BY KACPER, SEAN, SAM, AND KASSANDRA Nature Education for Kids

Beach History Chicago Once thrived as a natural area Recreation was limited to those to went Dunes were the areas natural landscape

Beach Development Late 1800s through early 1900s Public for poor Private for rich Use for bathing and recreation

Beach Construction Beaches dozed over Dune’s and natural habitats destroyed Second growth stopped through machine beach combing

Loyola Dunes Restoration Started 2003 Sectioned off beach Second growth This PowerPoint is pretty awesome. Fo sho.

Current Challenge Competition between native/non-native Volunteers Organization and drive Future outlook

The Area South of the path - Consists of mostly short and tiny invasive grass species such as the Sweet Clover - Used to be almost all grass, until the community work days began - The sand = Pebbles

The Shoreline Did not consist of much vegetation besides Marram Grass The sand consist largely of pebbles and strawberry sized rocks

The area north or the path The plants appeared to be more spread out, tall, and deeper rooted. Sandreed Grass is found in this area The sand = fine, soft

Native Species – Any Species that historically occurs in a habitat. Exotic Species – Any Species that is not native to a habitat. Invasive Species – An exotic species that causes harm to a habitat.

Invasive Species Excessive Population Disrupts Natural Communities Less Diversity

Fighting Invasive Species “Clean outdoor recreation gear” “Not release unwanted pets or dump the contents of an unwanted aquarium into the wild”

Contacting the closest State Park or Wildlife Refugee Calling the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey ANS Hotline at 800-STOP- ANS ( ).

Canary Grass Phragmites Sweet Clovers

Importance of Education Children are the leaders of tomorrow They will decide future policies, create social movements, and determine our outcome Not just numbers but hands-on activity!

How Can We Help? Teach them their relationship to the earth Show them biodiversity and they gain an appreciation for plants and animals Interaction with nature  curiosity and amazement Nature becomes something they want to protect!

And, now a word from your aluminum cans and plastic bottles…. When on the road, At work or play, Please don't litter Or throw us away. If recycling bins can't be found, While you're playing games and running around, Take us home, to your recycling bin, So we can have another life again. Recycle-- it's the right thing to do!