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Year-end giving campaign aims to raise $45,000 When you give to The Nature Foundation of Will County, you get more of what you love about the Will County forest preserves. That message is the focus of the Foundation’s year-end giving campaign – and they need your help to reach their $45,000 fundraising goal. With your gift, The Nature Foundation can support more projects and initiatives across the Will County forest preserves, in turn giving you more to enjoy. “As a donor, you have that power,” said Tara Neff, the Foundation’s executive director. “You help make these things possible. And we hope you see and experience the impact your gift makes every day.” The Nature Foundation’s mission is to create a legacy of giving that supports and celebrates the preservation, conservation, education and recreation priorities of the Forest Preserve District of Will County . The Foundation invests in projects and initiatives that align with its three pillars: protect nature, inspire discovery and bring people and nature together. When you give to The Nature Foundation, your gift stays right here in your community, funding projects that directly benefit you and the environment.  You can see the evidence of your investment across Will County, and experience it yourself when you hike in a forest preserve or drop by a visitor center. “You don’t have to wonder how your gift will be used. You can experience it,” said Neff, adding that she hopes people feel personally connected to the projects their gifts support. A few examples of how the Foundation puts your donation to work : exhibitions at visitor centers; support for animal ambassadors; recreation programs such as the Take It Outside challenge and Woods Walk; and preserve amenities such as bike repair stations and water fountains. And it’s not just programs and experiences that the Foundation supports; it also helps create a healthy environment by providing funds for the Forest Preserve District’s restoration and conservation initiatives that improve wildlife habitat and ecosystems. “Without a healthy environment to give you clean water, clean air and daily opportunities for outside recreation, your quality of life is reduced,” Neff said. The Foundation pursues funding through grants as well as from its corporate partners. However, it’s your gift that allows the Foundation to be nimble, funding projects and initiatives as needs arise, Neff said.  And if you’re not ready to give today, consider becoming a member of The Legacy Society by including The Nature Foundation in your estate planning. Donations received through the Foundation’s year-end giving campaign can be tax deductible; and because these funds are not tied to a specific project or initiative, they can provide immediate and flexible support for Forest Preserve District priorities, Neff said. “Everything we fund leverages existing support to give you more of what the Forest Preserve District offers,” she said.  “Tax dollars only go so far, and there’s always more to do.” Forest Preserve staff make funding requests directly to The Nature Foundation. Neff appreciates their enthusiasm and admires how passionately they work to enhance people’s experiences in the preserves. “We help bring their visions to life and add value to Forest Preserve District projects and initiatives,” she said. “And our donors make that happen.” Neff said she understands that people want to know how their donation will be used. It’s a valid question, she said, and it’s one that is easy to answer when you give to The Nature Foundation. “When you’re inspired by a visitor center exhibit, share new nature facts you learned on Willy’s Wilderness website or fix your flat at a trailside bicycle repair station, you’ll experience the impact your gift makes,” she said. “Why give to us?  Because nature benefits and so do you.”

As the last of this year’s wildflowers faded away, a group of Forest Preserve staff and volunteers spent a brisk fall day planting hundreds of native plant plugs around Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon to help next year’s display be even more spectacular.     The planting day was made possible thanks to Pembina Pipeline Corp. , which has made a three-year, $40,000 commitment to The Nature Foundation of Will County that included funding for natural area restoration and habitat improvements around Four Rivers. In addition to Pembina’s financial support, this is the second year employees from the company’s Aux Sable plant volunteered to help with these habitat improvements.    In all, the Pembina employees and a group of Forest Preserve employees and volunteers planted 734 plugs, 16 shrubs, 55 1-gallon perennials and one tree at four spots around the Four Rivers campus earlier this month. Over the winter, Forest Preserve staff will also spread seed in the preserve’s prairie areas as part of the effort funded by Pembina, said Judith Wallace, land management coordinator for the Forest Preserve District.    Thanks to Pembina’s generosity, the landscape around Four Rivers is able to be enhanced beyond what the Forest Preserve could accomplish on its own, both in terms of financial and manpower resources, Wallace said.    “It’s absolutely great, because we are able to do some planting here in multiple areas that we wouldn’t be able to do otherwise,” she said. “Our resources get stretched pretty thin sometimes, and also in terms of what we can get done with the amount of volunteers and staff, so Pembina is here with their people today as well as making the donation to purchase the plants and seed, which is great.”    Fall might not be a time people are thinking about planting in their gardens at home, but it’s the perfect time to put native plants in the ground, Wallace said.     “It actually is good planting season because we’re still early enough where the ground is not going to freeze really hard,” she said. “Now that cooler temperatures are coming in, with cooler nights, the plants like that better. They don’t like hot, dry conditions, so the cooler temperatures and hopefully more rainfall gives them plenty of time for them to get their roots established before the ground freezes hard.”    The Nature Foundation Executive Director Tara Neff was part of the group who got a little dirt on their hands and knees while putting the hundreds of new plants into the ground.    “This was a pretty tough weather day, but the group was absolutely ready for the challenge,” she said. “We accomplished so much on the Four Rivers campus.”    Pembina is one of The Nature Foundation’s major community partners, and Neff was happy to have a chance to meet employees while making improvements around Four Rivers.    “It was nice to connect with the employees and learn that their love for gardening and the outdoors led them to volunteer,” she said, adding she was happy to hear some of the Pembina volunteers plan to return in the winter to help when seed is spread across the prairie areas of the preserve.    Some of the Pembina employees who pitched in this year also volunteered at a similar event last year. For them, coming back was a rewarding experience.     “It’s great seeing how it’s filled in, with all the hard work we put in that day,” said Pembina employee Carin Wilson. “It’s good to see the rewards.”    Pembina employee Anne Liptak agreed and said she too appreciated the opportunity to see last year’s effort thriving.     “When I’m down bent over digging, I’m seeing plants that were obviously planted last year from the same effort,” Liptak said. “It’s rewarding for me to come back and see things blooming.”    Both Wilson and Liptak enjoy volunteering and being outdoors in nature and welcomed the opportunity to do both in their community.     “I am chained to a desk, so this opportunity to spend a day volunteering outdoors is wonderful. It’s great,” Liptak said.    For Wallace, the day’s work was just the start of her efforts to get the plants well established this year so they can show off next summer.    “I will be watching it intently,” she said. “If we don’t get a lot more rain, either myself or someone else is going to be out here follow-up watering. I wouldn’t even start this if I didn’t think we could keep them watered.”    Wallace said the work this year was designed to enhance the existing landscape and also attract wildlife. Along the side of the education center, she chose native plant plugs to complement what was planted last year.      “What we’re doing this year is looking at what species we don’t have yet that we might want to have here,” she said. “We are infilling with some different species and kind of more of the same of the ones that are doing really good.”    The idea is arrange the plants in such a way that pollinators will be enticed by them, she said.     “They like groupings of them, that’s what attracts them,” she said of pollinators. “So we’re putting groupings of threes, sixes, nines so there will be pops of color for people to see and enjoy, but the pollinators will really be able to zone in on those plants.”    New plants also went in around the pond next to the education center, and Wallace said she looks forward to attracting even more life to the space, which is often used as an outdoor classroom for field trips.     “At this time next year, it should be quite lovely — a nice variety of blooming wetland plants to attract pollinators. We already have cricket frogs here, I see lots of warblers in the spring, I’ve heard owls, so this is a wonderful little spot, and the interpreters are going to love using this for a classroom.”    Additional areas of focus included supplementing the little bluestem grasses in landscaped beds in front of Four Rivers and also adding more native plants around the Four Rivers Shelter, which is a popular spot for weddings and other gatherings.      Funding provided by Pembina for the planting effort is part of a larger $40,000 commitment that also included funding for STEM and STEAM activities at Forest Preserve visitor centers as well as funding for a bus scholarship program to cover field trip transportation costs for schools serving low-income students.

Naperville man wanted to ensure his tractor would be used for education and interpretation Life on the farm isn’t as familiar of a concept today in Will County as it was several decades ago, when agriculture was one of the leading industries in the area, but antique farm equipment recently acquired by the Forest Preserve District aims to help bridge that divide and bring our region’s farm roots to life.  The new antique equipment, a 1939 Model B John Deere tractor and wooden grain wagon, will be added to the collection at Riverview Farmstead Preserve in Naperville . They were purchased from Naperville resident Bruce Roskens, who purchased the tractor in 1990 and the wagon a few years later and has since restored them.   The tractor and wagon were paid for with a $2,500 grant from Target awarded to The Nature Foundation of Will County specifically for the purchase of the equipment, said Tara Neff, executive director of The Nature Foundation.   Jen Guest, a Forest Preserve facility supervisor, said the opportunity to acquire these two new pieces came about when Roskens donated a 1940s International Harvester Little Genius plow to the Forest Preserve. At that time, Guest mentioned to Roskens that she was also looking for a tractor to add to the collection, and he offered up the tractor and wagon.   “What’s really cool is the donated plow and the grain wagon have been used with the tractor,” Guest said. “We ended up with a nice set of equipment on display that has agricultural ties together.”  Both the tractor and the wagon are particularly meaningful to Roskens, who grew up on a farm in northwest Iowa. The tractor is the same John Deere model as one owned by his father — and, in fact, is just a few serial numbers off from his father’s old tractor — and the wagon is the exact one once owned by his father, which he brought home in pieces and reassembled.  Roskens has worked on the pieces since acquiring them years go, and he has done much of the work with his two sons. He said the tractor engine and transmission were in surprisingly good shape when he purchased it. After replacing the spark plugs, fluids and some wires and giving it a good cleaning and fresh gas, it fired right up.   “I am happy to say I was able to get a picture of it running with my dad sitting on it before the restoration was complete,” he said. “Dad passed a couple of years later, but we often talked about it while he was still living.”  He originally purchased the tractor while living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he worked for the Quaker Oats Company. Soon after purchasing and restoring it, he was transferred to the company headquarters in Illinois, and he relocated — with the tractor and another piece of farm equipment in tow.   In Naperville, the tractor became a familiar sight in the neighborhood and around the city.   “Our new neighbors in Naperville clearly thought I was nuts, but after giving many children — and some adults — rides around the neighborhood, it was recognized as a fun antique,” he said.  That first year, the tractor made an appearance at the Naperville Labor Day parade, and it’s been a part of many community events since then.   “I was able to give many, many rides for local schools, churches, birthday parties, swim teams, etc. over the years,” he said. “Even our two sons and daughter learned to drive it for parades and events and enjoyed discussing the history of the tractor and wagon.”  At Riverview Farmstead, the new tractor and wagon will be added to a collection of more than 20 pieces of historic farm equipment, some of them dating as far back at the late 1800s, Guest said. The equipment shows the evolution of the modernization of farming, with many of the earliest pieces being horse-powered.   “It’s very neat to see how early farmers and inventors found ways to make farming easier,” she said.    For Roskens, it was important that the tractor and wagon be used for education and interpretation. He serves on the board of the Friends of Danada, a DuPage County organization that promotes the history of the Danada estate. Friends of Danada sponsors educational programs for children, and over the years he’s noticed kids have become less aware of the area’s farm roots and even what farming means.   “During the course of conducting many of those field tours the past few years, it became clearly obvious that young urban children have little knowledge of how crops are grown and how food is produced,” he said.   Roskens also wants people to understand the value of the work farmers do and how crop production and machinery have evolved through the years.   That’s a goal of Guest’s as well. She hopes having these pieces will bring Will County’s agricultural history to life in a place that was dedicated to it for decades. Riverview Farmstead preserves what was the Clow family farmstead beginning in the 1800s. The farm was owned by the Clow family until 1974, and it was named a landmark by the Naperville Historic Sites Commission in 1991. The Forest Preserve acquired the property in 1994.  Guest’s hope is that the tractor and wagon, along with other antique equipment and interpretive pieces in the barn, limestone house and original settlement house, help tell the story of Will County’s agricultural past and that farms are still crucial today.  “Kids understand the static idea of a farm — a place where farm animals live with a barn, a farmer on a tractor and field of corn,” she said. “They don’t necessarily realize that someone is growing their food on a farm, that farming is a whole business that keeps our country viable.”  Having these real, tangible artifacts helps people connect with life on the farm in a way that pictures can’t, Guest said.  “You get a closer look at all the moving parts, the scale of the size of equipment and get a chance to ask questions about how it operates,” she said. “There is something magical about seeing something up close in person.”  The quality of the pieces also speaks to the workmanship that went into crafting them.   “This equipment is so well made it has lasted for decades and even over a century in some cases,” she said. “It’s cool to think these items were used on real farms.”  Guest said she appreciates that The Nature Foundation so willingly supports Forest Preserve initiatives and projects, assisting with funding for exhibits, programs and, as is the case with the tractor and wagon, interpretive pieces.   “They help us supplement our annual budget, filling in gaps while providing an opportunity to expand our services to visitors,” she said.   The grant that paid for the tractor and wagon was the second Target grant received by The Nature Foundation this year. The first, applied for in 2023 and received in 2024, was a $4,000 grant to support volunteer workdays.  Target grants are by invite only, and charitable organizations must be invited to apply. Neff said the opportunity for the grant came about because the Foundation and the Forest Preserve have an existing relationship with Target through a volunteer workday in the preserves that was coordinated for Target employees.

Funding helps pay for a variety of Forest Preserve District of Will County initiatives The Nature Foundation of Will County is celebrating 10 years of fundraising on behalf of the Forest Preserve District with a check presentation and a fundraiser.  Foundation Executive Director Tara Neff presented a check for $393,450 to the Forest Preserve’s Board of Commissioners at its monthly meeting on Sept. 12. And she also announced a $10K in 10 Days: The Decade Challenge  fundraiser, which runs through Sept. 22. Foundation funding has provided program support, supplies and a wide variety of Forest Preserve enhancements through the years. This is all accomplished by a large circle of people who volunteer their time, energy and money to make the Foundation successful, said Forest Preserve Board Commissioner Julie Berkowicz, who also is a Foundation Board member.  “There’s just an incredible circle of people who are donating in ways you can’t even measure to the Forest Preserve system,” she said during the meeting. “That isn’t recognized enough. It’s a mighty force in the background that has its own little energy.”  The check included a $375,000 donation from the Dollinger family. The money was used for a two-phase, recently completed Lake Chaminwood Preserve improvement project . “The generous Dollinger family donation to the Nature Foundation allowed Forest Preserve staff to create a plan that incorporated short- and long-range goals and made possible a large-scale project completed in two phases rather than having a vision and hoping to secure funding in the future,” Neff said.  In addition to improving Lake Chaminwood, this donation check is being used for the: Annual Woods Walk hiking challenge, which began Sept. 1 and runs through Nov. 30. " Indige-Facts , " a contemporary Native American exhibit, which opens Sept. 21 at Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville. " Lost and Found – Remnants of Savannas and Old-Growth Forests " exhibit, which opens Oct. 15 at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon.  Nature restoration at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, provided by Pembina. The acquisition of a fully restored and functional 1936 John Deer Tractor and Wagon for the Riverview Farmstead Preserve site. The tractor, which was provided by a grant from Target and restored by Bruce Roskens, will made its debut at Fall on the Farm on Saturday, Sept. 14. Bird feeding enhancements at Isle a la Cache Museum.

If you thought you missed your window to add some native plants to your landscape this year, think again. We don’t typically think of summer as planting season, but it’s not too late to add some color to your yard with summer-blooming native plants. Native plants are a good choice for home landscapes because they require less maintenance and upkeep. They are well adapted to our climate and soil because they are meant to grow here. Native plants that bloom from late summer into fall can still be planted later in the growing season. Keep in mind, though, that the plants you add to your yard now might not bloom this year or even next. Native plants can take a few years to grow and become established, so it might take a year or two before the fruits of your labor this summer pay off with colorful displays in your yard. Once they do, though, they will be full of activity, providing food and shelter for all manner of insects plus some birds and other wildlife. Asters Many people love asters because they provide a nice pop of purple or bluish-purple late in the growing season, when yellow can be the dominant color both in the prairies and in the forests as leaves begin to change color. These late-blooming plants are beneficial to pollinators too  because they provide an important food source late in the growing season. Good native aster species to grow in northern Illinois include aromatic aster, New England aster and smooth blue aster. All three bloom from late summer into fall, with some flowers even lingering into November. Aromatic aster and smooth aster both do well in sunny spots, but smooth aster can tolerate part shade. New England aster grows best in spots that get partial shade. Blazing stars Blazing stars, also called gayfeathers, produce spikes or stalks of feathery purple flowers, adding a different texture to your landscape. They can have a long bloom period, with flowers sometimes lasting from mid-summer into October. They will attract a variety of insects and are particularly of value to native bees as a food source. The blazing star family include 45 species, all native to North America. Some good choices for your yard include meadow blazing star, northern blazing star and prairie blazing star. All do best in sunny locales with well-drained soil. Prairie blazing star grows to be the tallest, sometimes reaching heights of up to 6 feet tall. Northern blazing star reaches heights of 5 feet, while northern blazing star typically tops out at 3 feet tall. Goldenrods Goldenrod is the quintessential late-blooming native plant, creating a palette of yellow in the prairies when late summer begins to give way to fall. Goldenrod produces a lot of pollen and nectar, which means it supports a lot of bees, beetles, butterflies, moths and more as the growing season begins to wind down and these food sources dwindle. Among the native goldenrod species to consider for your yard are Ohio goldenrod, showy goldenrod and zigzag goldenrod, all three of which produce clusters of small yellow flowers. Showy goldenrod can reach heights of 6 feet tall, while zigzag goldenrod typically grows to between 2 feet and 4 feet tall and Ohio goldenrod grows to about 3 feet tall. Ohio goldenrod and zigzag goldenrod prefer sunny spots but can tolerate partial shade. Showy goldenrod does best in a spot that gets partial shade. Joe-pye weed If you’re looking for a native plant to take up a lot of space in your yard, look no further than Joe-pye weed. These plants can grow to be more shrublike, reaching heights of up to 7 feet tall and 3 feet to 4 feet wide. They will typically bloom from July into September. Two Joe-pye weed species are good choice for northern Illinois: spotted Joe-pye weed and sweet Joe-pye weed. Plant them in a spot that gets full sun or part shade. They will grow best in moist soil. Spotted Joe-pye weed produces deep pink blooms, while the flowers of sweet Joe-pye weed are a much more pale pink, almost white in color. Milkweeds Milkweed gets a lot of buzz because it is the host plant for monarchs. The caterpillars only eat milkweed plants, and the butterflies only lay eggs on them. Simply put, without milkweed there would be no monarchs. This family of plants — which includes many species native to Illinois — will attract much more than just monarchs, though. Milkweed plants are often buzzing with insect activity, everything from bees to butterflies to beetles, including red milkweed beetles. Among the milkweed plants you can buy for planting this summer include butterfly milkweed, prairie milkweed, swamp milkweed and whorled milkweed. Butterfly milkweed is a bushy plant that produces clusters of bright orange flowers, while prairie milkweed and swamp milkweed produce pink or pinkish-purple bloom. Whorled milkweed produces smaller flower clusters than other milkweed plants, and its blooms are white. All these milkweeds prefer sunny spots, but swamp milkweed and whorled milkweed can tolerate some shade.

Nonprofit has seen success by building community of donors and supporters The Nature Foundation’s first decade of existence has been a fruitful one, and you can see proof of it in the forest preserves across Will County.    Through August 2024, The Nature Foundation has secured more than $1.85 million in support of Forest Preserve programs and initiatives. The support has been expansive, bolstering every aspect of the Forest Preserve’s mission to protect and enhance Will County’s natural and cultural resources for the benefit of current and future generations.    “Whatever it is that you love about the Forest Preserve District, we support it,” said Tara Neff, the Foundation’s executive director.     In its first 10 years, the Foundation has donated funds to support natural resources management, preserve and trail amenities, visitor center exhibitions and educational supplies and initiatives. The Foundation also worked with the Forest Preserve District to develop two grant programs — Restore Will County and Serve Will County — to help volunteer stewards, scouting and other youth organizations purchase materials and supplies for their work to improve and enhance the forest preserves.      The Nature Foundation was formally established in 2009-2010, but it initially remained inactive because of the economic conditions in the aftermath of the 2008 recession, said Cindy Harn, who was the Foundation’s first executive director after transitioning from her role as director of Public Affairs and Education for the Forest Preserve District. The  Foundation became operational in 2014, growing and gaining steam over the ensuing decade.     The Nature Foundation’s next era comes with new leadership, with Neff having taken the helm at the end of 2023 when Harn stepped down from her director role.     “The foundation has been laid, and now we can grow,” Neff said.    Neff credits her ability to hit the ground running when she took the reins to Harn’s dedication and hard work over the past decade.    “She breathed life into this organization’s existence,” she said, adding Harn gave her “heart and soul” to the Foundation. “She was never afraid to take on new and different things.”    The Foundation established two main goals at its outset, and the goals are still valid today, Harn said. The first is to take action to ensure it becomes and remains operational, and the second is to take action to create organizational sustainability.     With those goals providing the framework, Harn and now Neff have been able to direct money raised by The Nature Foundation to Forest Preserve programs and initiatives that support the Foundation’s three tenets: protecting nature, inspiring discovery and bringing people and nature together.      “I think the biggest success is that we really have built a community of donors and supporters who value the Forest Preserve, and we’ve given them a way to engage with nature and the Forest Preserve on a deeper, meaningful level,” Harn said.   Forest Preserve District Executive Director Ralph Schultz said he likes to think of The Nature Foundation’s contributions as “the icing on the cake” because they add value to what the Forest Preserve offers the people of Will County and its natural areas.    The Forest Preserve levies taxes and has other revenue to fully fund the operation of the forest preserves and the obligation to meet its mission, and the Foundation enhances those offerings in many ways. For example, when the Forest Preserve builds a trail, the Foundation may secure a donation for or fund the installation of a bike repair station, and when the  Forest Preserve identifies areas for natural resource management, the foundation secures grants or donors to defray the cost of the work.     “They always focus on adding additional value to our visitors or providing funding for something that we would not normally do,” he said.  Harn said the success of The Nature Foundation in its first 10 years is the result of the hard work of many people, including Forest Preserve staff and board members, volunteers and, of course, donors.    “I’m just one of so many that have invested in its growth, making it what it is today,” she said, adding that she appreciates that she had an opportunity that allowed her to get out of her comfort zone and expand her knowledge and skillset. “I’m proud that I had the courage to take this on, and I hope my work with the Foundation has set it on a path to success  and long-term sustainability.”     In the next few years, Neff would like to work to make more people aware of The Nature Foundation and all it does to support Forest Preserve initiatives.     “I’m looking to build relationships, open doors,” Neff said. “I’d like to elevate The Nature Foundation’s profile to help broaden our community of donors and supporters.”   It’s also important to keep the Foundation nimble and flexible so it can capitalize on new opportunities.    “That’s really important as far as how we grow support and our ability to adapt to changing times, the changing environment, and changing donor engagement,” she said.     Schultz said that through the years the Forest Preserve and the Foundation have developed a process to identify projects and initiatives during the budgeting process that the Foundation can support. The Foundation may also present a donation or bequest to the Forest Preserve for consideration to determine whether certain donor conditions can be met.    Both Neff and Schultz hope to grow the relationship between the Foundation and the Forest Preserve to allow both organizations to achieve their respective missions.     “My desire is for the Foundation to continue to expand and provide an avenue for individual donors, other foundations and corporations to enhance, nurture and expand the Forest Preserve,” Schultz said.    Neff plans to spend time in the next few years developing and implementing a growth plan and increasing efficiency in the Foundation’s operations.  The goal is for her to spend more time fundraising and building relationships in the community.    She wants people to see The Nature Foundation as a valued partner of the Forest Preserve District that is committed to supporting its priorities. She said the Foundation exists for one reason — to support the Forest Preserve District — and she takes that mission seriously.     “We are supporting everything that you love about the Forest Preserve District,” she said. “That’s why we’re here. That’s all we do.”

For a group of local teachers, the answer to the age-old question “What did you do on your summer vacation?” will include spend time relaxing at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon. The relaxation was part of the Forest Preserve’s Teacher Appreciation program, now in its fourth year. The program was supported by a $3,000 grant from Oneok, an energy company that operates natural gas pipelines in Will County.   The daylong Teacher Appreciation program included outdoor yoga, kayaking and self-guided activities including a hike, crafts, games like "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" and an escape room. The grant from Oneok covered the cost of supplies, lunch and beverages as well as appreciation gifts for the educators who attended.  “This is like the best day of the summer,” said Katey Perry, a staff member at Galloway Elementary School in Channahon, who attended with a group of coworkers.  Perry and other Galloway teachers and staff said the program is a great way to spend time with coworkers away from the school environment. “ It’s nice to meet up with coworkers out of school and not talk about school,” said Danielle Feiner, another Galloway teacher who attended. The Teacher Appreciation program is also a way for teachers to learn more about what Four Rivers and the Forest Preserve have to offer by way of both educational opportunities and recreation and programming options for individuals and families. “Being here helps us see that we can definitely bring the kids,” said Christina Duris, who also works at Galloway Elementary School. “It helps us see all the different areas and how we would fit here on a field trip.” For Steve and Belinda Bair of Plainfield, the program gives them ideas for things to do as a family with their kids. It’s their third year attending, and they enjoy the opportunity to spend time together. “It’s everything we like,” said Steve Bair, an elementary school PE teacher in Bellwood. “I like being outside, she likes being outside. We both like the crafting. It’s just fun, especially since we’re married. It’s like a built-in date and teacher appreciation.” Belinda Bair, a high school English teacher in Oswego, said they appreciate that the program is offered at the beginning of summer, giving them a chance to decompress from the busy year.  “It’s all planned, it’s all organized. You don’t have to think about it,” she said. And of course, local teachers deserve appreciation for the work they do, said Tara Neff, executive director of The Nature Foundation of Will County. “Teacher Appreciation is this really nice way to build relationships with the education system generally and all the teachers who come through there,” Neff said. “It’s a way to show our thanks.” The grant for the Teacher Appreciation program is not the first time Oneok has supported projects and initiatives at Four Rivers. In 2017, the Forest Preserve received $4,000 to create a Water Quality Lab field trip for students in grades 6 to 12, and Oneok has also provided additional financial support in subsequent years to enable the field trip to continue being offered.

The Nature Foundation of Will County received the Excellence in Interpretive Support award from the National Association for Interpretation’s Heartland Region at an award ceremony this spring. The award is given to individuals and organizations that have “shown recognition of the value of interpretation through exceptional and sustained support.” The Nature Foundation was nominated for the award by the Forest Preserve’s Visitor Services department, including Visitor Services Director Lydia Pond, facility supervisor Jessica Prince and program coordinator Suzy Lyttle. As part of the nomination, Pond, Prince and Lyttle each submitted letters of support outlining the many ways in which the Nature Foundation has supported Visitor Services initiatives through its 10 years of existence. “The generosity and impact of The Nature Foundation of Will County on our programs cannot be understated,” Pond wrote in her nomination letter. “From helping fund STEM/STEAM interpretive supplies for each of our visitor centers to covering the costs of traveling exhibits that bring first-time visitors through our doors — no idea has been turned down by The Nature Foundation.” The Nature Foundation Executive Director Tara Neff said receiving the award from NAI, which outlines interpretation standards that the Forest Preserve aims to achieve, makes it more meaningful. “I feel like this is the pinnacle of our 10th year of operation, being recognized for all the hard work and development that went into the organization,” Neff said. Receiving the award is also recognition of the Foundation’s partners to support the work of the Forest Preserve, Neff added. “Long term, it shows an investment of our partners into our mission, which is to protect nature, inspire discovery and connect people and nature,” she said. Projects financially supported by the Nature Foundation that were cited in the letters of support from Prince and Lyttle include “The Buzz” nature television program; visitor center exhibitions; the Willy’s Wilderness nature website for kids; a field trip bus scholarship program; and programming equipment and materials. “The ultimate impact of The Nature Foundation of Will County’s support cannot be measured in contacts, dollars or visitor count,” Prince wrote in her nomination letter. “It is the intangible impact of interpretive programs that services that would be unrealized without their support.” Neff said she is pleased to see recognition for The Nature Foundation’s efforts to support Forest Preserve staff’s work to add value to what they offer the public. She said one of the goals of the Foundation is to make more things accessible to more people. “It is an investment in what they are trying to achieve, and that always feels really good,” she said. “The Foundation’s support is a way for them to capitalize on unexpected opportunities and enhance their offerings or bring an idea into fruition.” Pond said those opportunities to enhance offerings and bring ideas to fruition allow Visitors Services to add more value to their offerings than they otherwise would. “What The Nature Foundation does for us is it allows us to think beyond our budget,” Pond said. “We can do great things without them, but they allow us to do even more.”

What comes to mind when you think of endangered species? The mountain gorillas and black rhinos of Africa? Or maybe snow leopards and tigers from Asia? These may be the animals that first come to mind when we think about endangered species, but some live much closer to home — even in our own neighborhoods and yards in some cases. Will County is home to 97 endangered and threatened species. Most of these are plants, including species like lakeside daisy, turbercled orchid, northern panic grass and Mead's milkweed, but there are also many animals on the list, including species from every group: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates. Among our endangered animals are Blanding's turtles, starhead topminnows, black-crowned night herons, Hine’s emerald dragonflies and Kirtland's snakes. Working toward protecting endangered and threatened plants and animals from extinction is key to maintaining our planet’s biodiversity and also to protecting our habitats and ecosystems. While extinction is a normal process in nature — about 99% of all species that have ever existed are extinct — Earth is currently experiencing extinctions at an accelerated rate. In fact, the extinction rate today is as many as 1,000 to 10,000 times higher than the background rate of 1 species per million per year. Factors contributing to this accelerated rate of extinction include habitat loss, which is the primary driving force, as well as pollution; exploitation of wildlife; introduction of invasive and exotic species outside their natural range; and the spread of disease. The goal of saving endangered species from extinction requires work at many levels, from global on down. And while coordination is necessary for efforts to be successful, there are steps you can take right now to do your part. Here's a few ways you can help our local endangered species. Educate yourself Taking time to learn about the endangered plants and animals that live in our Will County communities is a good place to start. When you learn more about them, you’ll develop a better appreciation for them and why they are worth saving. Want to take it to the next level? Make it a point to share what you learn with friends, families and neighbors to expand your impact. The Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board maintains a register of the state’s threatened and endangered species that is organized by county, making it easy to learn what species near you are at risk. You can also learn more about endangered species from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which is the federal agency that is tasked with administering the Endangered Species Act. If you want to expand your knowledge beyond out local and domestic endangered species, the International Union for Conservation in Nature maintains a global database of threatened species. Be responsible with your waste Most of us probably know that collectively we are generating trash at a rate that is difficult if not impossible to keep up with, but disposing of household items responsibly is critical to the health of our environment. We should recycle, of course, and try to eliminate or reduce the use of single-use products like plastic bottles and paper plates, but it goes beyond that. We must also make sure we responsibly dispose of hazardous and toxic chemicals and not put them out with the trash or dump them down a drain or into the toilet. These products can pollute both our water and our land, which in turn can have a negative effect on the plants and animals that live in those habitats. Before disposing of products like paint, antifreeze and furniture polish, consult the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency about household hazardous waste disposal. Shop with sustainability in mind Our shopping habits have a direct effect on our consumption of natural resources, and being mindful of that is a boon to plants and animals all over the world. Choosing products that are made sustainability — like those made from post-consumer recycled paper and plastic, for example — is a good start. You can also reduce your impact by choosing reusable products — water bottles, coffee cups, straws, silverware, plates and napkins to name a few — instead of single-use items. You can, of course, go beyond these steps to have a greater impact. For example, when buying housewares, furniture, flooring and other products made from wood, make sure the wood is not sourced from rainforests. And avoid products that contain palm oil, the harvesting of which contributes to deforestation. Be conscious about chemicals Herbicides and pesticides are the go-to products for many people looking to control weeds and nuisance insects in their yards and gardens, but the chemicals in these products can pollute the soil and groundwater, thus harming local wildlife. Once the toxic chemicals in these products make their way into the soil and water, they will enter the food chain as animals incidentally consume them as part of their diet. Certain animals are especially susceptible to the harmful effects of herbicides and pesticides. Amphibians, in particular, are vulnerable because of their permeable skin, which allows toxins to more easily enter into their bodies. Create a wildlife haven in your yard Do you see a lot of wildlife in your yard? You can if design your outdoor space with them in mind. A yard that is friendly to our local critters should include native plants, which will attract native insects. A yard full of native insects will attract more wildlife — birds, mammals and more — foraging for food. These plants also provide homes and shelter for wildlife. More simple steps you can take to keep or make your yard friendly to wildlife include using garbage cans with locking lids that critters can’t get into and storing pet food and bird seed indoors. And make sure you clean and disinfect both your bird feeders and birdbaths regularly to help prevent disease transmission among birds.

So you’ve made the decision to go native in your yard. Now what? Making the choice to add native plants to your landscape is an important first step. Once you’ve made your decision, there’s planning to do, then preparation, planting and, finally, enjoying your new outdoor space. Need some guidance to get your started on your way to a yard all aflutter with activity? Follow these steps on your native plant journey. Choose a spot in your yard First things first, you’ll have to select a spot in your yard for a native plant garden or a spot where you can incorporate native plants. It’s a good idea to start with a small spot, and then you can expand it year after year if you find you want more. If you are changing a large part of your yard over to natives, plan to work in phases. Start in one section of the larger plot and gradually add to it. When incorporating natives, you can use seeds or plant plugs, but keep in mind that seed will be more cost effective and less labor intensive, especially in a large space. Choose your plants wisely Once you know where you will be planting, you can choose your plants. You’ll need to select plants that will thrive where they take root, so take note of how much light the area gets throughout the day as well as the soil type and moisture level. You can find native plants to grow in full sun and full shade and everything in between, but a sun-loving purple coneflower won’t do well in a shady spot, and conversely a shade-loving wild geranium won’t thrive under the bright sun. Similarly, plants that love dry, well-drained soil won’t grow well in soil that retains a lot of moisture and vice vera. Another factor to consider is bloom time. Some native plants bloom in early spring while others will bloom from late summer into fall. If you want to see color in your native garden throughout the season, you will need to be intentional with your plant selections. You can research native plants online through native plant nurseries or native plant databases such as the one maintained by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center. Many of these online information sources allow users to filter by several factors to make it easier to find plants suitable for your yard and your preferences. Prepare the site Getting a site ready for planting is the most important step in getting started with native plants. You want to start in a spot that is free of weeds and other vegetation, so you’ll need to remove what is already growing in your selected location. You can remove existing vegetation by hand pulling, smothering or applying herbicides. Hand pulling might be effective for removing a small quantity of plants, but if you are removing grass or dense vegetation, consider smothering the existing plants. Simply cover the area with cardboard, newspaper or another material that will not allow light to penetrate. Without light, growing plants will die and seeds will not sprout. It’s best to begin smothering plants about two months before you intend to plant new plants or seeds. Get planting! Once the spot you’ve selected is free of vegetation, it’s time for planting — provided the timing is right. If you’re getting started with seeds, you can plant in winter or spring. Make sure to check for optimal sowing time for the species you are planting for best results. If you’re using plugs or young plants, plan to plant at the same time you would plant your vegetable garden. You’ll want to wait until after the last frost date for your area. When planting, make sure to follow the species-specific guidelines for how deep to plant and how far apart to space from other plants. For denser growth, plant on the closer end of the spacing spectrum. For more space between plants, spread them farther apart. If your plugs or plants don’t come with planting guidelines, look them up online before you get started. Step back and enjoy Native plants require less care and upkeep than other plants, but you’ll need to put in a little sweat equity in the first season after planting. New plantings should be watered regularly until they become well established. You’ll also want to weed regularly. Weed growth will occur after soil is disturbed, so you will need to pull unwanted plants from your new native garden regularly in the first growing season. Be patient Your native garden won’t be lush and abuzz with activity right away. It can take years for native plants to put down strong roots and establish themselves, so be patient. If you are starting your plants from seed, it may take up to three years for the plants to flower because they are putting most of their energy into establishing their roots. Young plants may flower in their first or second year after planting, but they may not begin to spread for a few years. Early on, your garden may not look as full as you would like,but give it time. During this period, make sure to weed your garden regularly to remove unwanted plants that are competing with the native blooms. Over time, weeding will not require as much time because the native plants will begin to fill the space. You should also mulch your garden to protect the soil and prevent weed growth. A 2-inch layer of organic mulch is best, but be careful not to use more than that because it can smother the plants.

Lake Chaminwood Preserve in Troy Township is a popular spot for anglers, kayakers and other outdoor enthusiasts, and now it’s a little easier to enjoy thanks to improvements funded in large part by a $750,000 gift from the Dollinger family to The Nature Foundation of Will County. In summer 2023, the Forest Preserve reopened the 120-acre preserve to the public after an overhaul that included a parking lot expansion and the construction of a new pedestrian welcome plaza. The project also included new paths to link the preserve’s existing trail. The work expanded the parking lot from 21 spots to 74 spots to accommodate the growing number of visitors who frequent the preserve. In addition, a gravel parking lot was added to allow for kayak and canoe trailer parking, which had previously been prohibited. The parking expansion was much needed because preserve usage has surpassed expectations since Lake Chaminwood opened in 2012, said Colleen Novander, director of planning and land preservation for the Forest Preserve District. “On a given day, it was not uncommon to see the parking lot full between fishermen and fisherwomen, kayakers, families picnicking or people just enjoying nature,” Novander said. “The need for additional parking, including trailer parking became evident, in addition to the need for an upgraded kayak and canoe launch.” The new look in the pedestrian welcome plaza was created in part by utilizing remnants from the preserve’s past as a quarry. New benches feature rocks pulled from the lake, and large rocks and boulders adorning the space also were taken from the water there. The pristine waters in the preserve’s two lakes — one 35 acres and the other 12 acres — are the hallmark feature at Lake Chaminwood, a big draw for anglers, kayakers and canoers. A 0.7-mile paved path surrounds the larger of the two lakes, suitable for walking, jogging, biking and in-line skating in all seasons and snowshoeing and cross-country skiing after a fresh blanket of snow. Improvements at the preserve also included the installation of an accessible kayak launch that was funded by an $80,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Boat Grant program. With any project, the Forest Preserve stives to maximize local funding by offsetting them with outside grants, sponsorships and donations, Novander said. “The Dollinger donation made a substantial impact during the planning phase for the Lake Chaminwood Improvements,” she said. “The donation allowed staff to evaluate the short- and long-range goals for Lake Chaminwood and incorporate these into the overall design.” The improvements make Lake Chaminwood Preserve easier for more people in the community to enjoy, but the work is not done. In 2024, another phase of improvements will be completed. This work will include the addition of two accessible fishing piers and a short, 0.25-mile trail extension that will allow the Lake Chaminwood Trail to connect to the I&M Canal State Trail. This trail link will eventually allow the DuPage River Trail to connect to the I&M Canal State Trail. Novander said support from the Nature Foundation of Will County was key in working directly with the Dollinger family to ensure the end results were consistent with both the family’s desires as well as the mission of the Forest Preserve. “Without this financial contribution toward the project, the end result would have been scaled back, or completed as a series of additional phases as funding became available,” she said.

The Forest Preserve’s visitor centers are full of exhibits and displays that help visitors connect to Will County’s natural and cultural history, and exhibitions hosted throughout the year are intended to help enhance these connections. The Nature Foundation of Will County routinely provides funding to allow the visitor centers to host world-class exhibitions that offer unique perspectives about the world around us past and present. Exhibits brought in with help from the Foundation in 2023 included “Journey Stories” at Isle a la Cache Museum; “World’s Finest: Fly-Fishing Tackle” at Monee Reservoir; and “Golden Opportunity: Botanical Illustration” at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center. These exhibitions attract new visitors to Forest Preserve facilities and keep things fresh and interesting for returning guests, said Lydia Pond, the director of visitor services. “The Nature Foundation funding allows us to do even more with our budget dollars,” Pond said, adding Forest Preserve staff can then spend time and resources developing complementary programming and displays during these exhibits. At Isle a la Cache, “Journey Stories,” organized by the Smithsonian Institute Traveling Exhibition Service, allowed visitors to see how migration and movement shaped America through posters detailing Native American displacement, Western expansion, African American migration from the South and developments in transportation. Interactive components developed by museum staff let visitors examine their own journey stories while contemplating the journeys of those who came before us. Monee Reservoir’s first-ever exhibition was a fitting complement to the preserve’s popularity as a fishing hotspot. “World’s Finest: Fly-Fishing Tackle,” created by the American Museum of Fly Fishing, showcased rods, reels, flies, photographs and books dating back to the 1800s and the World’s Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893. During the exhibition, the visitor center also hosted programs to teach fly-fishing basics to interested anglers. To end the year, Four Rivers hosted “Golden Opportunity: Botanical Illustration,” on loan from the Denver Botanic Gardens. With the color yellow as the centerpiece, the exhibit included illustrations of plants as well as displays about pigments and dyes created in this golden hue. Complementary programs hosted by education center staff enhanced the exhibit, allowing visitors a golden opportunity to examine the color yellow in a new way. In 2024, the Foundation will continue to fund dynamic exhibitions, starting with the “Birds in Art” Exhibition at Plum Creek Nature Center. Later in the year, Isle a la Cache will host “Indige-Facts” and Four Rivers will host “Lost and Found — Remnants of Savannas and Old-growth Forests.” Tara Neff, the executive director of the Nature Foundation of Will County, said the goal of providing funding for visitor center exhibitions is to allow the Forest Preserve to keep content fresh and offer new entry points for visitors. “These exhibits are big draws,” Neff said, adding that visitor centers are free to visit unlike many museums. “We are encouraging visitorship.” Foundation funding also helps support the creation of in-house exhibits, allowing visitor center staff to create high-quality exhibits related to our own preserves, Pond said. In 2023, Isle a la Cache Museum’s “Stories From Steel” Artifact Exhibit was created with support from the Foundation, as was the “Raising Riverview” exhibit coming to the museum in 2024.