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Stewardship is the act of taking care of things that are entrusted to us. When we talk about stewardship of our natural areas, we mean doing things to protect, preserve, and enhance those areas for the benefit of their wild inhabitants and human visitors. But stewardship doesn't end there - in fact, we share such basic resources as air and water with each other and all the living creatures in our communities. Good stewardship can take many forms. To name just a few:

  • Picking up litter on your street
  • Reducing use of pesticide and fertilizer to protect our water
  • Helping clear invasive plants or planting native vegetation
  • Raising your voice to advocate for our open spaces

 

Stewardship: Unorganized Individuals/Families

What better place to start than your own backyard? Learn about how you can become a better steward of the land and water by:

  • Planting native grasses & shrubs
  • Reducing your use of pesticide and fertilizer, which run off into nearby waterways

Individuals and families can also do a great deal to protect our public natural spaces. Learn to identify invasive plants that can take over an area. Pick up litter. Participate in Frog Watch or a bird count.

 

 

 

 

                                    

Stewardship: Organized Groups

Groups - school groups, scouts, religious youth groups, service clubs, or just friends looking to spend a day in the woods - make a huge difference in stewardship efforts across our area. Together, we can cut invasive brush, plant native vegetation, improve access to sites, and raise awareness of our special natural sites.

 

 

                      
     

 Stewardship Sites

Here are some sites where you can join in ongoing stewardship efforts.

  • Forest Preserve District of Cook County http://www.fpdcc.com/
  • Skokie Lagoons http://www.fpdcc.com/tier3.php?content_id=68&file=map_67x
  • Watersmeet Prairie Grove: Named for the joining of the Middle and East Forks of the North Branch of the Chicago River, Watersmeet Prairie Grove has a wide variety of communities, from a limey, wet woods with unusual species such as skunk cabbage, marsh marigold, dog violet and fen goldenrod to open prairie shrubland with mountain blue-eyed grass, golden sedge, and willow aster. Directions: This site is located in the village of Northfield. From the Edens Expressway exit at Lake Avenue West. Go west to Wagner Road, turn north and take Wagner to Winnetka Road, go east on Winnetka 3/4 mile. Park on the north side of Winnetka or on a side street to the north.
    Steward: John Berg (815) 919-4916