Come look back at the storied 55-year history of Friends of Thorn Creek Woods. Join other nature lovers for the Friends of Thorn Creek Woods annual gathering, refreshments and program on Saturday, October 5 from 1-3 p.m. at Park Forest Village Hall, 350 Victory Drive.
Naturalist April Richards will narrate a slide show identifying the movers and the shakers, the Herculean efforts, and the milestones of this preservation work. President Penny Chamberlain will conduct a brief business meeting regarding current preservation efforts. The afternoon will conclude with attendees sharing memories of how they first discovered Thorn Creek Woods, and how they came to be a member of Friends.
The program is free and open to those ages 12 to adult.
Who foresaw the need to preserve the 1000-acre Thorn Creek Nature Preserve? Was the path to preservation short and straight or long and winding? What was the purpose of the Walnut Hill Gang, the Thorn Creek Preservation Association, and Friends of Thorn Creek Woods? Members of the historic Friends of Thorn Creek Woods got the ball rolling several decades ago to save the woods and they continue to be indispensable supporting the Nature Center and Nature Preserve.
In this 55 Year Anniversary, share how you first discovered Thorn Creek Woods. Did you first come to a nature hike? Help build the trails? Come to our programs as a child? Study the woods as a student? Happen upon the nature center? Share your stories at the Annual Meeting or send us your story to share in our newsletter.
Currently Thorn Creek Nature Center has on display old aerial maps of the woods and old plat maps showing the ownership patterns in and around the woods. Also, there are displays about the trails, 1860’s era nature center building and the naturalists that have led us through the years. The Nature Center is open to the public on Fridays, noon to 4 p.m.
This presentation is sponsored by the Jim Marzuki Memorial Fund, established by Friends of Thorn Creek Woods to enhance our public programming.
In memory of the late Aura Duke, Friends has created notecards with photographs of five birds available for a donation in her memory. The photographs of Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, Eastern Bluebird, Great Blue Heron and American Goldfinch were taken by Alice McBride and Emily Howald. A pack of five cards is available for $5 donation.
For more information, to purchase photo cards in Aura’s memory, or to register for programs, contact Thorn Creek Nature Center, 247 Monee Rd, Park Forest, 708-747-6320, email thorn_creek@att.net, or stop in the nature center between noon and 4 p.m. on Fridays. Visit our website tcwoods.org for information, Friends newsletters, become a member of Friends and more. Three and a half miles of Thorn Creek trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Friends of Thorn Creek Woods Board: President Penny Chamberlain; Vice President Susan Inman; Directors Lisa Bronson, Lisa Campbell, Judy Mendelson; Treasurer Dan Moore; and Secretary Carolyn Gann.