Wild Things 2025

The appreciation of light isn’t just for photographers. It is a gift for everyone, particularly those seeking to enhance their connection with nature. We frequently focus on the physical elements, like plants and geology, while ignoring the intangible yet significant contributions of our life-giving star.
 
In this performance, renowned nature photographer and acclaimed author and entertainer, Mike MacDonald, unveils breathtaking natural images of the Chicago region on a grand scale, inviting audiences to experience a fresh perspective on the world. He illustrates how our Sun can magically transform familiar and already stunning landscapes into extraordinary realms of enchantment and rediscovery.

Nature journaling is the mindful practice of connecting with nature using all your senses, making and recording observations, and being curious. Participants will practice using words, pictures and numbers to document the natural world around them. We will discuss tools, materials and resources, explore observation prompts, and practice basic drawing skills.

The grassroots movement to Save Bell Bowl Prairie expanded swiftly in large part due to the inspired minds who created visual art, street theater, music, poetry, and more, to bring awareness to the importance of saving this small remnant gravel prairie in Rockford, Illinois.

Scientific data is crucial in conserving biodiversity, and art is an essential partner in communicating the information in a way that touches hearts and catalyzes people to action. Art also serves as a means of expressing grief when conservation efforts do not succeed. As we near the 2nd anniversary of the destruction of all but 6.2 acres of Bell Bowl Prairie, join us to celebrate this beautiful place with a journey through the art it inspired.

"Restoring The Fourth Of July"

The Prospect Heights Natural Resources Commission has a thing for the Fourth of July parades. Marching ants, a giant praying mantis, a floating egret, great blue Herons, a twelve-foot Monarch butterfly, a trumpet playing turtle, a trombone playing squirrel, twirling milkweeds, cicadas, and a twenty-foot Monarch caterpillar are just a few of the creatures from PHNRC Commissioner John Kamysz’s mind to the pavement. Working with artists Kate Tully and Mara Lovisetto of the Sunflower Group and Puppeteer Heather Killian, they oversaw an army of PHNRC regular volunteers to bring magic to the streets and elevate the natural world. Come learn how this award-winning restoration organization has earned the “BEST OF SHOW” in the Arlington Heights parade three years running and the admiration of the hometown folks in Prospect Heights.

Avoesis—a form of quietness that is not precisely silence—is characterized by an absence of noise or βοή (boe) in Greek, a word that might also translate as clamor or din. In the auditory lull from noise, the benevolent presence of other species can be discovered. Even in the exceptionally noisy environments of cities, such moments of tranquility are possible.

In this presentation, I summarize my work over the past several years on the possibility of discovering pleasing soundscapes even when rebarbative noise dominates. What might ‘avoetic spaces’—places where nature can hold sway and people can hear themselves think—be like in cities? What are the benefits of designating these spaces for both human well-being and the flourishing of non-human communities?

Bob Dolgan’s conservation-focused films like “Monty and Rose,” “The Magic Stump,” and “Fluddles” have been accepted to multiple film festivals and broadcast on several public television stations. We’ll begin with an overview of what makes a good story and will resonate with nature fans and non-nature fans alike. We’ll also discuss lessons learned from more than 100 screenings with live audiences and why these films may have garnered some laughs and tears. In the Q&A portion of this session, we’ll provide ideas for telling your story in a way that resonates with a broader audience.