2018-Community-Habitat-Symposium-Final-Brochure

1 2018 Community Habitat Symposium Making a Richer Home for all Life February 24 – 25 Joliet Junior College 1215 Houbolt Road U Building Joliet, IL 60431 The symposium is made possible by the Kankakee Torrent Chapter of the Illinois Native Plant Society in collaboration with Joliet Junior College Department of Natural Science Saturday, February 24 8:00 Registration opens U Building Atrium 8:20 Welcome: Janine Catchpole U Building Auditoriums 1022-1026 8:30 The Fen at JJC: Andy Neill U Building Auditoriums 1022-1026 Morning Concurrent sessions At Home with Native Plants and Animals Acres of Prairie, Savanna, Woods and Work U Building Second Floor: Rooms 2019 -2021 U Building Auditoriums: 1022-1026 9:00 Native Plants, Learning by Doing Roundtable From Seed Collecting to Strong Plugs Stephanie Connor 10:00 Birds, Bats, Bees and the Plants They Need Roundtable Controlling Non-native Grasses Floyd Catchpole, Juli Mason 11:00 Invasive Species 101: The Basics That Every Landowner Needs to Know Chris Evans Native Tree and Shrub Identification, the Purdue Way Dr Sally S Weeks 11:45 Visit vendors/lunch break Location U Building Atrium and Concourse Afternoon Concurrent Sessions 1:30 2:30 Native Plant Landscape Design Habitat Makeover Kit Andrew Stahr Looking at New Ways to use Native Trees and Shrubs in the Landscape Andrew Hart Healing the Land: Reconnecting Humans to 3:30 Nature in Northeastern Illinois Forest and Woodlot Invasives Chris Evans The Naturalization of Urban Park Districts Mike Stelter U Building Auditoriums 1022-1026 Gerald Adelmann Sunday, February 25 Field trips, Weather Permitting 1:00-2:30 Harbingers; Looking for the Earliest Spring Ephemerals Hickory Creek Nature Preserve Community Habitat Symposium Track At Home with Native Plants This track is geared toward the urban/suburban community interested in building green corridors through neighborhoods yard-by-yard, park-by-park The topics covered will explain relationships between native plants and native animals, explore the threat of non-native invasive species and share opportunities for learning more about this subject Birds, Bats and Bees and the Plants They Need (Round Table Discussion) Learning the relationships between the needs of our native animal species to native plants and the habitat needs of animals is first step in designing green corridors that really work The presenters understand these needs for all seasons at local level as well as the big picture Adriana Fernandez, Juanita Armstrong Ulberg, Tristan Shaw, Aasia Mohammad Castañeda, Susan Dees Hargrove Native Plants, Learning by Doing (Round Table Discussion) Volunteering can be a great way to learn about native plants and animals and the threats they are facing Learn where to volunteer and what to expect both in education and new friendships Allison Cisneros, Jason Buss, Sally Wieclaw, Trevor Edmonson Invasive Species 101: The Basics That Every Landowner Needs to Know: Chris Evans This presentation will discuss what invasive species are, why they are a problem, and how the choices a landowner makes can influence the health of the surrounding landscape Invasive species are one of the greatest threats to native plants and natural ecosystems Knowing which species are invasive, why they are causing damage, why they should be controlled, and how to avoid spread new invaders will arm landowners with the knowledge necessary to make a positive impact on their surrounding landscape Native Plant Landscape Design Habitat Makeover Kit: Andy Stahr The Habitat Makeover Kit is a tool that allows a land owner to evaluate their current landscape’s habitat value and create a plan that can increase that value Looking at New Ways to use Native Trees and Shrubs in the Landscape (Andrew Hart) Native shrubs have important pace in native ecology, providing great habitat, and are underused in landscapes Many shrubs make fine understory plantings or can substitute well for a larger tree Track Acres of Prairie, Savanna, Woods and Work This track is geared to large tract private landowners, public land managers, and people working on restoration projects on a larger scale From Seed Collecting to Strong Plugs: Stephanie Connor This discussion will cover the production of native plant plugs from seed to sprout Topics covered will include effective and environmentally responsible seed collection, methods for seed cleaning and processing, and proper techniques for transplanting and caring for native plant material Attendees will leave with useful, applicable knowledge on producing plugs of native plants Controlling Non-native Grasses: Floyd Catchpole, Juli Mason Non-native cool season grasses can play havoc on long term success as well as establishment of restorations Learn what tools have been working for the Forest Preserve District of Will County Native Tree and Shrub Identification, the Purdue Way: Dr Sally S Weeks Winter is a prime time for managing woody species But it is important to be sure you know how to identify plants without leaves Forest and Woodlot Invasives: Chris Evans Forests and small woodlots can provide valuable habitat and space for native plants and wildlife, but can also serve as a refuge for damaging invasive plants This presentation will cover some of the invasive plants invading forests in the region, give control recommendations for treating those invasives, and discuss how management can improve the health of a forest or woodlot The Naturalization of Urban Park Districts: Mike Stelter Planning for natural areas and implementing the use of native plants, in Downers Grove has improved the parks as a green corridor Keynote Address: Gerald Adelmann Healing the Land: Reconnecting Humans to Nature in Northeastern Illinois About Our Speakers: Gerald Adelmann, President & CEO, Openlands, 25 East Washington Street, Suite 1650 Chicago,IL 60602-1708 Gerald Adelmann joined Openlands in 1980 to coordinate a special program that led to the creation of the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor, the first federal land designation of its kind Today, there are more than fifty federally designated heritage areas across the United States In 1988, Jerry was appointed executive director of Openlands Under his guidance, Openlands launched the 21st Century Open Space Plan, which called for expanded parklands, greenways, and trails in northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region His leadership in creating the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie; in preserving the rare and scenic landscape at the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve for public enjoyment; and many other conservation and preservation accomplishments has earned him numerous honors and conservation awards In 2012, the Chicago Botanic Garden awarded him the prestigious Hutchinson Medal Jerry is chairman of the Center for Humans and Nature and an emeritus member of the National Board of Advisors of the National Trust for Historic Preservation He also chairs the City of Chicago’s Nature and Wildlife Committee, where he played an integral role in the initiation and recent completion of the Chicago Nature and Wildlife Plan, and is a member of several other boards and commissions Jerry has been involved in conservation and historic preservation projects in China since the early 1990s He lectures extensively throughout the United States and abroad Stephanie Connor Possibility Place Nursery 7548 W Monee-Manhattan Road Monee, Illinois 60449 815-690-0626 Email: possibilityplacesteph@gmail.com Stephanie is the Greenhouse Manager and Lead Propagator for Possibility Place Nursery in Monee, IL She holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Horticulture from Oregon State University At Possibility Place Nursery, she is responsible for the production of nearly 400 different species of native plants, from trees and shrubs to herbaceous perennials and grasses Prior to working with native plants, Stephanie worked for several years farming vegetables in both an outdoor, organic farm setting and an indoor, sustainable hydroponic setting Throughout her career, Stephanie has focused on sustainable practices in farming through development and implementation of production practices as well as public education Juanita Armstrong-Ulberg Natural Resource Land Manager Forest Preserve District of Will County 815 722-5918 Email: jarmstrong@fpdwc.org Juanita received her M.S., Biology, studying bats at Governors State University She works as an ecologist at the Forest Preserve District of Will County, and continues her studies of bats Juanita is currently using passive bat detectors to monitor bats migration patterns and summer foraging activity as part of the USDA North American Bat Program In 2018, the FPDWC will begin a citizen science program monitoring bats using an I-pad and an Echo-meter walking selected routes Jason Buss 815-582-1619 Email: jbuss@fpdwc.org Jason received his degree from Western Illinois University, and is Crew Leader and Natural Resource Management Volunteer Coordinator for the Forest Preserve District of Will County Jason leads work crews controlling invasive species and planting seeds and plugs Floyd Catchpole Land Management Program Coordinator Forest Preserve District of Will County 815-603-5190 Email: fcatchpole@fpdwc.org Floyd received his B.S., botany from EIU and M.S., Biology, studying bison grazing effects at Kansas State University He has worked as an ecologist at the Forest Preserve District of Will County since 2001, and has been active in the Illinois Native Plant Society since 1988 Allison Cisneros Volunteer Coordinator, The Nature Conservancy in partnership with the U.S Forest Service at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Work phone: 815-423-6370 x272 Cell: 815-474-3808 Email: acisneros@tnc.org 30239 S State Route 53 Wilmington, IL 60481 www.fs.fed.us An area native, Allison attended Joliet Junior College learning more about horticulture, ecology, and participating in the Grassroots Club She transferred to Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois and obtained a BS in Biology and a BA in Chemistry in 2003 While at Lewis, she worked for the U.S Forest Service at Midewin as a Restoration Crew Leader In 2007, Allison returned to Midewin as the Volunteer Coordinator, working for The Nature Conservancy in partnership with the U.S Forest Service to coordinate a program that has been nationally recognized About 800 volunteers support Midewin’s mission, including prairie restoration, ecological monitoring, environmental education, archaeology, visitor services, and recreation Trevor Edmonson The Wetlands Initiative 53 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 1015 Chicago, Illinois 60604 Trevoredmonson@gmail.com Trevor has a Biogeography degree from Northern Illinois University He is a Project Manager for The Wetlands Initiative and Steward at Langham Island Nature Preserve Chris Evans Extension Forestry and Research Specialist University of Illinois’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences 618-695-3383 cwevans@illinois.edu Chris has a B.S in Wildlife Biology from Murray State University and a M.S in Forestry from Iowa State University He is currently the Technical Advisory Committee Chair for the Illinois Forestry Association, vice president of the Illinois Native Plant Society – Southern Chapter, and serves on the board of the North American Invasive Species Management Association Susan Dees Hargrove Biological Resources Specialist Bureau of Design and Environment Natural Resources Unit Illinois Department of Transportation 2300 South Dirksen Parkway Springfield, IL 62674 Susan Dees Hargrove has gardened for butterflies and moths for 25 years and raised caterpillars for 50 years She has been active in central Illinois environmental groups for over 20 years and in the Illinois Native Plant Society since 1988 She has been a biologist for Illinois Department of Transportation for 23 years, specializing in endangered species, high quality habitats, and wetlands with respect to highway projects Adriana Fernandez Contractor-Program Assistant Operations Manager U.S Fish & Wildlife Service, Chicago Office Email: ms.adriana.fernandez@gmail.com Adriana was the Monarch Coordinator for the Field Museum’s “A Monarch’s View of the City” research project during the summer of 2016 She continues her work by doing community outreach for the USFWS She created a monarch book and coloring book based on Mexican legend It is called, “The Legend of the Parákata” and it is available for free download in English and Spanish at fieldmuseum.org/monarchs under Learn More About Monarch Butterflies She recently gave a presentation called “Using Traditional Media and Social Media to Publicize Events” at the Broadening the Base: Community Outreach and Engagement for Birding and Stewardship Groups workshop Adriana is also involved in USFWS’ public outreach for the rusty-patched bumble bee; the first native bee species to be listed as endangered in the continental United States Andrew Hart Natural Resource Specialist Chicago Region U.S Forest Service bandrewhart@yahoo.com Andrew works with cities and towns across the Chicago region to build momentum and capacity for urban forestry Julianne Mason Restoration Program Coordinator Forest Preserve District of Will County 815-722-5373 jmason@fpdwc.org Juli grew up on a vineyard in upstate New York, where she got the “outdoor bug” She has worked as an ecologist in the Chicago region for the past 20 years She works as a restoration ecologist for the Forest Preserve District of Will County She has a B.A in Biology (as well as one in Japan Studies) from Earlham College in Richmond, IN, and a M.S in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences from UIUC Aasia Mohammad Castañeda Community Environmental Engagement Coordinator The Keller Science Action Center The Field Museum acastaneda@fieldmuseum.org 312-665-7417 Aasia Mohammad Castañeda is an anthropologist/graphic designer working as the Community Environmental Engagement Coordinator She comes from a community organizing background, leading cultural bridge building work with the Chiapas Media Project, Street Level Youth Media, and other community arts and cultural organizations in Chicago At The Field Museum’s Keller Science Action Center, through the Roots & Routes Initiative, she builds relationships with diverse communities and Chicago’s south lakefront, an area that is in process of a habitat enhancement, the Burnham Wildlife Corridor (BWC), in ways the improve the quality of life for residents Aasia is a born and raised Chicagoan She received her B.A in Anthropology from the University of Illinois at Chicago Andrew Neill Department of Natural Science and Physical Education Joliet Junior College Andy Neill has been a biology professor at Joliet Junior College since 1993, teaching classes in general biology, plant science and environmental biology He has helped the college manage its 124-acre outdoor learning laboratory that includes a remnant Dolomite prairie and calcareous Fen He earned a B.S degree from Northern Illinois University in 1987 after transferring an A.S Degree from William Rainey Harper College Andy earned a M.S degree in ecology from Illinois State University in 1990 He has been involved in numerous restoration projects over the years including Shoe Factory Road Prairie in Hoffman Estates, Mettler Woods near Clinton, Illinois, Joliet Junior College’s Natural Areas and the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Tristan Shaw Possibility Place Nursery 7548 W Monee-Manhattan Road Monee, Illinois 60449 708-534-3988 Tristan is the Nursery Manager and irrigation guru at PPN He has studied horticulture for the past 15 years and has lectured about the nursery industry He oversees the pick-up of orders and day-to-day operations He has worked in the industry for the past 20 years Andy Stahr, PLA, LEED AP andys@ecologyllc.com Principal, Ecology+Vision, LLC P.O Box 601 Leland, IL 60531 www.ecologyllc.com P: 815-981-8003 C: 815-751-2470 F: 815-498-4406 10 Andy provides field-tested insight as to what works both on paper and in the field when it comes to the creation or restoration of aesthetically positive natural areas and sustainable landscapes During his time as a General Manager for one of the Midwest’s leading ecological restoration firms, the projects Andy managed received more than 30 awards Andy has also had key roles in a multitude of traditional design projects throughout his career, including park design, commercial/retail landscape design, campus master planning, downtown streetscape design, subdivision development, city park planning and development, and residential estate planning Mike Stelter Assistant Superintendent of Parks Downers Grove Park District 2455 Warrenville Road • Downers Grove, IL 60515 (630) 960-7580 mstelter@dgparks.org www.dgparks.org Attended UW Stevens Point – studied Forestry, Soil Science and Resource Management ISA Certified Arborist and Illinois Certified Prescribed Burn Manager Before becoming Assistant Superintendent, was Forester for Downers Grove Park District for 30 years Dr Sally S Weeks Retired, Purdue Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources 715 W State Street West Lafayette, IN 47907 765-404-2947 hsweeks@tds.net Sally was born and grew up on a dairy farm near Winamac, Indiana She "found" trees later in life, almost by accident while a student at Purdue University; they became her passion, Charles Deam her posthumous tutor, and photography her collection medium She has received a BSF in wildlife management and a MS in Forestry from Purdue's Department of Forestry and Natural Resources She has taught Dendrology at Purdue for more than 25 years and has created two new courses, Native Shrubs of Indiana and Plants of Hoosier Habitats Sally Wieclaw Sally has been an accidental volunteer for close to twenty years Originally, she started to volunteer for the outdoor exercise since she worked a desk job Sally discovered there was so much to be done inside and outside that she was hooked This was a great way to transition into an unpaid retirement career that stimulated her mind and kept her fit Sally has become an amateur botanist through volunteer training Langham Island, Midewin, Plants of Concern and the Forest Preserve District of Will County are a few of the places she volunteers 11 2018 Community Habitat Symposium Sponsors The Conservation Foundation’s Conservation@Home program encourages home and business owners to turn their yard into functional, sustainable habitat By replacing lawn and ornamentals with native plants, managing storm water, and controlling invasive species, your yard becomes a part of the local ecosystem, instead of apart from the local ecosystem For more information, contact Jamie Viebach at (630) 428-4500 x 128 The Forest Preserve District of Will County is dedicated to protecting, conserving, enhancing and promoting Will County’s natural heritage for the educational, recreational and environmental benefit of present and future generations Visit us at https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/ 2018 Community Habitat Symposium Vendors www.carlinsales.com | facebook.co m/carlinhorticulturalsupplies 815-744-7333 A Family Owned Company Proudly Serving The "Green Industry" Since 1972 www.carlinsales.com | facebook.co m/carlinhorticulturalsupplies 815-744-7333 The Indiana Academy of Science is a professional membership organization of Indiana scientists Founded in 1885, it is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting scientific research and diffusing scientific information; to encouraging communication and cooperation among scientists and to improving education in the sciences To be the best, most innovative, diversified agricultural cooperative, and, to build successful and profitable partnerships with our patrons 13