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InsideSpring Valley General Information ...................10Volunteer News ContentsVolunteer Information .........................................7Volunteer Calendar .......................................... 8-9

The Age of Guano ................................................2Hermann the German ..........................................3What’s Happenin’ ............................................. 4-5Summer Internship Ends ....................................6

In this issue... Science and the search for knowledge have always focused to a large extent on origins. How did things get to be the way they are? Where did they come from? Answers to these questions not only help us better understand the world we live in but they often open our eyes to wider vistas, realms of thought and ideas we had never considered before, i.e., they inspire curiosity. This issue of Natural Enquirer takes us beyond the prairies and woods of the Chicago area into a bit of German history as well as to remote islands where unknown riches accumulated for cen-turies, until people discovered the wealth to be mined there. Like the guano islands off the Peruvian coast of South America, the search for knowledge almost always involves a bit of digging, experimentation, and a willingness to look in unlikely places.

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 .5 • Sept . -Oct . ‘ 13

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chemical analysis of any given fertilizer, called the “NPK” content. (Potassi-um’s symbol is K because the Latin word for potash

is Kalium.) Land that has been farmed repeatedly always risks depletion of these nutrients. Pe-ruvian seabird guano will normally test out to 10% NITROGEN, 10% PHOSPHO-RUS, and 2% PO-

TASSIUM; or “10-10-2”. Beyond its NPK levels, guano contains trace elements and micro nutrients that are also neces-sary for healthy soils and plants. In contrast to guano, other animal manures offer meager amounts of NPK, with chicken the highest at “4.5-3.5-2” and cow the lowest with “0.6-0.2-0.6”. The reason for guano’s rich-ness is that it is accumulated in areas dry enough not to wash it away. The waters off the Peruvian coast receive less than an inch of rain a year. They form huge deposits due to three fac-tors: the birds are rela-tively large, they tend to form big flocks, and they defecate where they live. Since the annual guano output of a cormorant is 35 pounds, on islands

The Age of Guano by Walter Plinske

By 1850, it was becom-ing apparent that to feed the ever increasing populations of Europe and America, evermore intensive agriculture would soon exhaust the soil. As crop yields leveled off and even declined, farmers looked for a new fertilizer to restore the land. The need to fertilize was not something new. For 10,000 years, fertilizing crops was a rel-atively improvised affair. Farmers relied on animal manure (dung); they planted their crops near rivers like the Nile to capture silt; they included nitrogen-fixing legumes in crop rotation; they churned plant waste (green manure) into the soil; and they used human feces (night soil). But guano promised something more. It was concentrated, lightweight, and relatively inexpensive. Reduced to three factors, fertilizer is a mechanism for delivering nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to plants. Plants need nitrogen to develop leaves and stems. Phosphorus is valuable for developing flowers and fruit. Potas-sium promotes healthy root systems and helps plants resist diseases. These three nutrients are used to describe the

where they number in the hundreds of thousands they can produce thousands of tons a year!So guano mania took hold in Europe and North America. The British obtained a monopoly in the mining of the rich Peruvian deposits, leaving Americans over the guano barrel. Spurred by the increasingly higher costs created by lim-ited supply and high demand, the U.S. Congress passed the Guano Islands Act of 1856. It authorized its citizens to seize any guano islands they saw. The islands could be located anywhere, so long as they were not occupied and not under the jurisdiction of another government. The act specifically allowed the islands to be considered possessions of the U.S. More than 100 islands have been claimed in this way. Most are no longer considered U.S. territory. Those remain-ing under U.S. claim include Baker Is-land, Johnson Atoll, and Midway Atoll in the Pacific Ocean, which later became key places for the extension of U.S. Na-val power. Navassa Island, strategically located 100 miles south of Guantanamo Bay Cuba, is also still U.S. territory and has been designated a National Wildlife Refuge.By the end of the 19th century, the age of guano was passing. Nitrogen in the form of nitrates was mined on a mass scale in the Chilean desert. Phosphorus

(rock phosphates) and potassium (potash mineral salts) came to be mined in a similar manner. In the early 20th century synthetic fertilizers were invented by the German chemists Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch. Today, with the rise in the price of synthetic fertilizer and the boom in the interest for or-ganic foods, the use of guano is making a comeback.

The islands were located off the Peruvian coast of South America and from a distance did not exhibit anything unusual. It was only when approached that the isles gave a hint of their true nature. On them lived large seabirds, millions of them, espe-cially pelicans, boobys, and cormorants. It was their waste, covering the granitic rock in a layer up to 150 feet thick, which

made the islands exude an intense ammonia stench. The Andean Indians called the layered substance, “guano”, meaning “the droppings of seabirds”. Though it is a misnomer to refer to bat droppings as guano, today the word describes both bat and seabird manure. Centuries ago, these Indians discovered that depleted soils could be replenished with guano. So while the Spanish con-quistadors ravished the land for gold and silver, the secret of this brown gold remained overlooked. It wasn’t until the 19th century that the need for this fertilizer became apparent. Into the breach went bird poop and so began the age of guano.

Guano Collectors

Cormorant

Pelican

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In the 1880 US census record for Schaumburg Township, there were 30 males named Hermann. One of these, Hermann Boeger, was the gentleman that owned the land where the Heritage Farm at Spring Valley is situated. With so many men named Hermann in the records, I was curious about where the name came from.The name Hermann means “army man” or “warrior” and can be traced back to a particular German hero originally known among the Roman Legions as “Arminius.” It was Martin Luther who first referred to Arminius as Hermann, and the name stuck. He was a legendary figure in German culture and has been the subject of much Germanic folklore and art. In Detmold, Germany, a prominent statue of Hermann, the Hermannsdenkmal, was erected in his honor in 1875 and still draws numerous viewers today. A second statue, the Hermann Heights Monument, was erected in 1888 in New Ulm, Minne-sota. Hermann, Missouri (established in 1837), is named after him and The Sons of Hermann, a German-American organi-zation founded in the early 19th century in New York, shows their allegiance to him with their name. Hermann’s story begins around the year 18 BC. Born near what is today Han-nover, Germany, Hermann was the son of the Cherusci tribal Chief. His father had been coerced into an allegiance with Rome, and Hermann and his brother were raised as hostages, learning Latin and becoming involved in Roman military warfare. As he grew older, Hermann was awarded Roman citizenship and even received knighthood by Caesar Augus-tus. He also commanded the Cherus-can detachment of the Roman auxiliary forces fighting for Rome in the northern part of Germany. Following the fighting, Hermann returned to his homeland which was ruled by the Roman appointed gov-ernor, Publius Quinctilius Varus. It is widely believed that despite having served in the Roman military, Hermann held a deep hatred of the Romans. By 9 AD, he had secretly begun to unite other Germanic tribes throughout the region in an effort to stop the Romans from assum-ing control past the Rhine River (By 8 BC

never saw his wife again and never met his son. In 21 AD, Hermann was victim to internal feuding among his tribe and, due to treachery, died. Hermann left a legacy of independence that would be summoned by the German people during times of strife and war from that point onward. Often, when a

new political organi-zation rose to power in Germany’s his-tory, the party would cite Hermann as a hero and appropri-ate his likeness to their cause. Perhaps the most well-known group to do this was the Nazis, who used his legacy extensively. After World War Two,

however, popular German culture tried to purge itself of all things Nazi and with that Hermann’s legacy fell out of favor. History books were changed to read that it was a shame Hermann defeated the Romans. They wrote that Hermann had denied their culture the intellectual growth the Romans may have offered. The name of the battle was changed as well; what had once been called Hermannschlacht (Hermann’s Battle) in German was re-ferred to as Varusschlacht (Varus’ Battle). It was not until the 2,000th anniversary of the battle (just four years ago) that senti-ments began to change within popular culture.Today, Germans look at Hermann more realistically and less “romantically.” As one online article entitled “They Need a Hero” suggests,

“Germany regards itself as being post-patriotic, and certainly cured of all the militaristic national-ism that Hermann once represented. And yet the hundreds of thousands of Germans visiting Detmold aren’t simply looking for a theme-park character—nor are they seeking a new militarism. So what are they looking for?” (http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/they-need-a-hero#ixzz2YqfikckG)

This is an interesting question. In this modern age, is the notion of a national hero still relevant? And if so, for how long can such a hero remain relevant? In the case of Hermann it seems the answer is two millennia, give or take a few decades.

Hermann the German by Patricia Kennedy Green

Rome had a strong hold on the German territory up to and east of the Rhine River and was now seeking to establish its hold further eastward to the Weser and Elbe rivers). During this same time, Hermann also eloped with Thusnelda, daughter of Segestes, a Cheruscan noble. Segestes was a staunch supporter of Rome and had had strong contacts with Varus. After he found out Hermann had stolen his daugh-ter, Segestes became incensed and claimed to Varus that Hermann was committing treason against Rome. Varus paid no attention to Se-gestes, however, for he believed Hermann was too decorated a soldier and too loyal to Rome to be plotting against his commander. In the fall of 9 AD, the 25 year old Hermann brought Varus “false” news of a rebellion in northern Germany and persuaded him to divert the three legions under his command to curb the insurrec-tion. It was not until Varus arrived at the battle grounds by the Teutoburg Forest that he realized it was a trap. Hermann’s tribe, the Cherusci, along with their allies, the Marsi, Chatti, Bructeri, Chauci, and Sicambri ambushed Varus and his men. The Romans were annihilated and Varus committed suicide after realizing his le-gions were lost. In the end, some 20,000 men were killed or captured and never heard from again.Following this defeat, Rome wanted vengeance. In 14 AD, the Roman military leader Germanicus (son of a former military leader and nephew to the current Caeser, Tiberius) led four legions and ten thousand auxiliaries back into Cherusci territory. With the help of Segestes and his son, war was waged and Hermann’s now pregnant wife was taken captive. Af-ter two large battles, Caeser Tiberius pro-claimed Germanicus’ campaign victori-ous and, with Thusnelda’s capture, Rome avenged. Germanicus’ legions were or-dered back to Rome and never ventured past the Rhine territory. The land that would one day be known as Schaumburg remained unconquered. Sadly, Hermann

CD Opera Cover of Arminus

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

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ADULT or TEENOktober FestessenSaturday, Oct. 12 • 6:00-8:00PMBe transported to another time and enjoy a tradi-tional German dinner in the historic farmhouse.

Sausage Making 101Saturday, Oct. 19 • 1:00-4:00PMLearn how to make sausage from scratch and how the Germans preserved it.

Weekly Yoga at the CabinTuesday, Sept. 3 - Dec. 17 • 6:00-7:00PMTuesday, Sept. 3 - Dec. 17 • 7:30-8:30PMThursday, Sept. 5 - Dec. 19 • 6:30-7:30PMThursday, Sept. 5 - Dec. 19 • 8:00-9:00PMEnjoy a weekly yoga class in the woods at the Merkle Cabin.

ALL AgESFree - Heaven’s WatchSat., Sept. 28 • 8PM .........Star Fields of CygnusNo Haven’s Watch in Oct.Join Chicago Astronomical Society as they set their telescopes for a peek at the night skies. Meet in the Nature Center.

Up and At’em Animal ChoresSaturday, Sept. 28 • 7:30-9:30AMWake up and help with animal chores. Then enjoy a light breakfast in the farmhouse.

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.

Night HikeFriday, Oct. 18 • 7:00-8:30PMCome out after the sun has set and use your five senses to explore the dark.

Rainbow AdventureSunday, Sept. 22 • 9:30-11:00AMParticipants will look for the colors of the rain-bow while experiencing the beauty of the day.

Twilight HikeFriday, Sept. 20 • 7:00-8:30PMFind out what happens at Spring Valley as the sun sets.

Step back in time and see history come to life at a 1790s frontier encampment and an 1880s working farm!Food, beverages and children’s activities are available throughout the day. Click here for more information.

$4 per person • $16 per family • 3 yrs & under Free

Sunday, Oct. 6 • Noon-5PM

Sponsored by

Autumn Harvest Festival

growing Up Wild: Early Childhood Teacher WorkshopSaturday, Sept. 28 • 9:00AM-NoonTake part in a hands-on workshop designed for early childhood educators.

Illinois Biodiversity: Teacher WorkshopSaturday, Oct. 19 • 8:30AM-4:30PMExplore the concept of biodiversity in the ‘Chicago Wilderness,’ home to more kinds of ecosystems than anywhere else on Earth.

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

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National Public Lands DaySaturday, Sept. 21 • 9AM-1PMParticipants will learn how people work with nature to heal the land and help restore rare plants and animals. All participants will receive a packet of native wildflower seeds. Refreshments will be available.

Before Oct. 25: $5 per person • Walk-in: $6 per personFri. & Sat., Oct. 25 & 26 • 6:15-9:30PMA Haunting in the Valley

Enjoy a covered wagon ride to a trail of fun and adventure! Games, refreshments, a live owl and bonfire at the Nature Center. Click here for more information.

YOUTHCreepers and CrawlersSaturday, Sept. 14 • 9:30-11:00AMDiscover what a bug’s life is really all about as you look for what’s hanging around.

Fall DiscoveriesMonday, Oct. 14 • 5:00-6:00PMExplore the beauty of fall and discover what you’ve been missing when you’re not outside.

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.

Fall 2013 topics:• Biscuits and Butter - Learn about 19th century farm life as you

cook on the wood burning stove and churn your own butter.• Fishy Friends - Dive into the watery world of Illinois fish.

Discover what they need to survive, where they go in the winter and make your own gyotaku.

• Leafy Trees - Compare and contrast different leaves, learn to read tree rings and create a leaf book to take home.

• Squirrels - Explore the fascinating lives of these furry acrobats, learn how to get involved with the citizen science program Project Squirrel and see if you would survive as a squirrel.

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

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

School Day-Off Field TripsFriday, Oct. 11 • 9:00AM-4:00PM .....CantignyMonday,Oct. 14 • 9:00AM-4:00PM .....Brookfield Zoo

Join Spring Valley staff on a trip to a special location, discovering some fasci-nating and fun places to spend the day. Be prepared for fun and adventure!

Concert at the CabinSaturday, Sept. 14 • 5-7:30PM • FREECome enjoy wonderful music in a beautiful setting! The Spring Valley Community Concert Band will perform un-der the shelter on the wooded cabin grounds as evening settles in. Picnic fare and beverages will be available for purchase or bring your own food, lawn chairs and a blanket. Picnic tables will be available. The music will begin at 6PM. The Merkle Log Cabin is an easy 10-minute walk from the Nature Center parking lot, or you can take a wagon shuttle.

Spring Valley 30th Birthday Celebration Saturday, Sept. 14 • 2-4PMHelp Spring Valley celebrate 30 years of serving the community with an afternoon

open house at the Nature Center. Following presentations by staff and officials, attendees will be invited to share birthday cake, enjoy children’s activities and take a short guided nature walk or wagon ride to the farm. A picnic and Concert at the Cabin will follow from 5-7:30PM.

Harvest Moon BonfireSaturday, Sept. 21 • 6:30-8:30PMHeritage FarmHelp celebrate this rare time of the year by taking a wagon ride through Spring Valley, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over an open fire, and enjoying a lantern-lit tour of the farm.

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As my summer slowly draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on all that I’ve done during my internship. Spring Valley has provided me with an enjoyable and worthwhile experience; not just because of my degree requirement, but also because of my fascination with the natural world. My supervisor, Matt McBrien, along with everyone else who works here, has been very helpful in regard to my personal and professional growth. What amazes me most is the conservation crew’s dedication to hard work and preserving the grounds, both for wildlife and for people. My coworkers also have an amazing amount of knowledge about nature in general, as well as resource management and grounds maintenance. They never cease to impress me by their people skills when they greet visitors as we pass them on the trail. Best of all, the staff and the volunteers at Spring Valley have shown great enthusiasm in everything they do—so that work can be done more efficiently. I could not have done any of the duties this job requires without them or their generous support.Spring Valley has given me different and meaningful experiences every day. My duties have mainly consisted of tending to plants and trees, assisting my coworkers with the removal of invasive species, and maintaining the grounds. Taking care of native trees and plants is essential for their survival, as well as for the education of people who come here.

essential for the comfort and safety of visitors. Sometimes, the maintenance crew will do jobs as simple as picking up pieces of garbage along the trail. At other times, we cut down and clear out

branches and plants that have grown too long or have drifted downstream. I have also taken part in setting up and taking down equipment and materials for special events. The best part of doing these things is working with a team of dedicated individuals.Overall, I would say that my internship has been about taking what I learned in school and applying it into the real world. An old saying goes, “80 percent of learning is done on the job.” Even with all the education and work experience I have gained, there is no knowing where I will go next or what I will be doing. I hope, however, that

I will not forget the people of Spring Valley or my internship here as time goes on.

Summer Internship Ends by Nicholas Ahlstrand

Whether I am watering and transplanting seedlings in the greenhouse or planting them out on the grounds, I feel a sense

of satisfaction. The removal of nonnative

plant species is just as important to conservation as adding native plants to it. If we leave them to thrive in a specific area, the invasive species will choke out the native plants. One of my favorite tasks has been to cut off the heads of garlic mustard or simply pulling it out by the roots.Cleaning up around Spring Valley can be monotonous and even tiresome at times, but it is just as

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Dates to Remember• Wednesday, Sept. 4 .......... 6:30pm-8:30pm

Volunteer Meeting• Monday, Sept. 9 ................ 1-4pm

Handy Crafter Meeting• Saturday, Sept. 21 ............ 9am-1pm

Conservation Workday• Thursday, Oct. 3 ............... 9:30am-3pm

Autumn Harvest Set-up• Thursday, Oct. 4 ............... 9:30am-3pm

Autumn Harvest Set-up• Sunday, Oct. 6 .................. Noon-5pm

Autumn Harvest Fest• Monday, Oct. 14 ................ 1-4pm

Handy Crafter Meeting• Friday, Oct 25 ................... 5:30-9pm

A Haunting in the Valley• Saturday, Oct 26 ............... 5:30-9pm

A Haunting in the Valley

Volunteer News

Pats on the back to the following volunteers...• Penny Perles for maintaining the Native American Garden.• Lynn Eikenbary, Angela Waidanz, and Amy Chagoya and her

Cub Scouts for maintaining the Kids’ Garden.”• Tony Coonrod, Lynn Eikenbary, Ann Scacco, Eileen Skiba,

Angela Waidanz and Carolyn White for assisting with Nature Center summer camps.

• Duane Bolin, Pete gigous, Tony Meo, Ken Ogorzalek, and Roy Svenson for their weekly maintenance assistance.

Welcome New Volunteers…

• Bruce Kuhnhofer • Arissa Sato • Nycole Kuiken

October 3 Michal Pierwieniecki 4 Rosemary Colbert 8 Susan LaDore Julie Tucknott 9 Marilou Vandrush 12 Sue Ringfelt 14 Ken Ogorzalek Bruce Kuhnhofer

15 Pat Heiberger 16 Eve Carter 18 Susanne Cannella Gene Niewiadomski 21 Tony Meo

Happy Birthday to…September 1 Nancy Lyons 8 Peggy Kulis 11 Nancy Ruffolo 18 Dick Ruffolo 20 Lynn Eikenbary Ellen Hanes

22 Joan Pangallo 26 Jim Peterson 28 Gail Ameer Barb Mitchell

and include children’s activities and crafts, refreshment sales, farm interpretation, and more! Volunteer shifts times are 11am to 2:30pm or 2:15 to 5:45pm. Also, additional help is needed for set-up on Thursday, October 3 and Friday, October 4. Call if you can lend a hand!

A Haunting in the ValleyFriday, October 25 and Saturday, October 26We need your help with our Halloween event which will feature a wagon ride to the Cabin for a guided walk along the night trails. Volunteers are needed for check-in, concessions, family activities, characters, and props. If you’d like to be part of the adventure, give us a call!

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.

National Public Lands DaySaturday, September 21 • 9am-1pmJoin us for our conservation workday and assist with this demonstration of local environmental stewardship. Help spread the message on how people can work with nature to heal and restore it. Any donation of paper grocery bags for use in seed col-lecting would be greatly appreciated. Drop the bags off at the Visitor Center.

Autumn Harvest FestivalSunday, October 6 • Noon-5pmWe’re looking for volun-teers to help at Spring Valley’s largest event – Autumn Harvest Festival. Activities are held at both the cabin and the farm

National Public Lands Day

Volunteer Meeting and ProgramWednesday, Sept. 4 • 6:30-8:30pmCome find out what projects and special events are in store for fall and learn how you can help!Then stay and listen as Judy Speer explores what myths and stories tell us about the human relationship to nature when she presents Water Monsters and Thunderbirds: Stalking the Mythological Wildlife of Our Region. Join us to explore this fascinating look into the stories that underlay our Midwestern landscape and its history.

Sunday WednesdayMonday Tuesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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SEPTEmbEr 2013

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29 30Farm 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

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

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

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

•Creepers and Crawlers 9:30am•Spring Valley’s Birthday Party 2pm

•Concert at the Cabin 5pm

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

•North Country Migration Mysteries Trip 8:30am

•Twilight Hike 7pm

National Public Lands Day 9am

•Harvest Moon Bonfire 6:30pm•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 Animal Chores 7:30am

•Heaven’s Watch 8pm

•Rainbow Adventure 9:30am

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

Labor Day

Sunday WednesdayMonday Tuesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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OCTObEr 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 com-plimentary by volunteersSee “What’s Happening” for program descriptions

Autumn Harvest Festival Set-Up 9:30am

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

Autumn Harvest Festival Set-Up 9:30am

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

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

•Day Off School Field Trip 9am

•October Festessen 6pm

Autumn Harvest Festival Noon

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

•Night Hike 7pm

•Sausage Making 1pm•Day Off School Field Trip 9amHandy Crafters Meeting 1pm•Fall Discoveries 5pm

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

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

A Haunting in the Valley 6:15pm

A Haunting in the Valley 6:15pm

•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 Halloween

Columbus 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.

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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