Teaching kids to care

It might be your only chance to see a monkey skull or a hippo's tooth up-close.

A traveling exhibit entitled, "Saving Endangered Species, Saving Ourselves?" is now on display at the McHenry County Conservation District's Prairieview Education Center.

The interactive exhibit was developed by the Bell Museum of Natural History and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 3 Division of Endangered Species.

It uses examples of endangered species, as well as photomurals, maps, panels and pop-up storybooks to illustrate the relationship between the endangered species and humans.

By showing federally listed endangered species in Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, the exhibit tells how endangered species can signal warnings of environmental problems that could harm other species, including humans.

It also shows how people are working to save endangered species through efforts such as land management, healthy lifestyles and consumer activism.

The conservation district has included pictures of local endangered species, as well as the pelt of a river otter, Education Services Manager Deb Chapman said.

"What we've tried to do, to make it even more local, is we've added something about McHenry County's endangered species, putting in profiles of those," she said.

There are also lists of the local endangered species, such as the Blandings turtle, the Cuckoo Flower and the Banded Killifish.

The exhibit also shows items that have been confiscated at O'Hare Airport as part of the endangered species program. That is where you'll find an actual monkey skull, hippo tooth, Ivory carvings, a seal-skin boot, coral and leather goods made of crocodile hide.

The program runs through Feb. 17 at the Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road, Crystal Lake.

It is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays, and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

No reservations are required. People may just walk in to see the free exhibit. However, groups of 15 or more need to make a reservation.

The McHenry County Conservation District also is conducting an open house in conjunction with the exhibit.

The public is invited to "A Celebration of Conservation" from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. today at the Prairieview Education Center.

On that day, visitors can tour the exhibit, watch a National Geographic video on endangered species, view a display of items confiscated by the Fish and Wildlife Service, learn about Midwest success stories and create a children's craft.

For information or to register, call (815) 479-5779.