Coming
Events
November 5, 2011
Chicago Portage National Historic Site Tour
Friends of the Chicago Portage would like to announce a free public tour of the Chicago Portage National Historic Site, Saturday November 5th at 10:00 A.M. This tour will be lead by veteran tour guide Jeff Carter who will explore the “Birth Story of Chicago” from the geological beginnings of the Portage to how it is still functioning in Chicago today. One of only two national historic sites in Illinois, the Chicago Portage National Historic site is the only place where you can stand on the same ground walked by all the early explorers, early settlers, and creators of Chicago. The Tour is approximately ½ mile in length on a gravel path through the woods and will take about 2 hours. Wear long pants and walking shoes or boots. The Tour will run rain or shine.
The late Tribune columnist John Husar, after touring the site called it “Our sacred ground”. It is certainly Chicago’s “Plymouth Rock”.
All tours are free and open to the public.
Location: The Chicago Portage National Historic site is at 4800 S. Harlem which is on the west side of Harlem Avenue (7200 W) just 2 blocks north of the Stevenson Expressway (I-55). Meet at the monumental statue of Marquette and Joliet and their Native American guide at 10:00 am. .
Sponsor: Friends of the Chicago Portage
Contact: Gary Mechanic at 773-590-0710 or visit www.chicagoportage.org
September 10, 2011
Summer's End at Orland Grassland
• Free Guided Hikes: While the Army Corps project continues, we're moving to the 175th Street
entrance at 104th Avenue to begin our hikes. The site hasn't seen such birds, wildflowers,
butterflies and tall prairie grasses in more than 100 years! Master Stewards will lead one- hour
native plant id hikes. Butterfly monitor, Gary Clinkman, will lead a butterfly and dragonfly hike.
• Give it a try. The 175th Street entrance is an old farm service road that makes for a great
walk across the central prairie. Good for strollers and steady walking. For more adventurous
types, we'll jump into the wild and search out the good stuff. No trails, just natural terrain.
Check our website at www.orlandgrassland.org for "Dress for Success" to be prepared to enjoy
this wonderful trek in nature.
• Maps, pamphlets and volunteers tell our story. Find out about how the project is going, what's next, and how you might want to visit a workday with friends, family or a group.
• Bring your children. Our children need to get outside! Experience nature! Bring them. They'll have fun getting out there, hiking off trail, stretching their legs and their minds.
• Enjoy: Complete your grassland experience with tasty refreshments. Bring your camera or binoculars to really see what's going on!
Join us today, envision tomorrow.
www.orlandgrassland.org
708-220-9596
September 3, 2011
Chicago Portage National Historic Site Tour
Friends of the Chicago Portage would like to announce a free public tour of the Chicago Portage National Historic Site, Saturday September 3rd at 10:00 A.M. This tour will be lead by veteran tour guide Jeff Carter who will be assisted by noted fur trade historian and author Jake Ilko. They will explore the “Birth Story of Chicago” from the geological beginnings of the Portage to how it is still functioning in Chicago today. One of only two national historic sites in Illinois, the Chicago Portage National Historic site is the only place where you can stand on the same ground walked by all the early explorers, early settlers, and creators of Chicago. The Tour is approximately ½ mile in length on a gravel path through the woods and will take about 2 hours. Wear long pants and walking shoes or boots. The Tour will run rain or shine.
The late Tribune columnist John Husar, after touring the site called it “Our sacred ground”. It is certainly Chicago’s “Plymouth Rock”.
All tours are free and open to the public.
Location: The Chicago Portage National Historic site is at 4800 S. Harlem which is on the west side of Harlem Avenue (7200 W) just 2 blocks north of the Stevenson Expressway (I-55). Meet at the monumental statue of Marquette and Joliet and their Native American guide at 10:00 am. .
Sponsor: Friends of the Chicago Portage
Contact: Gary Mechanic at 773-590-0710 or visit www.chicagoportage.org
June 25, 2011
The Story of Fort Dearborn
The Friends of the Chicago Portage would like to announce the second in their series of quarterly lectures for 2011. Please join historian and master story teller Jack McCrae as he tells the story of Fort Dearborn. He will relate how the building of this historic structure was a major event in the development of Chicago and the settlement of the Midwest and followed many decades of conflict between the native groups and the arriving settlers. This talk will look at the actual events that led to the building of the fort, the attack on the fort’s garrison by native forces, and the years of decline as the new city boomed. This is a must-see event for history lovers, historians, educators, tour guides, and anyone who communicates the stories of Chicago to others.
Location: Village Hall 4200 Lawndale Avenue Lyons, lllinois 60534
Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM.
The presentation will be free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served and free parking will be available in the north lot.
Please RSVP by calling Jeff Carter at (312) 771-6855. For further information please visit our website www.chicagoportage.org
June 4, 2011
Chicago Portage National Historic Site Tour
Friends of the Chicago Portage would like to announce a free public tour of the Chicago Portage National Historic Site. This tour will be lead by veteran tour guide Jeff Carter who will explore the “Birth Story of Chicago” from the geological beginnings of the Portage to how it is still functioning in Chicago today. More ...
April 2, 2011
Celebrate Earth Month with Tour of Thatcher Woods
Enjoy an abundance of wildflowers in a restored oak savanna, the beauty of a restored native prairie on the Des Plaines River, architecturally significant homes and historic archeological sites in a day long excursion in Thatcher Woods in River Forest on Saturday, April 2. More ...
March 26, 2011
Chicago Portage Lecture Series
Friends of the Chicago Portage invite you and your historical society to the 1st in our 2011 series of public history lectures. Join historian and educator Mark Walczynski as he presents a thorough look at the evidence for the location of one of Illinois earliest historical sites: Fort St Louis. More ...
March 16, 2011
A Lesson in Urban Restoration
Master Steward Victor Guarino will take us on a virtual tour along the Heritage Trail through and adjacent to Thatcher Woods. More ...
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News
Litter Obliterated at
Schiller Woods
September 11, 2009
Chicagoland Marriott-branded hotels visited Schiller Woods and began their Litter Obliterators Project in Grove Site #4. Due to their turnout of over 60 associates, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2009, they were able to reach out into Grove Site #3 and #5. Getting out into the community is a part of their Spirit to SERVE Our Communities initiative.
This year the hotels in this area focused on the environment as part of Marriott’s 10 year anniversary of the "SERVE" program. "SERVE," stands for the following:
S - Shelter and Food
E - Environment
R - Readiness for Hotel Careers
V - Vitality of Children
E - Embracing Global Diversity & Inclusion
Northwestern University Students Volunteer at Skokie Lagoons
September 14, 2009
Northwestern University's student group, Alternative Student Breaks, sends over 40 service learning trips around the US and abroad every year. They feature winter, spring and Pre-Wildcat Welcome trips. The Pre-WW trips take place the week before new student welcome week, in which trips consisting of six incoming freshmen are site led by two upperclassmen to cities around the Midwest. 
This year, students traveled to Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Cincinnati and South Bend to do service work for those in need. Upon returning to Chicago, the trips are not quite done, for they annually help the FPDCC Volunteer Program through wildlife preservation efforts. This year, the freshmen and site leaders came together as 64 strong to remove buckweed overgrowth from Skokie Lagoons.
Harris Bank Volunteers in the Forest Preserve
June 11, 2009
Around 25 Harris Bank volunteers braved threatening skies to help
clear invasive species from a remnant oak woodland at Busse Woods.
Under the guidance of FPD employees and volunteers, the team cleared out buckthorn,
garlic mustard, hedge parsley, and seed heads from reed canary grass.
The cut buckthorn, 200 linear feet of it lined up at the curb, was
chipped by FPD crews the next day. The Harris team liberated several
oaks and hickories, and despite the poison ivy and mosquitos, most want
to come back!
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