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

InsideSpring Valley General Information ...................12Volunteer News ContentsVolunteer Want Ads .............................................9Volunteer Calendar .......................................10-11

Migration Station .................................................2Indian Smoke .......................................................3What’s Happenin’ ............................................. 4-7The Dirt on Fracking ............................................8

In this issue... As the year transitions from winter to spring with the vernal equinox on March 20th, our thoughts move to-ward the changes the new season brings. Winter-frozen waters begin to thaw, and the ages-old percolation of surface water into the soil and underground aquifer is renewed. In this issue, we include an examination of hydraulic fracturing, a controversial process that impacts underground water supplies while provid-ing economic benefits. An article about tobacco’s historical migration across the land and sea leads us to ponder the legends of our past, and our connections to that past are strengthened with the return of nature’s many migrators. Spring is a time of movement, for people and the land; the equinox is just one step of the journey.

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 .2 • March-Apr i l ‘ 13

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 • M a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 1 3

2

and how they would spend their days. Cultural development led to a more sta-tionary lifestyle, with fewer yearly pilgrimages in search of food. In turn, this shift evolved into the

villages, towns, and cities that have become the norm of human living today. Populations grew, and the desire to move to less crowded places increased simultaneously.Open space and a land to call home is what drew many of the settlers who migrated to what is now Spring Valley. Emigrants left their native land, drawn to the endless possibilities that this place offered. The prairie soil, not

Migration Station by Luetta Coonrod

Animals are the most obvious of the migrators; birds and but-terflies return each year to fill our lives with song and color. Bats swoop across the sky as evening falls, keeping the mosquito population in check. In higher elevations, herds move from the valleys to the hillsides in search of fresh grass and new plants to eat. As the ground thaws, worms return to the visible world after spending the winter season far below the frost line. Insects of all types reap-pear as their favorite plants begin their own cycle for the year.Plants don’t have feet to walk from place to place, or wings to fly; they depend on non-traditional modes of transportation. Seeds are carried by people, acciden-tally or with a specific purpose. Animals ingest plants and deposit kernels in new locations. Plant material caught among soil particles can be moved by wind or water. Regard-less of the method, plants are some of the oldest migrators in his-tory. Look at where plants used to live, compare it to where they can now be found, and the phenom-enon of plant migration becomes obvious.People have been migrating for as long as they have walked the earth. As hunters and gatherers, the seasons would impact where

yet tamed by technology, captured their hearts and their minds. These immigrants moved here, binding themselves and their families to an unknown world. The folk-lore of that time, the image of pioneers moving west into the frontier, captivates audiences even today. Understanding their history helps us comprehend our own.The migration of the settlers who made this land home is one of many stories that tells of a dream

to be fulfilled through moving. The Pilgrims and their voyage to Plymouth Rock, the many utopian society towns, and the California gold rush are exam-ples of entire groups of people migrating in hopes of a better life for themselves, their relations, and their cultural group. The families that moved to Schaumburg, Illinois, from Schaumburg, Germany, kept their ethnic identity, a point that is emphasized through interpretation at the Heritage Farm. They migrated here, and we are fortunate to be able to tell their story to current and future visitors.

Migra-tion is a tale that touches all of our lives, whether we are interested in the cultural or natural

connections at Spring Valley. Take time to enjoy the beauty that the new season brings, and watch for our mi-grating friends as they return with the warmer weather. Longer days mean more opportunity to get outside and explore your own migration pat-terns. You never know what you will discover; enjoy every minute of your journey through life.

As spring approaches, the air fills with birds and other migrators returning to Spring Valley. Some are just taking a break, while others will be here for the duration of the warm weather. Migration is more than birds flying north and south with the seasons; it’s a way of life for many creatures of the world. From plants to people, migration happens for different reasons.

Now and then, migration occurs alone; other times, it is a partnership between two or more individuals. Occasionally, whole groups migrate together, to begin a fresh season or a new life.

Migrating Cranes

Tiger Swallow Butterfly

Redwing Blackbird

Early Schaumburg Residents

Peonies

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 • M a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 1 3

3

Following the discovery of the New World, came the dispersal of the first American plant species to Europe, Asia, and Africa. It enthralled the upper castes of India where its first user was the Mughal emperor himself. Despite being banned, its use thrived in Japan. In China, soldiers sold their weapons to buy the stuff. It was tobacco, a wildly exciting novelty; the smoking of which proved to be addictive. Condemned by Papal Bulls, Imperial Edicts, and Surgeon General Warnings, tobacco use nevertheless continues to this day. Its story, in relation to the Native Americans of North America, is counter-intuitive to the stereotypical cigar-store Indian image that has been so pervasive and one that merits a fresh look.During the century following Colum-bus, the Spaniards managed to keep a monopoly on the supply and distribu-tion of tobacco from their New World colonies. Because of this, it was hard to obtain and costly; the best leaf worth its weight in silver. Becoming an aris-tocratic craze, in London alone there were thousands of tobacco “houses” where smokers could buy and imbibe the leaf. In the phrasing that was used at the time, they “drank” their fumes through a tube connected to a bowl where the precious product was com-busted. Interestingly, when Columbus and his men first encountered islanders smoking, they mistook the Indian name for the smoking pipe (Tabac) for the name of the leaf itself. That label stuck. The tobacco in question is now called Nicotiana tabacum and it originated in South America. The genus of tobacco is derived from the name of the French ambassador Jean Nicot, who introduced it to the courts of Europe in hopes that it could be used as a curative medicine. It was thought to cure coughing, skin complaints, and headaches.

Meanwhile, Indians from Mexico north to the Arctic knew nothing of N. tabacum. They also drank smoke from pipes, but their tobacco was another species, N. rustica, or “wild tobacco”. Like N. toba-cum, it is a member of the solonaceae family along with peppers, nightshade, potatoes, and tomatoes. N. rustica has the highest levels of nicotine of any tobacco species, potentially contain-

Spanish tobacco (N. tabacum) got its foothold in North America after John Rolfe arrived in James-town in 1610. The colony was proving to be a disaster economi-cally and in terms

of human life. No gold or silver had been found, old world crops refused to flourish due to a variety of reasons, and Indian relations had soured. Rolf talked a smug-gler into bringing him some N. tabacum seeds from Venezuela. Protective of their monopoly, Spain forbade such dissemination

under the pain of death. Six years later, Rolf returned to England with his first big shipment of tobacco, along with his In-dian wife, the famous Pocahontas. The Virginia tobacco was a giant hit among those who had been paying top dollar for the Spanish leaf. They clamored for more and soon Virginia tobacco was the commodity that saved the colony. By 1620, Jamestown was shipping out 50,000 pounds a year. The fur trade was an informal arrange-ment between the Indians and the Eu-ropean colonists whereby furs were ex-changed for Europe goods. The desired

goods were those needed by the Indians. Topping the list along with hatchets, beads, and iron pots was tobacco. “Poor and weak and of a biting taste” N. rustica was

soon replaced by “pleasant, sweet, and strong” N. tabacum. The irony is that tobacco was introduced to the American Indians by the Europeans, and not the other way around.

Indian Smoke by Walter Plinske

ing up to twenty times more than N. tabacum. At such levels, N. rustica is not ideal for smoking because of the risk of fatal

overdose; however, Indian use of wild tobacco differed from that of the users of the Spanish species. It was used strictly for spiritual, cultural, and ceremonial use. Wild tobacco was usually mixed with other herbs when smoked. These included the leaves or bark of bearberry, red dogwood, bunchberry, red sumac, and ironwood. This blend came to be re-ferred to as “kinnickinnick”, an Algonkian word for “mixture”. Often the mixture did not contain the tobacco at all. This ceremonial “tobacco” was used in a variety of ways. Held in the hand, it was used as an offering to the earth or fire. Burned in a sacred pipe, it was usually drawn into the mouth and released into the air, not inhaled into the body. The smoke was meant to carry prayers up to the Creator. Tobacco sealed peace treaties and agreements between indi-viduals. These ceremonial or “peace” pipes, referred to as “calumets”, were made of long wooden stems with a bowl carved out of stone, preferably catlinite, a reddish colored soft siltstone found in Minnesota and northern Wisconsin.

Bearberry

Red Dogwood in Winter

Calumet Bowl

Sumac

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 • M a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 1 3

Click on program/icon for information and to register online.**To create a new account, visit the registration desk at the CRC or download an internet registration form from

www.parkfun.com. The form can be found under the registration tab.

4

ADULT or TEEN

Harper College & Spring ValleyRegister through Harper College or call 847/925-6707. Class held at Spring Valley.

Landscaping with Native PlantsSaturday, April 13 • 9AM-NoonLearn about the beauty and environmental benefits of using native plants in home landscaping. Course: LLG0062

Home CompostingSaturday, April 20 • 9-11AMDiscover solutions for many of the commonly assumed problems associated with composting. Course: LLG0064

Creating A Backyard Wildlife OasisSaturday, June 1 • 9-11:30AMMake your backyard “wildlife friendly” by exploring ways to increase its diversity while benefitting from environmental improvements. Course: LLG0061

A Walk with the BirdsSaturday, March 2 • 7:30-9:30ABinoculars and field guides will be on hand to identify Illinois’ hardy winter residents.

Chair YogaThursday, April 11-May 23 • 4:45-5:45PMLearn all the techniques with modifications while seated in and standing by a chair.

Fred & Mina’s Wedding and Barn DanceSaturday, May 18 • 4:30-8:30PMExperience an authentic turn-of-the-century German-American farm wedding party, recreated by a company of local actors.

Growing Terrific TomatoesTuesday, April 23 • 7:00-9:00PMLearn to successfully grow this juicy, mouth-watering garden fruit.

Ice Cream Sundae SchoolSunday, March 10 • 1:00-2:30PMCool those hot summer days ahead as you hand crank your way to icy treats.

Science Talk: Communicating ScienceSaturday, April 13 • 8:30AM-4:30PM & Sunday, April 14 • 11AM-5PMClass meets at the Mayslake Peabody Estate (Forest Preserve District of DuPage County). Find out how we com-municate science: talking, writing, texting, drawing, graphs, charts, photos, videos, and more. Participate in science activities and create interesting ways to share results and assess your students. Staff from Spring Valley Nature Center, Brookfield Zoo, Benedictine University and a host of other institutions look forward to spending two great days with you. You may register for one graduate credit hour ($100, Aurora University) or one graduate science credit ($115 Benedictine University), CPS Lane credit or 15 CPDUs. To register, contact Lanis Petrik at Lanis.Petrik@czs.org

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

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 16 & 17

Sugar Bush FairSchaumburg park District's

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 • M a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 1 3

5

Nature Book ClubWednesday, March 27 • 4:00-5:30PEnjoy a hike to the Merkle Log Cabin to discuss the selected book over coffee, tea and snacks.

Nature’s Night Life - ADULTS ONLY!Friday, March 1 • 7:00-9:00PStart your weekend with a relaxing and enlightening evening walk at Spring Valley.

Power Vegetable GardeningTuesday, March 12-26 • 7:00-9:00PMA vegetable garden developer will teach the basic techniques of vegetable gardening.

Restorative Yoga Fiesta StyleFriday, May 3 • 6:30-8:30PMRecharge and restore the body, mind, and spirit. Enjoy a sangria, chips and salsa after class.

Vegetable Gardening in Small PlacesTuesday, May 7 • 7:00-9:00PMLearn tips and techniques for making the most of limited space to grow a bountiful harvest.

ALL AGESFree - Heaven’s WatchSat., March 2 • 8:00P .....Wonders of GeminiSat., April 6 • 8:30P .....Beehive Star ClusterJoin Chicago Astronomical Society as they set their telescopes for a peek at the night skies. Meet in the Nature Center.

Going Wild in the Tame Garden - FREETuesday, April 9 • 7-8PM & Saturday, April 13 • 9-10AMNative plants are esteemed for their environmental ben-efits; however, many gardeners are hesitant to incor-porate them into their carefully managed gardens and planted beds. Donna Johnson, a master gardener from Schaumburg Community Garden Club, will help familiarize you with many of the Chicago area’s beautiful natives and suggest some unique, creative and visually stunning ways of incorporating them into the home landscape.Free: Registration required by calling 847/985-2100

Free - Spring Bird CountSaturday, May 4 • 7:00A-5:00PHelp count birds during the Audubon Society spring bird count.

Breakfast with the BirdsSaturday, May 11 • 7:00-9:00AMEnjoy an early morning breakfast and walk to look for Spring Valley’s colorful migratory birds.

Cooking over a CampfireSaturday, May 18 • 4:00-5:30PMWatch as a naturalist demonstrates how to cook with a Dutch oven over an open fire.

Owl ProwlFriday, April 19 • 8:00-9:30PMDiscover why owls are equipped to be the ulti-mate hunters of the night.

Sundown Supper on the FarmSaturday, May 4 • 4:30-7:30PMAfter helping with evening chores and making supper, participants will watch the sunset.

Up and At’em Animal ChoresSaturday, April 20 • 7:30-9:30PMAfter milking cows and feeding the livestock, participants will enjoy a light breakfast.

EARLY CHILDHOODAll About Farm AnimalsTuesday, April 9-May 7 • 1:30-2:30PMJunior farmers will learn all about livestock at the Heritage Farm.

Chocolate Bunny BuildingSunday, March 24 • 1:00-3:30PMCreate sweet molded chocolate bunnies and memories that will last a lifetime.

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.

Spring 2013 topics:• Animal Adaptations – Learn what special adaptations

animals have to survive in the wild and see how long you would survive at Spring Valley if you had these adaptations.

• Biscuits & Butter – Learn about 19th century farm life cooking on the wood bring stove and churning butter.

• Weather – Explore different types of weather and make a simple tool to make your own weather predictions.

• Mosses & Mushrooms – Create a spore print, go on a search for mushrooms and build a moss filled terrarium.

Available every spring: Farms and Food, Gardening, Nighttime Nature, Owls: Predators of the Night, Springtime Growth, Wetlands, Conservation in Action, Woodlands

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

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 • M a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 1 3

Click on program/icon for information and to register online.**To create a new account, visit the registration desk at the CRC or download an internet registration form from

www.parkfun.com. The form can be found under the registration tab.

6

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.

S­­­­­­­­­­­­­unday,­April­14­­•­­Noon-4PM

on the FarmSpringtime

$3 per person • $12 per family3 yrs & under Free

Spring brings new life and activity to the Heritage Farm.Activities for all ages include cow milking, plowing and blacksmith-ing demonstrations. Click here for more information.

Schaumburg park District's

Photo

by Le

n Anz

elde,

SAPS

.

Nature and SpringSunday, April 7 • 1:30-2:30PMChildren will explore the world around them, fo-cusing on spring’s new growth and bursting life.

Ready for RobinsSaturday, April 27 • 10:00-11:30AMParticipants will discover what food a robin eats, examine real bird nests and explore outside.

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.

Cooking Like a SettlerSaturday, March 9 • 10:00A-NoonShell and grind corn, while cornbread cooks over a fire in a Dutch oven.

Easter Egg HuntSaturday, March 23 • 10:00-11:30AMSearch for eggs in a beautiful wooded setting near Merkle Cabin and dye eggs.

Meet the TurtlesSunday, April 28 • 1:00-2:30PMLearn about the adaptations that help turtles survive in the wild.

Nature StoriesSaturday, April 27 • 11:00AM-NoonBring your favorite stuffed animal, snuggle down and enjoy stories about nature.

Horse Drawn Wagon Rides at the Farm Relax and enjoy a 15-minute horse-drawn wagon ride through Heritage Farm as staff relates information about the farm, animals and the history of Schaumburg’s farm families. Dress for the weather.

Wagon Ride ScheduleSunday, April 28 .............................. 11AM-1PMSunday, May 19............................... 11AM-1PM

• Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis the day of the ride, no earlier than 15 minutes before start time.

• Tickets are $3/person; children 3 and under are free. • Wagon holds a maximum of 12 people.• Rides begin and end next to the Farm Visitor Center.

Note: Wagon rides may be cancelled due to extreme weather (storms or heat) and/or animal health issues. Call 847/985-2100 or check www.parkfun.com for updated information.Groups of 12 and larger are encouraged to schedule their own group wagon rental. For more information, call the Heritage Farm at 847/985-2102.

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 • M a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 1 3

7

&Sunday, May 5

10AM-2PM

This event features information on landscaping with native plants, composting, attracting birds, rain gardens, natural pest control, children’s activities and plant sale. Click here for more information.Co-sponsored by Schaumburg Community Garden Club

Native Plant SaleBackyards for

Nature Fair

Spring Valley Nature Center

Winter Habitats: Spring Valley StyleSaturday, March 9 • 9:30-11:00A ... WoodlandExplore the prairie, wetlands and woodlands to discover their amazing diversity.

YOUTHBeginning BirdersSunday, April 21 • 9:00-10:30AMJoin a naturalist on a morning hike to observe and learn about the birds found along the way.

Cooking and Candle ComboSunday, April 7 • 9:30AM-12:30PMParticipants will dip a pair of candles to take home, build a fire and cook using a Dutch oven.

Dolls, Dolls, DollsSunday, March 3 • 1:00-3:30PUse your imagination to make three historic dolls to take home and enjoy.

Go Fly a Kite!Saturday, April 20 • 10:30AM-NoonVisit Spring Valley to create and then fly a kite.

Home for the BirdsSaturday, April 6 • 10:30AM-NoonDesign, construct and decorate a birdhouse for your favorite feathered friends.

Sleeping with the TurtlesSaturday, March 8-9 • 7:00P-8:00ASpend the night in the Nature Center, explore the new exhibits, and see what awaits you.

Spring Valley Spring Break CampMon.-Thur., March 25-28 • 10:00AM-2:00PMCampers will make crafts, play games and learn about the animals at Spring Valley.

Sunset Fire and Picnic on the Prairie$3 per person • $12 per family (up to 6 people)Saturday, April 6 • 6-8:30PM • Spring Valley

The prairie fires that awed and frightened early settlers to Illinois were vital to the health and well-being of the prairie landscape. This popular program provides insight into just how important fire was—and still is—to natural areas. Bring a picnic or purchase grilled food and beverages. Following dinner and a brief presentation, a portion of Spring Valley’s prairie will be burned at sunset, visible from a safe distance. Tickets may be purchased at the door. (Rain date: 4/13/13) Click here for more information.

Spring Valley Welcomes the “New” Farm ManagerYes, I am back. After a four year hiatus farming in the 1930s, I have come back to Spring Valley. For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Jonathan Kuester, and here is my brief history. I grew up on a small farm in central Indiana, studied history at Purdue, and took my first job as an interpret-er, and eventually a program coordinator, at Conner Prairie Museum in Fishers, Indiana. After eight years of living in the 1830s at Conner I moved to South Carolina to be the Director of Operations for Historic Brattonsville. After a few years in the south, I decided my roots were better suited for Mid-western soil, so I came to Spring Valley to work at the Heritage Farm. My first years at Spring Valley were busy ones. The farm’s visitors’ center was remodeled, structures

and fences were built, new livestock acquired, and programs increased at an astonishing rate. After more than seven years I decided it was time for a new challenge and moved on to help start Primrose Farm. This was a new, from scratch venture to develop a 1930s living history farm for the St. Charles Park District. When I first arrived at Primrose there were structures but no running water, few animals and almost no working farm equipment. After four years, there is a full complement of livestock, a grade A dairy certification, and forty acres being farmed with period equipment.In the end it is Schaumburg’s story that has drawn me back to Spring Valley. Nowhere in Illinois is such an interesting cultural his-tory being interpreted. The uniqueness of that story is powerful and the dedication of the Park District and its many volunteers is to be commended. My wife Seleena and I look forward to working with all of you again and meeting many new faces.

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 • M a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 1 3

8

Hydraulic fracturing or fracking refers to a method of extracting oil and natu-ral gas by creating tiny fractures, only millimeters thick, in rock formations deep below the earth’s surface. The most commonly targeted methane rich formations are from deep shales—a fine grained, porous sedimentary rock found sandwiched between other impervious formations. These shale formations, located throughout the United States between 3,500 and 8,000 feet below the surface, were previously both economi-cally and techno-logically unattainable. With the growing need for energy independence from foreign oil and the push toward alterna-tive clean energy, this enormous resource has become particu-larly appealing. In its early days, fracking was a rela-tively simple process. A vertical well was drilled to the depth of the target rock formation and a slurry of water, sand, and gelled gasoline were injected under high pressure to create fissures in the formation which allowed gas and oil to flow more freely into the well. This method was used with measured suc-cess in the 1940s and patented by the Halliburton Oil Well Cementing Compa-ny later that same decade. Since then, the technology has been refined; and more effective and efficient methods have been established. One of these advances, horizontal boring, allows the well to penetrate through the length of the formation through which the well can be extended and fracked up to eigh-teen times before recovery diminishes. Another advance is the use of slickwater in which a chemical cocktail of poly-mers and surfactants is used to reduce friction and increase fluid flow. These methods have shown great success in driving down the price of natural gas, opening new doors to methane powered vehicles, and the possibility of moving away from dirty coal fired power plants to cleaner burning natural gas; not to mention the thousands of jobs created from the boon.

that an open water faucet would flare or support a standing flame when lit. Methane can also leak directly into the air during the drilling and transport process. Although when burned, meth-ane is relatively clean compared to other fossil fuels; in its natural state, it can cause ozone to build up locally lead-ing to headaches, inflammation, and other illnesses in those who may live nearby. Methane releases also act as a greenhouse gas and traps heat near the surface, undermining its status as a clean energy source.Many of the environmental and hu-man concerns are not well known due to insufficient pre and post fracking comparison studies, as well as the lack of transparency by the big oil and gas companies. The 2005 Energy Policy Act, signed into law by President George W. Bush with Vice President and former Halliburton CEO Dick Cheney at his side, exempted oil and gas companies from the Safe Drinking Water Act. This act allows drilling companies to continue to use the chemical cocktails, held as proprietary trade secrets, without divulg-

ing what the chemicals might be. Regulators are then unable to test for the presence of these chemicals since they do not know their identity. There is little regulation and oversight into these activities by the federal government and com-

panies are allowed to operate in a Wild West environment. With over 400,000 wells utilizing the fracking process and thousands more added each year, the question becomes how much we value this resource and the potential impacts, both human and environmental, which may come with its harvest. It is clear that regulation and closer study are necessary, regardless of political pressures by big oil and gas lobbyists. This resource is being touted as a potential bridge-fuel from foreign oil, with estimates of up to 100 years of recoverable reserves and hopes that it is not just a pier overlooking the next crisis.

The Dirt on Fracking by Matt McBrien

However, this new extraction method has not come without controversy. The fracking process requires enormous amounts of water to be injected into the well, with rough estimates at 1–8 million gallons each time a well is fracked. The fracking fluid additives used to cre-ate the slickwater concoction utilized by many gas and oil companies can contain up to 750 different chemicals, many of which are hazardous pollutants or known human carcinogens. As the product is recovered from the well fol-

lowing fracking, the slickwater mixture returns to the surface as waste or produced water called flow-back which can contain a variety of material from deep within the formation itself

including salts, naturally occurring radio-active material, mercury, arsenic, and other heavy metals. Often, this flowback is pumped into lined open air pits where it is allowed to volatilize, poten-tially affecting local air quality. Occasionally, there have been cases of mis-management of these pits, when they have been allowed to overflow or have been pumped directly onto the ground surface or into streams; thereby, contaminating ground and surface water supplies and wildlife habitat.Other problems stem from the meth-ane itself migrating through improperly sealed wells or casings allowing the gas to be introduced into drinking water wells. Although most ground water contains small amounts of methane naturally, independent tests have shown that water supplies near fracking opera-tions contain 17 times more methane than groundwater on inactive sites. In some areas, concentrations of methane gas were so high in drinking water wells

Fracking Pit

Flaming Faucet

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 • M a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 1 3

9

Farm Spring Cleaning WorkdayMarch 23Come out and help spruce up the Farm in preparation for its open season. Hands are needed to help clean buildings, prepare the kitchen garden, repair fencing, and other odd jobs. No need to be a farm volunteer to participate. We’ll be starting at 9am.

Springtime on the FarmSunday, April 14Volunteers are needed to help our guests experience a busy spring on the Farm. Help prepare the fields and gardens for planting, do some spring cleaning 1880s style, or assist with children’s activities and food sales. The event runs from noon to 4pm.

Heritage Farm New Volunteer Open HouseSaturday, April 20The Heritage Farm is looking for new interpretive volunteers! Enjoy light refreshments and see other historic volunteer interpreters in action. Learn more about how you can volunteer your time by getting dressed in historic outfits and showing visitors what life was like over 130 years ago. Open house runs 10am-1pm. Let RSVP to Judy if you plan to attend.

Dates to Remember• Saturday, March 2 .......... 10am-Noon

Annual Farm Kick-off Meeting• Monday, March 11 .......... 1-4pm

Handy Crafters Meeting• Thursday, March 14 ....... 10am-3pm

Sugar Bush Set-Up• March 16 & 17 ................ 9am-Noon

Sugar Bush• Saturday, March 23 ........ 9am-1pm

Farm Spring Cleaning Workday• Monday, April 8 .............. 1-4pm

Handy Crafters Meeting• Sunday, April 14 .............Noon-4pm

Springtime on the Farm• Saturday, April 20 ........... 10am-1pm

Farm New Volunteer Open House• Tuesday, April 23 ............ 5-7pm

Volunteer Reception at Chandlers

Volunteer News

Pats on the back to the following volunteers...• Duane Bolin, Dean Bruckner, Lynn Eikenbary, and Pete

Gigous for assisting with late season prescribed burns.• Gail Ameer, Lynn Eikenbary, Nancy Fallen, Nancy Mamsen,

and Angela Waidanz for performing a bird survey at the Schaumburg Golf Couse.

• Christine Curin and Carol Thomas for bottling the latest supply of honey for sale in our concessions case.

• Barb Dochterman and Lynn Eikenbary for completing an inventory of the Spring Valley library.

Welcome New Volunteers…

• Keith Kramer • Richard Wysocki

April 2 Donna Nicolaisen 1 Ellie Vogel Andrew Awdziejczyk Daryle Drew 10 Carol Cellini 11 Duane Bolin 14 Patty Ochs

17 Ryan Ochs 19 Bill Bidlo 20 Jerome Dvoratchek 24 Charlie Loh 28 Richard Wysocki 29 Mike Lynch

Happy Birthday to…March 1 John Curin Melina Lynch 3 Kevin Kaitis 4 Karen Kusek Judy Velan 5 John Witkowski 8 Jenny Greco 12 Austin Tipper

13 Alan Kraus 17 Barb Muehlhausen 23 Christine Curin 28 Bob Pautsch 30 Amy Vito 31 Ann Schooley

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.

Librarian NeededAre you a trained librarian? We are looking for a volunteer to oversee the li-brary housed at Spring Valley. Duties in-clude purchasing, classifying, catalog-ing, and processing books using the American Library Association stan-dards. The time commitment is a few hours each month. If you, or someone you know, is interested please contact Judy.

Annual Heritage Farm Volunteer MeetingSaturday, March 2 If you volunteer in any capacity at the Heritage Farm or just want to find out about volunteer opportunities there, you are invited to attend this meeting held at the Nature Center Visitor Center from 10am-Noon. Attendance by all volunteers involved with interpretation, livestock care, and kitchen gardening is strongly encouraged. Staff will fill you in on the plans for the Farm for 2013. After the meeting, feel free stay and socialize with your fellow volunteers while enjoying a potluck lunch provided by volunteers and staff. Come and help kick off the Farm’s upcoming volunteer season!

Sunday WednesdayMonday Tuesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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 • V o l u n t e e r C a l e n d a r

10

MARCH 2013

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

Farm Open march 16 & 17 • 10am-1pm

Cabin Closed

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

31

•Spring Valley Spring Break Camp 10amM-Th

•Nature’s Night Life 7pm

•A Walk with the Birds 7:30amAnnual Farm Volunteer Meeting 10 am •Sundown Supper in the Sugar Bush 4pm

•Heaven’s Watch 8pm

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

•Sleeping with the Turtles 7pm

•Winter Habitats: Spring Valley Style 9:30am •Cooking Like a Settler 10am

•Dolls, Dolls, Dolls 1pm

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

Sugar Bush Set-Up 10am

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

Sugar Bush Set-Up 10am Sugar Bush Fair 9am•Ice Cream Sundae School 1pm Handy Crafters Meeting 1pm

Schaumburg Community Garden Club 7pm

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm•Power Vegetable Gardening 7pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

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

Farm Spring Cleaning Workday 9am •Easter Egg Hunt 10am

Sugar Bush Fair 9am

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm•Power Vegetable Gardening 7pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

•Chocolate Bunny Building 1pm

•Nature Book Club 4pm•Power Vegetable Gardening 7pm

St. Patrick’s Day

Sunday WednesdayMonday Tuesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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 • V o l u n t e e r C a l e n d a r

11

APRIL 2013

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 Farm Open Tues.-Fri. • 9am-2pm & saT/sun • 10am-4pm

Cabin Closed

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

•Home for the Birds 10:30am

•Sunset Fire on the Prairie 6pm •Heaven’s Watch 8:30pm

•Chair Yoga 4:45pm

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

•Going Wild in the Tame Garden 9am •Landscaping with Native Plants 9am

•Cooking and Candle Making 9:30am •Nature and Spring 1:30pm

Handy Crafters Meeting 1pm

Schaumburg Community Garden Club 7pm

•All About Farm Animals 1:30pm

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm•Going Wild in the Tame Garden 7pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

•Chair Yoga 4:45pm

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

•Owl Prowl 8pm

•Up and At ‘Em 7:30am•Home Composting 9amFarm Open House 10am •Go Fly a Kite 10:30am

Springtime on the Farm Noon •All About Farm Animals 1:30pm

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

•Chair Yoga 4:45pm

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

•Spring Discoveries 9:30am •Ready for Robins 10am •Nature Stories 11am

•Beginning Birders 9am •All About Farm Animals 1:30pm

Volunteer Reception at Chandlers 5pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm•Growing Terrific Tomatoes 7pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

•Horse Drawn Wagon Rides 11am•Meet the Turtles 1pm

•All About Farm Animals 1:30pm

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

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 • M a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 1 3

12

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.

Plum

Gro

ve R

d.

135 acres

N

NATUrAl eNqUirer STAFF:Mary RiceEditorJudy VitoVolunteer CoordinatorLuetta Coonrod“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