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Stillman
is a place to learn:
The
Stillman Nature Center is a private, not-for-profit center
for environmental education located on 80 acres of woods, lake and
prairie in South Barrington, Illinois. A former estate, the land
was donated by Alexander Stillman for the purpose of
establishing a nature center.
The
Stillman Center offers programs for school children during the
spring and fall. Classes at the Center can be taught by our
naturalist, by a teacher from the visiting school, or both. Fees
vary with the amount of staff time provided by Stillman. Winter
and summer programs are also available but keep in mind that
Stillman does not have an indoor visitor center.
Stillman
welcomes all organizations, including adult groups. If your group
is looking for a new place to schedule a field trip, don't
hesitate to give us a call at (847) 428-OWLS(6957).
The Stillman naturalist is also available for outreach programs.
Fees for outreach programs vary with the distance from Stillman to
your meeting place.
Public
programs are offered on many weekends. Details can be found in our
members' newsletter.
Stillman
is a place for wildlife:
The
outstanding feature of the Stillman Nature Center is the variety
of habitats which offer food, cover and nest sites for many
animals.
The
pond community is home to everything from tiny duckweed, smallest
of the flowering plants, to the dinosaur-like snapping turtle that
basks on a fallen log. Under the water's surface are a
variety of fish which attract various fish-eating birds including
herons, kingfishers, and mergansers. Stillman also has a marsh
that is thick with cattails and a refuge for blue-winged teals,
sora rails, and muskrats.
Our
woodlands are home to squirrels, raccoons, woodpeckers and a pair
of Great Horned Owls. Some animals like deer and fox can be seen
in either the woods or the meadow. Other animals, such as field
sparrows and kingbirds, prefer the grassland habitat. Parts
of the grassland habitat is being converted from old world
meadow to a native prairie. In the prairie, you'll see bluestem,
Indian grass, coneflower, and prairie dock.
Drop-in visitors are welcome on any
Sunday from 9 AM - 4 PM. Weekday programs area available by
appointment.
For more information, go to School
Programs or call (847) 428-OWLS(6957).
Why
an environmental education center?
All
humans are dependent on the natural ecosystems around us. Learning
about the natural world and how we relate to it is a vital part of
education. Unfortunately, schools are not always equipped to
provide environmental education. Luckily, nature centers have
environmental education as their primary mission.
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