Let’s Play! Summer Nature Exploration Monday, June 3
9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
1651 Willow Road, Winnetka, 60093 (map)
Join The Alliance for Early Childhood, BYNC and the Forest Preserves of Cook County to engage in creative, imaginative, and child-directed, outdoor free-play as a family in beautiful Erikson Woods. Register here!
Highlights from recent activities
Glencoe Youth Services at the Skokie Lagoons January 27
After having their original Dr. King Day of Service postponed, a group of students and parents from Glencoe Youth Services showed up at Skokie Lagoons on Jan. 27 to help our restoration crew rid the area of invasive species along Forest Way Drive.
Six BYNC volunteers assisted Linn and Gary as they led activities for the day. Students and parents were given a brief history of the lagoons and a safety talk before being allowed to go out and work. They used loppers and bow saws to fell small buckthorn trees and cut them into small sections before hauling them to the brush pile where Dan supervised their burning.
Kudos to our supervising volunteers, Garth, Barb, Bill, and Piper, who kept everyone safe throughout the activity!
The day ended with some seed spreading along the bike path, and marshmallow roasting for s’mores consumption, followed by herbiciding by Lew.
BYNC‘s community partnerships
Thank you Orvis! BYNC would like to thank Orvis for a generous donation that will support BYNC‘s mission. After opening a location in Wilmette last year, Orvis selected BYNC as its nonprofit partner. Orvis employees have provided their time and expertise as part of BYNC‘s programs. Orvis also hosts classes – Gary praised their fly fishing class – and we appreciate their contributions to our community.
Thank you from REACH
BYNC always appreciates the opportunity to collaborate with Refugee Education & Adventure Challenge. Shana Wills, REACH executive director/founder, shared the following with BYNC:
“We are deeply grateful for the generous in-kind services provided by BackYard Nature Center in the form of forest restoration and fishing lessons for our 2023 Summer Adventure Camp participants. Over the course of two sessions in July 2023, we were able to connect a total of 34 refugee youth participants to the peace and tranquility of the Skokie Lagoons. Your support helps Refugee Education & Adventure Challenge in our mission “to inspire leadership, academic success, and connections among refugee youth through active dynamic learning outside the traditional classroom.” Your in-kind services helped leverage our impact on the lives of more than 100 young people who participated in our programs in Calendar Year 2023 (January 1 – December 31, 2023).”
An upcoming event with Charles Schwab
In May, BYNC looks forward to hosting Charles Schwab employees at the Skokie Lagoons as part of their Volunteer Week for a restoration day that will include clearing invasive buckthorn. We also thank Charles Schwab for a generous donation to BYNC!
We encourage everyone to get outdoors and experience nature. Visit BackYardNatureCenter.org for ideas, activities, and to see more photos from BYNC events!
