Citizens for Conservation youth celebrate Earth Day

Volunteers joined together as part of the Leave No Child Inside initiative to celebrate Earth Day by restoring an area of Citizens for Conservation-owned Flint Creek Savanna South Saturday, April 7.

After a brief welcome by Citizens for Conservation Youth Education Chairman and Vice President Pat Winkelman, participants carpooled to the worksite.

At the woodland savanna, restoration Chairman Tom Vanderpoel provided an educational review of why native plant restoration is critically important to increase not only plant diversity, but also the diversity of insects, birds, amphibians, reptiles, butterflies and mammals.

Once invasive plants were identified, volunteers removed buckthorn saplings, wild grape and the fast spreading and pungent smelling garlic mustard, and then tossed the brush on a small bonfire.

Participants learned that garlic mustard can rapidly dominate a forest floor, displacing most native plants. Younger volunteers found raccoon scat, but were disappointed not to locate any animal bones.

After the strenuous but gratifying efforts, participants welcomed grape and cherry slushes donated by Lake Zurich Sonic and juice boxes from Lake Zurich Costco. In addition, Sonic donated community service coupon cards to each volunteer.

Barrington High School students Maddie and her sister, Abbie, stated that when they arrived at the worksite, they initially felt overwhelmed by the number of invasive plants to be removed. However, now looking at the same area, both are amazed at how much woodland they had cleared in less than two hours.

To learn more about or register for Youth Education’s upcoming Tree Detective class, visit www.citizensforconservation.org/youth-education/. To volunteer at a Thursday or Saturday work day, call (847) 382-SAVE (7283).

Visit www.funoutside.org to learn more about Leave No Child Inside and the upcoming Barrington Area Kid Fest May 5 at Barrington’s Citizens Park.

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