Chicago Wilderness Adds Three New Members

On November 19, 2003, Chicago Wilderness welcomed three new members, bringing the total to 172.

The Boone Creek Watershed Alliance (BCWA) is a group of concerned citizens and landowners who have joined together to protect one of the rarest natural areas in northeastern Illinois, the Boone Creek Watershed Ecosystem. Located in McHenry County, this mosaic of landscapes includes high-quality fen, sedge meadow, and woodland communities, as well as seeps and springs. The BCWA provides workshops on native vegetation and land protection options, leads educational tours, and organizes restoration activities. For more information, call (815) 337-3734.

The National Association for Interpretation (NAI) — Region 5 promotes interpretation, or "on-site informal education," as a profession. A nonprofit organization, the NAI provides education and training resources for up-and-coming interpreters who go on to enlighten the public at parks, zoos, nature centers, historic sites, museums and aquaria. The NAI also provides workshops and certification programs.

Indiana's Richardson Wildlife Sanctuary, a 3.4-acre preserve including 400 meters of Lake Michigan shoreline, has wooded dunes, blueberry-oak savanna, and wildflowers. It is also a nonprofit organization hard at work on education, research, and preservation of the natural history and ecosystems of the southern Lake Michigan region. It is a founding member of the Environmental Educator Network of the Southern Lake Michigan Region, a teachers' hub for the region. The sanctuary is open by appointment. Call (219) 787-8983.