Archive Page 5-043010

Newsletter Articles & Photo/Video Gallery

CSI WEBSITE GALLERY SECTION:

Included below is a photographic and videographic sampling of recent activities performed by CSI Member Organizations who work at cleaning up, restoring and maintaining Calumet Region environmental treasures, preserving, recording and transmitting the culture of the region, and developing its economy in environmentally responsible ways.   [Please note that the newest entries are closest to the bottom of this page.]

Articles from the CSI Winter 2009-Spring 2010 Newsletter:

Southeast Chicago Natural Areas Tour

By Jerry Attere, WRD Environmental

You may have heard this phrase before – “the Calumet region holds some of the most significant natural areas in the upper Midwest,” but have you actually visited some of them? On October 22, 2009, 43 participants from Illinois and Indiana were able to do just that. Members of the Calumet Stewardship Initiative hosted a bus tour of some of these ecologically significant natural areas in southeast Chicago. The tour catered to stewards and land managers from northwest Indiana and was essentially a return leg of a tour of northwest Indiana natural areas that took place on September 22, 2008.

Graciously sponsored by the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the tour began with a hike through Hegewisch Marsh to observe the many changes that have occurred since the site received National Coastal Wetlands Conservation funding for restoration in 2006. Nicole Kamins, Program Director for the Chicago Department of Environment’s Calumet Initiative, pointed out key results from the project, such as non-native and invasive plant species removal, the installation of native seed materials, the establishment of 1.2 miles of mulched trails, and the installation of 375 native trees and 75 native shrubs to date. The group then enjoyed a hike through Powderhorn Prairie – a dune and swale site with over 270 species of plants. Alice Brandon, Conservation Director from Friends of the Forest Preserves, and her volunteer stewards have been focusing on two dunes since 2006. They have effectively cleared invasive plant species including buckthorn, as well as reducing native shrubs that are too dense due to lack of fire on site.                                                               

      The next half hour was spent driving by notable sites, including Eggers Woods, Hyde Lake Wetlands, Indian Ridge Marsh, Heron Pond, and Big Marsh. Restoration efforts are slated to commence at Indian Ridge Marsh in the summer of 2010.

Participants received a rare treat on this tour – a clear, unobstructed view of Lake Calumet from Harborside International Golf Center. The lake remains a vital habitat for birds and fish in the region.

The last stop was Beaubien Woods Forest Preserve, managed by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County in partnership with the Field Museum and the Calumet Stewardship Initiative. This 80 acre wetland is home to 165 bird species that have been identified by ornithologist Doug Stotz of the Field Museum. Laurel Ross, Urban Conservation Director at the Field Museum, led a hike to see the areas that have undergone restoration. A lack of regular fire management has allowed brush to choke the site, but with regular clearing of invasive woody and herbaceous plant species by volunteer stewards and students, the site is slowly but surely returning to mirror what it may have been like long ago. The Field Museum adopted this site in 2005 to provide a venue for stewardship projects for students from Mighty Acorns, Earth Force, and Calumet Is My Backyard (CIMBY).

        The sites visited on the tour were chosen to show the variety and size of some important natural areas that exist in southeast Chicago. In addition, they demonstrate how partnership and shared best management practices can transform the quality of wetlands and other open spaces on a regional scale. Much is to be learned from one another and much remains to be done. 2010 therefore presents us with a renewed opportunity to join forces and resume our efforts to not only preserve these valuable habitats for nature, but to provide recreational and educational benefits to the community.

CSI Indiana to Illinois bus Trip - October 22, 2009

By Linda Cook, CSI Membership Committee Chair

Many thank-yous go out to the planners and presenters on this year’s environmental sites tour.  Last year’s tour took place on a warm, sunny day ten days after a flood devastated many areas of Northwest Indiana.  The weather this year was cold and rainy.  We didn’t mind since the presentations and sites made the day’s outing worth every minute. 

My husband, Richard, and I enjoyed meeting new participants and catching up with others we have been acquainted with for years.  The guests were impressed with the graciousness of our partners and the treats we all provided for each other during the day.      

                                                                          

Note from the CSI Chair

By Joann Podkul

During 2009, CSI members took on additional responsibilities to participate in the Dunes Bio-Blitz, the Burnham Plan Centennial, the 2nd Annual 10th Ward Green Summit, Chicago Artists' Month and to host a bus tour of significant natural areas on the Illinois side for our Indiana partners.

While it might appear that 2010 will be a little less hectic by comparison, the major focus on the "Leave No Child Inside" theme could keep us all quite busy.  Plans are already underway to hold a teacher conference and a family event in June, the month dedicated to the program. 

However, as the accompanying article by Cassandra Cannon indicates, isn't there a child in each of us ready to enjoy the outdoors – the woods, the lakes, the riverbanks, the prairies?  With that in mind, perhaps we should let 2010 be the year we seek out veterans, seniors, church-groups, and all sorts of yet untapped organizations to broaden the commitment to "Leave No One Inside."

Adventures in Time-Travel at the Dunes Learning Center

By Cassandra A. Cannon, United Urban Network

You know, "back in the day"--well, not all that far back, and "the day" we'll just leave to speculation--I recall some of my greatest memories originated in the Girl Scouts.  Starting out as a Brownie and working through the levels until I reached Cadet was my first real sense of learning collective responsibilities and teamwork, outside my large family.

My community was ethnically diverse, and my girlfriends and I were of African-American, Croatian, Greek, Hispanic, Serbian, and a few other melting pot ethnicities.

Even though we had sort of hung out from time to time as classmates, it wasn't until we all joined Scouts and took our first wilderness journey to the great outdoors that we really got close.   A few had camped out before with their families, but for the majority of us, the hills, trees, and animals hiding all around were new and wonderful.                                               

We were all inner city kids, and none of us learned at home about our environment and the role of nature in sustaining our planet, nor the responsibilities we had to sustain it through proper care of its waters, trees, and wildlife.

So what's my point?                                                          

This past August, I had the pleasure of bringing a number of our "Vision Committee" members to the Dunes Learning Center, in Chesterton, Indiana, where John Hayes, who I met at the 2009 Dunes BioBlitz, was our host and tour guide.  When he started talking about the Dunes Learning Center, the wildlife, and the various programs available for the communities, I could swear that a racoon skin hat and a buckskin outfit seemed to materialize on him instantly.

Questions came from everyone. We could see that he loved his job.    Before we left, John gave us a mini-tour of the bunk houses. Walking in total darkness from the lodge, you could hear squeals and giggles, laughter, and a high-pitched scream from one of the ladies when a small critter of some sort ran across our path.  It was hilarious! Teachers, doctors, medical personnel, historians, moms, and more of those serious adults were instantaneously transformed into a group of giddy child-like campers, just like my old Troop.

Since then, our Male Empowerment Group and church organizations have expressed interest in using the Dunes Learning Center for their activities.

Sometimes, as adults, we can forget how much the simplest pleasures of yesterday can still be found today, and close by.

For great education, fun, and warm hospitality wilderness-style, looks no further. The Dunes Learning Center is for everyone

Thanks to Kevin Murphy and Joann Podkul, and Linda and Richard Cook for directing us "back home, again," to Indiana.

Laurel Ross, The Field Museum, presents a stalk of Phragmites to visitors attending the Beaubien Woods hike - part of the Thismia americana play series.  Photo Credit: Jerry Attere

TreeKeepers demonstrate how to plant a tree at Hegewisch Marsh. Photo Credit: Shelli Bruno

On Saturday, January 16, several Calumet Stewardship Initiative member organizations held events at several sites.   Three events, Winter Wonderland at Wolf Lake, sponsored by the Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative (AWLI), the Powderhorn Prairie Stewardship Workday, and the Whistler Woods Stewardship Workday, both co-sponsored by Friends of the Forest Preserves (FOTFP) and Forest Preserve District of Cook County (FPDCC), are shown here.

This video provides an overview of events at the three sites. (Video by Kevin Murphy)

Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative (AWLI) held its 9th Annual Bi-State Winter Wonderland at Wolf Lake on Saturday, January 16, 2009.  Events held in the morning at Hammond's Environmental Education Center were repeated on the Illinois side of the lake, at the Southeast Sportsmen's Club, in Hegewisch.  Those events included a presentation on "The Connection of Nature and Art," and another on the "Underground Railroad."

FOTFP Conservation Director, Alice Brandon, instructs Powderhorn Prairie volunteers.  (Photo by Kevin Murphy)

CIMBY's Rebecca Blazer (right, kneeling) conducts a Stewardship Workday at Whistler Woods.  Finding fresh animal tracks led to an impromptu lesson/demonstration on analyzing tracks.  (Also see video, above, for the demonstration lesson.)  (Photo by Kevin Murphy)

The animal tracks.  (Photo by Kevin Murphy)

Indiana nature artist, Susan Nolan, tells of the way nature stimulates her painting.

(Photo by Kevin Murphy)

Artist Jim Milkowski explains how he uses branches and the like to create functional art. 

Dr. Larry McClelland, retired Governor's State University dean, and former mayor of Park Forest, Illinois, talks about the importance of highlighting the stories of the freedom seekers who risked all to travel the Underground Railway.

(Photo by Joann Podkul)

The Calumet Stewardship Initiative's Education Committee held a special "leave No Child Inside" planning meeting, January 28, 2010, at the Paul Douglas Center for Environmental Education, at the Dunes National Lakeshore.

(The LNCI Initiative is a central initiative of Chicago Wilderness, which works, in conjunction with its member organizations, "to create opportunities for children to experience nature, thereby connecting them to the natural world in ways that foster generations of healthy children who care about nature and will protect it.")

Committee members rough out the preliminary issues to be addressed in planning the 2010 LNCI summer program. (Photos by Kevin Murphy)

Calumet Is My BackYard (CIMBY) held its "Annual Workshop on Environmental Leadership" on February 5, 2010.   The workshop " . . . (brought) . . . together a number of environmental professionals currently working in the Chicago region with students from CIMBY’s 10 participating high schools in order to give students a taste of what a career in the environmental field might be like. Working with small groups of students, the professionals . . . (spoke) . . . about their career paths and then . . . (involved) . . . students in a problem-solving discussion about a particular challenge that the professional faces in the course of their work."

In their post-event responses to a questionnaire that asked them about  "Comments about the day? What was most interesting? Most helpful? Ideas for next time?" the students overwhelmingly (99%) expressed an interest (73% definite "yes," 26% "somewhat") in doing more to help the environment.

Students who took part last summer in a variety of CIMBY High School Internship opportunities, share stories of their experiences with fellow students. (Photo by Laura Milkert)

Sam Vergara, of the Student Conservation Association, challenges participants to think about environmental stewardship and restoration, and to envision a career working within the environmental field.  (Photo by Laura Milkert)

CIMBY students learn about solar cells and problem-solve how to make them more efficient, with presenter Quiana Moore of Chicago State University.  (Photo by Laura Milkert)

CSI member organization, Knowledge Hook-Up (KHU), held an "Afternoon Valentine's Day Dance " at The Crow Bar Banquet Hall, on Chicago's East Side--on Valentine's Day.   The event was held to thank the teens who worked with KHU last summer, KHU's current ESL and GED instructor from Olive-Harvey College, and a number of community organizations who helped KHU in its efforts.

Knowledge Hook-Up guests enjoy dinner before dancing.  (Photo by Kevin Murphy)

Emcee, Diane Anderson, presents bouquet to KHU Founder and CEO, Patty Fisher, during ceremonies at The Crow Bar.  (Photo by Joann Podkul)

Eggers Grove Stewardship Workday, March 13, 2010

A mixed group of environmental scientists, students, seniors, and a community bank's environmental volunteers, cleared away invasive brush from a stretch of the Eggers Grove Forest Preserve, between the Burnham Greenway and the road that services the forest preserve.  

Co-sponsored by the Calumet Ecological Park Association (CEPA) and the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, the work group guided by CEPA Steward John Pastirik, included Laura Milkert and Abigail Derby-Lewis from the Field Museum's Calumet Environmental Education Program (CEEP), staff members of the East Side Branch of U.S. Bank, members of CEPA and the Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative (AWLI), along with Service Learning students from Hales Franciscan, and George Washington, high schools.  

After completing the day's tasks of clearing away and burning invasive brush, participants were treated to a hot dog roast over that fire, ending the day on a warm, festive note.  (See the related article about a "mystery find," on this site's Guest Articles page.)

"Okay, John, tell me this--are we roasting hot dogs--or a whole animal?!?"

Powderhorn Prairie Stewardship Workday

The snow and wind nibbling at the Powderhorn Prairie Stewardship Workday this morning (March 20, 2010) was determined to assert the full majesty of Winter on the small, but dedicated, team of volunteers from Park National Bank--now part of U.S. Bank, but Spring was definitely in their eyes, their attitudes and, most importantly, in their spirited removal of invasive brush from the prairie.  Guided by Calumet Ecological Park Association steward, John Pastirik, and Matt Simcoe, Friends of the Forest Preserves Apprentice Steward, the volunteers also appeared to be enjoying themselves (often an outcome of such workdays, we've noticed).

Eva and Sylvia, of Park National Bank--now part of U.S. Bank, and Matt Simcoe, from Friends of the Forest Preserves, pause for CSI photographer, on a cold, windy, cleanup day at Powderhorn Prairie.   (Photo by Joann Podkul)

CSI Holds First General Membership Meeting of the Year 2010

Representatives of Calumet Stewardship Initiative member organizations met March 23, 2010, at Sand Ridge Nature Center, in South Holland, IL, for the first of two such meetings for the year. 

Two new member organizations, Save the Dunes Conservation Fund, and Village of Riverdale Tree Commission were approved by the members.  

The Leave No Child Inside (LNCI) Program was an important subject, as were The Calumet Summit, to be held at Purdue Calumet, April 27 and 28, and the 10th Ward Green Summit, which will be in operation for the entire month of May, in the Southeast Chicago area. 

The question of Strategic Planning for the next three years will be slated as the major agenda item for the CSI General Membership meeting on September 28, 2010.  (Photos by Kevin Murphy)

Clean-up of Burnham Greenway

On Saturday, March 27, members of the Calumet Ecological Park Association, the Park National East Side Branch of U.S. Bank, and Chicago's East Side community, joined CEPA steward, John Pastirik for a clean-up of the Burnham Greenway adjacent to the Eggers Grove Forest Preserve.   Working from 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M., the volunteers filled many bags full of invasive plants, debris, and litter. Upon completion of the work, workers were treated to hot dogs, roasted over a fire that was based on the invasive debris collected during the work session.

Park National volunteers join John Pastirik in CSI photo moment. (Photo by Joann Podkul)

Volunteers on "search and remove" mission along Burnham Greenway.  (Photo by Kevin Murphy)

Volunteers spread out along the Burnham Greenway.  (Photo by Kevin Murphy)

Southeast Chicago Historical Society's Annual Meeting

On Saturday, March 27, the Southeast Chicago Historical Society held its annual business meeting in the Calumet Park Field House.  Among the business matters and historical issues discussed, the loss of the last two working Hulett ore unloaders in the world cast a wake-like pall over the proceedings, reminding society members of the fragility of historic preservation efforts.   Museum curator, Rod Sellers', photo presentation regarding those machines punctuated the severity of the loss dramatically.   

SECHS Treasurer, Carolyn Mulac, reports on the society's accounts.  (Photo by Joann Podkul)

Members learned of the disappointing loss of the last--in the world--Hulett Ore Unloaders from the Republic/LTV site.  (Photo by Kevin Murphy)

On Saturday, April 17, 2010, volunteers from across the Chicagoland area joined in celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day by lending a hand at this month's Powderhorn Prairie workday, where they cleared brush from this beautiful prairie and savanna, and enjoyed the--somewhat brisk--return of spring.  Lunch was provided.   Calumet Environmental Education Program Stewardship Coordinator, Laura Milkert, hosted the event at Beaubien Woods, which was sponsored by Friends of the Forest Preserves.    (Video by Kevin Murphy.  Photos provided by Matt Simcoe.)

Night Hikers Have a Delightful Time at Hegewisch Marsh

The Chicago Department of Environment hosted a night hike on Tuesday April 20 at Hegewisch Marsh, where participants experienced the night world in a woodland and wetland within the city, learning about nocturnal animals and their adaptations, how to use one's senses, and enjoy the special challenges and experiences afforded by a night outing.   (Photos provided by Laura Milkert)

Field Museum entomologist, Jim Louderman, shows fascinated participants one of several different kinds of beetles he discovered at the site.

As the sun set, the hike began.  Hikers learned about the history and ecology of the site, trained their ears to listen for owls and frogs, and enjoyed an early spring night immersed in and becoming comfortable in the darkness.

Jerry Attere, WRD Environmental Consultant for Chicago Department of Environment, welcomes community members to the Hegewisch Marsh Night Hike on April 20th. 

CSI Chair Makes C3 Earth Day Presentation at Magnet School

CSI Chairperson, Joann Podkul, a graduate of the first Chicago Conservation Corps (C3) Leader Training Program, made an Earth-Day presentation for C3 at Robert A. Black Magnet School, for students K-3.  She was positively impressed with the knowledge already demonstrated by the students, and by their enthusiasm for the subject matter. (Photos by Kevin Murphy)

Photos of the group pulling up garlic mustard. It was fun!--Matt Simcoe