Animals, plants and nature

Events that involve pets, animals and plants, such as pet washes, adoption days, nature walks, microchipping, nature photography exhibits, nature tours, bird walks, calls for volunteers for nature-related work days, etc. Send items to nbrcalendar@dailyherald.com two weeks before event date.

Jan. 24

Sierra Club: 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan 24, 389 Center St., Grayslake. The local chapter of the Sierra Club will host its "Beat the Blues" party, Free food and drink, silent auction and raffle. For details, call (847) 367-4253.

Feeding Horses in Hard Times: Register by Saturday, Jan. 24, for event from 9 a.m. to noon Sunday, Jan. 31, University of Illinois Lake County office, 100 S. US Highway 45, Grayslake. Horse and stable owners are invited to attend a workshop on feeding horses in hard times. The cost is $20 per person in advance or $30 per person for late registration and walk-ins. The cost for two people from the same stable or family is $ 35. Children under 18 years of age are $10 for registration or $15 for late registration. To request a brochure or to register, call (847) 223-8627, or visit extension.uiuc.edu/Lake.

All-Breed dog show: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E Peterson, Grayslake. The Park Shore Kennel Club will hold an all-breed dog show. For information and a schedule, visit royjonesdogshows.com.

Jan. 25

Marsh Walk: 12:30-2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, Volo Bog State Natural Area, 28478 W. Brandenburg Road, Ingleside. Explore the marsh atop its frozen surface. Walk right up to muskrat lodges, see tracks in the snow, and enjoy the silence of winter. Ages 10 to adult. Reservations are requested; limited drop-ins are welcome but the program may be canceled if minimum registration is not met 24 hours prior. For information, call (815) 344-1294.

Jan. 26

Grayslake Greenery Garden Club: 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, State Bank of the Lakes, 50 Commerce Drive, Grayslake. Monthly meeting topic is "Flower Shows, Everything You Didn't Know." For information, call Nancy Rinker, at (847) 223-8485, or visit grayslakegreenerygardenclub.org.

Jan. 27

Ornithology lecture: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, Lily Reid Holt Memorial Chapel, corner of Sheridan and College roads, Lake Forest College. Ornithologist Dr. George Archibald will deliver the annual Ruth Winter Community Lecture, on the topic "Helping Cranes in Challenging Places - North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Cuba." The event is free and open to the public. For information, call (847) 234-3100.

Feb. 7

Bird Walks: 8 a.m. Saturdays, Feb. 7 and March 28 and Sunday March 15, Volo Bog State Natural Area, 28478 W. Brandenburg Road, Ingleside. Enjoy migrating birds in a variety of habitats. Dress for the weather; bring binoculars and field guides or use those provided. Walk length and time varies. Geared to adults, although attentive kids 7 and up are welcome. Meet in the Parking Lot. Reservations are requested. For information, call (815) 344-1294.

The Unhuggables: 11 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Feb. 7, Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. "Animals nobody loves," like bats, toads, spiders and snakes, will visit the library. For details or to register, call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.

Feb. 14

Of Bogs and Books: 10-11:30 a.m., the second Saturday of each month, Volo Bog State Natural Area, 28478 W. Brandenburg Road, Ingleside. Adults share morning coffee and snacks over a discussion of nature, science and environmental readings. On Feb. 14, discuss "Where the Wild Things Were: Life, Death, and Ecological Wreckage in a Land of Vanishing Predators" by William Stolzenburg. Reservations are requested but drop-ins are welcome. Call (815) 344-1294.

Feb. 20

Astronomy Nights: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, Volo Bog State Natural Area, 28478 W. Brandenburg Road, Ingleside. The Lake County Astronomical Society meets the third Friday of each month except December. 7:30 p.m. business meeting is followed by an indoor presentation at 8:30 p.m. and viewing if skies are clear about 9:30 p.m. For information, call (815) 344-1294.

March 15

Bird Walks: 8 a.m. Saturday, March 28, and Sunday, March 15, Volo Bog State Natural Area, 28478 W. Brandenburg Road, Ingleside. Enjoy migrating birds in a variety of habitats. Dress for the weather; bring binoculars and field guides or use those provided. Walk length and time varies. Geared to adults, although attentive kids 7 and up are welcome. Meet in the Parking Lot. Reservations are requested. For information, call (815) 344-1294.

March 28

Bird Walks: 8 a.m. Saturday, March 28, Volo Bog State Natural Area, 28478 W. Brandenburg Road, Ingleside. Enjoy migrating birds in a variety of habitats. Dress for the weather; bring binoculars and field guides or use those provided. Walk length and time varies. Geared to adults, although attentive kids 7 and up are welcome. Meet in the Parking Lot. Reservations are requested. For information, call (815) 344-1294.

Ongoing

Kitten Adoptions: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Every Sunday in January, Pet Supplies Plus, 1634 Deerfield Road, Highland Park. SAVE-A-PET will have kittens waiting to meet potential adopters. Donations will also be accepted. For information, call SAVE-A-PET, at (847) 740-7788, or Pet Supplies Plus, at (847) 831-2323.

Relax and Read to Rover: 5-6:30 p.m., Mondays through March 2, Wauconda Area Library, 801 N. Main St., Wauconda. Children in grades 1-6 are invited to bring their favorite books and read to a certified therapy dog. Each session will last 20 minutes. Registration is required. For more information, call the Children's Services at (847) 526-6225, ext. 212.

Pooch Pantry: 12:30-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays, B.C. Dog Training, 920 Turret Court, Mundelein. B.C. Dog Training and B.A.R.K are collecting dry dog and cat food, canned dog and cat food, biscuits and any pet treats to help families in need feed their pets. Gift cards from are pet supply stores will also be accepted (no cash or check donations). For information or to suggest a family in need, call (847) 566-1960 or e-mail dobes8@aol.com. The Pooch Pantry will be open for families in need from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays at B.C. Dog Training.

Puppy Playtime: 9:30-10:30 a.m. Saturdays, Doggy Day Camp, Inc., 21212 W. Commercial Drive, Mundelein. Puppies 10 weeks to 6 months of age with proof of vaccinations can play with other puppies for free in a safe, off-leash environment. Puppies must be in good health and free from any contagious diseases within the past 30 days. Advance registration is required. For information, call (847) 970-6777 or visit DoggyDayCampInc.com.

Citizens for Conservation seed collection: Thursdays and Saturdays 9 -11 a.m.; and Sundays 3:30-5 p.m., 459 W. Highway 22, Lake Barrington. Volunteers of all ages are invited to help collect seeds from a wide variety of native plants. (847) 382-7283.

Nippersink Garden Club: A new garden club is forming to serve northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Members of the Nippersink Garden Club are coming together because of the love of gardening and the love of the Nippersink Creek area and waterways. Membership is open to all interested men, women and their children. Membership will be free and 2009 meetings are yet to be determined. Visit nippersinkgardenclub.org or contact Stacy at (262) 279-5992 for details.