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JANUARY - APRIL PROGRAMSJANUARYJanuary 14 9:00am – 4:00pm11th Annual Bi-State Winter Wonderland atWolf Lake FestivalMorning events at Environmental EducationCenter2405 Calumet Ave., Hammond, INAfternoon events at Southeast Sportsmen’s Club13139 S. Ave. M, Chicago, ILFamilies are invited to learn from a variety ofexhibits and presentations and participate inoutdoor activities. Students will compete in thepopular Sellerski ice safety competition and a postercontest. Speakers will discuss the UndergroundRailroad, birds of the Wolf Lake watershed, an iceboating demonstration, restoration of Wolf Lakeand tree planting and identification. There will beeducational displays and exhibits. Cross-countryskiing, skating and pick-up hockey will occur,weather permitting. A bonfire ends the event. Forfurther information, call (312) 220-0120 or (219)933-7149.(Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative)Register by Friday, December 16, 2011Winter Wonderland at Wolf Lake PosterContestEntries due by end of day Tuesday, January 3Open to students at Wolf Lake area schoolsand members of youth organizations.AWLI is sponsoring a poster contest that promoteshealthy winter activities at Wolf Lake. The contestis held in conjunction with AWLI’s 11th AnnualWinter Wonderland at Wolf Lake on Saturday,January 14, 2012. Entries will be evaluated in threeto four categories by a panel of judges. The firstplace winner in each category will receive 25. Thesecond and third place winners will receive a 15and 10, respectively. The awards will be presentedduring AWLI’s Winter Wonderland at Wolf LakeFestival at 9:15 a.m. on Saturday, January 14, at theEnvironmental Education Center, 2405 CalumetAvenue, Hammond. Winning entries, includinghonorable mentions, will be exhibited at theWolf Lake Park kiosk and at the EnvironmentalEducation Center. For further information, call(312) 220-0120 or (219) 933-7149.(Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative)January 16 9:00am – 12:00pmMartin Luther King Day – Stewardship eventat Whistler WoodsPlease join us for a restoration effort at WhistlerWoods with the Forest Preserve District of CookCounty. Volunteers should dress appropriately forthe weather. The site is located in Riverdale at ForestView Road (134th) and Halsted St. To RSVP orfor more information, call (312) 857-2757 or visitwww.fotp.org.(Friends of the Parks, CIMBY & Blue IslandBicycle Group)General Superintendant Arnold Randall of theForest Preserve District of Cook County andCook County Board President Toni Preckwinkleaddress ecological stewardship volunteers atthe volunteer appreciation celebration heldat the Field Museum’s Restoring Earth exhibit.Photo credit: Laurel Ross.January 14 10:00am – 3:00pmSavanna RestorationGordon & Faith Greiner Nature Preserve,Hobart, INJoin Shirley Heinze Land Trust stewardship staff aswe remove non-fire tolerant tree species to restorethe savanna habitat found at this site. For moredetails, contact (219) 879-4725.(Shirley Heinze Land Trust)January 14 1:00pm – 3:00pmHonoring Dr. King Through ServicePaul H. Douglas Center for EnvironmentalEducation100 N. Lake St., Miller, INLearn about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy inour national parks during an indoor presentationby park staff. Afterward, contribute to the nationallakeshore’s restoration efforts in Miller Woodsduring this service learning program. Check outwww.nps.gov/indu for more information anddirections.(Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore)January 19 6:00pm – 8:00pmChicago Southland Green DrinksFlossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery1035 Sterling Ave., Flossmoor, ILJoin other volunteers, community members andenvironmental professionals for this evening ofsocializing, networking and education. The eveningwill begin with an optional networking activityfollowed by guest speaker Jaime Aruguete PMP,LEED AP BD C, PR/Marketing Chair at USGBCIllinois Chapter South Suburban Branch, and thenopen social time. For more information, contactehasle@fieldmuseum.org.(The Field Museum)January 28 9:00am – 5:00pmClimate Change Educators WorkshopDunes Learning Center Cowles Lodge700 Howe Rd., Chesterton, INExplore this often overwhelming topic and learnhow you can help your students understand thesecomplex issues using local examples and activities.Cost: 35, includes lunch and materials. Register atwww.duneslearningcenter.org.(Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore)FEBRUARYFebruary Date and Location TBDCalumet Volunteer Potluck and MeetingCome together around good food and connectwith fellow stewardship volunteers at the annualCalumet volunteer potluck. We will talk aboutrestoration efforts in the Calumet region, discussaccomplishments, challenges, opportunities. Pleasebring a dish to share. Additional details to follow.Email Laura Milkert at lmilkert@fieldmuseum.orgfor details as they become available.(The Field Museum, Friends of the ForestPreserves)February 4 10:00am – 12:00pmStewardship event at Whistler WoodsPlease join us for a restoration effort at WhistlerWoods with the Forest Preserve District of CookCounty. Volunteers should dress appropriately forthe weather. The site is located in Riverdale at ForestView Road (134th) and Halsted St. To RSVP orfor more information, call (312) 857-2757 or visitwww.fotp.org.(Friends of the Parks, CIMBY & Blue IslandBicycle Group)February 10 6:30pm – 9:00pmWomen’s Spa Night Part TwoSoutheast Environmental Task Force Office,13300 S. Baltimore St., Chicago, ILOpen to adult women and older teen girlsaccompanied by an adult.We will make several bath and body recipes forpampering ourselves from all natural ingredients.Call (773) 646-0436 to pre-register.(Southeast Environmental Task Force)February 11 10:00am – 3:00pmSavanna RestorationBur Oak Woods, Hobart, INBur Oak Woods is an 84-acre Oak savanna remnantdominated by very large open grown Bur Oaks.For 3 years we have been restoring over 50 acres ofsavanna habitat on this site. We will be continuingthese efforts as we cut exotic undesirable trees andshrubs. A short chainsaw safety/maintenance coursewill be held at the beginning of the workday. Formore details, contact (219) 879-4725.(Shirley Heinze Land Trust)February 15 · 7:00pm – 9:00pmHabitat Project Calling Frog SurveyWorkshop for VolunteersSand Ridge Nature Center, 15891 PaxtonAve. South Holland, ILLearn the calls of 13 local frogs and toads, and helpmonitor Calumet area frog populations. Trainedmonitors then go out 3 times in the spring to listenand record data at a designated natural area. Formore details, contact Laura Milkert at (312) 6657444 or lmilkert@fieldmuseum.org.(The Field Museum)February 18 9:00am – 12:00pmStewardship Day - Waking up the Sugar Bushat Chellberg FarmBailly/Chellberg Area of Indiana DunesNational Lakeshore, Highway 20 & MineralSprings Rd., Porter, INListen. you can hear the sap starting to run inthe sugar bush, it is almost time to stoke the fireand start making maple syrup. Come on overand help us get all the stuff ready for this sweettime of year! If you would like to join us, contactTed Winterfeld@nps.gov. Dress for the weather,bring a water bottle. We will provide all the otherequipment.(Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore)

February 22 · 7:00pm – 9:00pmHabitat Project Calling Frog SurveyWorkshop for VolunteersIndiana Dunes State Park Nature Center,1600 North 25E, Chesterton, INLearn the calls of 13 local frogs and toads, and helpmonitor Calumet area frog populations. Trainedmonitors then go out 3 times in the spring to listenand record data at a designated natural area. Formore details, contact (219) 879-4725.(Shirley Heinz Land Trust)MARCHMarch 8 6:00pm – 8:00pmChicago Southland Green DrinksBlarney Stone Pub15400 S. Cicero Ave., Oak Forest, ILJoin other volunteers, community members andenvironmental professionals for this eveningof socializing, networking, and education. Theevening will begin with an optional networkingactivity followed by guest speaker BenjaminCox, Executive Director for Friends of the ForestPreserves and then open social time. For moreinformation, contact ehasle@fieldmuseum.org.(The Field Museum)March 10 10:00am – 3:00pmExotic Species RemovalGordon & Faith Greiner Nature PreserveHobart, INA large amount of Prairie, fen and savannarestoration has been done at this site over the pastseveral years. Now we wish to turn our attentionto the wet mesic woods and a large population ofbush honeysuckle and multifloral rose. We will beusing loppers and brush cutters to remove thesespecies. For more details, contact (219) 879-4725.(Shirley Heinze Land Trust)March 10 1:00pm – 3:00pmClean-up of Burnham GreenwayEggers Grove Forest Preserve Parking Lot112th St. & Ave. E, Chicago, ILJoin us for a clean-up of the Burnham Greenwayalong Eggers Grove Forest Preserve. Wear sturdyshoes, long pants, and dress for the weather. Formore information call John at (773) 991-0613 orJudy at (773) 646-4773.(Calumet Ecological Park Association)March 17 9:00am – 12:00pmStewardship Day - Not all early bloomers aregoodMeet at the Indiana Dunes NationalLakeshore Visitor Center1215 N. State Rd. 49, Porter, INBased on what has popped up, we will beworking at a location in the park.Invasive species are one of the biggest problemsthis national park faces. Often the most aggressiveinvasive plants are the first to pop up, which makesMarch a great time to get out and pull them up.Joins in the invasion! Contact Ted Winterfeld@nps.gov to let him know you want to help. Dressfor the weather, bring a water bottle. We willprovide safety equipment and garden tools.(Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore)March 18 2:00pm – 4:00pmSustainable Backyard GardeningSoutheast Environmental Task Force Office,13300 S. Baltimore St., Chicago, ILLearn about plants that come back every year andwhat benefits they have in the garden. Growingseasons, soil care, and garden planning will also bediscussed. Call (773) 646-0436 to pre-register.(Southeast Environmental Task Force)March 31 11:00am – 2:00pmTree Care along the Burnham Greenway107th Street & Ave. D, Chicago, ILVolunteers mulch trees and clean up Bean’sPark and the Burnham Greenway. Wear sturdyshoes, long pants, bring gloves and dress for theweather. Call John at (773) 991-0613 or Judy at(773) 646-4773.(Calumet Ecological Park Association and Trees“R” Beautiful)County as part of the Midwest’s largest EarthDay effort. Volunteers should dress appropriatelyfor the weather. The site is located in Riverdaleat Forest View Road (134th) and Halsted St. ToRSVP or for more information, call (312) 8572757 or visit www.fotp.org.(Friends of the Parks, CIMBY & Blue IslandBicycle Group)April 21 12:00pm – 2:00pmLake Powderhorn Clean-upBrainard Ave., East of 136th St. & BurnhamAve., Burnham, ILVolunteers are needed to help clean up theshoreline of Lake Powderhorn in Lake PowderhornForest Preserve. Meet in the parking lot. Wearsturdy shoes, long pants and gloves. For moreinformation call John at (773) 991-0613 or Judy at(773) 646-4773.(Calumet Ecological Park Association)April 23, & 30 6:00pm – 7:00pmGarlic Mustard MondaysEggers Grove Forest PreserveEast 112th Street & Ave. E, Chicago, ILVolunteers should meet John Pastirik near thecaretaker’s house. Join us for one hour after workon two Mondays in April and continue in Mayto pull garlic mustard, an invasive species. Wearsturdy shoes, long pants, bring gloves and dress forthe weather. For more information, call John at(773) 991-0613 or Judy at (773) 646-4773.(Calumet Ecological Park Association)APRILApril 14 10:00am – 3:00pmTrail MaintenanceAmbler Flatwoods Nature Preserve,Michigan City, INAmbler Flatwoods is Shirley Heinze’s largest andperhaps richest preserve. There are over 5 miles ofhiking trails on this site that we will be maintainingon this day. We will be using loppers, chainsawsand leaf blowers to clear the trails. For more details,contact (219) 879-4725.(Shirley Heinze Land Trust)April 21 9:00am – 12:00pmStewardship Day - Garlic Mustard MassacreIndiana Dunes National Lakeshore - HeronRookery Unit, N. County Rd.600 E. Michigan City, INThe Heron Rookery is one of the most spectacularspring wildflower places in the park. However,garlic mustard seems to want to move out thenative plants and take over. We hope to get a greatgroup of folks to remove garlic mustard and enjoythe native plants. Ranger Ted Winterfeld@nps.gov would like to know if you will help. Dress forthe weather, bring a water bottle. Ted will providesafety equipment and garden tools.Dave Shepard shows Tree Buddies Catalpaleaves. Photo credit: Alison Heard.(Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore)April 21 9:00am – 12:00pmEarth Day Parks and Preserves Clean Up atWhistler WoodsPlease join us for a restoration effort at WhistlerWoods with the Forest Preserve District of CookGoldenrods class at Powderhorn Prairie inlate summer. Photo credit: Laura Milkert.Riverdale Tree Commission members withTree Buddies and leaf collection. Photocredit: Alison Heard.

Greencorps Chicago-Calumet: a Success for GreenInitiatives in the Calumet regionBy Zach Taylor, WRD Environmental, Inc.I was hired in March of 2010 to traina group of Chicago residents in forestry,natural areas management, prairierestoration, job site safety, and basichorticultural concepts. This was madepossible when the USDA Forest Serviceawarded an American Reinvestment andRecovery Act stimulus grant to the ChicagoDepartment of Environment to fund an18 month green job and ecological trainingprogram. WRD Environmental, Inc., myemployer, was hired to run the operationand implement the training. GreencorpsChicago, the successful job training andgardening program, would serve as amodel.My plan was simple. I would instructtrainees in the best management practicesthat I was familiar with and share withthem my love for the natural world.The participants and contributors to theprogram, including the Forest Service,the trainees, members of the CalumetStewardship Initiative (CSI) and theChicago Department of Environment,had a common goal: to restore sections ofthe Calumet Open Space Reserve whileproviding a green job training program thatwould lead to permanent, fulfilling greenjob placements.It is very fortunate that the Calumetregion is home to communities andorganizations that recognize the value ofthe land in this region. This commitmentto preserving and restoring Calumet openspaces has made my task so much easier.As the Project Manager, I provided theday-to-day “how to” instruction to thetrainees, but it was the CSI communitythat was really able to provide the “whyto” instruction. Ecological restoration isno easy task to accomplish. There are daysof extreme heat and extreme cold. Thereare tasks that require walking all day onuneven terrain. Some tasks, like removingillegally-dumped material or clearing anarea of Reed Canary Grass, were daunting.It was the local residents and volunteersthat came forward with assistance andgratitude that made the work even moreworthwhile. Experts in regional history,flora, and fauna started popping out of theground like wildflowers. In one case, I wasable to hire a local resident, Walter Marcisz,to provide excellent training in regionalbird identification. Mr. Marcisz was one ofmany local residents that provided insighton the history of the Calumet region. Thehistorical context of the region providedthe participants with a direct connectionto the natural world and proved what animpact a group of individuals can have inshaping their environment.After 18 months of training, theGreencorps Chicago-Calumet programgraduated seven individuals with highlyZach Taylor, Project Manager, poses with graduates from the Greencorps Chicago– Calumet Training Program. Photo credit: Jerry Attere.marketable job skills and professionalcertifications. Four of the participants havealready begun to work in new professionalcapacities with the skills they developed inthe program.This is a wonderful accomplishment, butI think the truly remarkable aspect of theprogram was the participant’s realizationof their direct impact and their newfoundconnection with the wetlands, prairies, andnatural world in the region. A new worldopened up to them - a tree was no longermerely a tree, it was a Populus deltoides, aweed became Lythrum salacaria, and thecrossroads of 134th Street and TorrenceAvenue (Hegewisch Marsh), became oneof the sites that provided a vital link to thenatural world. A world that became evenhealthier as the trainees worked to improveCalumet’s important natural areas.rapid ColorGuidesBy Rebecca Schillo, The Field MuseumThe Field Museum has developed anew Rapid Color Guide for CommonGoldenrods of the Chicago Region.The guide and others can be viewedand downloaded for free from theField Museum’s website: ?s cr. The goal of Rapid Color Guidesis to provide a set of free tools that helpindividuals quickly and accurately identifyspecies in the field. The Guides oftenconcentrate on a limited geographicarea and may fill gaps in the publishedliterature. The Field Museum is currentlydeveloping new guides to Oaks andCommon Spiders of the Chicago Region. Ifyou have other ideas for new Rapid ColorGuides, please contact Rebecca Schillo atrschillo@fieldmusuem.org.

Chicago Department of Environment30 N. LaSalle St.Suite 200Chicago, IL 60602-2590PresortedStandardU.S. PostagePA I DChicago, ILPermit No. 3899PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPERPARTNERSAlliance for the Great Lakes Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative Blacks in Green Calumet Is My Backyard (CIMBY) Calumet Ecological Park Association CalumetHeritage Partnership Centro Comunitario Juan Diego Chicago Department of Environment Chicago Park District Claretian Associates Delta Institute Dunes Learning Center Field Museum Forest Preserve District of Cook County Friends of the Calumet-Sag Trail Friends of the Forest Preserves Friends of the Chicago River Friends of the Parks Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelly Foundation Global Alliance of Artists Golden Apple Foundation Hammond Parks Foundation Illinois Department of Natural Resources Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Illinois Natural History Survey IndianaDunes National Lakeshore Knowledge Hookup Legal Environmental Foundation of Indiana, Inc. (LEAF) The Nature Conservancy NW Indiana Paddling Association Pullman Civic Organization Save the Dunes Conservation Fund Shirley Heinze Land Trust South Chicago Chamber of Commerce Southeast Environmental Task Force Southeast Chicago Historical Society South SuburbanMayors & Managers Association Taltree Arboretum and Gardens United Urban Network, Inc. Village of Riverdale Tree Commission Wildlife Habitat Council Wild Ones Chapter 38riverdale Tree buddiesBy Helen Denham, Riverdale Tree CommissionThe Riverdale Tree Commission - TreeBuddies program began this fall withwalking tours of the community, gatheringleaves and learning about the unique varietyof trees within the Village of Riverdale. TheTree Buddies program is an opportunityfor the youth of Riverdale to participate intree events and activities with the RiverdaleTree Commission. The program exploresnature, trees, insect environments and thebiodiversity of the area.Riverdale Arborist, Dave Shepard, leadsthe walks while discussing the fall foliage.On one of these walks, Shepard noted howthe leaves were more red and orange makingthem more spectacular this year.The Tree Buddies listen to the crunchingsounds of the fallen leaves as they walkfrom tree to tree. Shepard gives clues tohelp them identify the names of the trees.They examine and learn about Sugar Maple,Sycamore, Green Ash, and Silver Maple.Upon seeing the Catalpa tree, several TreeBuddies are astonished by the size of theleaves. Amaria, age 9, comments “I had funwalking in the leaves.” A collection of leaveswill be pressed, mounted and displayedthroughout the Village of Riverdale.As the walk continued, Tree Buddies wereexcited to explore the insects they saw onthe trees.They watched with excitement asone insect crawled from a tree branch ontoShepard’s hand and perched on his finger.Several youths asked questio

Mayors & Managers Association Taltree Arboretum and Gardens United Urban Network, Inc. Village of Riverdale Tree Commission Wildlife Habitat Council Wild Ones Chapter 38 The Chicago Southland is doing its part to promote "Green." In March 2011, the first Chicago Southland Green Drinks was held at Flossmoor Station Restaurant