The Valley of the Fox Group is one of 14 groups comprising the Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club. Chartered in 1992, the group draws its membership from the Fox River Valley and the counties of Kane and Kendall. Also visit us at www.facebook.com/sierraclubvof.

Understanding the Big Deal about Data Centers
With speaker Alison Lindburg
Monday, May 18, 6:30 pm

Are data centers an asset to our communities or a threat?  What can local municipalities do to ensure this surge in building data centers will not come at a high cost to our residents?  We know data centers use huge amounts of electricity and water, and that our electric bills are already going up.

Our presenter, Alison Lindburg, Sustainability Director, City of Aurora, was a leader in the successful creation of Aurora’s new, first-of-its-kind set of regulations intended to safeguard residents and the environment from future data center development.. She will discuss what Aurora and other cities are doing to protect us.

May 18, 2026, 6:30 pm
Batavia Public Library and on Zoom

Scan the QR code to attend in person or to get the Zoom link, or click here.

Hiking and Birding at Bliss Woods Forest Preserve
Friday, May 22, 2026.  8:00am

Leader:  Jan Mangers
Bliss Woods is especially beautiful in the spring when it is alive with bird song.  We often see indigo buntings, scarlet tanagers, and yellow warblers this time of year.  Be there for this delightful moment in nature.

Bliss Woods Cleanup Day
Saturday, May 23, 2026.  9:00am

Our main project right now is helping with forest restoration at Bliss Woods.  Workdays are usually on the fourth Saturday of every month, from 9:00 to noon.

We'll meet at the Templo Belem parking lot at 42w635 Kedeka Road.

Dress appropriately for the weather with sturdy footwear and work gloves.  It’s really a lot of fun!

POWER Act Lobby Day 2026
Saturday, May 30, 2026.  Day Trip to Springfield

Illinois' environmental movement will gather at the State Capitol to meet with legislators and push for support of the POWER Act (SB4016/HB5513) - nation-leading legislation that protects Illinois from data center harms. These energy- and water-intensive facilities are already increasing home utility bills, polluting our air, threatening our water supply, and straining Illinois’ climate goals–and many more are coming. Let's take action together to ensure Illinois establishes nation-leading guardrails that protect our water, energy, ratepayers, and frontline communities!

Here’s the link to sign up for Lobby Day.  We will get on a bus at a ridiculously early time of day, travel together to Springfield, do our best to connect with our own legislators, and then have a great rally to boost our spirits.  Registration and the bus ride are free and open to all.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeuFPW1T_W3b3oc9yfJHyl988c2WZmOvM2734Xi1q59S0uePw/viewform 

Summer Picnic and Hike at Johnson’s Mound
Monday, June 15, 2026.  5:30pm

Johnson’s Mound, meet at the Pavilion
We have a tradition of having a box lunch picnic at Johnson’s Mound every June, as a bit of a farewell party as we go our far-flung ways for the summer.  Please join us.  We provide the box lunch; you provide the fun!  We’ll take a guided tour with our local naturalists and birders.  Bring your binoculars. 

Message From Our VOF Chair

Are you a birder? I am! This is spring migration season, and the birds are here.  They inspire awe with their beauty and their resilience. For a little bit of mental health and a soothing time in the woods, birding is the best.

We are concerned about the recent explosive growth of data centers in our area. We know that data centers are here to stay and that they play a role in all of our lives, managing the data that we use every day. On May 18th, we will discuss the impacts of data centers on our energy and water use, and the new regulations that the City of Aurora has created to manage this new, growing threat to our environment.

Our program year is winding down.  Just May and June before we take a break for the summer.  We hope you can join us.

All our best to you and your family,
Mavis Bates
630-605-9244

Conservation

We love to support the volunteer workdays sponsored by the Kane and Kendall County Forest Preserves. For more information about Kane County go to 
https://kaneforest.com/volunteer or contact Robb Cleave at CleaveRobb@kaneforest.com.

Communication and Engagement

We are always looking for new ways to communicate with you, our Valley of the Fox members, and let you know how you can get involved. We are eager to engage members of all ages. To let me know how we can better reach out to you, or to let us know your ideas for our group, please call me, Mavis Bates, at 630-605-9244 or email me at mavis@myinnerharmony.com.