LAND STEWARDSHIP ACCOMPLISHMENTS
New Hires: Alex Barnes accepted the role as Stewardship Programs Coordinator in July and began managing the Restoration Ecology Summer Internship Program. Former Lake Forest College fall intern, Zack McGinnis joined the Land Stewardship team in January. He then transitioned to a part-time Restoration Technician through the winter. Zack will return this summer as crew leader for the Restoration Ecology Summer Internship program. Grant Funding: Natural Areas Stewardship (NAS) grant award. NAS funding enabled us to complete 2.5 acres of large tree canopy clearing at Skokie River NP and contract out for purple loosestrife management and prescribed burn support. This grant also made it possible to stock up on our herbicide supply. The Oberweiler Foundation awarded us a $20,000 grant to support the Restoration Ecology Summer Internship Program. 2024 Restoration Ecology Summer Internship Program: Hired six fantastic college interns from across the country.
The crew participated in hands-on field work including invasive species management, maintenance projects, and seed collection. One of their collective, favorite activities was learning from Friends of
Shaw Prairie about girdling as a technique for invasive tree removal. The crew participated in native bumble monitoring through participation in the Rapid Assessment for the detection of the rusty patched bumble bee. The crew participated in weekly field trips. One of the most notable field trips was when representatives from the Trickster Cultural Center visited. The Trickster Cultural Center’s mission is to increase the visibility of Native American traditions, Veteran contributions, and contemporary cultural arts, through community engagement, social advocacy, and collaborative education. The interns also visited a coral reef biologist at the Shedd Aquarium to learn about coral restoration.
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