social issues - Nature in Chicagoland

The Most-Popular Non-Nature Stories at Nature in Chicagoland in 2020

January 5, 2021September 15, 2021 by anders458, posted in Chicago, family and friends stories, ghost hunting, Illinois, local history, social issues, social justice, Uncategorized

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND I wrote many stories about nature destinations in 2020, but I also covered a lot of other topics that were near and dear to my heart including stories about my family (including saying goodbye to my third set of "grandparents"), surviving and thriving during the COVID-19 pandemic, … Continue reading The Most-Popular Non-Nature Stories at Nature in Chicagoland in 2020

Life in the Time of COVID-19: Thoughts on Baseball, Hoarding, Being Thankful, Accountability, Gardening, and Hope

March 18, 2020September 18, 2021 by anders458, posted in presidents, social issues, social justice

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND March in Chicago: Dreams of baseball (the games that count…boy, the White Sox would have been good this year)The St. Patrick’s Day (I mean week-long…I mean month-long) celebrations in full swingGreening grass jazzing up the color tones of monochromatic gray Chicago winterEarly spring flowers breaking through the … Continue reading Life in the Time of COVID-19: Thoughts on Baseball, Hoarding, Being Thankful, Accountability, Gardening, and Hope

A Vote for Cam Davis is a Vote for Clean Water in Chicagoland

February 25, 2020September 18, 2021 by anders458, posted in Chicago, conservation, Illinois, politics and the environment, social issues, Uncategorized

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND What is the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago, and why is it important to me? The MWRD plays a major role in treating wastewater, reducing flooding (increasingly important as Illinois’ climate becomes wetter due to global climate change), and reducing the amount of stormwater … Continue reading A Vote for Cam Davis is a Vote for Clean Water in Chicagoland

Celebrating the Two-Year Anniversary of Nature in Chicagoland

March 7, 2019 by anders458, posted in @FPDCC, botanical gardens and arboretums, camping, Chicago, Chicago Parks, Forest Preserve of Cook County, ghost hunting, hiking, Illinois, Illinois Nature preserves, Iowa, kids activities, Lake Michigan, local history, Native American History, nature centers, photography, social issues, social justice, Uncategorized, Wisconsin

Today is the two-year anniversary of my blog, Nature in Chicagoland. In the last 730 days, I’ve published nearly 80 articles about the great outdoors. I've covered everything from eagle watching and views of the mighty Mississippi River at Mississippi Palisades State Park, to remnants of the Manhattan Project and great wildlife viewing in Red … Continue reading Celebrating the Two-Year Anniversary of Nature in Chicagoland

15 Nature in Chicagoland Stories to Check Out on a North Pole-Like Day

January 30, 2019January 30, 2019 by anders458, posted in @FPDCC, astronomy, Chicago, Chicago Parks, conservation, Forest Preserve of Cook County, gardening, ghost hunting, hiking, Illinois, Iowa, National Park Service, Native American History, settlers and Indians, social issues, social justice, spring wildflowers, Uncategorized

It’s so cold today in Chicagoland that [fill in your punch line here]. So, today is a perfect day to…stay inside and read some of my favorite all-time posts at Nature in Chicagoland and dream of warm weather, summer skies, forests of green, happy dancing deer (okay, maybe I have mental frostbite), and all the … Continue reading 15 Nature in Chicagoland Stories to Check Out on a North Pole-Like Day

Earthrise 1968: Thoughts on the Past and Future of the Environment and America

December 30, 2018 by anders458, posted in astronomy, conservation, social issues, social justice, Uncategorized

The beautiful blue Earth rising above the barren, chalky surface of the moon in the darkness of space. That’s what astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders saw on December 24, 1968, from the cockpit of the command module of Apollo 8. These men were tasked with completing a challenging mission that involved testing … Continue reading Earthrise 1968: Thoughts on the Past and Future of the Environment and America

The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian: A Great Place to Learn About the First Americans

November 26, 2018November 26, 2018 by anders458, posted in holiday gifts, Illinois, kids activities, local history, museums, Native American History, settlers and Indians, social issues, Uncategorized

For thousands of years, Native Americans lived where our (meaning everyone who arrived after the Native Americans) homes, stores, and parks now stand. They hunted for game in the hills, ravines, and forests of Chicagoland; collected mussels and clams and fished in what we now call Lake Michigan; and fell in love, cherished their families, … Continue reading The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian: A Great Place to Learn About the First Americans