First Fridays ConCert series - McHenry County Conservation District

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16 Landscapes | Fall 2012
First Fridays
ConCert series
¤ Fall ¤
7:00–8:30 p.m. (site closes at 9 p.m.)
Lost Valley Visitor Center in Glacial Park
Sit back and enjoy an evening of entertainment on the back patio
of the Lost Valley Visitor Center in Glacial Park. Bring a picnic
dinner or dessert and a lawn chair and enjoy our intimate outdoor
setting under the branches of ancient oaks with stunning views
of the outstretched valley.
(In the case of inclement weather, concerts will be moved indoors.
No glass containers.)
Georgia Rae’s
Family Band
The Georgia Rae’s family band plays a mix of Old-Time, Waltzes, and
Bluegrass with a bit of “edginess.” The ensemble is anchored around
first place fiddler, Georgia Rae Mussared (13), and features the
multiple talents of sisters, Quin (11), Kelly Jo (16) playing mandolin,
banjo, washboard and spoons and mom, Roni, on the guitar. Lots of
vocal harmony! Be ready for an evening of foot stomping music.
Potts & Pans
Potts & Pans Steelband is based out of Woodstock and comprised
of Northern Illinois University graduates that were a part of
the NIU Steelband. The repertoire of the steelband is extensive,
from jazz and calypso to popular tunes and original works.
Throughout the concert, their music will show off the diversity
of the instrument while educating the audience about the
steelpan. The inspiration for this band is rooted
in Matt Potts’ experiences in the steelbands both in Trinidad
and in New York.

McHenry County Conservation District’s
October 20 & 21
9 a.m.–4 p.m. *
Glacial Park, Ringwood
Located off Route 31, north of McHenry
Join the fun at this educational re-enactment of life in the Northwest Territory.
Demonstrations • Military Tactics • Medicine Show• Fur Traders
Pioneer Games • Entertainment • Métis Village
Food Vendors & Much More!
ADMISSION:
In Advance/At the Gate:
Adults: $5/$7 Seniors 60+: $2/$3
Children (6-12): $2/$3; 5+under: Free
*Entrance Gates Close at 3 p.m.
Access to the event is a 1 mile hike over hilly
terrain. A shuttle is available for those who
can not make the walk-in/walk out.
No pets, please!
Tickets on sale August 1–October 12 Cash or check only.
Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Rd., Crystal Lake
Monday–Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday 1–5 p.m.
Brookdale, Administrative Office, 18410 US Highway 14, Woodstock
Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Mail OrDer: TOH Ticket Sales, Postmarked by October 5.
Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Rd., Crystal Lake, IL 60014. Include
a check payable to MCCD, number of tickets requested, and a self-addressed,
stamped envelope.
Tickets are non-refundable!
Tickets may be used on either day of the event, but are good for only one day. No additional discounts for group sales.
For information, call Prairieview Education Center (815) 479-5779.
Landscapes | Fall 2011
17

Special Events
SAtuRDAy, SePteMbeR 29, 12 –4 pm
Pleasant Valley conservation Area
13315 Pleasant Valley Rd., Woodstock
Family Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, September 1, 12:00–4:00 p.m.
Stop by anytime to receive your instructions and
park map. Then explore the prairies, woodlands,
and wetlands of Glacial Park, searching for the items
on your scavenger hunt sheet. Bring your completed
sheet back to claim your prize!
Conservation District programs that are designed as free
exploration will be marked with the Leave No Child Inside
symbol. For more information on Leave No Child Inside,
visit www.kidsoutside.info.
Make Your Own Paper
Saturday, November 10, 12:00–4:00 p.m.
Drop in anytime for this hands-on program.
Learning to make your own paper is easy,
fun, and environmentally friendly. Discover
how you can reduce, reuse, and recycle
all in one afternoon. Take your samples
home and amaze your family and friends!
This is considered a beginner class and
registration is not required. Instruction
will also be available in Spanish.
Bilingual
Bilingüe
Pr airie Fest
� Celebrate the life, lore, beauty and diversity of our local prairies.
� Enjoy guided prairie hikes � Activities for the kids � Seed collecting
� Live music. � Bring a picnic lunch or purchase food from local vendor.
Drop in for a few minutes or a few hours!
General event information, hikes, games and other activities will also be available in Spanish.
Drop in Family Fun @ Lost Valley Visitor Center, Glacial Park
Bilingual
Bilingüe
18 Landscapes | Fall 2012
—Lost Valley Ventures—
Family Exploration Programs!
Saturdays 2–3:30 p.m.
Lost Valley Visitor Center–Glacial Park
No program: Sept. 1, Oct. 20, Nov. 10 or 24.
Themed activities include a nature
lesson, game, and a hike. Programs are
held primarily outdoors, so dress for the
weather and walking. No registration
required. All ages are welcome.
Topics change monthly:
September–Flowers, October–Migration,
November–White Tail Deer
This program is intended
for families and cannot
accommodate organized
groups. Youth groups are
welcome to call (815) 479-5779
to schedule a program
for their group.

Geocaching:
Finding Hidden Treasures
Quotes from Geocachers on District sites
Kishwaukee
Headwaters
“Beautiful morning for a walk through
this nice restoration area!
We were looking for a cache involving a
little walk on this sunny December day.
This was perfect. We walked the loop
and found the cache in a flash.”
Fox bluff
“Remember skiing here in the 60's, my favorite local place even
though I came out here from the south side of Chicago—sometimes
on the train on days off from school. There are still signs of a towrope
on the pole very near this one. Also remember when a great little
club called Harry Hopes occupied the old ski lodge in the seventies
and maybe 80's. Saw Muddy Waters here a few times and George
Thorogood before he got big back then. Enjoyed the nice walk and
cache today in some light rain. Thanks for the great memories and
the cache. Will have to learn more about the current cache program.”
CACHE YOUR WAY
ACROSS
MCHENRY COUNTY
August 1 - November 30
Caches will be placed in 15 different Conservation
District sites. Sign-up to receive a list of coordinates and
a questionnaire. Each cache will contain an answer to a
corresponding question. Some caches will be posted on
www.geocaching.com. You will need your own GPS unit
to complete the program.
Questionnaires may be mailed to the Main Office or e-mailed
back to smichael@mccdistrict.org. Include your name and mailing
address. All completed entries will be entered into a drawing to win
a free camping weekend at one of the District's six campgrounds.
Completed entries must be returned by November 30, 2012.
Some caches will remain posted on www.geocaching.com.
Marengo Ridge
“I took the afternoon off to spend some time with the kids, and
we decided to grab a couple of the District caches. We arrived
at the parking coordinates and headed out pretty quick. What
a beautiful hike! Thank you for bringing us out here, and thank
you for your support of geocaching!
This was quite an awesome hide. It was easily found once with
the coordinates. I went geocaching on my hiking trip and I'm
glad I found it.
What luck, another MCCD cache and in a part of this preserve
we haven't been in. It's nice when the caches get us to explore
areas of the preserves we haven't been in before. Thanks for
placing another cache here! The trails are in great shape and
this one was on the mama pig's favorite type of trail. TFTC.”
Silver Creek
“It was a great day for a walk and MCCD
has so many nice sites to do just that in.
Throughout the economic downturn
we have noticed many parks not
being maintained but not here
in McHenry County. The trail
today was groomed and as
always the site was beautiful.
A big well done to all the folks
at MCCD that keep our sites
so nice.”
Special Events
Sign up and complete the Cache Your Way Across McHenry County questionnaire to earn you very own Conservation District geocoin!
Spend fall
geocaching
your way
through
many
of the
beautiful
sites of
Photo taken at a cache at Marengo ridge
McHenry
County Conservation District.
E-mail smichael@mccdistrict.org or call the
District’s Main Office at (815) 338-6223 to participate.
Enroll any time throughout the fall!
Photo taken at a cache at The Hollows
Geocaching is a great activity for all ages who enjoy hiking and being outdoors. For more information on this popular
“treasure hunting” activity, call (815) 338-6223 or read about it online: MccDistrict.org/re-geocache.htm.
Landscapes | Fall 2012
19

Special Events
Living History Events
Powers-Walker House, Glacial Park
No registration required.
Drop in any time during the open hours.
Archaeological Awareness
Saturday, September 29
12:00–4:00 p.m.
Drop in at the Powers-Walker
House to see flintknappers, stone
grinders, cordage makers and other
people demonstrating prehistoric
skills. You will be able to try your
hand at throwing an atlatl while
pretending you are on a prehistoric
big game hunt. A mounted
cavalryman will be on hand to explain archaeology of the Little Big
Horn site. Archaeologists will describe how prehistoric technologies
are discovered and interpreted and share a time line of the prehistoric
past. Examples of artifacts will be on display, including those found
at the Powers-Walker House. You may bring your own arrowheads or
prehistoric tools for identification by professional archaeologists.
Living History Open House – Twilight
Thursday, October 11, 5:00–8:30 p.m.
Enjoy the twilight ambience of this 1850’s house by candlelight and
lamplight while enjoying a fall evening viewing the ever-changing
colors in the Lost Valley Marsh. Smell the aromas and see what is
being baked in the wood-burning stove. And, don’t forget to check
out any changes in the restoration of this historic house since the
last time you visited.
20 Landscapes | Fall 2012
Harvest Gathering of 1858
Sunday, November 4, 12:00–4:00 p.m.
Step back in time to the 1850's
Powers-Walker House at harvest
time. Try your hand at corn
shelling, grinding corn into flour,
or making a corn husk or yarn
doll, while learning how integral
the use of corn and other natural
fibers were to the everyday lives
of early settlers. Witness harvest
activities like the baking of bread in
the wood-burning cookstove and
making candles for the wintertime.
Tour the historic farmhouse and
learn more about its restoration, or
visit with a Cavalry sergeant and his horse as they demonstrate
the weapons of the era used to protect these frontier lands.