Tri-Cities clubs notes
Kane County Audubon: On July 5 and Aug. 2 at 8 a.m., the Kane County Audubon invites the public to join them as they view the birds of Nelson Lake in the Dick Young Forest Preserve.
Meet in the parking lot by the silo, which is on the west side of Nelson Lake Road, about three-fourths of a mile south of Main Street and about two miles west of Randall Road, Batavia. For details, call Rhonda Nelson at (630) 479-1384.
On July 9 at 6 p.m., join the group for a night bird walk at James (Pete) Philip State Park (formerly Tri-County Park). At 5:30 p.m., bring a sack meal to eat with members before the walk. The park is on the north side of Sterns Road between Dunham and Powis roads, Bartlett. For details, call Roger Hotham at (847) 697-7484.
On Aug. 13 at 6 p.m., the night bird walk is at Johnson Mound Forest Preserve. To get to Johnson Mound from Batavia, go west on Fabyan Parkway. Go about 5 miles to Hughes Road, turn right on Hughes Road and go 2.5 miles to park entrance on the right. The group will be viewing shore birds at the sod farms across from the parking lot. For details, call Bob Andrini at (630) 584-8386.
Kane County Audubon, the local chapter of the Illinois Audubon Society, meets at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday each month, September through May, in the orientation room (the Barn) at Peck Farm in Geneva.
Field trips, bird walks and nature hikes are scheduled throughout the year.
For details, visit www.kanecountyaudubon.org or call Bob Andrini at (630) 584-8386 or Jerry Hope at (630) 377-1444.
Chess-Now: Learn to play chess by taking classes taught by Jim Egerton from Chess-Now at Town and Country Public Library. This six-week course is for beginners and intermediate players. The six classes are Mondays through July 21. Class time is from 5 to 6 p.m. Enrollment is limited. A $25 deposit check is required to reserve your place. The check will be returned to you if you attend at least five classes. For details, call Dwayne Nelson at (630) 365-2244. The library is at 320 E. North St., Elburn.
Batavia Mothers' Club: The Batavia Mothers' Club is calling for crafters for its 23rd annual Autumn Arts & Crafts Show. The club has consistently assembled a diverse cast of artisans, attracting thousands of patrons. The show will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Mooseheart Fieldhouse, just off I-88 on Route 31, near the North Aurora and Batavia border.
The event showcases juried booths of crafters offering handmade items, including paintings, drawings, pet accessories, jewelry, dolls and more. Painters and artists specializing in pottery, glass and woodworking are encouraged to apply.
Applications for the 150 available booths will be accepted from now until Aug. 18. A late fee will be charged after the deadline. To complete an application, visit www.bataviamothersclub.org, call (630) 748-1501 or e-mail bmccrafteraps@yahoo.com.
The Autumn Arts & Crafts Show is the Batavia Mothers' Club Foundation's largest fundraiser. Proceeds go to organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life for families in need in the community.
Girl Scouts Sybaquay: You can make a difference in the lives of girls. If you enjoy working with children and have a few hours to spare, Girl Scouts-Sybaquay Council is looking for you. It doesn't matter if you have a child in Girl Scouts as long as you're 18 years of age or older.
Adults are needed who are willing to commit to the Girl Scout mission and mentor a diverse group of girls. There are various short and long-term opportunities available.
You can receive a free ticket to Six Flags if you are a new volunteer with Sybaquay Council who has passed a criminal-background check. You must volunteer for a minimum of six hours before June 30.
This incentive program is for new volunteers only. For details on the Girl Scout program and volunteer opportunities, visit www.gs-sybaquay.org or call Cherie Jones at (847) 741-5521, ext. 7127.
Girl Scouts-Sybaquay Council is headquartered in Elgin and serves more than 10,000 girls in McHenry County and parts of Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Lake, LaSalle and Kane counties.
Ready to ski: While everyone else is planning for hot weather and summer trips, there is a group already thinking and planning for the winter fun ahead. The Snowdrifters Ski and Board Club is in the process of planning and booking it's 2008 and 2009 ski trips. For details on this club, visit www.snowdrifters.net or call (630) 253-4207 for the latest on club happenings.