Volo to join Bog Day celebration

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A tip of the fishing cap covered with lures to young Greyson Ponder, who landed this large carp he caught while bow-fishing on Lake Antioch. | SPECIAL TO SUN-TIMES MEDIA

Updated: July 18, 2011 2:20AM

International Bog Day is this coming Sunday, and you can discover the beauty and mystery behind bogs that day from noon until 4 p.m. at Volo Bog.

Local artists have used different media to capture the essence of bogs, and some of the works will be for sale in a silent auction at the Visitor Center leading up to Bog Day.

The Visitor Center is open so you can bid from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. Bidding will close at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

International Bog Day was established in Scotland in 1989 to celebrate the beauty of bogs around the world and to raise awareness of these fascinating and rare ecosystems.

It’s been celebrated in Europe and Canada on the fourth Sunday of each July ever since.

In 2008, our Volo Bog, home of the southern-most open-water quaking bog in North America, teamed up with Friends of Volo Bog to be the first to bring the celebration to the United States!

This year’s celebration features and artists’ reception with live music by Melanie Hartl; bog tours throughout the afternoon; Bog Dog Picnic (meet Norwegian Elkhounds, AKA Bog Dogs); Kids Bog Crafts; and snacks are for sale by the Friends of Volo Bog.

Nature education

The No Child Left Inside bill was introduced Thursday in the House of Representatives by John Sarbanes of Maryland and in the senate by Jack Reed of Rhode Island and Mark Kirk of Illinois.

The legislation proposes the creation of competitive matching grants for programs that partner schools and community organizations (such as camps) to improve and support environmental education.

It would also require states to develop environmental literacy plans, and would create competitive sub-grants for programs that partner schools with community organizations (such as camps) to develop more rigorous environmental education curricula and improve teacher training in this area.

The bill is designed to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, according to the American Camp Association.

“For years, camps have worked with traditional educational programs to help close the environmental literacy gap, and provide children with hands-on, first-person experiences with nature,” said Peg Smith, chief executive officer for ACA.

She said studies reveal that people in the U.S., specifically children, suffer from a lack of knowledge about the outdoors.

In addition, today’s youth are experiencing less free and unstructured outdoor playtime in nature than previous generations; reduced mobility and less range for exploration, including reduction in walking or riding a bike to school; a growing fear of strangers and nature itself; and a dramatic rise in obesity, as well as Vitamin D deficiency and other health issues that may in part be related to low levels of outdoor activity and a sedentary lifestyle.

The American Camp Association works to preserve, promote, and enhance the camp experience for children and adults.

Bats in the house

Channel your inner Batman or Batwoman July 30 from 6:50-9 p.m. at Volo Bog.

The park is home to the largest known maternity colony of little brown bats in Illinois!

Meet these little guys in person at the famous bat barn after a program that starts with a video introducing the viewer to the little brown bats.

Participants should bring lawn chairs and mosquito repellent, but leave the chairs in the car and don’t put on the bug spray until after the group caravans to the barn.

Pre-registration is required, and you can get that done at (815) 344-1294 or dnr.volobog@illinois.gov.

The bog is just south of the intersection of routes 12 and 134 on West Brandenberg Road.