Earth Day Projects

Most of our Earth Day projects take place at the Volo Bog Natural Area involving students from local schools, but our first Earth Day project at Moraine Hills State Park was a big event, as it involved one hundred plus Jewel/Osco store managers from as far away as Kankakee, Illinois to volunteer their time at the Moraine Hills State Park's McHenry site on Earth Day 2008. Heading up the Volunteers was the North Area Vice President, Mark Driscoll, and the District Manager Glen Nielson of the North Area. In addition, Jewel/Osco donated a Trex bench made from recycled plastic bags, a $1,500 check, and a delicious lunch for everybody.

The morning started out stringing out a grid for the new garden plot, followed with the laying of newspaper weighed down with sand.  While that was going on, a bench for the Park was presented to Site Superintendent, Greg Kelly.   Everybody then gathered together for speeches and the presentation of the check, followed with a group photo.  Before the crew went back to work, lunch from the Chief's Kitchens was provided for all to enjoy  The majority of volunteers did clean up , such as policing the roadway adjacent to the Park, along Park's shoreline of the Fox River,  and the clearing of brush.  The garden volunteers led by Site Naturalist Stacy Iwanicki  went back to the plot laying down over the newspaper & sand a layer of manure, and then mulch.  Following a planting chart made up by Stacy, the volunteers then planted some 500 native forbs (wildflowers) and grasses.  Observing and assisting was Bob Vetter, Volunteer Garden Coordinator for both Moraine Hills and Volo Bog State Natural Area.  After all the volunteers left, the park staff led by assistant superintendent, John Laskowski, watered in the plants and removed the excess sand etc.