By Citizens for Conservation

Last fall, almost 700 students restored, studied, and enjoyed Barrington area
prairies thanks to the leadership of Citizens for Conservation (CFC), as part of
the local Leave No Child Inside initiative.

The kids had a first-hand opportunity to connect with the natural world while
learning why prairies are important, who makes the prairie home, why prairie
restoration is critical work, what it was like for the early settlers to farm prairies,
how very little original prairie exists in Illinois, the importance of the significant
prairie plant root system, why prairie burns are necessary, what the native
Americans used plants/seeds for, and more.

While hiking into the prairie, one lucky group of students saw a pair of
knobby-kneed sandhill cranes taking a morning stroll. Other students were
treated to the lilting songs of savanna sparrows, the tappings of woodpeckers on
nearby trees, and the silent soaring of turkey vultures.

This partnership between CFC and School District 220 was led by Bonnie
Gordon, a CFC volunteer, and CFC Staff Director Sam Oliver. They welcomed
many volunteers from CFC, Flint Creek Watershed Partnership, Audubon-
Chicago Region, Nature Ladies, and Friends of Spring Creek Forest Preserve, and
a representative from the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. These volunteers guided
the “citizen scientists” through the various prairies to collect seeds, complete
field documentation, and experience the wonders of nature. Scores of parents
helped with this wild experience. Every fourth grade class participated.

Thanks to the District 220 Foundation grant and the cooperative efforts of
all involved, these field trips to Grigsby Prairie, Flint Creek Savanna, and Spring
Creek Prairie provided students with a spectacular outdoor classroom to
enhance their indoor curriculum about prairie preservation.

The Habitat Herald is produced by Audubon to support the growing conservation community. Audubon Chicago Region
works exclusively on local biodiversity issues, and we raise all the funds for our work ourselves. Donations from individuals
are an important part of our funding, and gifts from our fellow monitors and stewards are always particularly treasured.
(Many thanks to those who are already supporters.) With these gifts Audubon Chicago Region supports large scale habitat
restoration, site stewardship, regionwide monitoring projects, and events such as the Wild Things Conference.
If you’d like to join our family of contributors, or if you’d like to receive a copy of our annual report and consider our
plans for the coming year, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or send us a note at 1718 Sherman Ave., Suite 210,
Evanston IL 60201.