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For high school age and older.
Ecological Restoration Certificate Program
Register for ERCP classes online at www.mchenry.edu/coneducation.
Native Landscapes Prior to European
Contact: Focus on Prairies and Savannas*
Instructor: Tom Simpson, Research Field Station Ecologist
Saturday, September 12, 9:00 am–4:00 p.m.
Wiedrich Education Center, Glacial Park
Cost: $50
What was McHenry County like prior to the settlement
of European peoples in the early 19th century? Did an
uninterrupted prairie really stretch from Kane County
to the Wisconsin border? What happened to the
What is the Ecological Restoration mastodons, giant beaver, and American lions that lived
here for thousands of years after the glaciers left? Why
Certificate Program? were there so many fires 500 years ago and so few
now? How could prairies and oak savannas have been
McHenry County Conservation District and McHenry
as common as ecologists think they were, yet so few
County College welcome you to the first-ever educational
survive today? The evidence to answer these questions
program of workshops designed around the practice
resides in the landscape of Glacial Park. We will spend
and philosophy of ecological restoration. Whether you
much of the day outdoors, so come prepared for the
are a member of the general public or you are already
weather. Please bring a lunch and something to drink.
working or volunteering in ecological restoration, you
should find a workshop here for you!
Choose those that interest you or complete the whole
program. Certification requires attending 15, one-day
workshops. The ten core workshops are denoted by an
asterisk. In addition, a participant must take one plant
identification workshop, two wildlife ecology workshops,
and two electives (which may include additional plant
identification or wildlife ecology workshops). For more
information, contact Tom Simpson, Research Field Station
Ecologist, (815) 678-7644, tsimpson@mccdistrict.org.
Bringing Conservation Home
Instructor: Amy Peters, Sarah Rummel & Austin Taylor,
Planning & Development Department Restoring Vegetation*
Saturday, August 29, 9:00 am–4:00 p.m. Instructor: Laurie Boldt, Plant Ecologist
Prairieview Education Center, Crystal Lake Saturday, September 19, 9:00 am–4:00 p.m.
Cost: $50 Wiedrich Education Center, Glacial Park
The beauty of nature can be found in a prairie, Cost: $50
wandering in an oak grove, or deep within shady Ecological restoration often begins with landscapes
woodland. Learn to transfer the beauty of native that have lost much of their native flora and fauna, and
landscapes into your own backyard or small residential for this reason reintroduction of natives is a necessary
property using the techniques of ecological restoration. part of the restoration process. This workshop will
This workshop will include appropriate plant species include the selection of plant species appropriate for
and pairings for residential applications along with the each ecosystem type, the relative benefits of seeding
benefits that restoration techniques on a residential versus planting, site preparation methods, and seed
scale can have for water quality, habitat, aesthetics collection and processing techniques. We will spend
and maintenance. We will spend a portion of the day much of the day outdoors, so come prepared for the
outdoors. Please bring a lunch and something to drink. weather. Please bring a lunch and something to drink.
14 *Required to complete the ERCP.
For high school age and older.
Ecological Restoration Certificate Program
Register for ERCP classes online at www.mchenry.edu/coneducation.
Weeds and What We Do About Them: Releasing the Spirit of Place: Treading the
Invasive Plant Management* Ancient Pathway between Land and Self
Instructor: John Peters, Restoration Ecologist Instructor: Edward Collins, Natural Resources Manager
Saturday, October 3, 9:00 am–4:00 p.m. Saturday, October 31, 9:00 am–4:00 p.m.
Wiedrich Education Center, Glacial Park Wiedrich Education Center, Glacial Park
Cost: $50 Cost: $50
Like landscapes all over the Midwest, Is ecological restoration best defined by land
Glacial Park is threatened by the invasion of management techniques, species lists and unbiased
exotic and invasive species whose populations scientific observation? Or are we engaged in a more
endanger the heritage of plants and animals profound dialogue with the natural world? What
and ecosystems we inherited when European- are the implications of purposely seeking out and
American settlement began in the early Teasel cultivating the esoteric and the spiritual as part
19th century. We will focus on the latest techniques that of the restoration experience for us as individuals
the District uses to manage invasive plants. Participants and for the larger stewardship movement? We will
will learn how to use and maintain a chainsaw; how to investigate ecological spirituality through personal
safely and efficiently clear invasive trees; when, where experiences and shared stories; look at the constructive
and how to apply herbicides for best effect; plus the interplay between science and spirituality; and
applicability of seppi mowers, rotary mowers, and explore the nature of perception and the benefit of
other large-scale equipment. We will spend much of training the mind to focus with clarity and intent.
the day outdoors, so come prepared for the weather. Please bring a lunch and something to drink.
Please bring a lunch and something to drink.
Changes in Native Landscapes:
Focus on Wetlands*
Instructor: Tom Simpson, Research Field Station Ecologist
Saturday, October 10, 9:00 am–4:00 p.m.
Wiedrich Education Center, Glacial Park
Cost: $50
Nature is always changing—we are accustomed to
hearing this old saying and believing it, yet the ways
in which nature changed two-hundred years ago are Glaciers, Mud, Gravel, Sand, Soil,
radically different than the way it is changing today. and other stuff*
One-hundred years of farming produced huge changes
in the natural landscape—streams were straightened, Instructor: Tom Simpson, Research Field Station Ecologist
wetlands drained, and prairies plowed, but a more Saturday, November 7, 9:00 am–4:00 p.m.
insidious and equally important kind of change is Wiedrich Education Center, Glacial Park
happening all around us today. How should we respond Cost: $50
as the custodians of these natural landscapes? We will
spend much of the day outdoors, so come prepared for The prairies and oak savannas of Glacial Park are a
the weather. Please bring a lunch and something to drink. beautiful covering on top of an ancient palace built
by tropical seas, glaciers, wind, water, and eons of
time. We will examine this underworld both for its
own beauty and interest and to understand how
this knowledge can help us to be better stewards
Register in advance for the 2009 ERCP workshops of our natural heritage. We will spend much of the
through McHenry County College, online at day outdoors, so come prepared for the weather.
www.mchenry.edu/coneducation or call (815) 455-8588. Please bring a lunch and something to drink.
Register for ERCP classes online at www.mchenry.edu/coneducation. 15
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