There’s so much to do in our region! Here’s a look at upcoming lectures and educational enrichment.
September
History at Work
Sept. 3-5, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Roll up your sleeves and celebrate Labor Day with fun family activities associated with work on farms, in homes and in shops of 19th century Wisconsin. After your labors are finished, enjoy a picnic lunch and period games in the village grove. Old World Wisconsin, W372 S9727 State Road 67, Eagle, Wis., (262) 594-6301, oldworldwisconsin.wisconsinhistory.org.
Evoking Native Landscape Using Japanese Garden Principles
Sept. 15, 7 p.m. Hear one gardener/potter/art dealer’s attempt to put it all together – the sacred landscape of the Upper Mississippi, native plants, art and a life transformed by living in Japan. Presentation by Douglas Dawson. Anderson Japanese Gardens, 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, (815) 316-3307, andersongardens.org.
Paranormal Investigation
Sept. 16 & 23, 7-11 p.m. Find out what a real paranormal investigation is all about. Feel free to bring cameras, camcorders, audio recorders, emf or other equipment. Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens, 411 Kent St., Rockford, (815) 964-2424, tinkercottage.com.
Restoration, Education, Appreciation, Preservation (REAP) Workday
Sept. 17, 9 a.m.-noon. Get hands-on training and enriching conservation education by helping REAP. Wear long pants, long sleeves and sturdy shoes. Bring a water bottle, insect repellent and sunscreen. Hononegah Forest Preserve, 14401 S. Bluff, Rockton, Ill., (815) 877-6100, winnebagoforest.org.
Creatures of the Night
Sept. 17, 7-9 p.m. Attention all night owls! Learn about the creatures of the night during a hike through the darkness, as you look for signs of life. Start the night off with a scavenger hunt and end it with a bird of prey show. Atwood Center, 2685 New Milford School Road, Rockford, (815) 966-8747, rockfordparkdistrict.org/atwood.
Spectacular Saturday: Norwegian
Sept. 17, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The Spectacular Saturday interactive learning series encourages parents to help children create projects and learn about various cultures in the Rockford community. Come and go throughout the day. Midway Village Museum, 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford, (815) 397-9112, midwayvillage.com.
Dinner with General Patton
Sept. 22, 6-8 p.m. Hear a first-person presentation by “General Patton” while enjoying a delicious dinner. As a combat general he was unequaled, fearless, brave and keenly aware his destiny was out of his hands. Hear about his experiences, see photos and artifacts and receive a special tour of the General Patton Mobile Command Center. Midway Village Museum, Rockford, (815) 397-9112, midwayvillage.com.
Mad Science Night
Sept. 23, 5-7 p.m. Join a night full of science fun, featuring Mad Matter. Kids can conduct science experiments with their parents, play at the Mad Matter play station, participate in a scavenger hunt, play with puffy paint and more. Poopsie’s, 402 S. Main St., Galena, visitgalena.com.
Jane Addams Birthday Celebration
Sept. 24, 8:30 a.m. Celebrate the birthday of human rights activist Jane Addams, who was born and raised in Cedarville. She was born Sept. 6, 1860. Cedarville Historical Museum, 450 W. 2nd St., Cedarville, Ill., (815) 563-4485, Stephenson-county-il.org.
OCTOBER
Death and Mourning in the Victorian Era
Oct. 1, 8 & 15, 4-7 p.m. Victorians embraced death as a cause for elaborate ritual. The period saw the development of the modern cemetery, mortuary science and public funerals. Participate in a presentation on Victorian funeral and mourning customs, as well as a first-floor house tour. Black Point Estate, South Shore of Lake Geneva, (262) 248-1888, blackpointestate.wisconsinhistory.org.
Autumn at the Arboretum
Oct. 2, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Grab the kids, put on your jacket and come on down for a memory-filled day of free outdoor activities. The crisp fall air and beautiful autumn foliage is sure to put you in the mood for horse-drawn wagon rides, scarecrow building and other fun activities for kids of all ages. Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden, 2715 S. Main St., Rockford, (815) 965-8146, Klehm.org.
Civil War and Gov. Hoard Day
Oct. 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Learn about the Civil War and Wisconsin’s role in it. Meet Civil War re-enactors on the museum grounds, attend ongoing educational programs, try out kids’ games and activities, and take a closer look at Civil War artifacts. Hoard Historical Museum, 401 Whitewater Ave., Fort Atkinson, Wis., (920) 563-7769, hoardmuseum.org.
Trailblazers
Oct. 15, 1-3 p.m. Blaze the trails and enjoy the beauty of the park in the fall. Travel through ecosystems and see first-hand what makes each one unique. Mountain bikes optional. Atwood Center, Rockford, (815) 966-8747, rockfordparkdistrict.org/atwood.
Animal Spotlight: Turtle/Tortoise
Oct.12, 11 a.m. Meet a turtle and learn what makes it unique. Midwest Museum of Natural History, 425 W. State St., Sycamore, Ill., (815) 895-9777, mmnh.org.
Byron Soldier’s Memorial
Oct. 15, 10 a.m. Originally dedicated on Oct. 18, 1866 to the soldiers of Byron that fought in America’s Civil War, Byron has the oldest Civil War monument in Illinois, and one of the oldest Civil War monuments in the country. Celebrate the 150th anniversary with lectures, the firing of a Civil War era cannon, a historic parade and more. Heritage Farm Museum, Byron Foreset Preserve, 7993 N. River Road, Byron, Ill., (815) 234-8535, byronforestpreserve.com.
Spectacular Saturday: Romanian
Oct. 15, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The Spectacular Saturday interactive learning series encourages parents to help their children create projects and learn about different cultures in the Rockford community. Come and go throughout the day. Midway Village Museum, Rockford, (815) 397-9112, midwayvillage.com.
Japanese-Inspired Woodblock Printing
Oct. 20, 7 p.m. The art of woodblock printing is accessible to anyone. The introduction of Japanese prints into Western Art in the late 19th century led to new ways of expression and design. James Bier, who oversees the Japan House & Dry Garden at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, demonstrates the tools, materials and techniques to make a print. Anderson Japanese Gardens, Rockford, (815) 316-3307, andersongardens.org.
Cockroach and Millipede Dissection
Oct. 20, 7 p.m. Get up close with these creepy crawlers in a hands-on dissection. Register by Oct. 5. Midwest Museum of Natural History, Sycamore, Ill., (815) 895-9777, mmnh.org.