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InsideSpring Valley General Information ...................11Volunteer News ContentsVolunteer Information .........................................8Volunteer Calendar ........................................ 9-10

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

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

Natural EnquirerNewsle t te r fo r Spr ing Va l l ey Suppor te rs and Vo lun tee rs vo l .4 no .4 • Ju ly -Aug. ‘13

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to be crowded towards the base of the plant. Like many native prairie spe-cies, they are perennial, growing from thick corms (bulb-like root structures) or taproots. As plants mature, the roots enlarge, and older specimens will send up several dense beautiful flower spikes. In some original tallgrass prairie stands, blazingstar can become quite dense, fill-ing acres with waving wands of magenta in midsummer. Occasional fall or spring fires benefit blazingstar, along with most other natives, by removing dead plant leaves and stems.Bees and butterflies are drawn to the nectar-rich flowers, making blazingstar a must for butterfly gardens. One problem sometimes encoun-tered by gardeners is lodging. This occurs when plants reach a certain height and then the top-heavy blooms flop over. This can usually be prevented by planting native grasses or other plants in close proximity to the blazing-stars. This more closely mimics the structure of a natural prairie and seems to insure that plants help to support each other. Like many native plants, insect pests are not a problem. Meadow voles and other rodents will sometimes browse the shoots

A Prairie Star! by Dave Brooks

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

and roots of blazingstar; otherwise, given a sunny spot in the garden, Liatris is virtually problem-free and needs little watering once established.Many other native flowers have now joined Liatris in appealing to gardeners, especially as sustainability and resource conservation have become more main-stream within the gardening commu-nity. Blazingstars are now often joined by their wild cohorts, the coneflowers, milkweeds, asters, wild phlox, etc. along with some of the comely wild grasses. In these plantings, blazingstar’s beauty

seems not only magnified, but right at home.

Amongst the many colorful native prairie flowers that have been adopted by home gardeners in recent years, one stands straight and tall above the rest. Blazingstar or gayfeather, Liatris sp., is such a striking beauty that little cultivation or hy-bridization was needed prior to introducing it to finicky gardeners. While many native plants are colorful, interesting, and

suitable for home gardens, gardeners have often been slow to accept them, fearing that their wild nature will translate into chaos in the orderly garden. Some people are drawn to natives due to their ‘green’ credentials. That is to say, native plants adapted to our climate and soils are the perfect choice for those looking to landscape in a more sustainable way—reducing the use of water, fertilizers, pesticides, etc. Blazingstar is not only sustainable but appeals to gardeners on beauty alone. It naturally became one of the first natives marketed to gardeners. It is ironic, and indicative of the way in which the horticulture trade operates, that much of the Liatris widely available to gardeners comes by way of European breeders. It appears that Europeans discovered this Ameri-can wildflower and began using it in floral arrangements as well as adding it to perennial gardens. This gem, found growing in our figurative backyards, had to make the trip overseas to horticultural finishing school before American gardeners and florists would accept it.

Liatris Flowers Close-up

Cultivar Floristan White

Prairie Blazingstar

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Long before humans forged iron into steel or smelted tin with copper to make bronze, they prospected for a metal not to make tools or weapons, but to satisfy a craving of the heart that continues to this day. Prized for its color, malleability, and ability to not rust or corrode, gold is the oldest and first metal used by people. While Stone Age denizens were knapping flints to make sickles and spears, they learned to fashion gold into jewelry and ornaments. Since gold is often found as small nuggets in stream beds, early goldsmiths could collect them and then weld them together by hammering. Gold is found on every continent and could even be had in an unlikely locale such as Northeastern Illinois, if one was an adept at finding needles in haystacks. How could this be? What is the ultimate source of this preeminent bling? The search for gold could start right on the beach-es of Lake Michigan. Although there is no min-able gold in Illinois, when the glaciers repeatedly invaded the area, they brought material that was scraped up all along the way from their origin in Canada. The Abitibi Gold Belt in Canada, one of the largest gold bearing regions on earth, was situated in line with the movement of the gla-ciers. Most of the gold in Illinois is concentrated in the terminal moraines left when the glaciers melt-ed. The gold is usually just a few flakes found in the sand and gravel deposits in the bed of a stream or river that erode these moraines.The Abitibi gold Belt and the numerous other deposits reveal that gold and other precious metals appear to be relatively abundant on the earth’s surface. This is in conflict with the basic understanding of how the earth was formed. During the early period of planet building, materials were combining and differentiating into layers by weight. Lighter material like silicon floated to the surface to become the crust, while heavier elements such as iron sank to the inte-rior to become the core. It is thought that gold would have moved with the iron to the core. In fact, it is estimated that there are enough precious metals in the core to cover the entire surface of the Earth with a four meter thick layer. It has been proposed that this discrepancy regard-ing this crustal overabundance is due

rocks suggests that most of the precious elements assessable on Earth came from the meteor strikes. Gold was not tested because it does not decay into other forms over time. Tungsten was tested instead because it is a similar heavy metal.The universe is thought to contain 70% hydrogen and 28% helium. Of the remaining 2%, where did all the other elements including gold in those mete-ors come from? They were created by a rare cataclysmic cosmic event called a supernova. Only a massive stellar explosion produces enough energy to fuse the necessary number of protons, neutrons, and electrons into a gold atom. After they were formed, these atoms traveled through the universe in vast dust clouds and eventually com-bined with other particles to merge into interstellar globs. Under certain critical circumstances, these globs coalesce to form new stars and planets. Other globs may continue travelling until they are captured by the gravitation of a solar system and eventually strike a planet as an asteroid or meteorite. The total mass

that arrived during the Late Heavy Bombardment is estimated at 20 quintillion tons. It also has been es-timated that all the gold ever mined on this Earth has totaled 165,000 tons. Geolo-

gists believe that the total amount still buried in the ground is about 100,000 tons. So grab your shov-els and start digging!

Stalking the Local Wild Carat by Walter Plinske

to a cataclys-mic meteorite shower that hit the earth after the core formed. This violent era, known as the Late Heavy Bombardment, began about 3.9 billion years ago. Hordes of me-teors smashed into the earth and the other inner planets. The aftermath is still evident today by the many craters that cover the face of the moon. While

the moon is basically frozen in time, the Earth’s surface has been undergoing dynamic changes due to plate tecton-ics. To test this idea, rocks had to be found that predated

the bombard-ment and were still assessable. Such rocks, from Isua, Greenland

were discovered to have a higher tung-sten isotope ratio than modern rocks. Since primitive meteorites are known to have depleted levels of the same tung-sten isotopes, this similarity to modern

Abitibi Gold Belt

End Moraines

Asteroids Shower the Earth

Large Nugget

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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.

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ADULT or TEENHome Brewing for BeginnersSaturday, Aug. 24 • 11:00AM-2:00PMQuench your thirst and learn the age old art of beer brewing with farm staff.

ALL AgESFree - Heaven’s WatchSat., July 27 • 9:30PM ....Colorful Multiple StarsJoin Chicago Astronomical Society as they set their telescopes for a peek at the night skies. Meet in the Nature Center.

Free - Neighborhood Nature AreasFri., Aug. 9 • 7:00-8:30Pgray Farm Conservation AreaDiscover this hidden jewel and find out what lives there and how this area is managed.

Sundown Supper on the FarmFriday, July 12 • 6:00-9:00PMSaturday, Aug. 31 • 4:30-6:00PMAfter helping with evening chores and making supper, participants will watch the sunset.

Up and At’em Animal ChoresSaturday, July 20 • 7:30-9:30AMSaturday, Aug. 10 • 7:30-9:30AMWake up and help with animal chores. Then enjoy a light breakfast in the farmhouse.

EArLy ChiLDhooDLittle hoppersSunday, Aug. 24 • Noon-1:00PMChildren will read frog stories, play frog games and look for little hoppers that may be hiding.

Nature and SummerSunday, July 20 • 11:00AM-NoonChildren will explore the world around them, focusing on the season’s special characteristics.

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.

Family CampoutSat & Sun, Aug. 24-25 • 4:00PM-10:00AMFamilies will sleep overnight at Spring Valley. Nature walks, campfire cooking, and other ac-tivities are scheduled.

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

HERITAGE FARM PROGRAMSDaily Activities at the FarmTuesdays-Fridays ............ 9AM-2PMSaturdays & Sundays ...... 10AM-4PMExperience a typical day on a working 1880s Schaumburg farm. Farm and domestic activities take place Tuesday through Sun-day. Come early to see the cow being milked and stay all day for a unique experience.

Behind the Scenes Farm Tour:Drop in program • $2 per personJoin farm staff on a behind the scenes tour of the farm’s buildings and grounds. Learn the fascinating true stories behind the buildings and structures that make up Volkening Heritage Farm. See Schaumburg’s oldest house and learn its significance in the development of a once inclusive German community. Wednesday, July 10 • 10:30AM-Noon Sunday, July 21 • 2-3:30PM

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Summer Camps at Spring ValleySpring Valley offers a variety of summer camps (full and half-day) for children 5-15 years old.For more information, call 847/985-2100 or click here.

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

Lots of LadybugsSaturday, July 20 • 10:00-11:30AMBusy ladybugs are a sure sign summer is here. These colorful beetles are fun to observe.

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

yoUThBat BasicsFriday, Aug. 16 • 7:30-9:00PMBanish your bat misconceptions and delve into the beautiful world of bats.

Budding ArtistsSaturday, July 27 • 10:00AM-NoonStudying the work of Georges Seurat then cre-ate a beautiful work of art en plein air!

Buzzing About InsectsSunday, July 21 • Noon-4PMWhat’s the buzz about? Insects, of course! There are more insects than any other type of animal in the world. Dive into the wonderful life of insects through games, pictures and activities while focusing on the details that make each unique. Drop by the Merkle Cabin and take a hike to explore the buzzing around Spring Valley.

FREE MERKLE CABIN PROGRAMS

Cabin Cooking, Pioneer StyleFriday, Aug. 16 • 5:00-7:00PMStep back in time and cook like a pioneer in Spring Valley’s own log cabin.

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

Lazy, hazy, Crazy Summer Sleepover at the FarmFriday, Aug. 16 • 7:00-8:30AMThe evening includes scavenger hunts, great activities and a homemade snack.

Summer DiscoveriesSaturday, Aug. 24 • 9:30-11:00AMBring the family to Spring Valley and bask in the warm colors of summer.

Free

Perseid Meteor Party

Saturday, Aug. 10 • 9-11PMNature CenterEnjoy a star-studded party celebrating this spectacular annual late summer meteor shower. Telescopes will be set

up just south of the Nature Center to view distant objects in the summer sky while watching for “falling stars.” Interpreters will be on hand to guide all ages through the Summer Triangle and other interesting sights. Additional star-related activities will take

place inside. Bring a folding chair or blanket so you can sit back in comfort along the prairie trails and scan the skies for meteors, planets and constellations.

Star-Gazing:

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During a month traditionally known for festive weddings, the Heritage Farm at Spring Valley hosted a wedding-themed historic dinner theater on Saturday, May 18th. Fifty-four people attend-ed the event, and a group of community ac-tors comically portrayed a loosely based historical wed-ding party from the 1880s. Musical enter-tainment was provided by an ensemble of traditional musicians. All enjoyed a wonderful evening with food from a local German restaurant and European bakery.Much like a real wedding, planning for this special event began a year in advance. One of the initial tasks was to research traditional wedding cus-toms in the Schaumburg area. The first evidence we looked at was the historic account of the wedding between Emma Rohlwing and Fred Pfingsten in 1903. Rewritten in a local Schaumburg history book, Genesis of a Township, the wed-ding account was originally published in The Inter Ocean Magazine, a Chicago magazine (September 6, 1903), and de-

scribes the marriage festivities in detail. The article begins with quotations stating, “the most unique wedding ever held in cook county,” and “three thousand

Germans in a rollicking three-day festival.” The local history librarian for Schaumburg Township, Jane Rozek, said it best in her blog about this occa-sion when she states, “Considering the population of the township was 1003

Additional sources (Life at Four Cor-ners: Religion, Gender, and Educa-tion in a German Lutheran Community 1868-1945 and local historian, Howard Piepenbrink, from Crete, IL) indicated the passage above is describing “The Ride of the Hochzeitsbitter. “ It is a custom that many German communities throughout the Midwest and in Germany practiced. The Hochzeitsbitter (Wed-ding Inviter) was often a young man and good acquaintance of the bride and

groom. He was always decorat-ed with bright ribbons and often received money and drinks from the people he invited.Upon further research, we found several traditional Ger-man customs that are quite different from the American wedding customs we tried to incorporate into the faux wedding celebrations. For one thing, traditional German wed-ding parties usually included up to three days of feasting—something we felt our modern guests would not be up for. Even though no other customs can be substantiated through local history research, here is a quick overview of some of the traditions highlighted in our wedding:

Polterabend Ceremony – This cus-tom takes place the night before the wedding; the bride and groom have an informal gathering and china dishes are smashed to bits. This is thought to bring good luck, and the bride and groom are supposed to clean up the broken dishes to show how well they will work together in their new mar-riage. Brautbecher Toast – This tradition from southern Germany usually in-volves an adorned cup that includes a smaller cup which swivels at one end. The groom drinks from the larger cup and the bride from the smaller at the same time. Coordination and team-work are required. Bride Kidnapping – This tradition also occurs the night before the wed-ding and involves the groomsmen

The Heritage Farm had a Wedding! by Patricia Kennedy Green

at the time, 3000 was quite a number.” (ourlocalhistory.wordpress.com/2011/04/24/the-wedding-of-the-century-in-schaumburg-township/). Some of the information

gleaned from the wedding account was used to devel-op the menu for the reception. Additionally, the account

provided a strong sense of the pride the Ger-man-Amer-icans felt about their ethnic-ity, and the grandiose scale of the wedding for such a small com-munity. For more refined information on wedding customs of the period, Jane Rozek was again very helpful. She provided an ac-count passed on to her about the John Christian Bagge and Mary Langhorst wedding from the 1880s. The account states, “There were so many exciting and dramatic preparatory moments that the wedding was almost anti-climactic.” It goes on to elaborate regarding one of the pre-wedding festivities:

The custom of the countryside was to gallop, like Paul Revere, over the hills and dales and distribute the invitations. Will [a brother] and his steed were fancifully be-ribboned, the ribbons twisted and en-twined in the horses mane and tail. A plume of white and colored feathers was fastened to the bridle be-tween the ears and the saddle was covered with colored cloth. Will, as the courier, was resplendent in a new suit and a white shirt with a paper col-lar. But the most important part of his attire was the hat. There was a band of ribbons and long stream-ers sewn to the hat, but of most importance to Will was the size of the hat, reckoned in square inches.

Dancing at the Faux Wedding.

The “Bride and Groom”

The “Hochzeitsmann”

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So, the Heritage Farm had a wed-ding and it was a beautiful day; however, the best part of the experi-ence didn’t take place that day, it began a year in advance. Through research and making personal connections, the Heritage Farm strengthened its collections and knowledge

of a topic that we had not previously explored. Thanks to everyone for your help, knowledge, and donations! We’ll let you know when the next wedding is planned. Consider yourself invited!

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

kidnapping the bride and taking her to a pub. Once the groom finds her he is supposed to buy the house a drink and cover the bride’s bill. As one might expect, depending on how long it takes the groom to find the bride (pro-portional to the number of pubs in the vicinity), this tradition can end badly.Crown to Bonnet – At the end of the wedding party, the bride’s crown is re-placed by a bonnet. This signifies that she has become a married woman.Bridesmaid Dance – Towards the end of the evening, the bride is blindfolded and must catch a brides-maid who is dancing around her. The bridesmaid she catches will be the next woman to marry.

And last but not least, there is the ques-tion of the dress. What would the bridal party have worn? In the 1880s, the bride did not always wear white. The bride and groom typically wore their nicest attire but the white dress was only mildly popular by the 1880s and not very practical. That being said, the traditional costuming of the German people who settled Schaumburg was not dirndl or lederhosen. Their costuming is called Tracht and it is overly ornate in design and purpose. Photographs from 1880s Schaumburg show that brides

were not wearing Tracht; however, when word spread to modern Germany about our wedding research, Sophie Mensching, an expert on traditional clothing and customs of Schaumburg, Ger-many, donated some traditional clothing to the Heritage Farm collection. She also wrote and donated a book on traditional wear, Rote Röcke Trachten und Brauchtum im Schaum-burger Land. Sophie, with the assis-tance of Anne Coert, of the Sister City Group in Germany, sent the donated clothing over with a group of visiting Germans in May.

The clothing the farm received is Schaumburg Oesteren and it is worn in the north of Schaumburg (east of Stadthagen). Sophie also donated costuming for special occasions such as Sunday-wear, holidays, and church. We put a few pieces on display for the wedding event

but are also looking at reproducing some of the everyday pieces for farm use. It is very exciting to have such won-derful handmade pieces and to be able to study the costuming of Schaumburg’s original settlers.

The Heritage Farm had a Wedding (continued)

Sophie Mensching and Anne Coert with donated clothing.

Schaumburg Oesterten-Tracht

Eating Tent at Pfingsten Wedding.

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Dates to remember• Monday, July 8 ............... 1-4pm

Handy Crafters Meeting• Friday, Aug. 2 ................. 5:30-9pm

Volunteer Picnic• Monday, Aug. 12 ............ 1-4pm

Handy Crafters Meeting

Volunteer News

Pats on the back to the following volunteers...• Lynn Eikenbary and Carolyn White for helping with

the spring Green Thumbs school programs.• gail Ameer, Lynn Eikenbary, Nancy Fallen, Nancy

Mamsen, Mary Matz, Carol Thomas, and Angela Waidanz for assisting with the various bird counts.

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

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

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

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

Welcome New Volunteers…

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

Aug 4 Pat Campbell 5 Dan Gryzik 6 Dave Kives 8 Janet Bedsole Karen DeMay Marilyn Motley 9 Shirley Turpin 12 Bill Bailey 14 Carolyn White Diane Shore Robin Clark

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

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

21 Donna Turner Tina Rokoszewski 25 Joe Vito 26 Tom Poklen 27 Nancy Fallen 28 Kathy DeGeus Rich Wysocki 29 Elsie Magnussen

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

Helping Hands Mileage ClubDid you know you were auto-matically enrolled in the Helping Hands Mileage Club? This pro-gram offers registered volunteers an opportunity to redeem points for Park District related rewards. For every hour of volunteer service you give to Spring Val-

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

Sunday WednesdayMonday Tuesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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JuLy 2013

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28 29 30 31 Farm Open: Tues-Fri 9:00am-2:00 pm • Sat/Sun 10:00am-4:00pmCabin ClOsed

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

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

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

•Animal Crackers Mini 9:30am•Historian’s Apprentice 9:45amM-F •All About Fish 10am

•Pioneer Adventure 10am•Critter Capers 1pm•Farmer Boot Camp 2:30pm

•Nature Buddies 9:30am •Safari Adventures 9:30amM-F •Animal Crackers 9:30am

•Victorian Finishing School 9:45am•Ponds, Puddles and Play 10am•Hoot ‘n Howl Adventure 7:15pm

•All About Rocks 9amM-F •Sweet Potatoes 9:15am •1880s Venture Camp 9:30am

•Wee Sprouts 9am•Cookin’ Up History 9:30amM-F •Spring Valley Survivor Camp 9:30am

•Splish-Splash Water Camp 9:30am•Chores and Chortles Mini 10am•Science Sleuths 10am

•Half Day bug Camp 1pmNo camps on Thursday, July 4

•Naure’s Night Life 8pm

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

•Sundown Supper on the Farm 6pm

Deutsch-heim Day Noon

•Firefly Fandango 8:30pm

handy Crafters Meeting 1pm •Behind the Scenes Farm Tour 10:30am

•Just Desserts 5:30amSchaumburg 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

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

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

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

•Budding Artists 10am

•Heaven’s Watch 9pm

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

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

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

Independence Day

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AuGuST 2013

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

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

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

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

•Curious Kids 9am•Wee Sprouts 9:15amM-F •Lil’ Bugs for Lil’ Tykes 9:30am

•Cookin’ Up History 9:30am•Budding Artists 10am•Farmer Boot Camp 2:30pm

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

Volunteer Picnic 5:30pm

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

•Neighborhood Nature Area 7pm

•Up and At’em 7:30am

•Perseid Meteor Party 9pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

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

handy Crafters Meeting 1pm

Schaumburg Community Garden Club 7pm

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

•Sundown Supper on the Farm 4:30pm

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

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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 correlated with Illinois State Standards.

Programs at Spring ValleySchool, Scout and adult groups are encouraged to take ad-vantage of Spring Valley’s Environmental Education Program. Programs change seasonally and are geared for specific age groups. Correlations to the state standards and activity sheets are available on the SPD website, www.parkfun.com.Learn local history with a visit to the Heritage Farm. Elementary and high school students recreate farm life in the 1880s with Hands on History; second graders experience it through Heritage Quest. Children from the age of four through second grade will learn about food, farmers, and farm animals in Farms and Foods.

Scout 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.

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135 acres

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NATUrAL ENqUirEr STAFF:Mary RiceEditorJudy VitoVolunteer CoordinatorDave Brooks“In this Issue...”Scott StomporGraphic 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