NARWHALS Ecology Club
Welcome to TH.e N.A.R.W.H.A.L.S. Ecology Club Homepage!
Our name stands for THrough Natural Areas Restoration We Help All Living Species
We have been around since 2008. We are a club for anyone who wants to learn more about natural environments in Illinois and the Midwest and do their part to help restore these areas to their former health and beauty by removing invasive species that do not belong.
We meet Tuesdays after school from 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM (or so) in room 2420. At these meetings, we spend most of our time working outside in the Niles West Natural Area which includes a prairie recreation and a "work in progress" savanna recreation. Our restoration work consists of removing invasive or aggressive species, planting native species, and collecting seeds.
Once a month, we also meet on a Saturday morning at a Forest Preserve that is part of the North Branch system of preserves along the North Branch of the Chicago River. Our restoration work here involves cutting and burning invasive species. It could also involve trail maintenance, collecting/spreading seeds, or anything else that needs to be done. Each workday lasts from 9 AM - 12 PM.
Some other fun things that we do include: camping trips with the Wild Wolves camping club, day trips to visit natural areas around Chicago, fundraisers, listen to guest speakers, watch nature films/documentaries, and volunteering at the Chicago Herpetological Society's Reptile Fest every spring.
If you would like to learn more about the NARWHALS, you can:
Email Mr. Jodelka (thojod@d219.org) or call (847.626.2756)
Sign-up for our Remind Group by texting "@narwhals1" to the number 81010
Follow us on Instagram! (nw_narwhals) Check out our page by clicking HERE!
Pictures
Click on the links below to learn more about what we do!
Environmental Service Day - In addition to our monthly Forest Preserve workdays, we also host a large-scale Environmental Service Day in October that is open to anyone affiliated with District 219. Here are some pictures from previous years:
2018 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011
Links
Click on the links below to learn more about some of the organizations that we have worked with over the years:
North Branch Restoration Project - This group of concerned, dedicated citizens has been working to restore natural areas along the North Branch of the Chicago River for over 30 years! We are proud to work alongside them to make a difference in our community.
Forest Preserves of Cook County - Although they are often taken for granted and thought of as simply a place for a picnic, many preserves in Cook County protect plants and animals that otherwise would not exist. There are truly some hidden gems among the 70,000 acres of protected land in our county, and thanks to our work, and the work of countless volunteers, the quality of that protected land continues to improve.
Chicago Herpetological Society - This group consists of amateurs and professionals who are dedicated to the conservation of herp (amphibians and reptiles) through the education of the general public. Although they participate in many events throughout the year, their major fundraiser is ReptileFest, and we are proud to do our part in making this event a success.
