Research 4 Reptiles

Wanted to share with you about an amazing organization — Research 4 Reptiles.

Research 4 Reptiles, LLC. is a privately-owned company, founded by Holly Zak, whose mission is to provide challenging, hands-on, field-based programs for participants ages 12 years to adult to inspire enthusiasm for and understanding of native Illinois reptile and amphibian species.

This is not your ordinary outdoor education program!

What makes their programs different from the usual outdoor education classes ?

  • Participants assist in real herpetological research whereby they help survey areas for species.
  • Participants help to identify species, mark them for identification, measure them, and record information about each animal capture.
  • Participants learn through critical inquiry, delving into research with inquiring questions!
  • Every class is limited to 8 students.
  • All classes are held outdoors at prairie/pond sites within Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie in Wilmington, Illinois (approximately 15 miles south of Joliet).
  • Species conservation and environmental protection is emphasized.
  • Best of all, the data collected from research is compiled and given to biological staff at Midewin for species’ management purposes!
3 juvenile painted turtles at Buttonbush Pond

Other opportunities you can find on their website:
If you have a herp lover they have gift certificates available that might make a great Christmas gift.

Also, be sure to check back in January to find  OPEN ENROLLMENT for summer programs!

Contact info: Research 4 Reptiles, LLC.
508 Pheasant Chase Drive
Bolingbrook, IL 60490
Email: research4reptiles@comcast.net
Phone: 630-337-0757
Website: www.research4reptiles.biz
This is a sponsored post from a paid advertiser with our site. For more information about advertising with the Chicagoland Homeschool Network, please email me at info@chicagolandhomeschoolnetwork.com.

Free Admission to a Public Garden

Found out about a great opportunity coming up this week from Kristi Boss of the Homeschool Resource Center (www.fofchomeschool.org)

Click on the Get Coupon button on their site and you can get a coupon for free admission to a number of public gardens. You do need to give your name, email, zip code, pick your garden, and indicate the number in your party. The coupon is good for 2 admissions, but the site says to print as many as you need for your group.

In Illinois, included in the list are:

  • Cantigny
  • Chicago Botanic Garden
  • Elmhurst College Arboretum
  • Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden
  • Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens
  • Rockford Park District
  • The Morton Arboretum
  • University of Illinois Arboretum

More all across the country, so share with your in and out of state friends as well. 🙂

The weather here in Chicago is supposed to be gorgeous on Friday so grab the sunscreen and a picnic lunch, and enjoy a field trip!

Get outside!

The weather these next few days looks to be absolutely gorgeous, so I shouldn’t have to encourage you twice to get out with your kids! Wherever you live around the Chicago area, find a new forest preserve, a nature trail, or even just a playground and enjoy. This time of year it can still be hit or miss, so grab it while you can.

Beaver eaten tree

Today we enjoyed some time with my parents, sister, and nephew at Spring Valley in Schaumburg. Unfortunately the historical farm and log cabin will not be open until next week, but we still soaked in the sunshine on the beautiful walking trails and spent some time in the nature center there. We checked out the bat boxes, the observation deck, the calves, turtles, ducks, trees chopped down by a beaver, wasp nests, and so much more. It is amazing what kids will find and what will fascinate them when you just get out and walk.

Need ideas? Be sure to check out the field trip listings for other local ideas. Maybe you have already seen all the stuff really close to your house, so try somewhere a little further away. One of the great advantages to living in this great metropolis is all that we have within an hour’s drive. Busse Woods in Elk Grove Village, Independence Grove in Libertyville (check before going, sometimes they charge an admission per vehicle), Fullersburg Woods in Oak Brook, Millenium Park in Chicago, Bartlett Nature Center at the James “Pate” Philip State Park in Bartlett, Crabtree Nature Center in Barrington,  and on and on. I would guess there is somewhere that you have not explored with your kids.

Lots of nature centers have activity backpacks that you can check out, and the volunteers that often staff the desks are happy to help make the most of your experience. At Spring Valley you can also rent binoculars, so you never know what might be available if you just ask.

Not a big nature enthusiast?

New to the whole idea of nature study? Make a game of it . . .

– See who can find the most birds, maybe even check out a bird field guide from the library and try to identify a bird that is new to you.

– Make a bingo board with nature items and see who can get bingo first.

– Maybe you have a budding artist, bring sketch pads and find a spot to sit and draw. Some homeschoolers love to do this each week (check out Harmony Art Mom’s Sketch Tuesday for inspiration here)

– Even just bring a book and do your silent or oral reading outside. I love the flexibility of homeschooling. We often take our afternoon classes outdoors to mix a little business with pleasure.

If you want some web based help and ideas to make the most of your outing you might enjoy these sites:

– Charlotte Mason was really big on nature study, and this page has a great summary of her thoughts on nature study.

– More thoughts based on Charlotte Mason‘s philosophies of nature study including how to start in your backyard, putting together a notebook, and getting the most of a hike.

Connecting with Nature also offers lots of great ideas starting right in your own backyard and building your nature studies from there.

– Put together an outdoor treasure hunt. This would be a great activity for just your family or even to invite a few friends along with.

Wherever you go, however you plan to enjoy it, don’t put it off. Just do it! Get out there and soak up this spring weather.

Any other ideas for getting started on nature walks or making the most of your time out of doors?

Live Feed of Owl’s Nest

Barn Owl

Reader Helen passed along this great comment and link to share:

I’ve been enjoying this live feed of a barn owl who is incubating five eggs; an owlet is due to hatch any day now!

The website there has this information:
This is a live feed of a wild female barn owl named Molly. The owl box is located 15 feet off the ground. Expecting owlets mid March. The male(McGee) has a white chest and face. He usually shows up after dark but has spent an entire day with the female.  For more Information about Barn Owls, Click Here We hope you enjoy the cams.  One egg broke.
Egg 1 2/13/10 12:15 PM Est. Hatch 3/14-17th
Egg 2 2/16/10 07:23 AM Est. Hatch 3/16-20th
Egg 3 2/18/10 09:13 AM Est. Hatch 3/18-22nd
Egg 4 2/20/10 11:07 AM Est. Hatch 3/20-24th


Egg 5 2/22/10 02:00 PM Est. Hatch 3/22-26th
Egg 6 2/25/10 09:35 AM Est. Hatch 3/25-29th
Enjoy this simple nature study from the comfort of your own home!
~Thank you, Helen!