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InsideVolunteer News ContentsVolunteern Want Ads ..........................................7Volunteer Calendar .......................................... 8-9

The Specularium..................................................2What’s That? ........................................................3What’s Happenin’ ............................................. 4-6Spring Valley General Information ...................10

In this issue... Industriousness is a universal characteristic of human societies (although not in equal measure among individual humans). People have always sought new ways to solve problems and designed new tools and gadgets to get the job done. An understanding of how things are made is less common in this day and age (the age of manufacturing), since most gadgets are made for us by others and technology has added layers of complexity that few of us can even begin to fathom. It is always enlightening when someone can explain something to us. Thus, this issue of the Natural Enquirer sheds light on the history and manufacture of greenhouses and barrel spigots—two gadgets that most of us encounter from time to time but likely have never given a second thought. The main idea here isn’t that we all need to learn about and understand the detailed story behind everything we encounter in life, but that doing so for those things we do find essential, interesting, or merely curious adds richness to our understanding of the world in general.

Natural EnquirerNewsle t te r fo r Spr ing Va l l ey Suppor te rs and Vo lun tee rs vo l . 3 no .5 • Se p t . /Oc t . ‘ 1 2

S p r i n g V a l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • S e p t e m b e r / O c t o b e r 2 0 1 2

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The Roman Emperor Tiberius had a special building called a “Specularium”. The French King Louis XIV had a much more imposing but similar structure dubbed an “Orangery”. Not to be left out, President George Washington also had a version, which was his “Pinery”. Although some 1,500 years separated Tiberius and Louis and perhaps a century separated Louis

and George, they all possessed what today we would call a “greenhouse”. word specularium meant “like a mirror” and came to mean a window or window panes.Although glassmaking originated in what is now Iraq over 4,000 years ago, its use as a malleable, adaptable, multipurpose

material was not developed until the Romans brought peace and organization. This led to the rapid diffusion of glass and its manufacture to the farthest corners of their empire. They experimented with almost every technique and process employed today. Even double glazing was not unknown. By a century after Tiberius, tougher and more translucent glass panes had replaced the sheets of mica in the typical specularium. There is also evidence of wide use of windowpanes, often of considerable dimensions, in houses and public buildings.The use of glass for stained-glass windows and mosaics survived the fall of the Western Roman Empire, (the Eastern Empire continued on until 1453) but it was not until the Renaissance that glass-making technology enabled sufficient expanses of clear glass to be again produced. Gradually, buildings were erected with more and more window area where their wealthy owners vied with one another to grow varieties of tender plants, shrubs, and exotic plants. Growing citrus trees became so in vogue that these greenhouses came to be called “orangeries”. This trend culminated in Europe’s largest orangery,

designed for Louis’s 3,000 orange trees at Versailles in 1685, with dimensions of 500’x 42’ x 45’.In America, greenhouses were the domain of the elite. In 1789, Washington had one built at his home at Mount Vernon. In it he grew (his “people” doing the work, no doubt) oranges, lemons, “one fine balm s(c)ented shrub,” aloes, and marjoram. In addition, he craved pineapples for himself and for his guests. In time, the place came to be called a pinery. Thomas Jefferson envisioned a greenhouse for himself at Monticello; however, possibly with his egalitarianism trumping the perceived elitism of a greenhouse, he decided to

incorporate one within the body of Monticello as a small glass enclosed arched loggia, which he called the South Piazza.Greenhouses became increasingly common in the 19th century with the reinvention

of the mass production of glass. No longer a playground for the moneyed class, they became something anyone interested in gardening could have for relatively little cost. Many greenhouses were heated by furnace-warmed air, and some were situated into the earth with warming south facing windows. Today, while these designs are still practical, a greenhouse can go anywhere there is space, be it attached to a house, placed in the backyard, or perched on a deck, roof, or balcony. In addition to becoming more automated, new materials are available today such as aluminum, PVC piping, fiberglass, acrylic, and polycarbonate panels. Coupled with pressure treated wood, these materials can ensure that a greenhouse will stand the test of time.

The Specularium by Walter Plinske

A greenhouse is a structure made of glass or clear plastic which allows the heat of sunlight to enter a contained space and be captured, providing an environment for the growing of plants even when the temperature outside the structure becomes adverse to their survival. In colder climates, such a structure can extend the growing season and even make it, artificially, year-round. As may be surmised by these more illustrious owners, greenhouses for most of their history were the property of the well-to-do. Only today with inexpensive mass produced components, have greenhouses become available to the average citizen.One of the earliest known greenhouses was built for Tiberius on the island of Capri around 30 A.D. The vegetables grown a typical specularium were those that were unavailable during the winter that grips even Mediterranean Italy: beets, peas, radishes, lettuce, melons, and his favorite, cucumbers, to name a few. (Tomatoes and peppers did not appear until the Spaniards brought them from the New World.) Its windows were not made of glass but of large crystals of mica the Romans called Lapis specularis. The crystalline structure of mica forms layers that can be split or delaminated into thin sheets. These sheets are chemically inert, elastic, insulating, lightweight, resilient, and range from transparent to opaque. They were mined by the Romans in what is now the La Mancha region of Spain because of the clarity, size (up to one meter), and perfect flatness of the crystals found there. The root of the

Lapis Specularis

Polycarbonate Greenhouse

Conservatory Greenhouse

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I have always had a love of living history but it was not until I began college in 2010 that it had a name. I always liked visiting museums and was fascinated to see people reenacting and educating others on the way things used to be done. So when it came to pursuing an internship to help me succeed in this field, Volkening Heritage Farm was the perfect fit. I really enjoy teaching the public things they would not ordinarily know and making them think about things in new ways. In order to practice these skills, I have chosen an object from the Farm collection and “analyzed” it using a theory called Seven Ways to Look at an Artifact by Fred Schroeder. The seven types of analysis used in the article are as follows.

1. How was it made? 2. How was it used? 3. What was its environment? 4. What was the object’s development through time?5. What are its cross-cultural comparisons?6. What influenced the development of the object? 7. What are its functional meanings or values?

All of the answers to these questions lay with the object and it is up to both histo-rians and the public to find them.

The object I chose to analyze is called a bung and it resembles a spigot. It can be used with barrels to control how much liquid is released. The larger piece was tapped into the lower part of the side of a barrel. The smaller piece had a hole in it and, when lined up with a hole in the larger piece, allowed liquid to flow through and out of the barrel. A handle on top of the smaller piece allowed the user to control this line up and flow of liquid.

The word “bung” first appears in dic-tionaries as early as the 15th century (Merriam-Webster, “Bung”). Bungs were used in wooden barrels. That means a bung’s environment would have been wherever the barrel was. Wooden bar-rels were used to store liquid up through the 20th century but based on where this particular bung was found, we believe it was primarily used on a farmstead. Tra-ditionally, objects like this would have been found in taverns or bars.

Beyond the environment of an object it is also important to know how it was made. This aids in the understanding of the type of society that would have used it. This object could have been pro-duced in either a factory or a home on a machine known as a lathe. If factory produced, the farmer could have bought it in a general store. There is a cork lining in the single piece to ensure a tight seal. The entire object is extremely

in or near a forest, it would have been easy for them to produce a bung made of wood. If they lived in the desert like the Spanish did in Mexico, they might have had less access to wood. Thus, we see the small version without a handle that does not use as much wood. The Germans often planted

small forests near their farms, so wood would have been a commonly used material for them.There may be a cultural significance to why this object is found in the Heritage Farm collection. A bung represents the use of beverages and possibly, alcohol, a well-known “staple” of German culture. Wine and beer were regular bever-ages of choice for the early settlers in this area. In order to get the liquid out of the barrel, a bung would have been needed. Depending on the condition of the artifact, one might be able to tell what kind of liquor was drunk. From there, we could determine what the drink was made of and, thus, what crops were grown. While this analysis may seem long and complicated, it is this type of interpre-tation that forces us to think critically. Once we have applied these ways of looking at an object, a better picture may be drawn and this, in turn, makes it easier to educate the public and explain how life used to be.

What’s That? by Amy Wywialowski

Bung

smooth so it could eas-ily fit in the barrel and not splinter or break the barrel. While a bung is not a new idea, it is interesting to see how it evolved through time from a simple cork to a push button spigot. The type of bung I am working with did not appear until the mid 19th century. In doing research, I found many online auction sites claiming to sell “souvenir bungs” from the 1893 Chicago World’s fair. Unfortunately, this was all I could find regarding this claim. The modern day equivalent of this object is a push button spigot used in a large jug to dispense liquid.Americans were not the only people to use this type of apparatus. In order to see how other cultures used it, I trans-lated the term “wooden spigot” into other languages to see what I could find. When Googled in German, I found many replicas; however, when translated into Spanish, I found something slightly different—a simpler apparatus that resembled a piece of wood or cork with a hole In it. My conclusion is that though bungs were commonly used across cultures, there were differences in design and the material from which they were made. If a group of people lived

Barrell Bung

S p r i n g V a l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • S e p t e m b e r / O c t o b e r 2 0 1 2

Click on program/icon for information and to register online.**To register online you must have a current SPD account with assigned PIN number. To create a new account, visit the

registration desk at the CRC and verify residency. Non-residents may call Spring Valley to set up an account.

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ADULTCanning for BeginnersSunday, Sept. 16 • 1:00-4:00PLearn about canning from its early develop-ments to the system used today.

Chair YogaTuesday, Sept. 4-Dec. 18 • 4:30-5:30PLearn all the techniques with personalized modi-fications while seated in and standing by a chair.

Fall Vegetable GardeningMonday, Sept. 10 • 7:00-9:00PLearn how to prepare your garden for the fall and discuss which vegetables are ideal.

German Beer BrewingSaturday, Sept. 15 • 5:30-8:30PQuench your thirst and learn the age old art of beer brewing with farm staff - German style!

Nature’s Night Life - ADULTS ONLY!Friday, Sept. 7 • 7:00-9:00PFriday, Nov. 2 • 7:00-9:00PStart your weekend with a relaxing and enlightening evening walk at Spring Valley.

Oktober FestessenSaturday, Oct. 13 • 6:00-8:15PEnjoy a traditional German dinner in the historic farmhouse and let Riesling, dessert and good conversation transport you to another time.

Pilates Mat at the CabinThursday, Sept. 6-Dec. 20 • 5:00-6:00PThese classical mat classes provide a combina-tion of stretching and strengthening exercises.

Restorative Yoga ExperienceFriday, Sept. 14 • 6:30-8:00PFriday, Oct. 12 • 6:30-8:00PThis class is meant to recharge and restore the body, mind and soul. Accompanied by Tibetan singing bowls.

Growing Up Wild: Early Childhood Teacher WorkshopSaturday, Sept. 29 • 9:00A-NoonTake part in a hands-on workshop designed for early childhood educators.

Project Learning Tree: Educator’s WorkshopSaturday, Oct. 20 • 9:00A-3:00PLearn to use PLT activities and receive a copy of the PLT K-8 curriculum guide.

Step back in time and see history come to life at a 1790s frontier encampment and an 1880s working farm!Food, beverages and children’s activities are available throughout the day. Click here for more information.

$4 per person • $16 per family • 3 yrs & under Free

Sunday, Oct. 7 • Noon-5PM

Sponsored by

Autumn Harvest Festival

Concert at the CabinSaturday, Sept. 8 • 5:30-8PM • FREE

The Spring Valley Community Concert Band will perform as evening settles in. Picnic fare and beverages will be available for purchase or bring your own, along with lawn chairs or a blanket. Picnic tables will be available.

The music will begin at 6:30PM. Merkle Log Cabin is an easy 10-minute walk from the Nature Center parking lot.

Additional workshops are being developed. For up-to-date information, visit www.parkfun.com/Spring-Valley/programs.

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Plants can take us many places, both real and imagined. Drop by Merkle Cabin to explore the beauty of fall plants through activities designed for all ages. Learn to recognize some of nature’s abundant fall beauty. It’s a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

Pathway to Plants Sunday, Sept. 16 • Noon-4PM

Discover how 1880s farm families put meat on their tables and preserved food for the long, cold winter. Click here for more information.

Hoghouse to Smokehouse$2 per person$8 per family

3 yrs & under Free

SUNDAY, NOV. 4 NOON-4PMVolkening Heritage Farm

Sponsored by

National Public Lands DaySaturday, Sept. 22 • 9AM-1PMParticipants will learn how people work with nature to heal the land and help restore rare plants and animals. All participants will receive a packet of native wildflower seeds.

Restorative Yoga, Wine and Cheese at the CabinFriday, Sept. 28 • 6:30-8:00PThis class is meant to recharge and restore the body, mind and soul by combining various ele-ments of yoga.

Vermicomposting WorkshopSaturday, Sept. 15 • 9:30-11:30AParticipants will construct their own bin, complete with starter worms.

ALL AGESFree - Heaven’s WatchSat., Nov. 3 • 8:00-10:00P Andromeda GalaxySat., Dec. 8 • 8:00-10:00P ....JupiterJoin Chicago Astronomical Society as they set their telescopes for a peek at the night skies.

Owl AdventureSaturday, Nov. 10 • 7:00-8:30PDiscover the secrets of these stealthy night-time hunters and learn what makes them so special.

Up and At’em Animal ChoresSaturday, Sept. 8 • 7:30-9:30AWake up and get outside to help with animal chores.

FAMILYThe following programs have a special family rate. By registering ONE child, it is assumed that a minimum of two people (one adult and child) or a maximum of four people are attending. Do NOT register additional people, they may pay on the day of the program.

All About ApplesSunday, Oct. 14 • 9:30-11:00AEnjoy this amazing fall fruit in an adventure that’s all about apples.

Family GeocachingSaturday, Sept. 8 • 1:00-2:30PJoin the world wide treasure hunt that will get the whole family outdoors and moving all year!

Harvest Moon BonfireSaturday, Sept. 29 • 6:30-8:30PHelp celebrate this time of the year by taking a wagon ride through Spring Valley, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over an open fire, and enjoying a lantern-lit tour of the farm.

Monarch Butterflies: Migration and TaggingSunday, Sept. 9 • 2:00-3:30PLearn about the amazing migratory habits of the monarch butterfly.

Night HikeFriday, Oct. 19 • 6:30-8:00PCome to Spring Valley after the sun has set and use your five senses to explore the dark.

Spring Valley Super StarsFriday, Nov. 16 • 7:00-8:30PBring the family out for a night under the stars. Learn Greek mythology, play games and be-come experts on at least three constellations.

Twilight HikeFriday, Sept. 21 • 6:30-8:00PHike, explore and look for animals that are ac-tive at dusk.

S p r i n g V a l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • S e p t e m b e r / O c t o b e r 2 0 1 2

Click on program/icon for information and to register online.**To register online you must have a current SPD account with assigned PIN number. To create a new account, visit the

registration desk at the CRC and verify residency. Non-residents may call Spring Valley to set up an account.

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Home School Naturalist Group ProgramsSpring Valley Nature Center and Heritage Farm is the perfect place for hands-on, exploration based science programs. Offerings change seasonally, so check the program guide regularly.

Fall 2012 topics:• Biscuits and Butter – Learn about 19th century farm life as you cook on the wood burning stove and churn your own butter.

• Nature’s Art – Get outdoors and get inspired. Participants will complete art projects that either use natural materials or are inspired by nature.

• Pollination Power – Explore flower anatomy and insect adaptations and simulate pollinating a flower.

• Predator vs. Prey – Compare and contrast adaptations that animals have that help them survive, and see what special relationships there are between predators and their prey.

Available every Fall: Conservation in Action, Woodlands, Owls: Predators of the Night, Cycling, Farms and Food, Gardening, Wetlands and Nighttime Nature

For more information or to schedule a program, call 847-985-2100.

TEENSForestry Merit Badge WorkshopSaturday, Oct. 13 • Noon-5:00PBoy Scouts, join with certified merit badge coun-selors to earn your Forestry badge.

Science and Nature ExplorersWednesday, Sept. 12, Oct. 10 & Nov. 142:15-4:15PMiddle school students will meet once a month to focus on science, nature and the planet.

YOUTHCooking at the CabinFriday, Sept. 7 • 5:00-7:00PLeave the stove at home and explore the art of cooking with fire.

A Country Christmas SleepoverFriday/Saturday, Dec. 14 & 15 • 7:00P-8:30ANeed a night for shopping? Drop the kids off at Heritage Farm for a fun sleepover experience!

Creepers and CrawlersSunday, Sept. 16 • 9:30-11:00ADiscover what a bug’s life is really all about as you look for what’s hanging around.

Fall DiscoveriesSaturday, Sept. 8 • 9:30-10:30AExplore the beauty of the season and discover what you’ve been missing when you’re inside.

Mondays for Moms and KidsMonday, Sept. 17 • 3:30-4:15PMonday, Oct. 15 • 3:30-4:15PMonday, Nov. 19 • 3:30-4:15PMom, spend time walking and enjoying nature with your child.

Spring Valley Winter Break CampWednesday-Friday, Jan. 2-4 • 10:00A-2:00PExploring Spring Valley! Campers will track ani-mals, look for birds, experiment with snow.

Wild and Wacky WoolSunday, Nov. 18 • 1:00-3:00PDiscover incredible wool facts while you card, spin and weave this amazing fiber.

Sat./S­­­­­­­­­­­­­un.,­Dec.­1­&­2­•­Noon-4PM$2 per person • $8 per family • 3 yrs & under Free

at Volkening Heritage Farm & Merkle CabinExperience the holiday season as it was in 1880s Schaumburg. Victorian decorations and traditional German foods filled the home with light and warmth as farm work continued at its own pace. Click here for more information.

Schaumburg Park District presents...

Sponsored by

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the cabin and the farm and include children’s activities and crafts, pumpkin decorating, refreshment sales, farm interpretation, and more! Volunteer shifts times are 11am to 2:30pm or 2:15 to 5:45pm. Also, additional help is needed for set-up on Thursday and Friday, September 29 and 30. Call if you can lend a hand!

A Haunting in the ValleyFriday, October 26 and Saturday, October 27We need your help with our Halloween event which will feature a wagon ride to the Cabin for a guided walk along the night trails. Volunteers are needed for check-in, concessions, family activities, characters, and props. If you’d like to be part of the adventure, give us a call!

Dates to Remember• Wed., Sept. 5 ............. 6:30pm-8:30pm

Volunteer Meeting• Mon., Sept. 10 ............ 1-4pm

Handy Crafter Meeting• Sat., Sept. 22 ............. 9am

Farm Kitchen Training• Sat., Sept. 22 ............. 9am-1pm

Conservation Workday• Thurs, Oct. 4 .............. 10am-3pm

Autumn Harvest Set-up• Fri., Oct. 5 .................. 10am-3pm

Autumn Harvest Set-up• Sun., Oct. 7 ................ Noon-5pm

Autumn Harvest Fest• Fri., Oct. 12 ................ 9am-1pm

Conservation Workday• Mon., Oct. 15 ............. 1-4pm

Handy Crafter Meeting• Fri., Oct 26 ................. 5:30-9pm

A Haunting in the Valley• Sat., Oct 27 ................ 5:30-9pm

A Haunting in the Valley

Volunteer News

Pats on the back to the following volunteers...• Penny Perles for maintaining the Native American

Garden.• Carol Anagnostopoulos, Tony Coonrod, Lynn

Eikenbary, Bill Forst, Renata Riccobon, and Nara Sethuraman for assisting with Nature Center summer camps.

• Laura Bauch for assisting with Heritage Farm summer camps.

• Gail Ameer, Lynn Eikenbary, Leo Salais, Jim and Elsie Sears, Donna Turner, and Norina Waugh for assisting with various programming throughout the summer.

• Jeanette Klodzen for her efforts as a butterfly monitor.• Gail Ameer, Eve Carter, Lynn Eikenbary, and Carolyn White for representing

Spring Valley at Schaumburg’s Farmers Market.

October 2 Rick Jeske 4 Rosemary Colbert Amanda Vanderzee 8 Susan LaDore Julie Tucknott 9 Marilou Vandrush 12 Sue Ringfelt

14 Ken Ogorzalek 15 Pat Heiberger 16 Eve Carter 18 Susanne Cannella Gene Niewiadomski 21 Tony Meo

Happy Birthday to…September 1 Nancy Lyons 8 Peggy Kulis 10 Matthew Marrero 11 Nancy Ruffolo 17 Irene Joll 18 Dick Ruffolo 20 Lynn Eikenbary Ellen Hanes Barb Lam

22 Joan Pangallo 23 Bob Wodka 26 Jim Peterson Phil Skultety 27 Eileen LaBarre 28 Gail Ameer Barb Mitchell

Volunteer Want AdsIf you are interested in helping with any of the following activities, please call Judy at 847/985-2100 or e-mail her at juvito@parkfun.com.

National Public Lands DaySaturday, September 22, 9am-1pmJoin us for our conservation workday and assist with this demonstration of local environmental stewardship. Help spread the message on how people can work with nature to heal and restore it. Any donation of paper grocery bags for use in seed collecting would be greatly appreciated. Drop the bags off at the Visitor Center.

Autumn Harvest Festival Sunday, October 7, Noon-5pmWe’re looking for volunteers to help at Spring Valley’s largest event – Autumn Harvest Festival. Activities are held at both

National Public Lands Day

Sunday WednesdayMonday Tuesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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SePTemBer 2012

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Farm Hours: Tues-Fri 9am-2pm • saT & sun 10am-4pm

Cabin Closed

Bold indicates volunteer activitiesItalics indicates programs which may be taken as complimentary by volunteersSee “What’s Happening” for program descriptions

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•Pilates Mat at the Cabin 5pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6:30pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 8pm

•Cooking at the Cabin 5pm•Nature’s Night Life 7pm

•Up and At’Em 7:30am•Fall Discoveries 9:30am•Family Geocaching 1pm

•Concert at the Cabin 5:30pmVolunteer Meeting 6:30pm•Chair Yoga 4:30pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

•Pilates Mat at the Cabin 5pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6:30pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 8pm

•Restorative Yoga Experience 6:30pm

•Vermicomposting 9:30am

•German Beer Making 5:30pm

•Monarch Butterflies: Migration and Tagging 2pm

Handy Crafters Meeting 1pm

•Fall Vegetable Gardening 7pm

•Science and Nature Explorers 2:15pm

Schaumburg Community Garden Club 7pm

•Chair Yoga 4:30pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

•Pilates Mat at the Cabin 5pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6:30pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 8pm

•Twilight Hike 6:30pm

National Public Lands Day 9amFarm Interpreter Kitchen Training 9am

•Creepers and Crawlers 9:30am•Pathway to Plants Noon•Canning for Beginners 1pm

•Mondays for Moms and Kids 3:15pm

•Chair Yoga 4:30pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

•Pilates Mat at the Cabin 5pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6:30pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 8pm

•Restorative Yoga, Wine and Cheese 6:30pm

•Harvest Moon Bonfire 6:30pm•Chair Yoga 4:30pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

Labor Day

Sunday WednesdayMonday Tuesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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OCTOBer 2012

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28 29 30 31 Farm Hours: Tues-Fri 9am-2pm • saT & sun 10am-4pm

Cabin Closed

Bold indicates volunteer activitiesItalics indicates programs which may be taken as complimentary by volunteersSee “What’s Happening” for program descriptions

•Pilates Mat at the Cabin 5pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6:30pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 8pm

Conservation Workday 9am

•Restorative Yoga Experience 6:30pm

•Forestry Merit Badge Noon

•October Festessen 6pm

Autumn Harvest Festival Noon

•Science and Nature Explorers 2:15pm

Schaumburg Community Garden Club 7pm

•Chair Yoga 4:30pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

•Pilates Mat at the Cabin 5pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6:30pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 8pm

•Night Hike 6:30pm

•All About Apples 9:30am Handy Crafters Meeting 1pm•Mondays for Moms and Kids 3:15pm

•Chair Yoga 4:30pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

A Haunting in the Valley 6:15pm

A Haunting in the Valley 6:15pm

•Chair Yoga 4:30pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm Halloween

Columbus Day

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SCHAUMBURG PARK DISTRICT WEBSITE: www.parkfun.com

E-MAIL: springvalley@parkfun.com

MEMBER:

Vera Meineke Nature CenterThe earth-sheltered visitor center provides an introduction to Spring Val-ley’s 135 acres of restored prairies, woodlands and wetlands and three miles of trails. The center contains natural history exhibits that change seasonally, a demonstration Backyard for Wildlife, an observation tower, classrooms, an extensive library, gift sales area and restrooms.

Volkening Heritage FarmStep back into the past for a look at Schaumburg as it was in the 1880s – a rural German farm community. Help with seasonal farm chores, participate in family activities and games of the 1880s, or simply visit the livestock and soak in the quiet. Authentically dressed interpreters will welcome and share activities with visitors throughout the site.

Spring Valley is a refuge of 135 acres of fields, forests, marshes and streams with over three miles of handicapped-accessible trails, a museum featuring natural history displays and information, and an 1880s living-history farm. Spring Val-ley is open to the general public. Admission is free.

Environmental Outreach ProgramWe’ll bring our outreach program to your site. Topics include forests, worms, spiders, mammals, owls, food chains, food webs, wetlands, and the water cycle. Students will participate in hands-on activities, songs, and games. Topics may be adapted to students in grades one through six, and are correlated with Illinois State Standards.

Programs at Spring ValleySchool, Scout and adult groups are encouraged to take ad-vantage of Spring Valley’s Environmental Education Program. Programs change seasonally and are geared for specific age groups. Correlations to the state standards and activity sheets are available on the SPD website, www.parkfun.com.Learn local history with a visit to the Heritage Farm. Elementary and high school students recreate farm life in the 1880s with Hands on History; second graders experience it through Heritage Quest. Children from the age of four through second grade will learn about food, farmers, and farm animals in Farms and Foods.

Scout BadgesWe offer many opportunities for scouts. Our programs will help with your badge, pin or patch requirements. Call for more information or stop in for a brochure.

SCHAUMBURG PARK DISTRICTBOARD OF COMMISSIONERS:Mike DanielsSharon DiMariaDavid JohnsonGeorge LongmeyerBob Schmidt

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:Tony LaFrenere

SPRING VALLEY MISSION STATEMENT:Spring Valley’s mission is to educate area residents regarding the natural and cultural history of the Schaumburg area and how people have and continue to interact with and upon the landscape.

Spring Valley • Schaumburg Park District • 1111 East Schaumburg Road • Schaumburg, Illinois 60194

Vera Meineke Nature Center

Volkening Heritage Farm

Schaumburg Rd.

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NATURAL ENqUIRER STAFF:Mary RiceEditorJudy VitoVolunteer CoordinatorDave Brooks“In this Issue...”Scott StomporGraphic Artist

Spring Valley Birthday PartiesLooking for a unique, fun, and educational venue for your child’s birthday? Spring Valley is the answer! Two party themes are avail-able. A hayride can be added for an extra fee. Call Spring Valley for more information.

Spring Valley Firepit and Shelter RentalsMake your next scout group, business or family gathering something special! Spring Valley offers the use of a picnic shelter and fire pit in a wooded setting near the Merkle Log Cabin. Use of the site includes firewood, trash/recycling receptacles and benches, as well as picnic tables. No alcohol or amplified music permitted. Restrooms are available at the Heritage Farm or Nature Center, a 5–10 minute walk. The adjacent Merkle Log Cabin contains a restroom and may be rented for additional fees.

Hourly use fees:Residents: .............$25 Civic groups: ..............................$25Non-residents: ......$40 Corporate/business groups: ......$55

HOURSNature Center Grounds & Trails ..............Open Daily ..............8AM-5PMVolkening Heritage Farm Grounds .........Closed .....................Dec.1-March 1

NATURE CENTER/MUSEUM HOURS:Year Round ............Daily* .........9AM-5PM

FARM INTERPRETIVE PROGRAM HOURS:Nov. - March ...........Open for Special EventsApril 1 - Oct. 31 ......Sat/Sun ......10AM-4PM Tue-Fri .......9AM-2PM Mon ...........Buildings Closed

*All facilities closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day

Unless otherwise noted, all programs are held rain or shine.

Participants should dress appropriately for weather conditions.

PHONEVERA MEINEKE NATURE CENTER ..............................................847/985-2100VOLKENING HERITAGE FARM .....................................................847-985-2102