The alarm clock is ready to ring for the periodical cicadas of Lake County. The previous mass emergence of these true bugs in 2007 set the alarm for 2024. During spring and summer 17 years ago, millions of cicadas tunneled out of the soil, craw

Bonus

Short-Form 2: A Piece of News

May 11th, 2021 3m 15s

Host Brett Peto is here with a bite-sized piece of good news.Music:Swoop by The Mini VandalsTrail of Breadcrumbs by Lyle WorkmanGot an idea or a question for our podcast team? Email us at [email protected] of the Woods is a

Bonus

Short-Form 1: It's a Winter-ful Life

Mar 9th, 2021 10m 54s

We’re back with a new short-form episode.It’s tempting to hibernate during winter. But there are good reasons to get outside. Your preserves are home to many winter activities, including sledding, snowshoeing, ice skating, ice fishing, snowmo

A Childhood Spent Outdoors

Nov 17th, 2020 49m 52s

Nature is one of the best classrooms around. Study after study shows that time spent outdoors fosters a child’s healthy development. It helps kids manage stress, stimulates their imaginations, and improves their social skills.Alyssa Firkus, Ed

A Strong Foundation

Nov 10th, 2020 52m 1s

The Preservation Foundation is the charitable partner of the Lake County Forest Preserves. What does that mean?When we undertake a project, the Foundation extends and accelerates it. Take the Green Youth Farm at Greenbelt in North Chicago, for

Technolo-Tree

Nov 3rd, 2020 43m 54s

What do trees need computers for? Well, the people working to preserve them do. Our team of IT professionals manages technology that supports hundreds of staff across Lake County. Not only desktop computers, but smartphones, servers, databases,

Hello, Halloween Hikes

Oct 27th, 2020 45m 21s

Crisp fall air. Cider and donuts. Funny, nature-themed skits. An evening in the woods. All of these elements combine into a successful run of Halloween Hikes, our annual autumn event that’s become a tradition for many families.To protect the h

The Value of Nature

Oct 20th, 2020 40m 1s

We all know nature has value. Perhaps you love its beauty, its serenity, its creatures great and small. On an economic level, it’s recently become possible to quantify some of nature’s beneficial effects—what we call ecosystem services. Carbon

Trailer

Season 2 Trailer: Welcome Back to the Woods

Oct 13th, 2020 2m 46s

The woods are back with even more to say. From the value of nature and ecosystem services, to how we turn technology into technolo-tree, and the benefits of a childhood spent outdoors, plus more, here’s a taste of what you’ll hear this October

Bonus

Fragment 2: Snowflake Anatomy

Jan 27th, 2020 5m 27s

There's magic in a snowflake. But if someone asked you how snowflakes form, could you explain it to them? Jen Berlinghof, Environmental Educator, can help. She's here with an adaptation of one of her posts ("Snowflake anatomy") from our Lake Co

Bonus

Fragment 1: Voice of the Creek

Dec 23rd, 2019 2m 37s

The holiday season is hectic. North Mill Creek at Ethel's Woods in Antioch isn't. Take a moment of zen with the soothing sounds of flowing water. And look for another fragment in January 2020. Learn more: www.LCFPD.org/ethels-woods

Find Your Trail

Nov 19th, 2019 43m 58s

Exactly 204 miles of trails thread through nearly 31,000 acres in the Lake County Forest Preserves. Many are gravel, some are paved, some are mowed grass, and some are woodchip trails. Making connections between communities is key. Helping visi

Pondering Plants

Nov 12th, 2019 37m 29s

Thousands of native plant species call Lake County’s nearly 31,000 acres of forest preserves home. All of these plants are unique and interesting in their own ways. Pati Vitt, Manager of Ecological Restoration, and Ken Klick, Restoration Ecolog

The World of Wildlife Monitoring

Nov 5th, 2019 36m 35s

The 2020 U.S. Census is approaching. But scientists at the Lake County Forest Preserves take a different kind of census year-round—an animal census. Gary Glowacki and Andrew Rutter, both Wildlife Ecologists, and John Vanek, a doctoral candidate

Looking into the Archives

Oct 29th, 2019 49m 13s

Among the collections of the Dunn Museum in Libertyville are 1,000 linear feet of archival materials, securely housed in an environmentally controlled care and storage facility. Many have never been on display before. What tales do these letter

Goodbye, Buckthorn

Oct 22nd, 2019 35m 7s

Fall is a great time to think about removing the invasive shrub buckthorn from your yard. But how do you get rid of it and make sure it stays out for good? Matt Ueltzen, Restoration Ecologist II, and Allison Frederick, Assistant Public Affairs

Trailer

Welcome to the Woods

May 21st, 2019 3m 40s

What are the woods telling us? Have you ever stopped for a moment to listen?Headquartered in Libertyville, Illinois, the Lake County Forest Preserves protects nearly 31,000 acres of land. There are just about as many stories from both humans a

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