Aren’t you looking forward to the warm months with all of the vibrant beauty of the many blooming flowers? Have you ever taken a walk through Spring Valley and appreciated not only the stillness of this far-from-remote spot but the many bits of nature that you don’t ordinarily see in your neighborhood? If you’d like to experience the peacefulness and beauty of this local preserve all year long with the help of your computer, here’s your chance!
Beginning in March, Ed Tummillo invites you to subscribe to the Spring Valley Wildflower Blog. As a nature photographer who has been taking pictures of the flora and fauna of Spring Valley for the last five years, Ed will keep you up to date on the blooming of the various wildflowers of the Sanctuary. In subscribing to the blog you will be provided with:
- Photos of the wildflowers throughout the blooming season
- A weekly updated list of wildflowers that are currently in bloom or about to bloom at Spring Valley
- Hints for identifying the different types of wildflowers
- A detailed map showing the best locations in Spring Valley for viewing and photographing the wildflowers.
- Recommendations for how and whent to photograph the flowers.
If you would like to subscribe to the Spring Valley Blog at no charge, please send Mr. Tummillo an email at aeterra@me.com. Simply say “Sign me up for the Blog” in the subject line.
After we have the equivalent of 4 inches or more snow on the ground, why not head over to Spring Valley Nature Sanctuary in Schaumburg to try your hand at snowshoeing? It’s a nice way to experience Mother Nature in a winter environment at a minimal cost.
- Rentals are available on a first-come, first-serve basis from 9-3 with all rentals being returned by 4:30.
- The rental rate is $3 for a maximum of 3 hours use at Spring Valley. A driver’s license or some of other form of ID is required as a deposit. A rental application and liability waiver must be filled out at the Nature Center Visitor Center. To take snowshoes off site, a deposit of $50 is required along with a $6 cost per day.
- First-time renters will be asked to view a short video on the proper way to use snowshoes prior to taking them out.
Call 847-985-2100 or head over to the Spring Valley Nature Center at 1111 E. Schaumburg Road. It’s great get some exercise and take advantage of Spring Valley in a whole new way.
The Northwest Cook County Group of the Sierra Club is continuing their restoration work at Spring Valley Nature Sanctuary in Schaumburg. Any who wish to participate should meet in the Spring Valley parking lot at 1111 E. Schaumburg Road on Saturday, May 22 at 8:45 a.m. Work will proceed until 12:00. Gloves and tools will be provided.
Helping restore this native habitat is the Group’s way of saying thank you to Spring Valley for the use of their meeting room.
The village of Schaumburg has created a new section of their website called The Green Corner. Here you will find a variety of ways to be even more green!
Some of their information includes: CFL bulb and battery dropoff, places in the village to recycle your electronics, hazardous waste dropoff sites and information on the upcoming annual Recycling Event.
Check out the Green Corner and green up your corner of Schaumburg!
Rain barrels are a wonderful way for the homeowner to extend the use of the rainwater that pours down from the roof of their house. Any Schaumburg Township residents interested in purchasing a reasonably priced rain barrel(s) now have a few options.
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
Rain Barrel Purchase Program
Visit www.mwrd.org to reserve up to two barrels per household at a cost of $50 per barrel. Distribution takes place the first Tuesday, first Thursday and first Saturday of each month in Skokie, Cicero and Chicago.
Village of Hoffman Estates
The Village plans to arrange a pre-order for rain barrels with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. Residents would reserve a rain barrel and then pick up the purchased barrels at a Village facility later this spring. Call the village at 847-781-2669 or email them at grow2green@hoffmanestates.org to reserve your barrels now.
Village of Schaumburg Park District
Spring Valley Nature Sanctuary continues to take orders through April 1, 2010 with barrels ready for pick-up in early May. Those ordering will be contacted when barrels are ready. Barrels come with instructions for installation and care as well as directions on how to paint (if desired).
For more information, please contact Spring Valley at (847) 985-2100.
Learn how to increase the comfort of your home while lowering your utility bills. Energy 360 Solutions will discuss the causes of home performance issues, ways to correct them and how to claim the Federal Energy Tax credit which is available for 2009 and 2010.
When: Thursday, February 11 7:30-9:00 p.m.
Where: Rasmussen South, Schaumburg Township District Library
Register at the Information/Magazines Desk. 847-923-3347.
Kay McKeen, Executive Director of SCARCE, will discuss ways that individuals and families can reduce their carbon footprint, be more socially involved with the community and positively impact the environment.
When: January 20, 2010 7:30-9 p.m.
Where: Rasmussen South Room, Schaumburg Township District Library
Register at the Information/Magazines Desk. 847-923-3347.
The Northwest Cook County Group of the Sierra Club is continuing their restoration work at Spring Valley Nature Sanctuary in Schaumburg. Any who wish to participate should meet in the Spring Valley parking lot on Saturday, November 21 at 8:45 a.m. Work will proceed until 11:30. Gloves and tools will be provided.
Helping restore this native habitat is the Group’s way of saying thank you to Spring Valley for the use of their meeting room.
For the average household, there are multiple, advertised environmental fairs, hazardous waste collections, dropoffs and recycling events that are all FREE. For the average business it can be difficult to find a way to be green and operate economically.
The Illinois EPA has one way to help. They have set up an Industrial Material Exchange that allows businesses to post both the materials they have available for recycling or materials they would like to obtain for their own uses. Check out the website here.
Spring Valley Nature Sanctuary will be celebrating National Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 26 with a morning of native seed collecting in its restored prairies. All of the seed collected is dried, cleaned and eventually used to replant additional acres with native wildflowers and grasses in Schaumburg’s parks and nature preserves.
Participants will be able to learn ways in which people work with nature to heal the land and help restore rare plants and animals. All participants will receive a free packet of native wildflower seed to take home. This activity is free and open to all ages.
Collecting will be done from 9:00 to 1:00 with volunteers asked to meet at the Visitor’s Center. To RSVP call the Center at 847-985-2100. Their address is 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg, IL
