Earlier this month, a cohort of kindred spirits visited the Friends of the Fox River at the Schweitzer Environmental Center for lively conversation about Raising Kane, The Fox himself, and what Fox River protection looks like today. The readers were a high-minded slice of Fox River watershed residents including FOTFR Board and staff members, teachers, government officials, ecological restorationists and active, informed voters.
I still am, but not the Snowy Owls! Regular readers of this space know that I enjoy looking for Snowy Owls during the winter months. Over the last several years I have enjoyed searching for, and finding, these beautiful visitors from the Arctic North. This winter has been no exception, at least in the searching … Read more
February offers several reasons to celebrate, such as, Ground Hog Day, President’s Day, Chinese New Year, and Mexico’s Constitution and Flag Day. The big winner though is Valentine’s Day. Like many holidays, the actual honoring of the date has been stretched but the essence is the heart symbol and love messages. As a fourth grader, … Read more
As an environmental educator and advocate, I personally and professionally strive to have the most accurate and current information to share. Empowering people to care for their environment relies on assimilating information and action. In this case, we are offering an update on river restoration through dam removal and requesting that you be part of … Read more
As I write this column (on January 9, 2024) at a normally quiet time for wildlife in the dead of winter, the Bald Eagles in the area have already begun to prepare their nests for the upcoming nesting season! By the end of February or very beginning of March, most of the nesting pairs of … Read more
The purpose of any State of the (Union, State, City, Business, Organization) Address is to: “celebrate the community, recognize areas for improvement, and set the policy agenda for the year ahead.” On Sunday January 14th at 12:30, Fox River Watershed’s residents will (hopefully) gather at the Schweitzer Environmental Center at 12:30pm, to do just that. … Read more
The year 2023 had some surprises for Friends of the Fox River (FOTFR). FOTFR was very busy with a full calendar of fun including its standard activities of in-stream experiences for youth, lots of cleanups, and many events for building a watershed community of caretakers. Two unanticipated circumstances developed this past year, which were more … Read more
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! As we enter the holiday season, the birding scene in the Fox River Valley has undergone some dramatic changes since the warmer months of summer and fall. The leaves have fallen from the trees and most of the birds that migrate south for the winter have left … Read more
December’s holiday season brings friends, family, and others together to celebrate a joyful time of gathering, feasting, and sharing gifts. It is a time of kinship and community. We openly welcome each other into our spaces. We set aside differences and focus on our commonalities. A sense of community helps us thrive spiritually, and we … Read more
Culturally, we are entering a giving season. Thanksgiving, Giving Tuesday, and religious holiday extravaganzas lie ahead. They are all performed with good intentions, as part of our traditional celebrations, and filled with gratitude. Our give-and-take exchanges are culturally oriented. Often the waste resulting from over-producing food, gift creation, and wrapping and decorations are problematic. In … Read more
