2010 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
CCFPD Education Department
INDIVIDUAL PUBLIC PROGRAMS
These take place year-round on weekends, evenings and some weekdays.
OWL PROWL
February 19 6:00 P.M.-7:30 P.M.
Izaak Walton Cabin, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet
February 26 6:00 P.M.-7:30 P.M.
Environmental Education Center, Homer Lake Forest Preserve, Homer
We need one or two volunteers to help with crafts, activities, and setup/takedown. Contact: Savannah Hampson
NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY YOU CAN DO
March 6 10:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M.
Izaak Walton Cabin, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet
Guest photographer Cheri Manrique will teach digital photo techniques. We would like one volunteer to help out with welcoming people, activities and cleanup. Contact: Ralph Bonati
LIVE, IN PERSON! A FIRESIDE CHAT
March 6 1:00 P.M.-2:30 P.M.
Early American Museum, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet
Visitors will enjoy our radio studio and the news and stories of the fictional community of Lake of the Woods. We need one volunteer to help with setup and takedown and collect evaluations. Contact: Charlsie Tice
MIGRATION FEST
April 17 8:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M.
Homer Lake Forest Preserve, Homer
This event celebrates spring and the migration season. We will have live raptors, crafts, hikes, storyteller Brian “Fox” Ellis and more. We need about 10 volunteers to help with crafts, activities, hosting at the Environmental Education Center and setup/cleanup. Contact: Savannah Hampson
BONEYARD ARTS FESTIVAL
April 18 1:00 P.M.-4:00 P.M.
Early American Museum & Mabery Gelvin Botanical Garden, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet
Artisans from Central Illinois will be featured throughout the museum and garden as we join in the celebration of the arts and" become part of the Bone Yard Arts Festival. We need 6-8 volunteers to help with setup and breakdown of tables, help the artists to their spots, dispense refreshments and guide visitors through a creation process with different types of art forms. Orientation required. Contact: Charlsie Tice
THE BUZZ ON BEEKEEPING
May 1 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Izaak Walton Cabin, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet
Guest speaker David Burns, President of the Central Illinois Beekeepers Association, will teach about the interesting world of beekeeping and honey. We would like one volunteer to help out with welcoming people, activities, and cleanup. Contact: Ralph Bonati
TIME TRAVELING ON THE PRAIRIE: CLOSING THE CIRCLE
May 22 4:00 P.M.-6:00 P.M.
Early American Museum, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet
Visitors will travel through time while listening to stories of life on the prairie, the evolution of the landscape, and settlers’ accounts of how the land was altered to be productive for food and livelihood. We need three volunteers to aid crowd movement, two to help with activities, one for costume management, and one collect evaluations at the end of the program. Contact: Charlsie Tice
A PROPER YOUNG LADY
June 5 1:00 P.M.-3:00 P.M.
Early American Museum, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet
Visitors will learn about Victorian “manners” at this afternoon tea. Costumes are desired and gloves and hats should be worn. Parlor games and other activities will be played. We need two volunteers to help with serving and managing a small group of girls in activities, and to collect evaluations at the end of the program. Orientation required. Contact: Charlsie Tice
ACCESSIBLE FISHING AT POSSIBILITY PIER
August 7 8:00 A.M.-11:00 A.M.
Possibility Pier, River Bend Forest Preserve, Mahomet
Help persons with disabilities experience the joys of fishing on our wheelchair-accessible, ADA-compliant pier. We need 5-10 volunteers to help record fish size, hand out worms, teach the basics of fishing, and assist with crafts and activities. Contact: Savannah Hampson
WATER LILIES IN YOUR WATER FEATURE
August 21 10:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M.
Mabery Gelvin Botanical Garden, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet
Jim Wuersch from Prairie Gardens Nursery will present information on water lilies and water features that you can enjoy in your own yard, We need help with moving and setting up chairs, and possibly tables, and welcoming visitors and directing them to the water garden area. Contact: Ralph Bonati
BATS AT THE BRIDGE
August 27 7:30 P.M.-8:30 P.M.
Elks Lake Pavilion, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet
Visitors will learn about Illinois bats and observe them as they emerge from their roost in the Covered Bridge. We need one or two volunteers to help with activities, setup/cleanup, and illuminating the bridge with flashlights. Contact: Savannah Hampson
PRAIRIE PLANT IDENTIFICATION IN THE FIELD
September 11 10:00 A.M.-11:30 A.M.
Discovery Garden & Buffalo Trace Prairie, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet
Visitors will learn about some of our native prairie plants and see them growing in the Buffalo Trace Restored Prairie. We would like one volunteer to help with welcoming people, activities, and cleanup. Contact: Ralph Bonati
PRAIRIE STORIES
September 18 10:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M.
Early American Museum, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet
Help visitors enjoy a day of family fun at the Early American Museum as they do work and play from an earlier time. Listen to old-time songs of Illinois, dip candles, make and eat hush puppies, churn butter, watch blacksmiths at work, and try many old-time crafts. We need 20 or more volunteers for this program. We have a list of activities with which we need help. If someone is interested in a special craft on the list, we could hold an orientation beforehand with an experienced volunteer. Contact: Charlsie Tice
INTO TREES
September 25 10:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M.
Environmental Education Center, Homer Lake Forest Preserve, Homer
Families can stop by the Environmental Education Center anytime during the day for tree-related crafts, activities, and help with their leaf collection projects. Tree ID hikes will leave from the center at 11:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M. We need 2-5 volunteers to assist with crafts, activities, hikes and setup/cleanup. Choose the activity with which you are comfortable helping. Contact: Savannah Hampson
TREE IDENTIFICATION IN THE WOODS
October 9 10:00 A.M.-11:30 A.M.
Discovery Garden, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet
Visitors will learn how to identify trees and take a hike through the woods to find them. We would like one volunteer to help with welcoming people, activities, and cleanup. Contact: Ralph Bonati
NOVEMBER MOON
November 12 4:30 P.M.-6:00 P.M.
Early American Museum, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet
Visitors will enjoy the magic of a fail evening program, with a bonfire and stories of an earlier time. We need two volunteers, one to help with the activity, and one to start and monitor the fire. Contact: Charlsie Tice
TO GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE WE GO
December 4 1:00 P.M.-4:00 P.M.
Early American Museum, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet
Visitors will make and take ornaments or presents for family members. Our storyteller will spin stories of the past, and the day will end with a Christmas carol or two. We need 8-10 volunteers to staff craft stations and one to greet and collect evaluations at the end of the program. We could also use help with setup and takedown. Contact: Charlsie Tice
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PROGRAM SERIES
KIDS GARDEN CLUB
Jan 23, Feb 20, Mar 20, Apr 17, Aug 14, Sep 4, Oct 23, Nov 13, Dec 11
Saturday mornings, generally 10:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M.
Discovery Garden, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet
These programs help kids and their families develop a “green thumb.” We need one or two volunteers at each program to help with crafts, activities and setup/cleanup. Contact: Ralph Bonati
GROWING UP WILD
Mondays at Homer Lake – Mar 1, Apr 5, Sep 13, Oct 4, Nov 1
Tuesdays at Lake of the Woods – Mar 2, Apr 6, May 3, Sep 7, Oct 5, Nov 2
10:00 A.M.-11:00 A.M.
Help preschoolers and their adults discover the natural world. We need one or two volunteers at each program to help with crafts, activities and setup/cleanup. Contact: Savannah Hampson
TAKE ME FISHING
May 29, 1:00 P.M.-4:00 P.M., Middle Fork River Forest Preserve, Penfield
June 26, 9:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M., Homer Lake Forest Preserve, Homer
July 31, 9:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M., Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet
Help our visitors experience the joys of fishing! We need 15 volunteers each date to record fish sizes, hand out worms, teach the basics of fishing, and assist with crafts and activities. Contact: Savannah Hampson
SECOND SUNDAY ARTISAN SERIES
June 13 3:00 P.M.-6:00 P.M.
July 11 3:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M.
August 8 3:00 P.M.-6:00 P.M.
Early American Museum & Mabery Gelvin Botanical Garden, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet
Various artists are highlighted in this program, and concerts are held in the garden featuring diverse bands. We need one volunteer to help with moving chairs and helping the bands set up and take down. Contact: Charlsie Tice
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SUMMER DAY CAMPS
(Weekdays June-July]
ECO-ADVENTURES DAY CAMP
June 15-July 31 (no camp July 5th- 9th)
10:00 A.M.-11:30 A.M. & 1:00 P.M.-2:30 P.M.
Tuesdays & Wednesdays, Homer Lake Forest Preserve, Homer
Thursdays & Fridays, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet
Help children age 3-5th* grade learn about the natural world. Children are divided into three groups - Preschool, K-2nd, and 3rd-5th. We need one volunteer for each age group to assist with crafts, games and stories. Sign up to help with a morning or afternoon session (or both!). Please be available once per week and make a commitment to the entire six-week camp session. Contact: Stacey Clementz
GARDEN ADVENTURES
Mondays, June 14-July 26 (no camp July 5), 9:00 A.M.-11:00 A.M.
Discovery Garden. Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet
Help children in grades K-5 develop their own “green thumb”! We need 1-2 volunteers to help with crafts, games, stories and garden chores. Please be available once per week and make a commitment to the entire six-week camp session. Contact: Ralph Bonati
TINY TOT GARDEN ADVENTURES
Wednesdays, June 16-July 28 (No camp July 7), 9:00 A.M.-10:30 A.M.
Discovery Garden. Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet
Help 3-5 year olds and their parents develop their own “green thumb”! We need 1-2 volunteers to help with crafts, games, stories and garden chores. Please be available once per week and make a commitment to the entire six-week camp session, Contact: Ralph Bonati
GRAND PRAIRIE KIDS
Wednesdays, June 16, June 30, July 14, 9:30 A.M.-11:00 A.M.
Early American Museum, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet
Help children ages 5-12 learn about their history with stories, crafts and more. We need 1-2 volunteers per program to help with activity stations and setup and takedown. Contact: Sandy Osborne
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SCHOOL PROGRAMS
(Weekdays, September-May)
Assist staff with education programs for school groups, grades K- 5. Training is provided. Time commitment is generally 2-3 hours for each program (including setup and cleanup}, unless noted otherwise. We have listed below the main programs that occur consistently each year. Exact dates for each program vary depending on teachers' schedules.
Spring:
FROG FOLLIES
May, Lake of the Woods & Homer Lake Forest Preserves
Contact: Stacey Clementz
INTO INSECTS
April-May, Homer Lake Forest Preserve
Contact: Stacey Clementz
BOTANY BASICS
April-May, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve
Contact: Ralph Bonati
ONE-ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE
April-May, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve
For this program, we need volunteers to be school marms or masters. Schedule will vary according to bow many marms or masters we have at the time. Pick the times you can be here. Contact: Sandy Osborne
Fall:
PRAIRIE ADVENTURES
Sept-Oct, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve
This is a five-hour program. Contact: Stacey Clementz, Sandy Osborne or Ralph Bonati
INTO INSECTS
September, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve
Contact: Stacey Clementz
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
Oct-Nov, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve
Contact: Stacey Clementz
BOTANY BASICS
Sept-Nov, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve
Contact: Ralph Bonati
ONE-ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE
Sept-Nov, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve
For this program, we need volunteers to be school marms or masters. Schedule will vary according to bow many marms or masters we have at the time. Pick the times you can be here. Contact: Sandy Osborne
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