Volunteers Needed for WorkDay at Sterne's Woods

THE EVENT

Spend some time outdoors and
help make a great park even better. Volunteer at Sterne’s Woods &
Fen on Sunday, September 22th from 9-11AM. We will be cutting and
piling brush on the abandoned horse track. Refer to the red line on the
updated volunteer map below. Invasives like honeysuckle and buckthorn
are crowding out the native fen species. The brush also prevents the
use of controlled burns on the fen.

THE GROUP

We meet once a month at
Sterne's outdoor pavilion, 5617 Hillside Dr. Volunteers have a chance
to learn about restoration ecology and what makes Sterne’s special.
Bring a waterbottle and a pair of work gloves. The park district will
supply tools, and I will bring treats. Email Brice Alt, volunteer site
steward, to receive updates: bricemaieralt@hotmail.com The next several volunteer dates are: October 27, November 24, and December 15.

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 parkland 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!

THANK YOU

We've been awarded a
$4,000 Community Stewardship Challenge Grant from the Illinois Clean
Energy Foundation. We've documented over 400 volunteer hours in 18
months to earn the grant. Much thanks to the groups who have
volunteered with us at Sterne's: the MUDD trail running club, the
Silver and Sleepy Hollow Creeks Watershed Coalition, the Environmental
Defenders of McHenry County, the BREAK, Jacobs High School
Interact, Girl Scout Troop 888, Cub Scout Pack 156, and Boy Scout Troops
158 and 368.

NEWS

For an update on the recent restoration project at Sterne's Fen: https://www.crystallakeparks.org/project-updates#SternesFen

Who was Ted Sterne? The Crystal Lake Historical Society article: https://www.dropbox.com/s/h61unofnnnx06kg/Ted%20Sterne%20.pdf?dl=0

ECOLOGIC RESTORATION

By volunteering at a Sterne's workday you're helping with the ecologic restoration of an exceedingly rare type of habitat.

To learn more about restoration ecology, here's a quick video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNwQ6cRMTKI

Sterne's Fen has a management plan: https://www.dropbox.com/s/9ekp2nfniddn1d6/1989%20management%20plan.pdf?dl=0