Openlands - Openlandscapes

Openlandscapes

Openlandscapes: Spot Rare Migrating Birds at Bartel Grassland

openlandscapes bartel Spring is here and that means it is bird-watching season at Bartel Grassland. Bartel is located 35 miles south of downtown Chicago in Matteson, IL and is a 380-acre restored wet-mesic prairie that provides essential habitat for nesting grassland birds. Some of these birds return each spring from as far away as South America to nest and raise their young. The site has been designated an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society and as such is a part of the global effort to conserve areas that are vital to birds and biodiversity. Grassland bird species are declining worldwide due to the fragmentation of the large, uninterrupted grasslands that they need to thrive. The dramatic improvements made at this site over the past decade have created habitat for numerous species of native plants that attract large numbers of grassland birds. So bring your binoculars and enjoy the view!

Openlandscapes: Sweet Fun at North Park Village Nature Center

maple syrup festival photo 1 Did you know that it takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup? You won't get this sticky treat any fresher than at the North Park Village Nature Center's Maple Syrup Festival, held the weekend of March 24-25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors can try tapping a tree, watch the sap boil and then sample maple syrup fresh off the fire. There will be guided nature walks to the "sugar bush" where visitors will learn more about the tapping process and enjoy maple tree tapping folklore.

Openlandscapes: Glide through the snowy trails of Camp Sagawau

Unearth the wintery landscapes of Camp Sagawau and enjoy a one-of-a-kind cross-country ski experience. The 12-acre nature preserve is located 35 minutes from downtown Chicago in Lemont, Illinois and offers a variety of nature programs throughout the year. Individual access is restricted outside of tours and ski trails due to the rare native habitat in need of preservation. However, from the ski trail you can glimpse a view of the dolomite limestone canyon – estimated to be 100,000 years old and the only canyon in Cook County.

Openlandscapes: Travel back in time this holiday season

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Take time away from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and travel down the country road to Garfield Farm and Inn Museum December 3 and 4 for its annual Candlelight Reception from 3-7 p.m. Interpreters wearing period clothing will share with guests what life was like for people during the height of the horse and wagon era. This event is free and open to the public.

Openlandscapes: Hike the Trails at Midewin

This month’s Openlandscapes takes you to the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie located in Will County, about 45 miles southwest of downtown Chicago. At 19,000+ acres, Midewin is the largest open space in the six-county metropolitan area. Midewin offers respite from the urban world and an opportunity to be immersed in a unique landscape within an hour’s drive of downtown Chicago. So put on a scarf, a warm jacket and some good walking shoes, and enjoy the beautiful autumn landscapes at Midewin this weekend.