Volo Bog State Natural Area notes
For information and to make reservations, call (815) 344-1294 or Ameritech Relay for the hearing impaired (800) 526-0844, or e-mail dnr.volobog@illinois.gov. All programs are free. The visitor center is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
Bog Saunters: Bog Saunters with Naturalist Stacy Iwanicki will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3 and March 1. Explore a variety of natural themes in Volo Bog. Part bog tour, part ecology lesson, Bog Saunters are for adults who wish to delve just a little deeper into Volo Bog, phenology and general ecology. No reservations required. Dress for the weather.
Winter Ecology Hike: Join Naturalist Stacy Iwanicki from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday to discover a variety of unique adaptations plants and animals have to survive the cold. Hibernation, supercooling, galls, snow fleas, and animal tracks will be discussed on this hike. Bundle up and be prepared. For ages 7 to adult. Make reservations.
Animal Tracking: Learn to recognize animals' tracks by the way they walk as well as by their footprints from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Naturalist Stacy Iwanicki will lead this indoor/outdoor session so be prepared for the weather. Ages 5 to adult are welcome. Reservations are requested.
You Be the Judge: Guests can cast their vote through Jan. 11 in Volo Bog's 21st Annual Photo Contest and come to Winterfest Jan. 13 to see the winners.
Of Bogs & Books: Of Bogs & Books is a book discussion group that meets on the second Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Volo Bog State Natural Area's Visitor Center Library. Adults gather over morning coffee and snacks to review environmental, outdoor and natural history literature. Reservations are requested.
• Jan. 12: "The World Without Us" by Alan Weisman addresses what happens when people are no longer present in their landscape. From ancient ruins to abandoned lots, he explores how quickly nature reclaims the turf.
• Feb. 9: "Last Child in the Woods -- Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder" by Richard Louv was first discussed in 2005. The group will revisit the book in order to invite a broader audience. The discussion will continue into the afternoon with guest speakers and a forum to include public officials, educators, parents, grandparents and others.
Volo Bog's WinterFest: WinterFest is a long-standing event at Volo Bog featuring live music, photo contest awards, and winter-themed and other crafts indoors, while outdoors winter bog hikes, and (snow permitting) snow sculpting contests and cross-country skiing, may be enjoyed, from noon to 4 p.m. Jan. 13.
Volo Bog will present Lee Murdock for an afternoon of music and stories. Noted as a fluent instrumentalist on the six- and 12-string guitars, Murdock combines ragtime, Irish, blues and folk styles with his flair for storytelling in songs. Visit Lee at www.leemurdock.com/.
Indoor activities will begin at noon; Lee Murdock will perform in 45-minute sets at the top of each hour; photo contest awards will be presented on the "45's" with Snow Sculpting awards at 3:45 p.m.; crafts will be on-going on the second floor of the Visitor Center throughout the afternoon.
Outdoors, tours of Volo Bog will be held five times beginning between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.; kids, adults and families may work on snow sculptures until 3:15 p.m.; hiking and skiing on over five miles of winter trails during site hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cookies, hot cocoa and coffee will be for sale. There is no cover charge. Donations will be requested by the Friends of Volo Bog, who also sponsor the event.
Bird Walks: Bird Walks will be held at 8 a.m. Jan. 13, Feb. 10 and 16 and March 2 and 8. During winter, birds are easy to see and the number of species is not overwhelming, giving beginners time to develop identification and spotting skills. Novice and experienced birders alike enjoy the rare northern visitors such as northern shrike and long-eared owls that often frequent the winter bog landscape. Dress for the weather; bring binoculars and field guides or use those provided. Walks are led by members of McHenry County Audubon. Length and time varies with weather and luck in birding. For ages 7 to adult. Make reservations.
Photography Club: The ShutterBugs meet from 7 to 9 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month, including Jan. 16 and Feb. 20. Meetings include how-to workshops, guest speakers and member competitions. Nonmembers are invited to attend, but membership is required to compete. No reservations required. For ages 14 to adult.
Astronomy nights: Astronomy nights, hosted by the Lake County Astronomical Society take place at 8:30 the third Friday of the month at Volo Bog State Natural Area. Upcoming nights include Jan. 18 and Feb. 15.
A business meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. followed by an indoor presentation at 8:30 p.m. and viewing if skies are clear at about 9:30 p.m.
The public is welcome. Memberships are available. For club information, visit the Web site www.lcas-astronomy.org/.
Marsh Walk: Explore the marsh atop its frozen surface from 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 2. Walk right up to muskrat lodges in search of mink tracks; luck upon an open hole in the ice where tadpoles, fish and muskrats surface to breathe; see the determined tracks of a hunting fox or coyote; and enjoy the silence of winter. Led by naturalist Stacy Iwanicki. Make reservations.
Scholarships available: The Friends of Volo Bog are offering an Entering College Scholarship and a Continuing College Scholarship for $1,000 each to outstanding students interested in pursuing an environmental career. The Friends of Volo Bog is a not-for-profit organization, dedicated to the preservation of the area's natural heritage, maintenance of site facilities and advancement of educational programming at Volo Bog State Natural Area.
To be eligible for the Entering College Scholarship the applicant must reside in Lake, McHenry, Kane, Cook, DuPage, Kendall, or Will county, attend a high school in one of these counties, have a minimum "B" average for the first three years, and plan to attend an accredited college or university. The applicant should be planning to enter a career directly related to preserving the environment.
To be eligible for the Continuing College Scholarship, the applicant must be currently enrolled in an accredited college or university pursing a degree directly related to preserving the environment, have a permanent residence in Lake, McHenry, Kane, Cook, DuPage, Kendall, or Will county, have graduated from a high school from one of these counties with a minimum "B" average, and currently hold a minimum "B" average in their college studies.
Applications are due by the fourth Friday in February. Application packets are available at Volo Bog State Natural Area or online at www.friendsofvolobog.org/.
For information, call (815) 344-1294.
Leave No Child Inside: Leave No Child Inside -- A Roundtable Forum Sponsored by Chicago Wilderness & the Friends of Volo Bog will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 9.
This forum aims to bring together environmental educators and community leaders to discuss solutions to problems attributed to children's increasing tendency to spend their play time indoors, such as obesity, attention deficit disorder and poor social skills.
Participants are asked to have read, at least in part, "Last Child in the Woods, Saving America's Children from Nature Deficit Disorder" by Richard Louv or one of two other books the forum will draw upon. Especially sought are school officials, social workers, youth group leaders, community planners and elected officials from the local schools to the county level and beyond.
Sponsored by the Friends of Volo Bog, a $20 fee covers lunch and a book. Pre-registration is required by Feb. 2, at (815) 344-1294 or dnr.volobog@illinois.gov.
Paid registration must be received by Feb. 6. See www.friendsofvolobog.org/LeaveNoChildInside.htm for form and details.
Guided tours: Guided tours of Volo Bog are offered at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Volo Bog is Illinois' only remaining open-water quaking bog. In winter, signs of deer, rabbit and raccoons abound; mink, coyote and owls leave signs for the more careful observers. The bare winter shrubs and trees enhance visibility and add texture against the white snow. When the snow is not too deep, the carnivorous pitcher plants are easily seen under the bare branches of the tamarack trees.
Public tours are open to individuals, families and small groups without reservations. Groups of 10 or more are asked to call (815) 344-1294 for special arrangements. Tours run about one hour.