A GUIDE TO NATURE OUTINGS - 2023
For more info, safety and tips, please see the registration pages.
To find the registration pages and to see all the events in the Illinois Chapter, go to: https://www.sierraclub.org/illinois/events-calendar. Just click on the title of the outing. You will go to the registration page. Be sure to sign the waivers.
| Sun, Jul 9, 2023; 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
Gensburg Prairie Walk Gensburg Prairie is one of several prairies in Markham, IL. It's a rare example of a sandy loam prairie and a premier original prairie in the State of Illinois. It has never been plowed. It was in rough condition when first discovered. Brush was removed from the western end of the prairie, and fire was reintroduced. We will see what this rare 100-acre prairie has to offer us on our visit. Our guide will be Ed Max, an official Sierra Club guide with over 2,500 observations on iNaturalist. Cost: Free You can sign up using the calendar on the Sauk Calumet homepage. For more information email Patrick Coffey - patrick.coffey@illinois.sierraclub.org. |
| Sun, Jul 23, 2023; 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM |
Kankakee River Kayaking Join us on a kayaking adventure down the beautiful Kankakee River. Parts of the Kankakee River are very well preserved and in good ecological condition.Well be doing the six-mile journey. Expect it to take between 2 and 3 hours.Report to the concessionaire at 9:00 am on Sunday, July 23rd. Well be getting our gear from Reeds Canoe Trips, 907 N. Indiana Ave., Kankakee, IL 60901. Registration ends at noon on Thursday, July 20th. You must pre-register before Thursday, July 20th at noon. No one will be allowed to participate who has not pre-registered and signed the waiver online. Limit 12 guests. Cost: All fees must be made in cash the day of the outing. $38.00 per rented kayak, $19.00 if you bring your own. To rent a canoe is $31.00. To rent a double kayak is $71.00. You can sign up using the calendar on the Sauk Calumet homepage. For more information email Patrick Coffey - patrick.coffey@illinois.sierraclub.org.
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| Sun, Aug 13, 2023; 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM |
Loda and Prospect Cemetery Prairies When settlers came to our region, they plowed up all the land to use for farming. The only places they didnt plow were the areas set aside for cemeteries. Now these postage stamp preserves are some of the best witnesses to the prairies that were here before Illinois was settled. We will be going to 2 small prairies in east-central Illinois, Loda Cemetery Prairie in Loda, IL, and Prospect Cemetery Prairie, at the south border of Paxton, IL. They are about 15 minutes apart by car. We will visit Loda Prairie at 11:00 AM, spend about an hour there, and then drive down to Prospect Prairie and meet there around 12:30.Our guides will be the official stewards of both sites - Terri Davis at Loda Prairie and Bob Reber at Prospect Prairie.Afterwards, some might choose to eat a sack lunch at the pavilion in Pells Park in Paxton. Limit 12 guests. Cost: Free You can sign up using the calendar on the Sauk Calumet homepage. For more information email Patrick Coffey - patrick.coffey@illinois.sierraclub.org.
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| Sat, Sep 9, 2023; 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM |
Indiana Dunes State Park Hike Start time is 9:00 AM Central Time. We will be taking a vigorous hike on the main Dunes trail. Its about a three and a half mile hike. We will be going through woods and up several dunes, so this is not an easy hike. Moderate difficulty. We hope to see the skyline of Chicago from atop the Dunes Ridge Trail. Ed Max will be our leader on this hike. Hes an experienced hike leader for Sierra Club and has more than 2,500 observations on iNaturalist. Limit 15 guests. Cost: When you come into the Park, the State Park that is, not the National Park, you will come to a booth. For out of state license plates its $12.00 per car. For Indiana plates its $9.00 per car. You can sign up using the calendar on the Sauk Calumet homepage. For more information email Patrick Coffey - patrick.coffey@illinois.sierraclub.org.
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