Spring is Here,
Don’t Miss It.
By Peter
Schwartzman
Amy Martin, a folk
singer from Missoula, Montana, recently released a new album, Ask the Planet, where she and the Missoula Coyote Choir begin with “Get
Out” repeated five times in chorus. The song continues with this phrase for
about a minute then climaxes at the end with, “Side.” For a very simple song,
it conveys a very important message. We spend way too much time inside and we
would all be better off to “Get Outside!”
As the
weather warms and it becomes more comfortable to be outside, people look for places
to venture. Since we live in region replete with corn and soy fields, it may
appear that there aren’t many places to play/relax/frolic/commune in/with
nature (use whatever combo works for you). However, when one looks into it,
there are many places nearby to visit. Galesburg has several parks, all within
reasonable walking distance. And while it is very true that some of the largest
and most diverse areas are on the north side (which tends to be where higher
income families are located), most areas are but a bike or bus ride away; Lake
Storey is bus-accessible only during the summer.
Yet, to
really get into some nature, you have to visit a more remote area with a large
enough size that more complex relationships between organisms can develop and
take root. Though there aren’t any state parks in Knox County, there are a few
amazing ones within a few hours drive. The Apple River Canyon State Park near
Galena is a captivating place to visit as is Starved Rock, just off I-80 near
Utica. Yet, if you aren’t up for a long drive, let me share with you a relatively
new natural area, only seven miles from the heart of Galesburg.
Blackthorn
Hill, a 110 acre nature preserve located northwest of downtown, opened to the
public in 2005. Since then, the group that manages it, Western Illinois Nature
Group (WING), has been actively promoting outdoor programs there as well as
making major improvements to the property. (I’ve been a board member of WING,
formerly Piper Hills, since 2002.) Three years ago, a three acre hilltop
prairie was planted (with seeds from the Department of Natural Resources). On
April 11th, it will be burned for the first time. Two years ago,
under the amazing leadership of Ed Smith, a magnificent latrine was added to
the property. Last year, a sizeable picnic shelter was added in a recreational
area, near the latrine. This year, WING volunteers will be erecting three
cabins for youth campers. One of the primary motivations of WING is to enhance
educational opportunities for youth through camping, so these cabins will be
particularly valuable. Additionally, WING continues to work on securing
well-maintained trails for hikers and natural habitat for wildlife.
Blackthorn
Hill is a beautiful property and it is getting better every day, thanks to the
dedicated work of many volunteers and the amazing restorative power of nature.
Hiking on Blackthorn Hill is free and available to the public. The picnic
shelter can be reserved for a small fee and outdoor camping is also available
to supervised youth groups for a small fee as well.
For more
information about Blackthorn Hill (and WING), including directions and the 2009
program calendar, visit its website: www.blackthornhill.org,
or call, Lora at 343-4321. Also, please feel free to come to WING's annual
meeting this Sunday (see ad). In any case, have a great spring, Out-Side!
April 2009