Catching Nature

Connie Schmidt Outdoor enthusiast I have lived in Warrenville in DuPage County since 1982, raising two children with my husband Michael. We board horses and have chickens, dogs and multiple garden areas. I love my wildflower garden in the spring, cultivate perennial veggies as well as the traditional annual varieties in the summer, and enjoy awesome autumn color in my native prairie area in my front yard.

Alicia Donovan Volunteer beekeeper I'm a volunteer beekeeper at Kline Creek Farm in West Chicago. I’ve been part of their beekeeping program for over a year. I got interested in honey bees three years ago after taking a Bees and Veterinary Medicine course taught by Meghan Milbrath at Michigan State University. After the first class I was hooked. Honey bees are fascinating and I wanted to learn as much as I could about them. I continued my honey bee education and attended beekeeping classes at the University of Minnesota’s Bee Lab. I love learning about bees and other pollinators.

Jimmy Tyson learned from his father the importance of being a jack-of-all- trades in his approach to work, but Tyson has expanded that principle to his approach to nature and volunteering.

Jane Halbur Trail Watch volunteer, nature photographer I’ve been interested in nature since early on, but I didn’t discover the DuPage forest preserves until about 2008 when I started walking around Herrick Lake Forest Preserve on my lunch hours. From there of course I discovered some of the others. Then I saw the sign for volunteers about four years ago and decided since I was already walking/enjoying the forest preserves, I might as well find out about the volunteer program.

Sheila Newenham Volunteer, photographer, artist, blogger I’ve spent my free time outside for as long as I can remember. As a child, playing outside until darkness fell, as a young adult camping with friends and now hiking, exploring and observing wherever I get the opportunity.

Richard Karun has been exploring DuPage forest preserves ever since he moved to DuPage County in 1995.

Glenn Gabanski vividly remembers feeding a mountain chickadee a sunflower seed by hand while visiting his sister in Lake Tahoe.

Joe Suchecki has many interests, including photography, gardening and bicycling.

Chuck Kelly Rekindling a love of nature  I have always enjoyed being outside but have really made an effort over the past 10 years or so to spend as much time outdoors as possible. In addition to working and volunteering with the District, outdoor activities for me include gardening, walking our dog and riding my bike.

Johnny Jannotti grew up with DuPage forest preserves as his playground. His childhood home was along the Illinois Prairie Path, giving him plenty of opportunities to connect to nature.