Special Events Winterfest 2008
Winterfest this year was a great success, but at the same time a failure. Our attendance was 326 guest plus 20+ volunteers, but donations amounted to only eighty dollars, which no way paid for the entertainment. Due to additional cuts by the state to the Illinois DNR Budget, the Friends Of Volo Bog had to foot the entire bill for the “Winterfest” entertainment, same as they did for “Ghost Stories” earlier in October. In the past 16 years we had some help from the State, but recent cuts now make that impossible, and even the very upkeep of the State Parks appears to be in trouble. Lack of snow cancelled our snow sculpting contest, but everything else went smooth . Pictured below is only a sample of what went on, such as the 23 ribbons handed out to winners in the 21st Annual Nature Photo Contest. Please read below for more on that contest.
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Audience enjoying Lee Murdock’s Maritime Music |
Our headline entertainer Lee Murdock up close |
At the same time as
the singing and Photo contest awards downstairs, upstairs we had the children
crafts going on. |
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Above two photos by Tom Lowden |
Above two photos by Bob Vetter |
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Outside we had our volunteer naturalists
leading tours into the center of the Bog showing guests such wonders as the
Purple Pitcher Plant, shown above. |
Stacy Iwanicki presenting a 1st place ribbon and plaque to Gwen Selby |
Tom Lowden Receiving Best of Show (judges choice) from Scutterbug Chairperson Selby |
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Above two photos by Bob Vetter |
Above photo by Tom Lowden |
Above photo by Pat Melchi |
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21st Annual
Nature Photo Contest winners
Between music sets at Volo Bog's Annual WinterFest on Sunday, January 13, Volo
Bog State Natural Area, the Friends of Volo Bog and the ShutterBugs of Volo Bog
announced the winners of their 21st Annual Nature Photo Contest.
Twenty-one people entered the contest with a total of 155 entries in seven
categories. Visitors to the State Natural Area's
Awards were presented as follows:
Best-of-Show - Popular Vote
David Underwood of Delavan, Wisconsin for "Frog Legs for Dinner"
Best-of-Show - Judges' Award (PICTURED ABOVE)
Tom Lowden of Crystal Lake for "Rocky Cascade"
Category winners:
Color Plant
1st Bill Ewert of Ingleside for "Daylily"
2nd Tom Lowden of Crystal Lake for "Liatris Meadow"
3rd Larry Smith of Ingleside for "Thorny Bud"
Color Animal Invertebrate
1st Fran Tritthardt of Mundelein for "Blue Eyes"
2nd Jerry Donahue of Mundelein for "Morning Web"
3rd Paul McFadden of Algonquin for "Monarch Dessert Tray"
Color Animal Vertebrate
1st David Underwood of Delavan, Wisconsin for "Frog Legs for Dinner"
2nd Fran Tritthardt of Mundelein for "Breaking for Lunch"
3rd Larry Bergman of Lakewood for "Keeping an Eye Out"
Color Landscape
1st Tom Lowden of Crystal Lake for "Rocky Cascade"
2nd Brad Waggoner of Lindenhurst for "Lindenhurst Sunset"
3rd Larry Bergman of Lakewood for "Morris Creek - the Beginning of
Fall"
Beyond the Midwest
1st Jerry Donahue of Mundelein for "Badlands"
2nd David Wagner of Lake Zurich for "Rainbow Canyon"
3rd Fran Tritthardt of Mundelein for "Elk in the Woods"
Black & White
1st Larry Bergmann of Lakewood for "The Black River - A View from
the High Bridge"
2nd John Borucki of Island Lake for "Here Comes Spring"
3rd Ken Cooksey of Libertyville for "I'm Watching You"
Alteration of Reality
1st Gwen Selby of Fox Lake for "Moonlit Reflections" (PICTURED ABOVE)
2nd Fran Tritthardt of Mundelein for "Neon Dragonfly"
3rd Fran Tritthardt of Mundelein for "Oh Deer!"
The winning photos will be on display at Volo Bog SNA through Friday, February
29th and available for viewing Wednesday - Sunday from
- 3:00 p.m.
which is held on the second Sunday each January. Entry forms become
available each September.
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Winning Photos on Display |
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See above text for more detail description of these winners |
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The Friends of Volo Bog is a Not-for-Profit 501(c)(3) organization. Visit www.friendsofvolobog.org
The ShutterBugs of Volo Bog meet at
Winterfest 2009
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On January
13th we had our second largest turn-out ever, plus we even had the
always-sought after dimension snow. The event was financed entirely by the
Friends of Volo Bog & we came out in the black |
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Awaiting our guests, Docent, Jerry Donahue; snow sculpting helpers Lindsey & Savanna; our soon to be retired Treasurer (25 years plus member of the Friends of Volo Bog) Richard Wend; Gift Shop supervisor Nancy Schiezelt; and a snowman, who came in from the cold. |
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Photo by Pat Meichi |
Photo by Bob Vetter |
Photos by Pat Meichi |
Photo by Bob Vetter |
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We enjoyed the zany music of the Hartland Express and the surprise showing of three additional musical guests – Pete Johnsson, Kent Fishburn, and Debbie Firak. In between performances “Sutterbug” President Gwen Shelby and Site Naturalist, Stacy Iwanicki gave out awards to the 22nd nature photo contest winners |
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Photo by Pat Meichi |
Photos by Gwen Selby |
Photos by Bob Vetter |
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Cookies and hot drinks were being sold while up-stairs we had crafts and puzzles for children. Outside Gail Goeke, John Holmes, And Bob Vetter led guided tours into the Bog, while there was snow sculpting going on out front. |
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Photos by Bob Vetter |
Photo by Gwen Selby |
Photo by Bob Vetter |
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Photos by Bob Vetter |
Photos by Gwen Selby |
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Team work gets the job done |
Study in snow sculpting |
Feathered Native |
We made money! |
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Photos by Pat Meichi |
Photo by Gwen Selby |
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22nd Annual Nature Photo Contest winners
Between music sets at Volo
Bog’s Annual WinterFest on Sunday, January 11, Volo Bog State Natural Area, the
Friends of Volo Bog and the ShutterBugs of Volo Bog announced the winners of
their 22nd Annual Nature Photo Contest. Nineteen people entered the
contest with a total of 115 entries in seven categories. Visitors to the State
Natural Area’s Visitor Center from October 25 - January 9 were asked to vote
for their favorites in each category and for their favorite overall. First,
second and third place ribbons were awarded to the top vote getters in each
category. A plaque was awarded to first place in each category as well as a
Judges Award and the Best-of-Show.
Awards were presented as follows:
Best-of-Show - Popular Vote
Ken Olsen of Palatine for "Autumn in Motion"
Best-of-Show - Judges’ Award
Paul McFadden of Algonquin for "I’m
a Lean, Mean Fighting Machine"
Category winners:
Color Plant
1st Paul McFadden
of Algonquin for "Nature’s Fall Fling"
2nd Bob Williams
of Huntley for "On Ice"
3rd Brad Waggoner of
Lindenhurst for "Tree in Snow Storm"
Color Animal Invertebrate
1st Paul McFadden
of Algonquin for "On Gossamer Wings"
2nd Fran
Tritthardt of Mundelein for "Argiope"
3rd Laura Hedien of Grayslake
for "Smiling Dragon"
Color Animal Vertebrate
1st Paul McFadden
of Algonquin for "Mississippi River Rockettes"
2nd Fran
Tritthardt of Mundelein for "Nest Building 101"
3rd Laura Hedien of Grayslake
for "Bluebird In Flight"
Color Landscape
1st Ken Olsen of
Palatine for "Autumn in Motion"
2nd Brad Waggoner
of Lindenhurst for "Wildcat Canyon"
3rd Brad Waggoner
of Lindenhurst for "McDonald Woods"
People In Nature
1st Bob Williams
of Huntley for "Watching the Falls - Starved Rock State Park"
2nd Susan
Carpenter of Ringwood for "Quiet Time - Lisle, Illinois"
3rd Ralph Behrens of Lake
Forest for "Botanical Artist at Work - Volo Bog State Natural
Area"
Black & White
1st Paul McFadden
of Algonquin for "ICU2"
2nd Fran
Tritthardt of Mundelein for "Going Fishing"
3rd Brad Waggoner of
Lindenhurst for "Lily with at Heart"
Alteration of Reality
1st Brad Waggoner
of Lindenhurst for "Nature’s Fate"
2nd Fran
Tritthardt of Mundelein for "Textured Pulpit"
3rd Fran Tritthardt of Mundelein for "Nature in Neon!"
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“Autumn in Motion” By Ken Olsen |
“I’m a Lean Mean Fighting Machine” By Paul McFadden |
“Natures Fall Fling” By Paul McFadden |
“On Gossamer Wings” By Paul McFadden |
“Mississippi River Rockettes” By Paul McFadden |
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“Watching the falls’ By Bill Williams |
“ICU2” By Paul McFadden |
“Nature’s Fate” By Brad Waggoner |
“Argiope” By Fran Tritthardt |
“Nest Building 101 By Fran Tritthardt |
“Wildcat Canyon” By Brad Waggoner |
“Quiet Time” Susan Carpenter |
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“Going fishing” By Fran Tritthardt |
“Textured Pulpit” By Fran Tritthardt |
“Nature in Neon” By Fran Tritthardt |
“Tree in a snow storm” By Brad Waggoner |
McDonald Woods By Brad Waggoner |
“Lilt with a Heart” By Brad Waggoner |
Bontanical Artist at Work” By Ralph Behrens |
The winning photos will be on display at Volo
Bog SNA through Friday, March 6 and available for viewing Wednesday - Sunday
from 9:00 a.m - 3:00 p.m. as staff and volunteers are available. Volo Bog’s
photo contest runs from late October through the Friday preceding WinterFest
which is held on the second Sunday each January. Entry forms become available
each September.