Ramble 1pmHandy Crafters Meeting 1pm

Schaumburg Community Garden Club 7pm

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

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

Prescribed Burn Training 9am•Farm to Table Cooking – Potatoes 10am•Winter Wanderers 1:30pm•Sundown Supper in the Sugar Bush 4pm

•Presidential Birthday Party 1pm

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

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

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

Presidents’ Day

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SCHAUMBURG PARK DISTRICT WEBSITE: www.parkfun.com

E-MAIL: springvalley@parkfun.com

MEMBER:

Vera Meineke Nature CenterThe earth-sheltered visitor center provides an introduction to Spring Val-ley’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 FarmStep 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.

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

Environmental Outreach ProgramWe’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 aligned with Illinois State Standards and NGSS.

Programs at Spring ValleySchool, 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. Corre-lations to the state standards, connections with NGSS, 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 BadgesWe 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.

SCHAUMBURG PARK DISTRICTBOARD OF COMMISSIONERS:Mike DanielsSharon DiMariaDavid JohnsonGeorge LongmeyerBob Schmidt

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:Tony LaFrenere

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 • Schaumburg Park District • 1111 East Schaumburg Road • Schaumburg, Illinois 60194

Vera Meineke Nature Center

Volkening Heritage Farm

Schaumburg Rd.

Plum

Gro

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135 acres

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NATURAL ENQUIRER STAFF:Mary Rice ......... EditorJudy Vito ........... Volunteer CoordinatorDave Brooks ..... “In this Issue...”Scott Stompor ... Graphic Artist

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

Spring Valley Firepit and Shelter RentalsMake 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: ..............................$25Non-residents: ......$40 Corporate/business groups: ......$55

HOURSNature Center Grounds & Trails ..............Open Daily ..............8AM-5PMVolkening 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 EventsApril 1 - Oct. 31 ......Sat/Sun ...... 10AM-4PM Tue-Fri ....... 9AM-2PM Mon ...........Buildings Closed

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

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

Participants should dress appropriately for weather conditions.

PHONEVERA MEINEKE NATURE CENTER ..............................................847/985-2100VOLKENING HERITAGE FARM .....................................................847-985-2102