Come to the Library!

Come to the Highland Park Public Library to see a display that features HPHS's student work about the ravines. We were so impressed with and inspired by all of the projects they created. Some made children's books, art and photography, presentations on fish and plant species and even a rap all about saving the fish.

The exhibit will be on display for the next few weeks, and includes student-created pamphlets overviewing the project.

Summer Volunteering

Although the school year is coming to a close, there are still a lot of opportunities to work with the Natural Areas program this summer and beyond! We meet at Heller Nature Center every weekday morning at 8:30am -- come join us to help with restoration efforts, water quality testing, species counts and more!. We would love to have you come help us out!

We will be working with 2 college interns and if you are interested in environmental studies, keep this internship in mind as a possibility after your freshman year of college.

Contact Rebecca Grill and/or Liz Ettelson if you would like to get involved! 

RGrill@pdhp.org

EEttelson@pdhp.org

Ravine life close-up

Yesterday we met for a final session with HPHS Students down at Ravine Drive. We focused on macroinvertebrates and the microscopic insects that all ravine inhabitants depend on.

An HPHS AP Environmental Science student, Jim Tingey and Steve Courtright of Trout Unlimited check a rock for macroinvertebrates. We were so lucky to have Steve come out and talk with the students about the importance of these insects.

Checking out the insect life under a microscope

Liz Ettelson and Jessica Soto net with students in the ravine

Rebecca Grill of PDHP sorts through some leaf litter

A baby white sucker fish up close

The exoskeleton of a caddisfly under the microscope

Trout in the Classroom Pictures

 Thank you to Bob Lamley, Trout Unlimited volunteer, who sent us these beautiful photos that give a glimpse into the whole process of Trout in the Classroom.

Members of Trout Unlimited working on the tank

Jim Tingey of Trout Unlimited holding up a tagging gun. Don't shoot!

The fish are tagged in order to monitor them and see if they return to spawn in our stream

Park District board member Lori Flores Weisskopf and her children take a peek at the fish

Braeside teacher Shara Lieberman arrives carrying one last trout - No Fish Left Behind!

Park District Board President Scott Meyers welcomes the group

Marc Miller, President of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, commends the students for their hard work and encourages them to pursue their interest and stewardship of the environment

HP Mayor Nancy Rotering and her son, a Braeside 4th grader who participated in Trout in the Classroom

Mitch Kiesler of Trout Unlimited helps a fish down the slip n' slide

Students watch as the last fish are released into the stream

Trout in the News!

Check out this article covering the release of the rainbow trout as part of the Trout in the Classroom project at Braeside School:

"School Project Swims Away" - Highland Park News

Photography By Jason Price

Some cool pics of the air bubbles coming off the algae.

Readings for HPHS students

Hello HPHS students! Below is the worksheet you all filled out on Tuesday with our notes, and also an article about trout habitat requirements:

Rainbow Trout Habitat Requirements Article

Rainbow Trout Habitat Requirements summary table worksheet

This past Tuesday we met for a third time with HPHS Environmental Science students. We discussed what makes a suitable habitat for fish in ravines and how restoration efforts work to encourage fish to spawn in the streams. Thanks for a great day! Our next session in May we will be studying macroinvertebrates.

White suckers hanging in the stream; they come every year to spawn and create redds, or nests, and lay their eggs

 

Matt Jennings of Trout Unlimited explains which types of rocks and their placement are ideal for fish spawning



HPHS students check out the underwater camera



An admiral butterfly rests near the stream



PDHP Natural Areas Manager Rebecca Grill and HPHS Environmental Science teacher Christine Hill pick up some trash along the way

 



Ladies in boots! HPHS Science Chair Shannon Bain, Rebecca Grill and Christine Hill pose for a picture





Ravine Restoration Video

Thank you Todd Burleson for making this short video highlighting the progress made at the Highland Park Ravines Restoration Project:

Ravines Restoration Project Video

Also, check out his website where he documented the Trout in the Classroom program at Hubbard Woods School: Trout in the Resource Center - 2010-2011

Bye, Bye Trout!

We had a wonderful morning watching the Braeside 4th grade students release the trout they have worked so hard to take care of this year. They participated in the program Trout in the Classroom and released their fingerlings into the stream. Thank you to everyone who came out to help and support them!

 

Jim Tingey of Trout Unlimited and Rebecca Grill lead "Bye, Bye, Trout!"

Releasing the fish through the "slip and slide"

Fung Chin of TU helping the students release

Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering releases a fish

Bye, bye trout!

Bye, bye, aquatic friends!

We hope to see you when you're swimmin' down the stream...

There go our fingerlings,

they're doin' fine

And now they're lookin' for a place to dine.

Look out you stoneflies!

And mayflies too!

Our little fishies are comin' after you!

Bye, bye trout! Bye, bye aquatic friends!

We hope to see you when you're swimmin' down the stream...

Ravine Education Day

Take part in our second annual ravine tour to learn about the Park District’s Ravine Stream Habitat Restoration program and see what’s changed since last year. This effort to protect wildlife and property and reduce Lake Michigan pollution is funded by the US EPA. We’ll look at healthy ravine ecology, demonstrate ways residents can become stewards of their property and try our hands at stream monitoring techniques which help gauge our success.

Parking at Millard Park is limited; to register for the shuttle call 847.433.6901. Shuttle will depart from Highland Park City Hall.

Millard Park
Saturday, April 14 
10:00am-Noon

Event is free and open to the public.

The Once and Future Ecosystem of Lake Michigan

Dr. Charles Shabica, president of Sustainable Coastal Solutions and a partner in our ravines project, will be leading a presentation about Lake Michigan ecology.

Lake Michigan, the second largest Great Lake, is a treasure on our doorstep that we often take for granted. Learn little-known facts about its history from the time of its formation a half-million years ago to the profound environmental issues facing it today and into the future. Dr. Shabica will share his vast knowledge in an engaging and informative program.

Tuesday, April 17th

7:00pm

Heller Nature Center

2821 Ridge Road

Highland Park, IL

Admission is FREE and open to the public.

Sponsored by the Lake/Cook Chapter of the Illinois Audubon Society

http://www.lakecookaudobon.org/