Second Saturday of each month @ 10 AM

Volo Bog’s Visitor Center Library

Refreshments & Coffee

Participants are encouraged to have read at least part of the book (although this is not required).

No minimum requirement - come once a year or every month as time allows and/or the book entices.

Reservations are requested at dnr.volobog@illinois.gov or 815-344-1294.

FOR SCHOOL AND OTHER YOUTH GROUPS

Volo Bog offers 17 different programs ranging from Bog Life and Aqua Safari to Animal Tracking and Tomorrow’s Leaders. There are numerous programs offered at each grade level beginning at 2nd grade. Prekindergarten through 1st graders are taken on a Small Wonders program which focuses on the safe use of our senses as we explore the natural world.

NOTE: All programs are offered at Volo Bog State Natural Area.  Programs indicated with an * are also offered at Moraine Hills State Park. Sorry, no indoor lunch facility at Moraine Hills State Park.

At Volo Bog, we define "Youth Group" very casually. Any gathering of ten or more people (minimum 8 children with two supervising adults) qualifies.

WHEN TO SCHEDULE FOR WEEKDAY SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS:

SCHOOL GROUP SIZE: 10 Students minimum; 60 Students maximum (will be broken into smaller groups)

SCOUT AND OTHER YOUTH PROGRAMS are offered on Saturdays. Generally one month notice is adequate but availability varies seasonally. Youth group size: 10 people minimum; 40 people maximum (split into two groups).

BOG LIFE Note: I/O = Indoor/Outdoor

Learn how Volo Bog was formed then explore this unique wetland for fascinating plants and secretive animals. Scary tales of bog bodies and boogie men are among the favorites. Add the famous Visitor Center Hunt for the extra half-hour.

THE ECOLOGY OF VOLO BOG

A program to really get into - this program involves the students in their studies of Volo Bog through an in-depth, interactive, interdisciplinary program. An activity guide leads students through two class periods of required preparations before the visit and gives suggestions for follow-up extensions.

AQUA SAFARI *

Explore the private lives of aquatic inhabitants. Using such highly technical equipment as dish pans, kitchen strainers and turkey basters, students gather aquatic invertebrates and study one in detail. Older students discuss biodiversity and the use of aquatic invertebrates as environmental health indicators.

A SHOVEL FULL OF EARTH *

Students get face to face with the secretive inhabitants of the “underworld.” The formation and importance of soil is discussed. Biodiversity is introduced through fun, comparative data collection and analysis appropriate to elementary levels.

ANIMAL HOMES *

Everybody needs a HOME! Or do they? Through interactive games and/or a scavenger hunt, children distinguish homes from habitats. The characteristics and uses of habitats and homes are discussed then we explore for real-life examples of each.

BIRDS

What makes a bird a bird? First we’ll discover what makes them different from other animals. Then we’ll take an up-close comparative look at some examples. Finally, an outdoor excursion will demonstrate how to look for birds and signs of their presence. “We’ll GO BIRDING!”

MAMMALS *

What do all mammals including humans have in common? How are they different from all other animals? What mammals are native to Illinois? Discover this an more through hands on activities and a scavenger hike.

BATTY ABOUT BATS

“Bats are blind...Bats get caught in your hair...All bats carry rabies...Bats will suck your blood...Bats are flying mice...” NOT! A video or slide show dispels these myths then games and crafts add to the fun of learning about these most misunderstood mammals.

INSECT SAFARI *

Discover more animals than can ever be imagined in one small field! Learn what makes insects unique, some of their survival techniques and how they fit into our lives.

ANIMAL TRACKING *

Learn how different animals walk and how to decode the variety of signs they leave behind. Then explore the area to discover the secrets of winter life revealed in the signs discovered.

SMALL WONDERS - A SENSORY WALK *

A grab-bag-o-fun fro the very young! Through a variety of activities and stories, children learn how to safely explore nature with their “discovery tools.” Activities vary with the seasons, needs of the group and adult:child ratios.

ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS *

Compare animals that are similar yet different to explore how they are each uniquely equipped for survival in different niches. Then, through activities such as the popular Bat & Moth and Hawk and Rabbit games, the concepts are reinforced.

WEB-O-LIFE *

Web-O-Life introduces communities: first our own human-dominated community, next a natural outdoor woodland community and finally a pictorial wetland community. Through hands-on exploration and personal involvement, students discover the interrelationships and interdependency of all members in a community. Final discussion addresses the most powerful community member of all.

TOMORROW’S LEADERS

Students simulate a town meeting to make some very important choices concerning the future of their environment. This is a high-spirited program which stimulates discussion that often follows the students back to school and home! Optional follow-up classroom activity adds deeper dimension.

DIPPING INTO ASTRONOMY

4th - 6th grades

April - October (I/O)

1 1/2 hours

Learn the phases of the moon, how season work, the planets in our solar systme and why the sun and stars appear to ove across the sky. Finish with an introduction to fun constellations like Cassipoeia and the Big Dipper! All this and more is explored with members of the Lake County Astronomical Society through a fun, interactive approach!

ADULT GROUPS

VOLO BOG: AN INTRODUCTION TO A UNIQUE ILLINOIS WETLAND

Volo Bog is a fascinating wetland ecosystem of treacherous floating soils and bizarre plants. This guided, half-mile tour along a floating boardwalk gives an up-close introduction to this strange world. Tours differ with each season: its hard to say which is best. Even winter offers a unique experience that is available at no other time. The tour can include a half hour slide presentation providing a glimpse of Volo Bog throughout the year. The slide portion alone is ideal as an off-site program for group gatherings. **As an off-site program, there is no maximum group size limit. A dark room with a projection- surface is required.

BOG BOTANY

Bog Botany is a fascinating study for garden clubs and other groups with a special botanical interest. The program addresses the unique adaptations of Volo Bog flora and includes a “hands-on” field identification session.

POND LIFE

A true “Rediscover Your Sense of Wonder” program, Pond Life invites participants to lie on their bellies and reach within the depths of a pond. The emphasis is on the aquatic invertebrates. The function of these animals as water quality indicators is addressed.

TREE AND SHRUB IDENTIFICATION

Common trees and shrubs of northeastern Illinois woodlands will serve as examples in the development of tree identification skills. The program begins with a hands-on introduction to dichotomous keys. The field session introduces some of the most common species and quick clues to their identification.

BIRD WALK

A bird walk is great for an early morning start. The length of the walk is very flexible and can be tailored to the group. The great diversity of Volo Bog State Natural Area’s habitats provides for a good selection of species with over 170 species documented.

ANIMAL TRACKING

Animal tracking is a great way to discover mammals living in an area. This program teaches how to identify tracks as well as numerous other signs or clues that mammals leave behind. It includes both an indoor presentation and a practical field session.

BATS IN YOUR BELFRY

Volo Bog State Natural Area is home to the largest nursery colony of little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) known on Illinois Department of Natural Resources property. This evening program includes a slide presentation and a short field trip to watch nearly 2,000 bats exit their nursery colony for a night’s feeding. Folks with youngsters may wish to watch for our scheduled “Bats in Your Belfry” general public programs. Although youth groups are not allowed to register for public programs, families from the groups may register individually.

REDISCOVERING THE WONDER WITHIN

Immerse Your Senses in Nature! This is a real “let your hair down” program: great as a stress release in our bustling technological world! Participants learn nature observation and appreciation techniques adapted from John Muir, Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson and renowned naturalist Joseph Cornell. Plan to leave your beepers, cell phones, watches, etc. at home, or at least in your car!

Volo Bog’s Visitor Center is housed in a turn-of-the-(19th) century dairy barn. The old barn has undergone a series of renovations over the years. It opened to the public as a Visitor Center in 1980 and has since undergone various upgrades and improvements. In November 1996, construction began on the most extensive upgrade yet; a complete renovation. The newly remodeled state-of-the-art building keeps the old-barn charm but is completely accessible (featuring an elevator up the silo) and has a classroom facility to accommodate 80 people. The Tamarack Shop, run by the Friends of Volo Bog, offers gifts and a wonderful selection of nature and environment-related books. The second floor of the Visitor Center is two stories tall and features interpretive exhibits about Volo Bog and wetlands in general as well as a popular interactive discovery center. The Leatherleaf Library houses a wonderful selection of books, magazines, and clippings in a lateral file. Much of the material in the library is donated by visitors, Volo Bog Volunteers and the Friends of Volo Bog. Check-out privileges are extended to Volo Bog Volunteers, and members of the Friends of Volo Bog and The Lake County Astronomical Society.

Volo Bog Surrounding Area

The restored 1892 Antioch grade school accommodates the collection of the Lakes Region Historical Society. Objects in changeable theme exhibits pertain to local lore and history of the Chain of Lakes area.

McHenry County history illustrated through four large galleries in the 1870 expanded Union grade school. Exhibits contain artifacts which represent home life, farming, industrialism, and the military. Also featured is a restored 1847 log cabin, a 20th century tourist cabin, and an 1895 one-room schoolhouse. The research library contains postcards, diaries, ledgers, photographs, plat maps, abstracts, reference books, and biographical obituaries, and cemetery files.

Hands-on exhibits that highlight the history of Lake County. Housed on a former dairy farm in the Lakewood Forest Preserve, over 20,000 objects are rotated on exhibit including horsedrawn vehicles; Native American tools, art, and clothing; farm, household, and light industrial equipment 1840-1975. The Curt Teich Postcard Archives is a national collection of over 350,000 postcard images and illustrates 20th century America. The exhibit "America in a Postcard Mirror" located in the public gallery shows a portion of this collection. The Regional History archives preserves photographs, documents, diaries, ledgers, and maps relating to the history of Lake County.

Restored 1840's Cook Farmhouse exhibits the history of Wauconda through period room settings and interpretive displays. Interpreters tour visitors through the house, demonstrate weaving and other crafts. Designated historical site by Illinois State Historical Society.

1. The Count's House 3803 Waukegan Rd. McHenry

2. Memorial Hall 10308 Main Street Richmond 1908

3. Lucien Boneparte Covell Hse 5805 Broadway Richmond 1900

Widowed Mary Nett Miller built the chapel in 1878 in fulfillment of a promise to the Blessed Mother if she could raise her family "in the fear and love of God". Family services and weddings were held here. (This was built on their farm.)

The site of where this present third church (of Gothic architecture) was of importance to the first exclusively German Catholic Community of Johnsburg who recreated their German roots here. The first structure was a log cabin (1842), and subsequently 2 more structures were built on the same site.

The mill, built in 1844, by Cotting and Purdy was 35 x 40', 2 ˝ stories high. It was destroyed by fire in 1925. The plaque is on the site. It was an example of early water-powered, grain and flour mill. It was one of the earliest in the area. It is presently a restaurant.

When Cotting and his wife came to Richmond, which he helped lay out and plat, there were but 2 log cabins in place. This building with stone foundation was across from his mill and probably was a storeroom at one time. This house is thought to be the oldest grame house in Richmond.

Excellent example of a well-to-do merchant's frame home in the Italianate style with an ornate trim including a square cupola. Built in 1865 and was occupied by Cotting until he died in 1883 and in continue family ownership for over 100 years.

This unique home is one of few examples of Second Empire architecture in the area with its mansard roof. It has 7 gables which is an innovative variation of this style. Widow Sarah Gibbs had the house built at the age of 71. Her husband, Herman, was a decendent of a Revolutionary War general and was the town's inn-keeper. The stained glass windows across the street in the church were dedicated to Sarah by her granddaughter.

This turn-of-the-century church is the only original church in Richmond still standing. Beautiful stained glass memorial windows highlight the first settlers and important people of the Village.