BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG
They say that life is one big circle. But with the Chicagoland area being so vast, with a population of more than 9.2 million people, I sometimes doubt that. So who would’ve thought that I’d be hiking with my sixth-grade teacher (1980–81) nearly 45 years later. But that’s what I did in late August at Spring Valley Nature Center & Heritage Farm (1111 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg, IL 60194, 847-985-2100) and again at Crabtree Nature Center last month.
Facebook is actually good for something other than endless advertisements. Dave (as he encouraged me to call him) and I stayed connected on Facebook over the years. I’ve always admired his photography and love of the outdoors and, we met up at Spring Valley Nature Center & Heritage Farm on a warm, late-summer day.
Dave was a first-year teacher during my 6th-grade year, and we were a class of good, but rambunctious, sometimes misbehaving Lutheran school kids. One of the first things that I said to Dave when we met at Spring Valley was, “Dave, I have such fond memories of your history classes (he loved the ancient Greeks, Spartans, Romans, Hittites, Assyrians, and other cultures) but” . . . (big comedic pause) “I’d like to apologize for our entire class for what we put you through as a first-year teacher.” Dave laughed, and that was the start of a wonderful hike filled with memories of my class and other classes and his experiences at Hope. This was my first time at Spring Valley, so Dave served as an excellent guide to the wide variety of nature activities that are available at this 135-acre property, which opened in 1983.
Here are 10 things that you can do at Spring Valley Nature Center & Heritage Farm.
Take a Hike
Spring Valley has about three miles of hiking trails that travel through prairies, forests, and a historic German farm and homestead, as well as along the banks of Merkle Pond and two creeks. Trail surfaces range from woodchips, grass, and a boardwalk. Here’s a trail map.
The “Notes From the Valley Blog” provides many interesting stories about the flora, fauna, and history of the Spring Valley Nature Center and its surrounding areas.
Go Snowshoeing
Snowshoe rentals begin on January 2 if there are at least four inches of snow on the ground. The rental rate is $5/hour, and rentals are available from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. All rentals must be returned by 4 p.m.
Take the Kids to the Bison’s Bluff Nature Playground
The designers of the playground sought to encourage young people to enjoy nature through active and passive forms of play and exploration. According to the center, the playground “includes natural materials (logs, boulders, sand, water, etc.) as well as nature-themed play structures and manufactured features that mimic a rock bluff and cliff face, fallen logs, a flowing stream, wetland, beaver lodge, etc.”
A small admission fee is required per child (ages 2-12 years old). There is no admission fee for the winter season (November 1-March 31), and adults and children younger than age 2 are free.
Go Birdwatching
On the shores of Merkle Pond, you might see great blue herons, black-crowned night herons, egrets, ducks, and other waterbirds. More than 190 bird species have been sighted at Spring Valley Nature Center, according to eBird.
Enjoy the Wildflowers and Other Plants
The diversity of ecosystems at Spring Valley allows for a wide range of wildflowers and other native plants. During our visit, we saw several types of sunflowers, evening primrose, and large collections of obedient plants (beautiful!; I need to add these to my native plant garden). There are also formal gardens of zinnias, sage, and marigolds near the nature center.
Check out the Vera Mineke Nature Center
The nature center offers interactive exhibits about local plants and animals and a library, living turtle pond display, and children’s activity area. During milder months, check out the center’s Learning Garden, Pollinator Display Garden, Backyards for Wildlife display, and Monarch Rearing and Education Station (June to September).
Visit Play Pockets
Eight outdoor play pockets, which are located throughout the grounds, provide excellent spots for kids to play in nature.
Visit the Volkening Heritage Farm
Journey back in time to see what Schaumburg was like in the 1880s, a rural German farm community. Historical interpreters dressed in period clothing help visitors understand what it was like to live and farm in the 1880s. Farm animals live on site and are available for viewing. You can tour historic buildings, and there is a store that offers refreshments, fresh produce, and gifts. Note: Heritage Farm is closed December 1 to March 1.
Check out the Merkle Cabin
The Merkle log cabin can be rented for private parties and business functions, with a maximum capacity of 30 people. There is also an adjacent fire pit and picnic shelter. The center says that “special programs are held at Merkle Cabin each season including our popular Forest Playschool programs for preschool aged children as well as our Yoga in the Cabin series for adults.” Click here to learn about the history of the Merkle Cabin.
Volunteer at the Center
Group and individual opportunities are available for those ages 14 and older. Volunteer positions are available in Ground Maintenance and Conservation (e.g., garden & display maintenance, conservation/resource management, monitoring natural areas), Events and Programs (e.g., Monarch butterfly education, Heritage Farm interpreter, summer camp program assistance), and Operations Support (e.g., creation of homemade items for useful or decorative purposes which are either used or sold at Heritage Farm, collections care). If you’re interested in volunteering, contact the center’s volunteer coordinator at 847/985-2100 and/or click here for more information and to complete a volunteer application.
Final Thoughts
Life is really one big circle—at least when it comes to reconnecting with your 6th-grade teacher from nearly 45 years ago. It was great to spend time with Dave, and he was an excellent guide (or should I say teacher) during my visit to a new nature destination. Hiking with Dave and talking about our school days gave me new insights and memories into who I was back at age 11 and also created new memories with a past teacher, and now friend. Now I need to contact my 7th and 8th grade teachers to see if they’d like to take a hike and walk down memory lane.
Before You Go
Here are the hours for various Spring Valley facilities. Be sure to check with center for the latest hours and days in which the center is closed.
Spring Valley No-Nos:
The following items and activities are NOT permitted:
- Fishing
- Cross-country skiing
- Dogs/pets
- Riding bicycles
- Rollerblading, skateboarding, scootering, etc.
- Picking or collecting flowers, plants, berries, etc.
- Harvesting fruits or garden vegetables at the farm
- Feeding wildlife or farm livestock
- Capturing or removing wildlife
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Picnicking outside of designated areas
- Amplified music
- Walking off of marked trails
- Balloons or balloon releases
- Remote-controlled toys, cars, etc.
- Athletic equipment, balls, etc.
Copyright (text/photos): Andrew Morkes
Copyright (photo of Dave and Andy): Andrew Morkes and Dave S.
Looking for some other great nature destinations in Chicagoland? If so, check out my book, Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit. It features amazing destinations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Click on the title to learn more. The book has 306 pages and 210+ photos and is only $19.99.
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ABOUT ANDREW MORKES
I’ve been writing and editing for more than 30 years. I’m the founder of College & Career Press (2002); the author and publisher of “The Morkes Report: College and Career Planning Trends” blog; and the author and publisher of Hot Health Care Careers: 30 Occupations With Fast Growth and Many New Job Openings; Nontraditional Careers for Women and Men: More Than 30 Great Jobs for Women and Men With Apprenticeships Through PhDs; They Teach That in College!?: A Resource Guide to More Than 100 Interesting College Majors, which was selected as one of the best books of the year by the library journal Voice of Youth Advocates; and other titles. They Teach That in College!? provides more information on environmental- and sustainability-related majors such as Ecotourism, Range Management, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Built Environment, Sustainability Studies, and Sustainable Agriculture/Organic Farming. I also served as a member of the parent advisory board at my son’s school for five years.
In addition to these publications, I’ve written more than 70 books about careers for other publishing and media companies including Infobase (such as the venerable Encyclopedia of Careers & Vocational Guidance, the Vault Career Guide to Accounting, and many volumes in the Careers in Focus, Discovering Careers, What Can I Do Now?!, and Career Skills Library series) and Mason Crest (including those in the Careers in the Building Trades and Cool Careers in Science series).
Here’s a list of the environmental-focused titles that I’ve written:
- Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit
- Wind Turbine Technicians (Great Careers Without a Bachelor’s Degree series)
- Environmental Scientists (Cool Careers in Science series)
- Renewable Energy Careers (Cool Careers in Science series)
- Environment (Getting Started series)
- Solar Power Technicians (Careers in Infrastructure series)