Words of the Woods

Latest Episodes:

A Strong Foundation Nov 10, 2020

Show notes

The Preservation Foundation is the charitable partner of the Lake County Forest Preserves. What does that mean?

When we undertake a project, the Foundation extends and accelerates it. Take the Green Youth Farm at Greenbelt in North Chicago, for example. Or the Dunn Museum in Libertyville. The summer concert series at Independence Grove. Our Adopt-a-Turtle program benefitting the state-endangered Blanding’s turtle. Habitat restoration efforts. And so much more.

They wouldn’t be the same without the foundation that, well, the Foundation gives them.

Ty Kovach, Executive Director; Rebekah Snyder, Chief Development Officer; Nels Leutwiler, President of the Preservation Foundation; and Karen Hunter, Chair of the Development Committee, discuss how supporting the Foundation supports all of the Forest Preserves’ work.

Season 2 runs now through November 17, 2020. Learn more: www.LCFPD.org/donate

Music:

Coffee Stains by Riot

Swoop by The Mini Vandals

There Are Chirping Birdies In My Soul by Reed Mathis

Trail of Breadcrumbs by Lyle Workman

Got an idea or a question for our podcast team? Email us at WordsOfTheWoods@LCFPD.org.

Words of the Woods is a production of the Lake County Forest Preserves in Libertyville, Illinois.

Technolo-Tree Nov 03, 2020

Show notes

What do trees need computers for? Well, the people working to preserve them do. Our team of IT professionals manages technology that supports hundreds of staff across Lake County. Not only desktop computers, but smartphones, servers, databases, laptops, projectors, and more.

Debbie Boness, Information Technology Officer, and Rian Crowley, Database Developer, discuss how we turn technology into technolo-tree.

Season 2 runs now through November 17, 2020. Learn more: www.LCFPD.org

Music:

Coffee Stains by Riot

Swoop by The Mini Vandals

There Are Chirping Birdies In My Soul by Reed Mathis

Trail of Breadcrumbs by Lyle Workman

Got an idea or a question for our podcast team? Email us at WordsOfTheWoods@LCFPD.org.

Words of the Woods is a production of the Lake County Forest Preserves in Libertyville, Illinois.

Hello, Halloween Hikes Oct 27, 2020

Show notes

Crisp fall air. Cider and donuts. Funny, nature-themed skits. An evening in the woods. All of these elements combine into a successful run of Halloween Hikes, our annual autumn event that’s become a tradition for many families.

To protect the health and safety of all, we decided not to hold Halloween Hikes in its typical, in-person format this year. Instead, we’re bringing it to you in a new way with a new focus: how exactly do we create a better-than-the-last iteration each year?

Eileen Davis, Environmental Educator; Jill Stites, retired Environmental Educator; and Janice Aull, volunteer, reveal behind-the-scenes stories of pumpkin carving, scriptwriting, costume creation, and more.

Season 2 runs now through November 17, 2020. Learn more: www.LCFPD.org/education

Music:

Campfire Song by Chris Haugen

Swoop by The Mini Vandals

Trail of Breadcrumbs by Lyle Workman

Walk the Dog by Coyote Hearing

Got an idea or a question for our podcast team? Email us at WordsOfTheWoods@LCFPD.org.

Words of the Woods is a production of the Lake County Forest Preserves in Libertyville, Illinois.

The Value of Nature Oct 20, 2020

Show notes

We all know nature has value. Perhaps you love its beauty, its serenity, its creatures great and small. On an economic level, it’s recently become possible to quantify some of nature’s beneficial effects—what we call ecosystem services. Carbon storage, flood mitigation, water and air purification.

Jim Anderson, Director of Natural Resources, shares his insights into how nature supports human existence, and how we humans can support nature.

Season 2 runs now through November 17, 2020. Learn more: www.LCFPD.org/GreenStrategy

Music:

Almost August by Dan Lebowitz

On the Windy Road by Dan Lebowitz

Swoop by The Mini Vandals

Trail of Breadcrumbs by Lyle Workman

Got an idea or a question for our podcast team? Email us at WordsOfTheWoods@LCFPD.org.

Words of the Woods is a production of the Lake County Forest Preserves in Libertyville, Illinois.

Season 2 Trailer: Welcome Back to the Woods Oct 13, 2020

Show notes

The woods are back with even more to say. From the value of nature and ecosystem services, to how we turn technology into technolo-tree, and the benefits of a childhood spent outdoors, plus more, here’s a taste of what you’ll hear this October and November.

Music:

Swoop by The Mini Vandals

Trail of Breadcrumbs by Lyle Workman

Got an idea or a question for our podcast team? Email us at WordsOfTheWoods@LCFPD.org.

Words of the Woods is a production of the Lake County Forest Preserves in Libertyville, Illinois.

Fragment 2: Snowflake Anatomy Jan 27, 2020

Show notes

There's magic in a snowflake. But if someone asked you how snowflakes form, could you explain it to them? Jen Berlinghof, Environmental Educator, can help. She's here with an adaptation of one of her posts ("Snowflake anatomy") from our Lake County Nature blog. Read more: https://bit.ly/38IsCFX

Fragment 1: Voice of the Creek Dec 23, 2019

Show notes

The holiday season is hectic. North Mill Creek at Ethel's Woods in Antioch isn't. Take a moment of zen with the soothing sounds of flowing water. And look for another fragment in January 2020. Learn more: www.LCFPD.org/ethels-woods

Find Your Trail Nov 19, 2019

Show notes

Exactly 204 miles of trails thread through nearly 31,000 acres in the Lake County Forest Preserves. Many are gravel, some are paved, some are mowed grass, and some are woodchip trails. Making connections between communities is key. Helping visitors map their adventures is important, too. Michael Haug, Landscape Architect, and Nick Spittlemeister, GIS Analyst, discuss how these trail systems allow thousands of people to access nature on a daily basis. Season 2 premieres in 2020. Learn more: www.LCFPD.org/trails

Pondering Plants Nov 12, 2019

Show notes

Thousands of native plant species call Lake County’s nearly 31,000 acres of forest preserves home. All of these plants are unique and interesting in their own ways. Pati Vitt, Manager of Ecological Restoration, and Ken Klick, Restoration Ecologist, each have decades of botanical experience, studying and appreciating plant communities in Lake County and elsewhere. They discuss big trends, big patterns, and big ideas. In short, they ponder plants and why they matter. Learn more: www.LCFPD.org/conservation/plant-monitoring/

The World of Wildlife Monitoring Nov 05, 2019

Show notes

The 2020 U.S. Census is approaching. But scientists at the Lake County Forest Preserves take a different kind of census year-round—an animal census. Gary Glowacki and Andrew Rutter, both Wildlife Ecologists, and John Vanek, a doctoral candidate at Northern Illinois University, highlight how they collect data about local animals and what insights they’ve drawn so far. Learn more: https://www.lcfpd.org/conservation/wildlife-monitoring/

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