Community, Park Forest

June 2016 Programs at Thorn Creek Nature Center


Thorn Creek Woods Nature Preserve Users

Photograph Courtesy of Stephen White

Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF)—May 24, 2016.Nestled within Thorn Creek Nature Preserve is the historic Hornicek Farm where chickens roam freely and garlic grows by the thousands. Join us for the Historic Farm Walk on Sunday, June 5 from 1-3 p.m. This fun program is for all ages and will take you on a walk through time as you wander the gardens and collect eggs from the hens. Participants will meet at Thorn Creek Nature Center and caravan to the farm. Registration is required by Friday, June 3, so be sure to sign up now.

As spring turns to summer come celebrate the summer woods with the Thorn Creek Chamber Players on Friday, June 10 at 7 p.m. Cellist Ingrid Krizan, bassist Julian Pat Romane and the Thorn Creek Chamber Players perform in the warm wooded acoustics of our 1860’s nature center building. The Chamber Players will offer us the cooling, shaded waters of Brahm’s and Dvorak’s string writing. Bask in the lush harmonies, dance with the vigorous rhythms, and revel in the lush textures of early summer!

All proceeds will directly benefit Thorn Creek Woods Nature Preserve and Nature Center. Seating is limited and registration is required by Wednesday, June 8. Cost is $10 per person. Program is for those older than 12 years.

Get down and dirty and help volunteers and Master Gardeners from the University of Illinois Extension Service care for our Prairie Sampler every third Monday through September. Prairie Sampler Work Day will be Monday June 20 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Registration is required two days before each program day and the workday is for those ages 18 and older. Bring your own gloves, hand clippers, kneelers if you like. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes or boots. Refreshments will be provided.

Join the Thorn Creek Trail Work crew in building and repairing boardwalks and maintaining the 3.5 miles of trails through the preserve. Trail Workday is Saturday, June 25, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and is for ages 15-adult. Other monthly workdays are planned for Sunday, July 24; Sunday, August 14; Sunday, July 24; Sunday, August 14.

Bring a lunch and gloves and dress for the weather. Wear sturdy shoes or boots. Refreshments will be provided. Outdoor work is on natural surface trails across uneven terrain. Registration is required by Wednesday, June 22 and make sure to let us know of a group of 4 people or more. Community groups are welcome.

Wednesday Morning Walkers enjoy an early morning walk each week. Meander through Thorn Creek Woods and watch summer arrive! Wednesday Morning Walkers meet every Wednesday at 9 a.m. and is for those 13 years old through adult. Registration is required two days before your first walk.
Thorn Creek Nature Center is housed in an historic building, originally Immanuel Lutheran Church of Matteson, Illinois built in 1862. A gothic frame country church, its notable architectural features include curved ceiling, tongue-and-groove paneling and a raised pulpit.

On Sunday, June 12 at 1 p.m. join us for Stories of our Nature Center Building with Richard Stuenkel. Special guest speaker Richard Stuenkel will share his knowledge and recollections of the Church, and tell stories of the local communities and woodland as they were when he was growing up in the area. Those attending are invited to come with questions. Then join our naturalist on a hike in the woods at 3 p.m.
Mr. Stuenkel still farms on the land originally owned by his grandfather, and lives in the 130 year-old farmhouse in Monee. Stuenkel Road which runs past Governors State University is named for the train stop Stuenkel’s Crossing, run by one of Richard’s family members. After World War II, he worked for a company that supplied heavy equipment used to build Park Forest.

Videos of Mr. Stuenkel being interviewed on the history of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Richton Park can be seen on YouTube or the church website http://www.immanuelrp.com/history.html.

This gathering is sponsored by the Jim Marzuki Memorial Fund, established by Friends of Thorn Creek Woods to enhance our public programming. Refreshments will be provided.

For more information or to register for programs, contact Thorn Creek Nature Center, 247 Monee Rd, Park Forest, 708-747-6320, email [email protected], www.tcwoods.org or stop in the nature center between noon and 4 p.m. on Friday and Sunday. Call before you plan to visit the nature center. Three and a half miles of Thorn Creek trails are open daily from dawn to dusk. Trail walkers should be aware that our south bridge across Thorn Creek was badly damaged by floods and was removed. The new north bridge across Thorn Creek is open and all the trails are open. Walkers should plan their hikes to allow for coming back around the trails to cross at the north bridge only. There are signs and maps at the trail head and in the nature center.

Source: http://www.tcwoods.org


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