Community Education

Our Community Education Committee informs residents about the value and impact of planting native plants and using earth-friendly practices to improve the health of their property. We share information about native landscaping and the natural world around us. We offer programs and resources about removing invasive species, building habitats with native plants, attracting butterflies and other pollinators, and supporting birds and other valuable native wildlife. 

We offer monthly programs of interest to residents each year, January through April, and provide programs for organizations on request. Programs are free for members. We can customize an educational program for groups upon request.

The Dark Side of Nature: The Meaning of Night to You and the World

Guest Speaker: Ken Walczak, Senior Manager of Far Horizons, Adler Planetarium

Date: Saturday, February 10, 2023

Time: 9:30 a.m. coffee, conversation, displays, handouts; 10:00-11:30 a.m. program

Location: Barrington Village Hall, 200 S. Hough Street; free parking behind building

For the entire history of life on Earth, dark nights followed sunlit days. In a little more than a century we’ve altered that natural pattern by illuminating our nights.

Excessive artificial light can harm humans and wildlife. Many species of plants, insects, birds and other animals benefit from the absence of disturbing artificial lighting. Ken Walczak will share the principles of responsible outdoor lighting and how you can make a difference.

Ken Walczak is the Senior Manager of Far Horizons at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. He helped design and implement innovative instruments for light pollution research. He is a board member of DarkSky International and co-founded the local DarkSky Chicago chapter.

Cost: CFC members attend free as a benefit of membership. Program fee is $10 for non-members.

RSVP is required. Hope to see you there!

Caring for Our Native Oaks

Guest Speaker: Arborist Charlie Keppel and Technical Advisor Chelsi Abbott, Davey Institute

Date: Saturday, March 9, 2023

Time: 9:30 a.m. coffee, conversation, displays, handouts; 10:00-11:30 a.m. program

Location: Barrington Village Hall, 200 S. Hough Street; free parking behind building

Our beautiful native oaks provide many ecosystem services to our habitats. Learn which oak species grow best in different habitats. Discover techniques and tips that you can follow to care for your oaks and keep them healthy and thriving over their long lives.

Charlie Keppel is semi-retired from what is now The Davey Tree Expert Company. He performs community outreach and education in the local area. He holds a degree in Forestry from Penn State and has assisted many Chicago Wilderness groups with ecological restoration.

Chelsi Abbott is a technical advisor and education specialist with the Davey Institute. Her master’s degree in plant pathology is from Purdue University. She is an International Society of Arboriculture certified arborist with a tree risk assessment qualification (TRAQ).

Cost: CFC members attend free as a benefit of membership. Program fee is $10 for non-members.

RSVP is required. Hope to see you there!

Bumblebees of Barrington

Guest Speaker: Stephen Barten, Photographer and Bumblebee Monitor

Date: Saturday, April 13, 2023

Time: 9:30 a.m. coffee, conversation, displays, handouts; 10:00-11:30 a.m. program

Location: Barrington Village Hall, 200 S. Hough Street; free parking behind building

Of the 74 total observations of the federally endangered rusty-patched bumblebee in Lake County in 2023, 36 of them — almost half — were on CFC properties. Stephen Barten will share his bumblebee photos along with information on bumblebee natural history and identification.

Stephen Barten is a CFC/Lake County Forest Preserve District/Barrington Greenway Initiative Bumblebee Monitor. The protocol includes photographing every species observed and posting photos on iNaturalist for ID confirmation. As a result, Barten has many great images to share.

Cost: CFC members attend free as a benefit of membership. Program fee is $10 for non-members.

RSVP is required. Hope to see you there!