LGBTQIA+ Stewardship at South Shore Nature Sanctuary

7059 South South Shore Drive,Chicago IL 60649

14 August, 2022

Description

The event will begin at 10AM with stewardship at South Shore Nature Sanctuary and close with a projected endtime of 2PM after a lovely social break with fellow volunteers, food, and fun! As the event is to be held in mid-August, we may even be able to check out some purple marten fledglings in the area! We will participate in beautification of the area by collecting litter, pulling weeds, and engaging in any other activities that may seem suitable on the day. Towards midday, we will be able to enjoy each other's company with a BYO-picnic at the Sanctuary itself (which contains two Council Rings for congregating) or in an adjacent area. For those who cannot or do not want to bring food with them, Mikkey's Retro Grill Lakefront is about a five-minute (0.3 mi) journey away from the center of South Shore Nature Sanctuary. The foodspot's Sunday hours are from 11AM to 8PM. People may also take a tour of the beautiful grounds or even take a dip at the adjacent South Shore Beach (AKA East 71st Street Beach). If we're lucky, some purple martens and their fledglings may grace us with their presence, so we may be able to do some great birding as well! "South Shore Nature Sanctuary contains over six acres of dune, beach, wetland, pond, woodland, prairie, savanna, and shrubland habitats within South Shore Cultural Center Park, a microcosm of habitats native to the Chicagoland region." (source) We will meet in front of South Shore Beach, which is located behind the South Shore Cultural Center and next to the South Shore Nature Sanctuary. To arrive at the beach, we will enter through the southwest corner of the grounds (at the intersection of E 71st and S Shore Drive). We will make our way past the Cultural Center and continue down the path that leads to the left of it, winding around until it leads to South Shore Beach. The site includes parking lots,** and there are public transit options nearby. Need a ride or willing to offer one to another attendee? Join the Out In Nature WhatsApp group to coordinate a carpool! **availabilty and/or pricing of spaces to be confirmed Main Event Image credit (above): Emily Dupree | Photo credit (below): Eric Allix Rogers Those with accessibility challenges are strongly encouraged to come. Please let us know how we can accommodate you! The paths of the South Shore Nature Sanctuary are flat, containing a mix of paved paths, packed dirt paths, and boardwalk. The packed and paved paths generally remain 44-inches (~3.67 ft.) wide but narrow at points to 33 inches (2.75 ft.) across; these parts of the passage at times contain plant stalks and vegetation that spill out from the sides onto the path, but they are easily moved out of the way with gentle nudging. Meanwhile, the boardwalk consistently measures 66 inches across (5.5 ft.) and offers dry passage past a pond. There are four benches for resting inside the South Shore Nature Sanctuary, each sitting atop a flat concrete slab. One concrete slab is raised 5 inches above path level, but the others have a height discrepancy within 3 inches. The benches are respectively located at the following points of the outer ring of the track: the north (elevation discrepancy between concrete slab to adjoining path: 5 inches elevation), the east (3 inches), the southeast (no height discrepancy), and the south (1/4 inches). People who desire more rest are encouraged to concentrate their efforts to the eastern portion of the trail. Plentiful shade is provided by trees in many areas of South Shore Nature Sanctuary, though there are some areas without cover from the sun. Please be advised that local fauna includes stinging insects. Furthermore, accessing South Shore Nature Sanctuary requires passing by Chicago Police Department horse stables located at the southwest corner of the grounds. Expect natural horse-related smells as we pass by these stables. Two restrooms (advertised respectively for men and for women) are located in front of the South Shore Beach and can be accessed by multiple people at once. The restrooms are housed in a building located between a lifeguard building and Mikkey's Retro Grill Lakefront. Two life buoy sites are located at the north edge of the Sanctuary, but swimming is not advised in this area. Please instead use the adjoining beach, which has lifeguard presence and a gentle, sandy shore that eases into the water. South Shore Nature Sanctuary does not experience much loud and startling vehicular noise, as there is little opportunity for nearby traffic. There are natural sounds of water, wildlife, and wind interacting with nature. There will also be sounds from other participants and/or visitors who are enjoying the Sanctuary. It is unlikely but may be possible to faintly hear the sound of beachgoers and/or nearby golfers who use the driving ranges in the adjacent areas. Weather permitting, there will be a group of people heading over by bike from Hyde Park. People will meet at Wallach Fountain (located at Promontory Point), and Vincent Mok will depart with any interested cyclists promptly at 9:25AM. The 3-mile route will mostly stay on the paved Lakefront Trail with no more than 5 instances of crossing streets. For most of the stretch, the Lakefront Trail will have separate lanes for cyclists and pedestrians, but the bike route at times will become shared paths with the pedestrian lanes. We will ride mindfully and conscientiously, making sure to check in with participants in the cycling group and adjusting for any pedestrians and/or fellow cyclists. Google Maps projects the ride as a 14-minute journey, though a generous allowance of 30 minutes accommodates any biking pace above 6 miles per hour. Those who wish to rent a Divvy bike are also free to do so. For departure, a Divvy bike station is located west of Promontory Point. Upon nearing South Shore Nature Sanctuary, people may dock bikes at the Divvy station towards the southwest corner of the grounds or the one down the block to the south. Those who are using personal bikes may lock their them up at the bike racks located by South Shore Beach. Though no one will be turned away for lack of a helmet, people are expressly encouraged to bring or even borrow protective gear, as everyone's safety is of utmost important. Please join the Out In Nature WhatsApp group for more specific information and updates about the cycling party or to even coordinate borrowing gear! Photo credit (below): Eric Allix Rogers Pack a water bottle, sunscreen (and other forms of UV cover like hats and thin layers), and insect repellent. Those interested in birding may choose to bring binoculars. We advise wearing closed-toed shoes. For those wishing to take a dip in the water or enjoy the beach, please bring appropriate items like bathing suits, a towel, sandals, and a change of clothes. As this is a BYO-picnic, feel free to bring food to share and/or coordinate with others in the Out In Nature WhatsApp group. Though the official endtime is projected for 2PM, participants are encouraged to continue enjoying South Shore Nature Sanctuary and/or South Shore Beach, exploring nearby areas, and/or otherwise extending their adventures. We welcome suggestions around better accessibility and inclusivity, and we highly encourage you to share your questions and concerns. Keep in touch with Out in Nature on our website and through email, and follow us on Instagram! Flyer credit (below): Emily Dupree // some language adapted from Birdability