'Oak Rescue Volunteer Work Day' Scheduled for June 26 at Sterne's Woods & Fen

THE EVENT

Spend some time outdoors and help make a great park even better. Volunteer at Sterne’s Woods & Fen on Sunday, June 26 from 9-11 AM. Volunteers should meet at the Hillside Road picnic shelter beside the Sterne's parking lot. Google address is 5617 Hillside, Crystal Lake. This month will be our second “Oak Rescue”. Invasive understory bushes crowd out young oak saplings, shading them to death before they have chance to mature. Even the tallest oaks in Sterne’s Woods are losing their lower limbs to competition with the invasives. We’ll cut out buckthorn and honeysuckle bushes beneath several 100+ year old oak trees beside the trail. This will allow the native understory plants and oaks will have a chance to thrive again.

THE GROUP

The Oak Rescue is the third in a series of monthly volunteer days at Sterne’s Woods & Fen. We meet on the 4th Sunday of every month from 9-11 AM. Volunteers will have a chance to learn about restoration ecology and what makes Sterne’s special. Bring a water bottle and a pair of work gloves. The park district will supply the tools and I’ll bring treats. Email Brice Alt, volunteer site steward, to receive updates: bricemaieralt@hotmail.com

THE PARK

Sterne’s Woods & Fen became an Illinois State Nature Preserve in 1994 to preserve and protect its' unique ecology. A fen is a rare type of wetland in which cold groundwater that is high in calcium and magnesium seeps to the surface. The unique water chemistry supports plants that grow nowhere else. Sterne’s Fen is home to at least 10 rare or endangered plant species. The surrounding park land acts as a buffer to the fen and includes prairie, oak savanna, and flatwood ecosystems. Every one of those ecosystems can benefit from the efforts of volunteers. Join us once a month and learn about them!