Week 10

The week started as usual with the team continuing to work at the Hotel Site, but to keep things interesting each member took a turn felling trees one to two inches larger in diameter than they normally fell. This was done with the Project Leader, Stephanie who was able to provide tips and feedback to improve technique. Midweek the team experienced their first days of real fall weather after which they were able to break up the work day by taking a field trip to a section of a nearby park, Jasper Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area, to observe a natural wonder as the sandhill cranes flew in for the night’s shelter during their southward migration. The week ended on a rather fun note as crew member Cliff conducted a volunteer work day as part of his graduation requirements for college. High school students from the near-by city of Chicago came down to the dunes for a day of removing invasive bittersweet vines from an area of the park. The team was happy to see younger people helping out as well as learning about invasive plants and the environment. Though the crew was excited for the coming Thanksgiving holiday break full of family and food, thoughts of the work to be done in the remaining weeks was still on their minds.