Many people are familiar with the large, colorful mural painted on the side of the Environmental Education Center on Calumet Avenue in North Hammond, but not everyone knows what goes on inside the multiuse building.
The 12th annual Active Living Faire, sponsored by the Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative (AWLI), offered the opportunity to tour the center and enjoy various activities in and around the location.
“This area is called our Re-Use Room. We store donated, recyclable materials in here,” Racine Kovach of the Lake County Solid Waste Management District said as she led a group into an open space sporting tall shelves that held hundreds of boxes and plastic bins filled with various materials. “The items are available for teachers, individuals and groups working on specific projects. There is no charge.”
Local school classes that use the center for field trips also will find a live trout stream, a classroom/presentation section, as well as a craft area off the kitchen.
“We welcome many schools and groups during the year,” Kovach said. “In fact, we have a trout education program with some of the teachers.”
She said children are often surprised at what can be repurposed.
“Recycling is always increasing through the years,” she said. “The kids are becoming the teachers for their families.”
Before moving to space at nearby Calumet College, AWLI, which is a bistate, not-for-profit organization and land trust whose mission is to protect and improve Wolf Lake and its natural surroundings, also was housed in the center building for 10 years until spring 2014.
The organization continues to offer activities and programs at the Environmental Education Center. This year’s Active Living Faire, which focuses on good health and fitness, was no exception. Events were held at two locations along Wolf Lake, which is across the street from the center.
The morning agenda took place on the Indiana side in Hammond and afternoon activities were held at the William Powers State Fish and Wildlife Area, 126th Place and Avenue O, in Chicago.
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The Hammond event began with the Environmental Education Center tour and a nature walk led by ecologist Young Choi, from Purdue University Calumet. In recent years, Choi released his final report of a two-year study of plants and wildlife found in the restored shoreline along Wolf Lake’s north channel. The study compared findings with those of an earlier study in 2000 before the $6.9 million restoration. Choi conducted the study in partnership with AWLI and the city of Hammond.
Susan and David Radovich of Schererville were among those lined up behind Choi.
“We enjoy walking and biking, and we have the most wonderful resources right here in our own backyard,” Susan Radovich said. Educating people as to what’s available and teaching them to be good stewards of the earth are an admirable goal for AWLI, she said.
Before leaving on the walk, the couple checked their bikes, which were mounted on their car for a bike ride after the walk was completed. They were going to use the new bike trail along Wolf Lake near the Indiana/Illinois state line.
Guest speaker of the morning was master gardener Dolly Foster. She discussed health benefits of spending time outdoors and gardening without pesticides.
“Depending on the intensity, gardening can be a workout,” she said. “It’s good for your body and for your mind. Although it’s not technically exercising, getting up and gardening has benefits over doing nothing. You can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke by 27 percent.”
As landscape horticulturist for the Oak Lawn Park District, Foster is responsible for designing and maintaining all landscapes in the park district. Her focus is on native rather than cultivated plants.
Afternoon activities on the Illinois side of Wolf Lake offered a 8K walk and two guest speakers. Urban anthropologist Mario Longoni of the Field Museum led a discussion about fish consumption, particularly fish caught locally. Also presenting was nutritional Olivia Wagner, whose topic was Eating To Fight Inflammation.
More information about the Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative: 219-933-7149 or 312-220-0120 and www.wolflakeinitiative.org.
Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.