Shawnee Group of the Sierra Club
Outings Newsletter Local Action Resources Membership
Shawnee Group of the Sierra Club
Outings Newsletter Local Action Resources Membership
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Just a friendly reminder that your local Sierra group sells Sierra calendars. This year we have expanded the selection of Holiday cards. So if you go to the book store or card shop and see Sierra Club or other similar calendars and cards remember buy locally. Support your local Sierra club and not a national chain. The funds generated assist with this newsletter, the phone tree and conservation issues. Calendars and cards will be available at the first meeting September 10th. So come browse buy and/or contact one of the leadership team. The ExCom members numbers are listed on the last page of the newsletter
... Mary Campbell
Our Outings Chair, Sandy Anderson, has been in contact with our close neighbors the Kaskaskia Group, Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club. We have been invited by Carolyn Kehoe their ExCom chair and Ted Horn the Outings chair to enjoy a "Fall Weekend in the Shawnee" with their group. Camp Ondessonk will be dressed for the occasion, ready to entertain you once again during this very popular overnighter. It really isn't too early to pencil this one in.
The rates charged by Camp Ondessonk appear quite reasonable. Where else could you get lodgings for from $2.00 to $3.75 with a Ranger’s breakfast, Sunday at 8 a.m? Those who can afford the $3.75 will have the choice of a rustic cabin or tree house. Otherwise pitch your luxury tent on a site for $2.00. The hike cost $0.00 and canoe rentals are available. There is a handling fee of $2.00.
Contact Sandy Anderson before September 12 to register if you are planning on going. Her phone number is 893-4545.
This year the trip was held during weekdays to "beat the crowds" and offer an environmental experience of high quality. The choice proved to be excellent! We canoed for two days without seeing another canoe. The only sounds we heard on the river were owls, the cries of waterfowl and song birds, and coyotes and the like. We were delighted with the variety of herons (great blues, little greens, little blues, black crowned night herons), wood ducks, egrets, flycatchers, and even a mink (!) that landed, took flight, or played along our path as we made our way down the pristine waterway. At night we camped on a gravel beach next to the water and heard the song of the river in our sleep.
We hope that those of you who could not make it will consider joining us next time! PS: There is talk of a fall weekend canoe trip (i.e. late October) down the Current River. Anyone interested? Please call Mary Swindell at 549-2720 (e-mail: mswindel@siu.edu).
Extensive birding (White-tipped Quetzal, Bronzy Inca etc), in National Parks, cloud forests, foothills of the Sierras and other areas, while enjoying accommodations at various hotels and Hato El Cedral with its spacious, air- conditioned, attractively furnished bungalows, each with private bath. Entertainment including the famous Venezuelan cowboys, the "Llaneros", who with their harps, guitars, and maracas present their beautiful national music for visitors will be included. In addition to birds, you will see many animals including herds of Capybara, hundreds of Caiman, giant Anaconda along with mammals such as Red Howler Monkey, Crab-eating Raccoon and Pink Dolphin.
For more information contact Nelda at John A. Logan College ( phone 457-7676 ext 323 or 549-5588) Carterville, IL 62918. She has a brochure with details of each day's activities. The cost is $2467 - $2617 which includes airfare, lodging, all meals and field trips, with English speaking guides. Send $150 deposit to Nelda W. Hinckley, Assistant Professor of Biology, John A. Logan College, Carterville, IL 62918, U. S. A.
To cut down on last minute organizational effort, we are asking that you mark a price on each sale item before bringing it. Also, due to uncertainty of weather over the next few days, please call in advance before dropping off items outside. Additionally, we have an urgent need for Sierra Club members to work at the marking and loading party Friday night, September 11th, and need members to work shifts on Saturday between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Please contact Mary Campbell or Mary Swindell to volunteer.
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