Star Party hosted by Northwest Suburban Astronomers

Saturday, September 10 7:00–10:00 p.m. Marengo RidgeLook at stars, galaxies, nebulae and star clusters with the help of NSA member telescopes. Observing highlights may include the planets Saturn and Mars, the Andromeda Galaxy (M31), nebula M57 (Ring Nebula), galaxies M81 and M82 (Bode’s Galaxy and the Cigar Galaxy), and globular clusters M22 (Sagittarius Cluster) and M13 (Hercules Cluster) among others.

Dress for chilly evenings and bring a flashlight covered with red plastic or cellophane (red light preserves your night vision) as well as insect repellent.

Please arrive around 7:00 p.m. or come early and hike the trails. You are welcome to bring your own telescope or binoculars. In the event of inclement weather the event will be canceled.

C FlattCome out and enjoy the classic guitar sounds of C Flatt, an acoustic trio. The acoustic guitar offers an instrument that beautifully features the singer and the soulful lyrics. C Flatt will entertain with a number of recognizable ditties, as they play through a combination of classic, contemporary and standard blues.

7:00–8:30 p.m. Site closes at 9 p.m.

Lost Valley Visitor Center Patio, Glacial Park Join us for an evening of music and nature. Bring a picnic dinner to enjoy the beautiful view from the Lost Valley Visitor Center patio and stay for a free concert from talented regional musicians.

Note: No glass containers. In the case of inclement weather, concerts will be moved indoors.

FREE

2SEPT

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FIRST FRIDAYS CONCERT

Complete your sheet and claim your 2016 GeoCoin. This year’s theme is bats. All caches will be live on geocaching.com. Note: This is a separate program from the GeoTour. There will only be a limited number of coins—first come first served; one coin per household.

Don't miss: International Geocaching Day Picnic SocialSaturday, August 20 at 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Pleasant Valley Conservation Area, Woodstock

Come join us for International Geocaching Day! Bring a picnic lunch and meet some of your fellow geocachers. There are grills on site but feel free to bring your own.

2016 Bat GeoCoins will be on site if anyone will have completed the program by then. There will also be GeoTour coins there as well.

For more information, find us on Facebook @ Geocache Across McHenry County or call (815) 338-6223.

August 1–November 30Cache your way across McHenry County

Special Events

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Special Events

Living History EventsPowers-Walker House, Glacial ParkNo registration required. Drop in any time during the open hours.

Living History Open House—Twilight Thursday, October 6, 5–8:30 p.m.Enjoy the twilight ambiance of this 1850’s house by candlelight and lamplight while enjoying a fall evening viewing the ever-changing colors in the Lost Valley Marsh. Smell the aromas and see what is being baked in the wood-burning stove. We think of candlelight at the end of the day as peaceful, but have you tried doing detail work in dim lighting? See how the early settlers tried to get the remains of their work done at the end of the day.

Harvest Gathering of 1858 Sunday, November 6, Noon–4:00 p.m.Step back in time to the 1850’s Powers-Walker House at harvest time. Try your hand at corn shelling, grinding corn into flour, or making a corn husk or yarn doll. Witness harvest activities like the baking of bread in the wood-burning cookstove and grinding herbs for winter use. Tour the historic farmhouse to learn more about its restoration, or visit with a Cavalry sergeant and his horse as they demonstrate the weapons of the era used to protect these frontier lands.

Paul Litke

Archaeological AwarenessSunday, September 18 Noon–4:00 p.m.Drop in at the Powers-Walker House to see a stone grinder and other people demonstrating prehistoric skills. Try your hand at throwing an atlatl while pretending you are on a prehistoric big game hunt. A mounted cavalryman will

also be on hand to explain archaeology of the Little Big Horn site. Archaeologists will be present to describe how prehistoric technologies are discovered and interpreted.

Examples of artifacts will be on display, including those found at the Powers-Walker House. Bring your own arrowheads or prehistoric tools for identification by professional archaeologists. Also featured will be a new 120-foot Archaeology Timeline rope representing the past 12,000 years in McHenry County with each foot of rope representing 100 years. Signs placed along the rope path describe those who lived in McHenry County at that time period. This type of archaeology timeline helps the public,

especially children, conceptualize just what 12,000 years means and how long people have inhabited Northern

Illinois. The Archaeology Timeline was reconstructed through a $400 grant awarded by the Illinois Association for Advancement of Archaeology.

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Oak Awareness Month — On Feb. 8, 2016 Bruce Rauner, Governor of the State of Illinois, proclaimed the month of October as “OAKTOBER” — OAK AWARENESS MONTH in Illinois.Oak ecosystems have been a significant part of the Illinois landscape for more than 5,000 years, and the state tree of Illinois is the White Oak, but now our oaks are in a state of declining health due to the decline of oak dominance. These threats and declines are due to lack of public awareness, impacts of invasive species, poor management practices, and reduced resources. The Illinois Statewide Forest Resource Assessment and Strategy identifies the loss of oak ecosystems as a critical issue for the health of forest resources and the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan identifies the quality of wooded habitats in Illinois a “major concern” and the need to understand and manage oak decline in the state.Oak ecosystems in Illinois provide needed food and support for native insects and wildlife, while significantly contributing to the native biological diversity. In addition, research has shown that oak trees and forests improve our air and water quality, human health, social, and economic well-being, provide jobs and revenue; and improve the overall quality of life for all citizens across all neighborhoods and community boundaries. Awareness of the threats and impacts to oak ecosystems is an important first step towards behavioral change and an opportunity to engage citizens to protect and improve the health and services of our oak ecosystems and natural resources overall. Oak Awareness Month is an opportunity for government to join forces with business, industry, conservation groups, recreational groups, community organizations, and citizens to take action to support our native oak ecosystems!

OAKtober—Oak Awareness Month in Illinois is promoted by numerous state-wide partners! See the list of people and organizations who supported this effort http://chicagorti.org/oaktober-2016 and regional OAKtober 2016 events: http://chicagorti.org/oaktober-events.

Celebrate O KtoberSaturday, October 15

1:00–4:00 p.m. FREEMarengo Ridge, Marengo

Bring back the Big Woods of McHenry County! We have over 200 oak trees to plant in the heart of the Marengo Ridge woodland, and you can help! You and your family and friends can be part of history, as the District works to restore the oak ecosystems that once covered over a third of the county’s land mass. Travel along a half-mile trail, stopping at stations where you can learn more about our keystone species, play an oak-themed game, or create a craft before arriving at the restoration zone. Stop in any time or come for the whole afternoon. Bring a picnic, purchase refreshments from a local food vendor or just hang out while enjoying some live music. Be a part of this historic savanna’s fresh start!

OAKtober Planting Party! The Big Woods

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Special Events

The Big Sit Bird Watching EventSaturday, October 8 7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m. Powers-Walker House—Glacial Park

Hosted by Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge & Friends of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge

Celebrate National Wildlife Refuge week with birding’s most sedentary event, The Big Sit!, an annual, international, noncompetitive birding event. The concept is simple: find a good spot for bird watching, sit in one spot for a designated time period, and count all the bird species you see or hear. The Big Sit! falls in October, when fall migration is in full swing. Gather your closest bird-watching friends together for a bird-a-thon, a perfect excuse to share good stories, meet new friends, enjoy the outdoors and appreciate our fine feathered friends.

Bob Williams

Fall Open House— Thursday, November 10, 4:30–8:30 p.m.

Lost Valley Visitor Center, Glacial Park

Life of the MetisSaturday, October 22, 1–4 p.m. Prairieview Education Center, Room 210, Crystal Lake

Metis villages were places where the lives and the cultures of the French Canadian traders and the Native Americans who lived in this area in the 1600's became intertwined. Celebrate their culture by joining us for this special event. Experience the inside of the wigwam where we will show and tell about artifacts of the Metis lifestyle. Make a clay pinch pot to take home. Try your hand at weaving a cattail mat on our loom. Sample snacks and listen to stories and the haunting sound of the Native American flute. Drop in any time or stay for the whole afternoon.

Lost Valley Visitor CenterHave you been wanting to make it out to the

Lost Valley Visitor Center in Glacial Park, but have found it difficult with your work hours?

Now you can take advantage of the extended business hours during this open house. Enjoy an evening view of Glacial Park from the patio and Valley Overlook Room, free WiFi, and a child/adult library. Check out the Nature Detectives self-guiding activity station. Take advantage of help from staff on the first day of registration for winter programs. Light refreshments provided.

For Teachers Ages 21+Whether you’re already familiar with the school services provided by the Conservation District or you’d like to learn about our outdoor field studies, outreach programs, professional development opportunities or our educational loan materials, this evening is designed for you! Find out about our new programs, designed to help you address the NGSS. Meet some of our educators, explore the resources available to you, and sample a hands-on activity or two while enjoying some light refreshments. Take this opportunity to let us know how we can best meet your environmental education needs. Network with like-minded teachers, pick up some great freebies, and enter to win a door prize. No registration is necessary for this free, drop-in experience designed for teachers of all grade levels.

For more information visit Friends of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge hackmatacknwr.org.

Saturday, October 1, 6–9:30 p.m. Lost Valley Visitor Center, Glacial Park, pg. 9

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Special Events