Friends of
Up-coming Programs at
Moraine Hills
State Park & McHenry Dam
Explore Nature
with us!
A full line-up of programs close to home and FREE*! (What could be
better?!)
*Donations are happily accepted by the sites associated Friends groups.
LNCI! Encouraging families
to--- Leave No Child Inside!
Reservations are requested for most programs -
REPLY or Phone 815-344-1294
Limited drop-ins welcome but... program may be
cancelled if minimum registration is not met 24 hours prior. The
following list is provided in chronological order, based on the next activity
time. Some programs repeat monthly while others are one-time
activities. Locations and other information is available at the end of the
list.
Bird Walks at McHenry
Dam Saturdays & Sundays
June 19; July 17,
31; August 7, 21; September 4, 18 LNCI! 8:00 a.m. -
open
Enjoy the many resident birds of
Moraine Hills State Park's McHenry Dam area. Sandhill cranes, wood ducks,
yellow warblers, many woodpeckers, meadowlarks, bobolinks and a barred owl are
among the birds that may be seen on these walks. Dress for the weather; bring
binoculars and field guides or borrow ours. Walk time varies from 1 - 3+ hours
with weather & luck in birding! Ages 7-Adult Meet at South end of McHenry
Dam Parking Lot. Walks co-sponsored & led by McHenry County Audubon. Geared
to adults & attentive kids 7 years old and older. Reservations are
requested at 815-344-1294 or dnr.volobog@illinois.gov
. Limited walk-ins welcome but program may be cancelled if registration minimum
is not met 24 hours prior.
McHenry
Dam
is a part of Moraine Hills State Park, an Illinois Department of
Natural Resources complex located South of McHenry on River Road between State
Highways 120 and 176. For reservations for programs at Moraine Hills,
please contact Volo Bog at 815-344-1294 or dnr.volobog@illinois.gov. For
information on the park itself, please phone 815-385-1624.
Family Fishing Day
June 12 at the McHenry Dam
12 Noon - 4 p.m. Everything is Free
No Fishing License
required (an Illinois
Free Fishing Day)
Loaner Rods, Reels,
Tackle, & Bait
Instructions provided
by experienced FOMHSP Members
Refreshments for
kids up to 15 years old (Provided by
FOMHSP)
Meet at the north end of McHenry Dam and look for the big
brown "Friends of Moraine Hills State Park" sign.
No reservations needed - just stop by.
FOMHSP 3rd
Annual Meeting & Picnic Saturday July 31st
Where: Whitetail
Prairie Picnic Grove at 12noon3:00 p.m.
The Friends of Moraine Hills
State Park Annual Members Picnic is worth the price of membership! New members
are sought to help grow this young 501(c)(3) organization! Picnickers are asked
to bring non-disposable eating utensils and some yard toys (optional), for an
afternoon of fun. The FOMHSP provides the food - please phone with reservations
no later than 3pm July 28. Open to members only. For
reservations, please phone Volo Bog at 815-344-1294 or dnr.volobog@illinois.gov
Run for the Hills 10
K & Half Marathon October 23, 2010
Get ready to Run for the
Hills! This event promises to be one to remember as competitors race through a
circle of trails in the autumn beauty of Northern Illinois Moraine Hills State
Park a spectacular venue that will help make your 2010 fall running season
unforgettable. Moraine Hills State Park is located about 60 miles northwest of
Chicago in McHenry County, Illinois.
RACE START TIME
Half Marathon 7:45 a.m.
10K 8:00 a.m
RACE ENTRY FEE
10K - $35
Half Marathon - $39
Online registration closes one week before the
event. Add $10 to same-day (if available) or mail-in registration received
within the week before the event.
Sign up here!
MEDALS to the top three men and top three women in each age category (0
19, 20 - 24, 25 - 29, 30 34, 35 39, 40 44, 45 49, 50 54, 55 59, 60
64, 65 69, 70 +, and the top three men and women over all finishers in each
race
Click here for full course description
Sponsored by
Friends of Moraine Hills State Park
Dedicated to
supporting educational programs and visitor services at Moraine Hills State
Park
With the help of
the Fox River Runners
Photo Contest Entries Sought - Deadline July 10
LNCI!
Moraine Hills State Park seeks entries for its 13th Annual Nature
Photo Contest
Cosponsored by Friends of Moraine Hills State Park www.FriendsofMoraineHillsStatePark.org
The contest is open
to all Amateur Nature Photographers (those deriving less than $5,000 of their
gross income from the sale of nature photographs).
Entry
Deadline: Saturday, July 10, 2010 at 3:00 p.m.
Entry Fee: $5.00
flat fee payable to Friends of Moraine Hills State Park
Entries are
accepted in Seven Categories:
·
Color Plant
·
Color Invertebrate
·
Color Vertebrate
·
Color Landscape
·
Black & White
(combined plants/animals/landscapes)
·
People (& Pets)
In the Park
·
Special Category:
Beyond the Midwest
Display for Voting:
Contest will be on display from July 17 - October 1. Prizes are chosen by the
popular vote of visitors and also by a panel of judges. Special youth
awards will be given if an adequate number of youth enter.
Award Ceremony will
be held at the Moraine Hills Nature Center Sunday, October 3, 2010
Refreshments will be
served compliments of Friends of Moraine Hills State Park
Four ways to get
complete details, rules and entry form:
1.
Visit www.FriendsofMoraineHillsStatePark.org
2.
Make a request
through Volo Bog State Natural Area at dnr.volobog@illinois.gov
3.
Phone a request
through Volo Bog SNA at 815-344-1294
4.
Pick up an entry
form at Moraine Hills State Park
Field Trip to Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie with the Friends of
Volo Bog & Friends of Moraine Hills State Park
Saturday, July
17 LNCI!
6 AM Departure from VBSNA
Members of the Friends
of Volo Bog & Friends of Moraine Hills State Park will explore the first
National Tallgrass Prairie in the country! Part of the former Joliet Army
Ammunition Plant, this area is now managed by federal and state agencies for
the restoration of Illinois' largest lost ecosystem. The day will begin with
wildlife watching then go on a guided driving/caravan loop tour "War
Plants to Prairie Plants: Midewin Past, Present & Future" from 10 am -
12:30 pm. The group will then share a "Dutch Treat" lunch at a local
restaurant (TBA). Registration is required through Volo Bog at 815-344-1294.
Group size is limited. New Members Welcome - visit www.FriendsofVoloBog.org and www.FriendsofMoraineHillsStatePark.org for membership and other information.
Moraine Meanders at Moraine Hills State Park LNCI!
Fourth
Saturdays each month - 10 am - 12 Noon
Moraine
Meanders explore nature throughout the seasons in a variety of habitats. The
surprise theme each month is based on "Whats Happening Now!" Nature Activities are woven into these
morning hikes making them ideal for the kids and the Young-at-Heart. All ages
are welcome. No Reservations needed. Questions??? Phone Volo Bog at
815-344-1294. Moraine
Meanders are offered on the Fourth Saturday of each month
(except
August, November & December)
Moraine
Hills State Park and McHenry Dam are an Illinois Department of Natural Resources
complex located South of McHenry on River Road between State Highways 120 and
176. For reservations for programs at Moraine Hills, please phone Volo Bog at
815-344-1294 or dnr.volobog@illinois.gov For information on the park itself,
please phone 815-385-1624.
For more information, also visit