Exhibit: Pollination Investigation
December 17 - March 18
EXHIBIT: POLLINATION INVESTIGATION
Homer Lake Interpretive Center, During regular open hours
Warm up this winter with an exhibit about pollination and the essential role that animal pollinators play for both nature and us. Exhibit is in English and Spanish! For more info: (217) 896-2455 or pleiter@ccfpd.org.
Pollination Investigation was created by Smithsonian Gardens in collaboration with the National Museum of Natural History and made available by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. It is funded in part by the Smithsonian Women's Committee.
StoryWalk ®: Over and Under the Snow
Explore a local winter wonderland and learn more about what animals do in the wintertime with Kate Messner's Over and Under the Snow. This self-guided activity will be set up along the Timberdoodle Trail at Homer Lake Forest Preserve. As you stroll down the trail, you are directed to the next page in the story. The StoryWalk® concept is an innovative way for children and adults to enjoy reading and the outdoors at the same time. Park at the Interpretive Center parking lot and follow the signs to the StoryWalk®. Visit any time during preserve open hours; 7am-5pm. FREE. All ages. For more info: (217) 896-2455 or jwick@ccfpd.org.
Night Lights in the Garden
This holiday season the garden will be illuminated for the first “Night Lights in the Garden.” Beginning December 3rd, the garden will be brimming with light on Friday and Saturday evenings from 4-8 p.m. through January 7th.
Walk with a Naturalist
Monday, January 3
WALK WITH A NATURALIST
Interpretive Center, Homer Lake Forest Preserve, 1-2:30 p.m.
Wrap up your winter break and explore a local winter wonderland during a guided walk at Homer Lake Forest Preserve. Naturalists will point out interesting sights and sounds as we walk the trails. Meet outside in front of the Interpretive Center. All ages. FREE. Space is limited. Registration required by January 2. Current public health guidelines will be followed; see CCFPD’s Covid Guidelines and Waiver for In-person Programs. Programs may be cancelled due to inclement weather. For more info: (217) 896-2455 or sclementz@ccfpd.org.
Registration link: http://apm.activecommunities.com/ccfpd/Activity_Search/1482
(CANCELLED) Night Lights in the Garden! Closing Night
Due to the forecasted weather for Saturday, January 8 the Night Lights will conclude on Friday, January 7, 2022.
Saturday, January 8
NIGHT LIGHTS IN THE GARDEN! CLOSING NIGHT
Mabery Gelvin Botanical Garden, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, 6-8 p.m.
Help us close out the lighting display in Mabery Gelvin Botanical Garden one last time! Explore the beauty of the garden with an interactive winter themed scavenger hunt, pick up a miniature winter wonderland garden kit to take home (registration required; see Miniature Garden Winter Wonderland Kit program description for further details), and much more! Free hot cocoa will be given out and the first 50 visitors will receive a free pair of 3D glasses to enhance the holiday light viewing experience! FREE. Current public health guidelines will be followed; see CCFPD’s Covid Guidelines and Waiver for In-person Programs. Programs may be cancelled due to inclement weather. For more info: (217) 586-2612 or pcain@ccfpd.org.
Miniature Garden Winter Wonderland Kit, at Night Lights at the Garden! Closing Night
MINIATURE GARDEN WINTER WONDERLAND KIT, AT NIGHT LIGHTS AT THE GARDEN! CLOSING NIGHT
Pick up at Museum of the Grand Prairie, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, 6-8 p.m.
Don’t miss out on a chance to stop by the closing event for, “Night Lights in the Garden!”, and bring home your own Miniature Garden Winter Wonderland Kit to keep the magic of winter going at home! Our Mabery Gelvin Botanical Gardens will be alive with lights, and special events will take place on this magical night! Adults and children alike love to make Miniature Gardens! The bag comes with everything you need to make your own miniature garden with a special Winter Wonderland Flare! And it all comes in a great CCFPD drawstring backpack! For more info: (217) 586-2612 or ksnyder@ccfpd.org.
Order kit online at: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/ccfpd/activity/search/detail/1487?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true
Volunteer Event: Ask the State Biologist
Wednesday, January 12
VOLUNTEER EVENT: ASK THE STATE BIOLOGIST
Online event via Zoom, 7-8 p.m.
Champaign County Forest Preserve District volunteers and their families can enjoy an interactive presentation by Dr. Eric Schauber, Director of the Illinois Natural History Survey and our Illinois State Biologist. FREE. For more info: (217) 586-3360 or volunteer@ccfpd.org.
Martin Luther King Day Painted Rock Kit
Friday, January 14
MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY PAINTED ROCK KIT
Pickup at Museum of the Grand Prairie, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, 1-4 p.m.
Make your day off for Martin Luther King Day count by registering and picking up our MLK Day Painted Rock Kit. Decorate your rock with an uplifting message for people in your neighborhood or beyond to find! Your kit contains a rock with local contact information for CU Trauma and Resiliency Initiative on one side, and a surface for you to paint an uplifting message on the other side. Everything you need is included, even paints and a paintbrush! Fun for all ages! $3 per kit. Pick up must take place during the month of January 2022. For more info: (217) 586-2612 or ksnyder@ccfpd.org.
Order kit online at: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/ccfpd/activity/search/detail/1488?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true
(Cancelled) Meet the Critters
Due to Covid-19 concerns this program has been cancelled.
Monday, January 17
MEET THE CRITTERS
Interpretive Center, Homer Lake Forest Preserve, 10-11 a.m. or 2-3 p.m.
School’s out, so come by the Homer Lake Interpretive Center and see what’s new with our resident animals! We’ve been making lots of exciting updates and additions to our animal exhibits, and we want to show it off! Participants will have the chance to meet some of our resident animals up close. Register for the morning or afternoon session. FREE. Recommended for ages 3 and up. Space is limited. Registration required by January 16. Current public health guidelines will be followed; see CCFPD’s Covid Guidelines and Waiver for In-person Programs. For more info: (217) 896-2455 or jwick@ccfpd.org.
Registration links:
10-11 A.M.: http://apm.activecommunities.com/ccfpd/Activity_Search/1483
2-3 P.M.: http://apm.activecommunities.com/ccfpd/Activity_Search/1484
CCFPD Snowflake Search
January 20 - February 28
CCFPD SNOWFLAKE SEARCH
All Champaign County Forest Preserves, Visit www.ccfpd.org for more info on open/closed times.
Get out and explore your local winter wonderland in search of snowflakes! We’ve hidden creative snowflakes and winter fun facts throughout the Champaign County Forest Preserves. Bundle up and find as many as you can! Take a picture of your finds and share them with us on our Facebook and Instagram pages using the hashtag #CCFPDSnowflakeSearch. Follow the Champaign County Forest Preserve District, Museum of the Grand Prairie, and Homer Lake Interpretive Center Facebook pages as well as hashtag #CCFPDSnowflakeSearch to learn more about the winter season and discover clues to help find these stunning snowflakes painted on tree discs. For more info: (217) 896-2455 or jwick@ccfpd.org.
Garden Speaker Series: Medicinal Plants and Their Use
Thursday, January 20
GARDEN SPEAKER SERIES: MEDICINAL PLANTS AND THEIR USE
Online Event, Streaming on the Museum of the Grand Prairie Facebook and YouTube pages, 7 p.m.
Help us kick off our annual Garden Speaker Series with this great event! The theme for this year’s series will deal with medicinal plants, how humans have used them throughout history, and how to start a medicinal plant garden of your very own. Join Professor Emerita of Pathology at the Indiana University School of Medicine, Kathleen Hull, MD, as she discusses her involvement as Head of the Indiana Medical History Museum’s Medicinal Garden Project. Also, learn how particular plants have been used for medicinal purposes throughout history and how a few have led to some modern medicines used today. FREE. For more info: (217) 586-2612 or pcain@ccfpd.org.
Volunteer Opportunity: Invasive Plant Removal
River Bend Forest Preserve
Saturday Jan 29th 10-12pm
1602 W. Mid-America Rd.
Mahomet, IL 61853
Help us see the lake! We’ll be removing honeysuckle along the lake edge and will have a burn pile. Volunteers will work with loppers and handsaws to cut honeysuckle, autumn olive and callery pear and possibly burn the cuttings. Volunteers must wear long pants and closed-toe shoes (which shouldn't be a problem this time of year) and long sleeves are recommended. Any age is welcome but children will need to be closely supervised. No experience necessary. No registration needed. This event will be cancelled if there is bad weather.
Contact Emily ewilliams@ccfpd.org to learn more about this event.