Volunteer to plant wetland plugs
Volunteers are needed to help plant thousands of native wetland plugs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at Dick Young Forest Preserve, 39W115 Main St. in Batavia.
This volunteer opportunity is suitable for individuals or families, co-workers or other groups. Volunteers may plant as few or as many wetland plugs as they like. The plants are small, so the work is easy and quick. All are welcome to participate in this Veterans Conservation Corps of Chicagoland project.
This event is the final in the season for the Veterans Conservation Corps of Chicagoland, an initiative started by restoration ecologist Ben Haberthur, and supported by the Forest Preserve District of Kane County, Audubon Society, and Toyota TogetherGreen. For two years, the group has been tackling restoration projects, mostly within Dick Young Forest Preserve. The Spring Native Wetland Planting will be a celebration of all that has been accomplished. Throughout the planting, there will be live music to keep up the celebratory atmosphere. Afterward, everyone's invited to stop by the nearby shelter for complimentary refreshments.
The 8,000 wetland plants include sedges, prairie cord grass and swamp milkweed.
"These native plants are greatly needed to return the floral composition of this wetland back to what is preferred by our native birds, pollinators and other animals," said Haberthur. "This will expand on the project the VCC began last year, and we're looking forward to having another successful planting day. We believe a country worth protecting is worth preserving, and we're looking for a large crowd to help support this effort," Haberthur said.
The group invites the public to help in their restoration efforts. You do not need to be a military veteran to participate. Please dress as you would for gardening. You may wish to bring work gloves and wear boots. Groups of six or more are asked to preregister by calling Volunteer Coordinator Robb Cleave at (630) 762-2741.
The event will take place on the Main Street side of the preserve. For information about volunteer opportunities, visit www.kaneforest.com.
For information about the Veterans Conservation Corps of Chicagoland, visit www.facebook.com/VeteransConservationCorps.