Spring Valley to hold 30th birthday celebration Sept. 14

Celebrate 30 years of local nature and farming history at Spring Valley!

Spring Valley Nature Center, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, will celebrate 30 years of serving the community and enriching the lives of thousands of area families through connections with nature and local farming history at a birthday celebration from 2 to 4 p.m., Sept. 14. The event will feature presentations from staff and local officials, birthday cake, activities for children, walks to Merkle Log Cabin and wagon rides to Volkening Heritage Farm.

“Spring Valley has thrived for 30 years thanks to unwavering support from the community,” said David Brooks, manager of conservation services at Spring Valley. “The nature area started as the dream of Ellsworth Meineke, one of Schaumburg's first trustees, who knew the Schaumburg area would develop rapidly and wanted a sizable piece of land preserved.”

The birthday celebration will continue from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Merkle Log Cabin during a free concert and picnic. Schaumburg's Spring Valley Concert Band will perform at 6 p.m. under the shelter on the wooded grounds. The band will play a variety of musical selections including Oscar and Hammerstein and John Philip Sousa.

Picnic fare and beverages including beer and wine will be available for purchase. Participants also may pack their own picnic. Some picnic table seating will be available. Guests may bring a blanket or lawn chairs.

Parking is available at Spring Valley Nature Center. Merkle Log Cabin is a 10-minute walk from the Nature Center parking lot. A haywagon shuttle will also be available for transportation to the Cabin area for the picnic and concert.

For more information, call (847) 985-2100 or visit www.parkfun.com.