Conservation and enjoyment — those are the two things National Public Lands Day seeks to promote at outdoor spaces annually on the fourth Saturday of September. And Will and Cook County forest preserves saw both in abundance this past weekend.
The Forest Preserve District of Will County marked the occasion a day late last Sunday with fresh air and exercise at Hickory Creek Preserve’s LaPorte Road Access in Mokena, where volunteers focused on brush control and litter removal.
Emily Kenny, volunteer services supervisor, said the district used to partner with corporations at sites in Joliet and bring entire businesses out to help, but those efforts were scaled back during the pandemic.
They chose Hickory Creek Preserve this year because it is one of the largest sites and can accommodate participation from a large number of people, Kenny said. The volunteer day drew approximately 40 volunteers, whereas typical restoration events rarely have more than 20 people.
“We’re able to accomplish a few more things than just our normal restoration in a small spot,” Kenny said.
The work Sunday involved cutting, carrying and burning invasive trees and shrubs. Several regular volunteers who are chain saw certified took down some of the larger invasive species, while other volunteers moved them to burn piles. People licensed for herbicide sprayed stumps to keep the vigorous shrubbery from growing back.
“We are specifically targeting species that did not originate on our continent,” said Barbara Sherwood, a restoration crew leader and volunteer liaison for the district. “It comes in and takes over the understory of our woodlands and moves into our prairies.”
Sherwood said the group in Mokena was removing bush honeysuckle, autumn olive and buckthorn. Opening up the understory allows sunlight to hit the forest floor and helps native trees regenerate, she said.
Mark Bettin, a volunteer from Mokena, said it can be rewarding to see a space open up in the preserves. Typically, when crews start, they are working in tight quarters. By the end of the day, birds such as woodpeckers, red tailed hawks and owls may return to the area.
“We’ve had a lot of good public work days right here,” Bettin said. “There’s quite a bit that’s been cleared. It’s really paid off.”
Andrew Fleisleber, of New Lenox, also joined the Public Lands Day effort. He works as a sustainability intern at Joliet Junior College, with plans to go into restoration ecology.
“I try to go to as many volunteer work days as I can,” Fleisleber said. “I love coming out here and clearing the invasives. After, you get to see what you did for the day, and it’s a lot more open and a lot more natural, too.”
Some folks chose litter pickup around the drives and pavilions instead of brush removal or switched between tasks, as the latter can be tough work over prolonged periods of time, according to Kenny.
“It is a very athletic endeavor,” she said.
Kim Carter, of Mokena, and her daughter Tatum focused on litter removal in the morning, cleaning up food wrappers, alcohol bottles and even a full hot dog along the drive entering Hickory Creek Preserve. They said they enjoyed being out there to help.
“It’s peaceful,” Kim Carter said. “It’s kind of fun to see what you’re pulling out.”
Kenny said Public Lands Day gives Will County a boost by getting more people out to make more restoration progress than usual, while adding efforts such as litter removal to the typical work. Sherwood said more experienced volunteers can lead groups and tackle multiple tasks with an influx of new faces.
“It makes a big difference,” Sherwood said. “We have very limited resources on the staff end. Bringing in volunteers and members of the community, and also getting their buy-in and support within the preserves, it just allows us to do more and more. We’re truly grateful to have the volunteers. I feel really fortunate to get to work with them.”
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Kenny noted that the district does Habitat Management Mornings weekly throughout the year but tries to cover the entire county with those, so the volunteer opportunities move around. The opportunities are typically listed at reconnectwithnature.org.
But those in the Mokena area are in luck, because Hickory Creek is active with a large community of volunteers, Kenny said. So efforts are held there almost monthly, with the next slated for the day after Thanksgiving as a Work Off the Turkey initiative.
“If you are local to this area, there are regular opportunities,” she said.
On Saturday, Sept. 24, the Forest Preserves of Cook County celebrated Public Lands Day with a family-friendly Party for the Preserves and Connecting People to Nature Challenge across three sites. Sauk Trail Woods, Caldwell Woods/Bunker Hill and Miller Meadow were the host preserves.
Visitors at the sites could partake in walks with naturalists, giveaways of milkweed and seedlings, live music, snacks, archery lessons, group yoga, and more, according to a news release from Cook County. Sauk Trail Woods, in particular, featured archery, Zumba, bike helmet and milkweed plant giveaways, Touch-A-Truck activities and free snacks. Light of Loving Kindness and Indiana Dunes National Park also were present at Sauk Trail Woods for demonstrations and activities.
Bill Jones is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.