Paintbrush Prairie Nature Walk, Part 2

Paintbrush Prairie is one of several prairies in Markham, IL. It’s an original, premium quality prairie, one of the best in the state of IL. It has never been plowed. It was in rough condition when first discovered. Brush was removed from the western end of the prairie, and fire was reintroduced. Leading the hike will be the official stewards of the site. We will learn not only about nature on the site but also about the conservation of the site, both historical and ongoing. We will be visiting the prairie 3 times over the summer to see how the prairie changes over the growing season. (If you wish to attend all three walks, you must register and sign the waivers on each of the three dates.)

Please register and sign the waiver on the site below. Look for the title of the program, “Paintbrush Prairie Nature Walk, Part 2.” It’s on 7/27. Click on the title of the program.

https://www.sierraclub.org/illinois/events-calendar

Please list an emergency contact and number. List a cell phone if you wish to receive a call in case of cancellation.

Sign up and registration will be taken also at the site. Since this is an official Sierra Club hike, you will need to sign both the online waiver and the on-site waiver before the hike. Young people under the age of 18 must have an adult sign for them. Also, please email me or let me know before the hike if you have any health issue that could affect you during the hike. It’s better to be prepared.

Ticks: It will definitely be tick season in June, July and August. Ticks carry lime disease, so we'll need to take as many precautions as is reasonable. Wear light colored clothing. Be sure to wear long pants, and socks that are long enough to tuck the bottoms of your pants into. This is one way of keeping the ticks out. Also, we will be using insect repellent. Any insect repellent with the active ingredient of 'deet' will repel ticks the same way it repels mosquitoes. I use “Off Deep Woods.” Please dont wear shorts and sandals.

Weather: Prairies are hot places - so wear a broad-brimmed hat, if you wish to avoid the sun. Sunscreen is a necessity. Bring plenty of water, especially if it's hot. If it's just drizzling, we'll probably still hike (if we wish), but not if it's a downpour or if there's thunder and lightning. Bring a rain parka or rain resistant jacket (or an umbrella), if you think it looks like rain. You can bring a camera if you'd like. If you attend all three hikes, we encourage you to take photos of the prairie on each hike to compare how the prairie changes over time. Bring binoculars, if you have them, to spot birds with.

Also: Dogs are not allowed on this site. There is no port-a-potty on the site, but there is the office right there which they may let you use.

Parking: Park at the office (a house at 3454 W. 155th St., Markham, IL) or along the street near the house. There’s also parking in the parking lot, but then you have to walk down to the office.