Outings

July 15th
10:00 - 4:00

Barbara Bell - 847-367-4253

barbara.bell@illinois.sierraclub.org

Sun protection, day pack, rain gear, hiking shoes or boots, water.

Optional: binoculars, camera, field guides, bug spray.

Evan Craig - 847-680-6437

evan.craig@illinois.sierraclub.org

This previous site of the Joliet Arsenal is huge. Explosives were produced in facilities spread out over 25 square miles. The danger they posed to human intruders has protected this expanse of open space for an array of animals found only on large contiguous tracts. After ten years of restoration work to remove the war infrastructure, parts of the site, administered by the National Forest Service and nurtured by the volunteer Midewin Tallgrass Prairie Alliance, are beginning to welcome back native plants.

Winning the land for what will one day earn the name "National Tallgrass Prairie" has already required compromises with government development interests. Now construction of a huge new coal fired power plant proposed by Indeck threatens the site's prairie and streams with acid rain. Come learn about this huge public space, the promise it holds for future generations of people and wildlife, and the struggle to protect it.

This guided outing will begin at the Visitors Center, caravan to a view of the proposed Indeck site, walk some remarkable bird and butterfly habitat, hike a wildlife trail, view a prairie seed production farm - and still include less than one third of the Midewin. Limit: 20

Pre-approval by the leader is required along with a full deposit, subject to the Sign-up Policy, and a completed liability waiver. Trip cost includes entrance into non-public areas. It's a 90 minute trip from W&W, so carpooling is strongly encouraged. 

LIMIT: 20 (OPEN: 16)