This winter was your first involved in restoration. Tell us about what that experience has been like. What have you learned?
It was great to experience Chicago winter in a whole new way! On days when I started to doubt whether I could endure the cold and snow, I asked myself “What else have I got to do that’s better than this?” In the end, I never missed a chance to learn, explore, socialize, and restore.
Winter is a great season in the forest preserves because without the leaves on the trees, the light and line of sight is wide open and this makes it easier to see the fruits of your labor. While the agenda is the same each time in the winter (cutting and burning invasive trees/brush), it’s really never the same thing twice because you’ll be working with different volunteers in the pond one day, near the endangered sedge the next, and alongside the stream the next. Plus the warmth of the fire is never far away and always ready to raise the body temperature when needed and heat the chili, curry chicken, or cornbread cooked by one of your fellow volunteers.
Spring is an exciting time of the year. What have you enjoyed the most?
Well, since I started volunteering in the fall, most plants were well past their blooming stage so I have definitely enjoyed seeing the plants develop from the ground up. In the spring, Somme Woods seems to offer something new every day. I volunteer once a week and cannot believe the rapid rate of new growth and development, whether it be the new seedlings, established shrubs and trees, amphibians, bugs and other critters. On many of the in-between days, my fellow volunteers visit and share their pictures on Facebook (Somme2030). It’s awesome to witness such change and beauty.
Somme Woods East is a very special site for many of us. What makes it special to you?
In a nutshell, “special” kind of speaks for itself! To name a few of the contributing factors, our steward often reminds us that nobody has ever restored an oak woodland. Enough said, right? But I must also mention the sense of community among the volunteers that is inherent and lasting.
What would you tell a curious person who has no experience doing this type of work? Why join us?
For as much as you give to restoring the natural habitat, you will be rewarded and then some. You’ll learn new skills and tons of information, meet genuine people, soak up endless fresh air, and constantly be surprised by the sound of chorus frogs, the cute-as-a-button baby salamander, the smell of wild leeks. The list goes on…
Lisa Youngberg is one of dozens of volunteers participating in our Centennial Volunteers program at Somme Woods East. She says her weekends aren’t complete without a trip to the woods. Find out more about volunteering here: https://fotfp.org/event/centennial/
Josh Coles interviewed Lisa and is the Field Organizer on the north side for the Centennial Volunteers. Contact him by email at josh@fotfp.org.