Introduction to 'Keeping it REEL'

As creator of the One Earth Film Festival, Green Community Connections believes in the power of film to inform, inspire and transform. Our new Keeping It Reel feature will curate short videos and feature-length film trailers that focus on a variety of sustainability and environmental issues that affect us all. You will find in this feature not only a variety of topics but also a variety of approaches to the topic, including factual, inspirational, light and humorous, personal stories and public advocacy. In the righthand column are two videos to start off our new series. Enjoy!

Please give us your feedback and participate by submitting your "nominations" for a future feature. Contact Sally Stovall: sally@greencommunityconnections.org.

Trailside Museum Fall Schedule

Throughout the fall:  Programs that repeat

“Woodpecker Hollow” Nature Play Area: 

Balance on logs and build with sticks as you experience unstructured playtime in our nature play area.  Every day

 Bone Appétit

Join us at feeding time to learn about Trailside’s outdoor resident animals:  Monday, September 1; Sunday, September 13; Sunday, October 12; Sundays, November 8 & 22; Tuesday, November 11; Saturday, November 30 • 1 pm

Nature Story Time

Nature-inspired stories followed by a craft. Ages 3-6 with adult. $1 per child.:  Thursdays, September 4 & 18; October 2 & 16; November 6 & 20 • 10:30 am

Dog Days Walks

Bring your well-mannered, leashed dog on a one-hour guided hike on our trails. Call to register by 2 days prior.  Saturdays, September 20, October 18, November 15 • 10 am

Autumn Walks

Explore the changing seasons on a guided walk along our trails and around the pond. Call to register by 2 days prior.  Sundays, September 28, October 5 & 19, November 2 & Monday, October 13 • 1 pm

Weekday Nature Walk

Join us as we explore our local trails near Trailside Museum:  Tuesdays, September 30, October 28, November 25 • 1 pm

 Homeschool Connections

Join other homeschoolers to learn about local nature. Limited space available; register at least 2 days prior to each session. Must be accompanied by adult.

Tree Ecology  Learn about trees many important roles in our ecosystems, and learn to identify some of our local trees. Children ages 8 & up; Wednesday, September 24 • 2 – 3:30 pm

Migration Beyond Borders

Learn the migration stories of birds, insects and reptiles connecting to habitat preservation. Children ages 8 and up. Wednesday, October 22 • 2 – 3:30 pm

Ready for Winter

Learn about different animals’ strategies for surviving seasonal changes in order to prepare for winter.  Children ages 8 and up.   Wednesday, November 19 • 2 – 3:30 pm

 Conservation History Series

Join interested adults and teens to learn about our leaders in conservation. Limited space available; register at least 2 days prior to each session.

Conservation in America:  Explore the ideas and practice of conservation from before Thoreau to 21st century conservation biology. Wednesday, September 17 • 7 pm

 Origins of the Forest Preserves:  Learn how the nation’s first forest preserves were created in a time of great social change. Wednesday, October 1 • 7 pm

Leaders in Conservation: Aldo Leopold, Learn about the man many believe to be the father of the conservation ethic.Wednesday, November 19 • 7 pm

 September

Start Your Nature Journal

Learn and practice tips for starting or enhancing your journal, from pen and paper as well as your favorite smartphone apps. For adults and interested teens; bring your favorite technology if you like. Registration required by 9/4, $15.00/person includes take-home materials. Saturday September 6 • 1 pm

What Leaf Is That? Tree ID for Young People: Enjoy a short nature walk and learn easy ways to identify some trees by leaf, bud, bark and fruit. Children ages 7 – 14, w/adult. Registration required by 9/5. Sunday, September 7 • 1 pm

Killer Plants and Murderous Mushrooms: Learn how some plants and fungi defend themselves, and then follow a naturalist in search of examples in our preserves. For adults and youth 12 and up; registration required by 9/12. Sunday, September 14 • 1 pm

Animal Olympics: Can you leap as far as a frog, or spear fish like a heron? Test your human abilities against amazing animal adaptations. Drop-in family program. Sunday, September 21 • 1 – 2:30 pm

The Endless Garden - Seed Saving: Learn how and when to save and store seeds from your garden plants for next year’s growing season. For adults; register by 9/25. Saturday, September 27 • 1 pm

OCTOBER

Fungus Among Us Learn about some common autumn mushrooms then enjoy a short hunt for local examples.  For adults & interested teens. Registration required by 10/2. Saturday October 4 • 1 pm

Tree Identification Workshop: In this indoor/outdoor workshop we will discuss features of local trees used for tree identification, such as bud and leaf shape, habitat and bark. Adults & interested teens. Registration required by 10/9. Saturday, October 11 • 1 pm

An Evening at Trailside

Get up close and personal with your neighborhood nature center. Sample a variety of educational programs and crafts, chat with your local naturalists and get an up close view of our entire mammal furs & skulls collection. A rare “behind-the-scenes” program will show you how we prepare food for our display animals.

Friday, October 24 • 5 – 8 pm

Photo Meet-Up at Trailside: Photographers of all skill levels are welcome to enjoy a one-hour tour of Trailside Museum and Thatcher Woods, highlighting the autumn color, scenic vistas and locations frequented by wildlife. During and after, photographers are free to get their best nature shots! Saturday, October 25 • 10 am

The Eyes Have It Drop-In Learn how other animals see: from snake eyes that never close to the compound eyes of insects. Drop-in family program. Sunday, October 26 • 1 – 2:30 pm

 NOVEMBER

What Does the Coyote Say? Bark, howl or yip…discover what the coyote really says and visit with Trailside’s resident coyote. Saturday, November 1 • 1 pm

On the Trail of the White-tailed Deer The white-tailed deer is the largest mammal in Illinois. Join us as we explore the natural history of this native animal. Drop-in family program. Sunday, November 9 • 1 – 2:30 pm

Nature Sketching Explore line, value, shading and form as we practice sketching plants and animals from life. Register by 11/13. $15 materials fee includes take-home artist’s tools. Sunday, November 16 • 1 pm

Skull Detectives - The Mystery of the Missing Lunch Use the clues from real skulls to figure out which animal stole the missing lunch. Drop-in family program. Sunday, November 23 • 1 – 2:30 pm

Turkey Trot Hike Walk off that turkey dinner on a special post-holiday guided hike of the trails around Trailside Museum. Registration required by 11/26. Friday, November 28 • 1 pm

The Flying Meat-eaters: Hawks, Owls, Falcons & Vultures Drop in to learn about the life history of the carnivorous birds of our area. Family drop-in program. Saturday, November  29 • 1 - 2:30 pm

Trailside Museum, Forest Preserves of Cook County, 738 Thatcher Ave, River Forest, IL 60305, (708) 366-6530

Green Drinks Series: Steps Toward a Sustainable Future: Energy, Food & Water

Help Stop Fracking in Illinois

Please call into the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules today, and daily through Sept 15th, about the rules for fracking and say- "Please prohibit the rules for fracking.  The IDNR did not develop detailed plans for air pollution, radiation, seismicity and chemical disclosure that will actually protect Illinois residents from fracking related harm.  And what's up with the IDNR charging such low fines? Fracking can harm people, animals and the environment - why give the industry a pass?   The IDNR is understaffed and underfunded. They admit it themselves. They are not ready to take on the daunting task of regulating this dangerous industry.  We ask that you prohibit the rules for fracking." 12 calls to 12 members of the committee, in 6 days -- we can do this! Their office numbers can be found here: http://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/member.pdf

If JCAR, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, votes to prohibit the rules then that would shoot a hole in the hydraulic fracturing program in Illinois and would send the regulations back to the General Assembly for a do over -- yahoo!

The rules can be found at: http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/OilandGas/Pages/PublicHearingTranscriptsAndComments.aspx

The IDNR admits, in their responses to the over 30,000 public comments about fracking, that they are understaffed, and that they face many challenges and unknowns about the daunting task of regulating of the fracking industry. (You can find it on page 14): http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/OilandGas/Documents/IDNR%20Response%20Document.pdf

Thanks for making these calls and passing this to your contacts, Frack Free Illinois https://www.facebook.com/FrackFreeIllinois

Native Garden Tour This Sunday in Oak Park & River Forest

The news is full of scary stories about disappearing species and shrinking biodiversity. But YOU can help solve this problem by simply planting a few seeds in your yard or community garden that can support beautiful and beneficial wildlife. It's super easy to do, and we've put together an exciting garden tour to teach you. Join us for the Birds, Bees & Butterflies: A Native Garden Tour in Oak Park and River Forest this Sunday, Sept. 7 from 2 to 5:30 p.m.  West Cook Wild Ones and Green Community Connections cordially invite you to tour this carefully curated group of 11 private and public gardens. You'll learn how to get started, mix native plants with traditional ones, build a rain garden or even replace your lawn entirely.

For a taste, see brief descriptions of the gardens on the tour.  Learn more about the tour and register now.

As in this video, at each tour stop, the gardener or a plant expert will lead you through the garden and teach you more about the beauty and benefits of native plants.

Tour Details

Sunday, Sept. 7

2-4:30 pm Tour: guided bike tour (space limited) or self-paced tour by bike or car

4-5:30 pm Native Garden Fair at Forest Preserve District of Cook County General Headquarters

Suggested donation is $7 for adults. Children welcome - and we've planned special activities at the fair for kids!

Learn more about the tour

and

get the registration link

.

Look for our Tour Stop signs around town and join the tour!

BUTTERFLIES-MOM

Here comes the sun, at a discount!

Solar Chicago is a new, community-wide group solar discount program offered by the City of Chicago, the World Wildlife Fund and Vote Solar, a non-profit organization working to bring solar energy into the mainstream. This initiative is available to Oak Park and other Cook County residents.  Through this program the contractor will offer residential solar to the program's participants starting at $3.49 per-watt — more than a 25% discount off average market installation costs. Please join us for an informational workshop on the Solar Chicago Discount Solar Program on Thursday, August 21, 2014, 7:00-8:30pm, at the Oak Park Main Library, 834 Lake Street, Oak Park, to learn more about the program.   There will be opportunities learn more about how the program works and to ask questions.

This program is intended to help homeowners pool their buying power to secure significant discounts that make installing solar more affordable than ever. Solar Chicago simplifies the process of researching and choosing a solar provider, making it easy for you to save money and produce clean, renewable energy.  Oak Park and Chicago are part of the core program area that will receive a guaranteed base installed price of $3.49 /w.  Installations outside the core program area but within Cook County will receive a base installed price of $3.59 /w.

See the web site for more information.After vetting several solar companies, a community evaluation committee has selected the team of Juhl Renewable Energy Systems and Microgrid Solar as Solar Chicago's installation partner.

The program will only available through September 30, 2014. Now is a good time to explore solar power for your home!  You can register to receive a no cost / no obligation proposal through Solar Chicago. The contractor will schedule free site evaluation and provide you with a proposal specific to your home.

Please help spread the word about Solar Chicago to your co-workers, friends, family and neighbors.  Solar Chicago Information Session Flyer.

To learn more, visit: http://www.mygroupenergy.com/group/solarchicago/news/

Information excerpted from SolarChicago web site