“Autumn of the Oaks” Event Series

Imagine a stellar lineup of events covering the history of a DuPage County community that was settled due to its natural resources, including oak trees. Sierra Club River Prairie Group is proud to be a co-sponsor of programming this autumn that covers ancient and pre-settlement history through today. For thousands of years people managed this land. Today, old wisdom and the work of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is critical to maintaining our mature oak forests, and this informs us of what we can do in our own back yards.

Save the link and check back for updates regarding the events described below.

Lecture series:

Sept 22, 7 p.m.  Zoom talk w/ historian Robert Downes on Native American History, sponsored by Native American Cultural & Environmental Center – Register in advance for this meeting through Zoom.

Sept 23, 7 p.m.  Sierra Club lecture on archaeology with Dale Simpson, Jr. – Registration

Oct 13, 7 p.m. Biohacking Tree Longevity: Modern Strategies for Preserving Canopy (more details forthcoming)

Did you know? Glen Ellyn has older trees than any of its neighboring communities. And studies confirm that, across all metrics, mature trees yield the greatest benefits to humans and wildlife. Yet our oldest and largest trees bear the brunt of environmental threats, and many are falling into decline. But there is hope - we can take action to extend their lives by 50 to 100 years or more. Join us for an “ask the expert” panel discussion where we unpack strategies for biohacking lifespan for the trees on your property.

Nov 10, 7 p.m. Ecological Mimicry: Modern Strategies for Optimizing Canopy and Hedge Quality (more details forthcomng)

The good news - based on studies by the Morton Arboretum, canopy coverage is growing across the Chicago region. The bad news - much of the growth is due to invasive species such as buckthorn and honeysuckle and shorter-lifespan trees such as maples. Join us as experts share strategies for improving long-term canopy quality in our neighborhoods using ecological mimicry. We will also learn how to transform privacy hedges, removing invasives and restoring healthy habitat.

Walks:

Sept 29, 12 p.m.  Go Green Glen Ellyn daytime hike with Jeff Gahris, Forest Preserve Commissioner, at Churchill Woods Forest Preserve - https://www.gogreenglenellyn.org/events

Oct 11 “Walk the Grove” and Soil Sampling Field Activity

Oct 25  Family Leaf Hunt and Arboretum Walk @ Lake Ellyn

Oct 27  “Autumn Colors Walk” and Soil Sampling Field Activit

Nov 24  Thanksgiving Walk

Self-guided Leaf Hunts, Arboretum Walks at Ben Franklin, Churchill, Forest Glen, Lincoln, Parkview, and Woodland Walks at local preserves

Special event: OAKtoberfest

Enjoy live music from School of Rock and The Fall Guys, hands-on art activities, games, and family fun throughout the park. Activities include face painting, a StoryWalk®, guided oak tree tours, an acorn talisman craft, and a tree treasure hunt. Join artist Liita Forsyth of The Little Bits Workshop for a collaborative community art project. The Beer Cellar will offer draft beer for purchase (21+), with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Glen Ellyn Parks Foundation. Details here.

Partnerships:

Glen Ellyn Environmental Commission, https://www.glenellyn.org/631/Environmental-Commission

Go Green Glen Ellyn, www.gogreenglenellyn.org

Native American Cultural & Environmental Center (McKee Preservation Group), https://www.fundthecenter.org/

Sierra Club River Prairie Group, https://www.sierraclub.org/illinois/river-prairie