Sand Ridge Nature Center
Cook County, Illinois

When Lake Michigan first formed, it covered a wider area that it does now. As the glacier that shaped the lake receded and lake levels fluctuated, beaches and sand dunes were deposited on an ever-changing shoreline. In time, prairies and woodlands grew on the sandy soils of these ancient shorelines. Today, the Sand Ridge Nature Center stands on a 6,000-year-old broad, low ridge of sand and beach pebbles.

Sand Ridge Nature Center in South Holland is a 235-acre preserve with a full-service education center offering classes and outreach programs, summer and winter camps for youth, special events and demonstrations, guided walks, more than three miles of hiking trails, and habitats that include wetlands, woodlands, and a sand prairie.

One of six nature centers operated by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Sand Ridge hosts a monthly class for preschoolers. When I was there, two four-year-olds came to class early. They eagerly ran into the classroom and up to the bird-feeder observation window. One boy deftly picked up a pair of binoculars, planted his gaze out the window, and called out birds flocking at the feeder. "Hairy, no, downy woodpecker, red-bellied woodpecker...and a cardinal!" he cried. The other boy scooted to the right and ran his hands over the wood-rimmed glass exhibit case to check identifications. I don't know which was more exciting — their glee or that of the birds feasting easily on a cold winter's day.

The director and three naturalists at Sand Ridge are dedicated to forging connections between people and nature. From hand-hewn exhibits to demonstrations of how people lived in the past, a personal touch is evident here. The staff also stages four major annual events: Earth Day Celebration in April, Illinois Archaeology Day in September, Settler's Day in November, and Christmas Past in December.

The area in front of the nature center served time as an asparagus farm prior to 1940, however much of the center's land was marginal for farming and not heavily used before being preserved. Still, a butterfly and vegetable garden spreads north of the preserve, and several log cabins convey the lifestyles of the area's early settlers. The cabins are used during major events and every Wednesday, May through November, for living history demonstrations.

Near the cabins, the half-mile Redwing Trail circles though oak forests and shrub communities. In the spring, great white trillium, May apple, bloodroot, wild geranium, and nodding trillium blanket the ground here. Just north of Redwing Trail, a manmade pond attracts egrets and great blue, black-crowned, and green herons in the spring and early summer. A 633-foot boardwalk west of the pond links with a dirt trail that passes marshy areas where visitors might see kingfishers, snapping and red-eared turtles, painted turtles, bull frogs, and green frogs. The trail skirts several prairies that contain turtlehead and prairie lily, sunflowers, and goldenrod, and enters woodlands that shelter downy, hairy, and red-bellied woodpeckers, coyote, and fox. Eventually, this trail joins Lost Beach Trail. Blackgum, basswood, sassafras trees, and wild sarsaparilla appear along this 1.5-mile loop around a forested beach ridge and sand dune.

Just south of the center, Pines Trail passes through a grove of planted pines underscored with great white trillium, Virginia bluebells, and spring beauties. The trail continues through a sandy prairie with prickly pear cactus. Just south of Pines Trail, the one-mile Dogwood Trail circles through white, black, bur, and pin oak, as well as black cherry, then traces around wetlands complete with rose mallow, water lily, and cardinal flower. In warmer weather, the marsh is alive with chorus frogs, dragonflies, and tiger salamanders.

In March and April, lucky visitors may spot a great horned owl nest with babies nestled in a 25-foot dead tree stump at the junction of Pines and Dogwood Trails. Screech and saw-whet owls have also been sighted at Sand Ridge.

Trails at Sand Ridge are hard-packed dirt, good for walking, and wheelchair friendly. Bikes are not permitted. Spring programming includes a night hike on the vernal equinox, an introductory class on spring wildflowers, a preschool class called Slithery Snakes, and a wetland ecology workshop. For a full schedule of programs, see the Web site or call (708) 868-0606.

Roaming
The nearby forest preserves have many amenities such as picnic areas, fishing, walking paths, bicycle trails, and a model-airplane field. Just east of Sand Ridge Nature Center, you can picnic in Shabonna Woods (see http://www.fpdcc.com/tier3.php?content_id=66, then scroll down to Thorn Creek Division, for picnic area map as pdf). North of Shabonna Woods is the small (less than 20 acres) Sand Ridge Prairie Nature Preserve, with spring migratory birds flitting among its scattered black oaks. Due south on I-94 past the Tri-State Tollway, Wampum Lake Woods has shoreline fishing and such flora as cinnamon ferns, skunk cabbage, phlox, and toothwort. Zanders Woods, just south of Wampum Lake, hosts plentiful spring birds — look for red-breasted mergansers and many warbler species. South of Zanders Woods, Jurgensen Woods features a five-mile bike trail running east-west and a model-airplane field. Call (773) 261-8400 for the required flying permit.

North of the nature center, the varied habitats of Powderhorn Lake, Wolf Lake, and Lake Calumet — remnants of the once vast Calumet Marsh — still support threatened and endangered wildlife. Lake sturgeon and banded killifish inhabit Wolf Lake (see Calumet BioBlitz, CW Fall 2002). Nesting habitats for the little blue heron, yellow-headed blackbird, yellow-crowned night-heron and black-crowned night-heron are also found here, as well as in the marshy areas of Powderhorn Lake and Lake Calumet. Wolf Lake's wetlands shelter the marsh speedwell and the false golden sedge. Just north of Wolf Lake, Eggers Grove is, like Sand Ridge, one of the few places in Cook County where sassafras trees are native.

Of these three lakes, Wolf Lake, straddling the Illinois and Indiana border, offers the most recreational opportunities. The lake long predates European settlement, though alterations for recreation create a manmade appearance.

The Illinois side of Wolf Lake is called the William W. Powers Conservation Area. Private boats are permitted (under ten-horsepower for motor boats), but no rental boats are available on this side. Boating from launches is allowed from 6 a.m. to sunset. Six miles of shoreline are open for fishing — an angler may discover largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, redear sunfish, crappie, bullhead catfish, carp, yellow perch, walleye, and hybrid muskie. There are many areas for picnicking, and shelters available by reservation, (773) 646-3270.

The Indiana side of Wolf Lake, called Wolf Lake Park, does have boat rentals, as well as a swimming beach, fishing, hiking, golf, picnic areas, and six batting cages. Windsurfing is also allowed from this side, by permit only, (219) 853-6378.

At Powderhorn Lake, north of Sand Ridge and south of Wolf Lake, boaters can launch private rowboats, sailboats, and canoes from Brainard Avenue. No fishing is allowed here.

More Daytripping
The Midwest Carvers Museum, (708) 331-6011, 16236 Vincennes Road in South Holland, displays vintage and modern woodcarvings from several countries. The museum is open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday but staff encourages visitors to come on Wednesdays and Saturdays for demonstrations of the old carving tools in their collection. See Chicago Southland's Arts & Culture for more on this museum and other area attractions.

Paarlberg Historical Farm, (708) 474-9900, is also in South Holland at 172nd Place and Paxton Avenue. The 1870s farm includes the restored Paarlberg family home and a farm tool exhibit in the barn. Open June-September, Saturdays 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and by appointment.

After admiring bloodroot at Sand Ridge, find your own blood roots at the South Suburban Genealogical and Historical Society, (708) 333-9474. Located in South Holland, 320 E. 161st Place, this genealogical research library is closed Sundays and Thursdays. Hours vary. See South Holland Historical Points of Interest for more on the Society and other historic sites.

Foraging
River Oaks Shopping Center, south of Sand Ridge Nature Center on Highway 6 (162nd St.) between Paxton and Torrence, houses many restaurants, including Siam Marina, Olive Garden, South of the Border, and Outback Steakhouse.

About seven miles directly west of South Holland, The Tin Fish, (708) 532-0200, at 18201 S. Harlem Avenue in Tinley Park, offers fresh fish and steak entrees starting at $13 and "extremely affordable" wines.

Thinking Cajun? Try the well-reviewed 115 Bourbon Street, (708) 388-8881, at 3359 W. 115th Street (12 miles northwest) in Merrionette Park. Open every day.

Just ten minutes from Sand Ridge Nature Center, in Hammond, Indiana, is home to Phil Smidt's, (800) 376-4534, 1205 N. Calumet Avenue, a four-star restaurant that has been around for years. Their house specialties are frog legs, lake perch, and gooseberry pie. Their extensive fish menu is complemented by steaks, seafood, and a children's menu (selections range from $10-$30).

Bedding Down
A new Baymont Inns and Suites, (708) 891-2900, 510 East End Avenue, is located five minutes from Sand Ridge. Room rates are $79-89 on weekends. West of the nature center on 159th, the recently renovated Cherry Lane Motel, (708) 331-7799, 1122 E. 159th St., has rooms starting at $30.

The district allows overnight camping for supervised youth organizations (adult camping prohibited) at Zanders Woods. Call (708) 474-1221 to make reservations.

Explorers ranging farther afield can camp at either the Indiana Dunes State Park or the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore — both are 35 miles from Sand Ridge. The Indiana Dunes State Park, (219) 926-1952, 1600 N. 25 E in Chesterton, Indiana, offers year-round camping sites, family camping, and shelters, ranging from $1 to $30. Reservations and walk-ups are accepted. The National Lakeshore's Dunewood Campground, (219) 926-7561, ext. 225, is open April 1-October 31 with 79 camping sites (four are wheelchair accessible) and hot showers for $10. No reservations.

Events
It's Not Easy Being Green: Earth Day 2003
Sand Ridge Nature Center, (708) 868-0606
Saturday, April 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Learn what you can do to protect our natural resources not just on Earth Day, but every day. Activities include guided walks, group games (Earth Day Jeopardy), a puppet show, displays, and crafts for kids.

— Gail Goldberger