- In the unlikely event the Guild management decides an event must be canceled due to any unforeseen circumstance, you will promptly receive your refund in full by Guild check via the U. S. Mail.
- Enrollees who cancel ten or more days before the event will receive a refund, by Guild check via U. S. Mail, of their payment minus the PayPal processing fee (if applicable) and an additional $5.00 postage-and-administration charge.
- Sorry, but no refunds can be issued to enrollees who cancel less than ten days before the event.
NATURAL HISTORY
EXPLORATION GUILD
EVENT REFUND POLICY
Nor let it be thought that any devotion to paleontology -- to the 'stocks and stones' of the sneerers at science -- will ever lessen our love for the fresh and beautiful in existing nature. . . . As the existing throws new light on the extinct, so the extinct adds fresh interest to the existing; and thus, to the paleontologist, the study of life becomes not only a more exciting pursuit, but a higher and more ennobling theme.
- David Page, The Past and Present Life of the Globe, 1861
-Midsummer Fossil Dig in Northern Illinois. Tentatively scheduled for Saturday 26 July 20 April 2008, 11:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. We're now in the negotiation process for this summer fossil dig. As soon as our plans are firmed up, we'll notify you by Guild newsletter update. If you're not already on our free newsletter subscription list, drop Ray Wiggers a line and we'll make sure you're included. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 100.Hiking minimal. Expect some physical exertion in an exposed and dusty to muddy location without washing or bathroom facilities.
- I'm a Guild Adult Member and I'd Like to Register for $40.50
- I'm a Guild Student Member and I'd Like to Register for $31.50
- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Enroll for $45.00
- I'm Not a Guild Member but I'd Like to Learn More about Membership CLICK HERE
- City of Stone and Clay: Elmhurst, Illinois. Sunday 24 August 2008, 1:00-3:30 p.m. This suburban-geology hike in the lovely town of Elmhurst is another one of our new offerings. We'll discuss the roles of both the ancient Silurian sea and the latest Ice Age glacier in the formation and reshaping of the local landscape. Then we'll take a close look at the downtown area and the Elmhurst College campus. In each of these places we'll discover amazing chapters of history revealed in the brickwork, ornamental stone, and concrete of its buildings and roads. And we'll also see how the forces of climate and weathering conspire to degrade the attractiveness and functionality of these structures. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.)Guild Proficiency Points: 100.Hiking up to 1 mile on town and campus sidewalks, on flat terrain.
- I'm a Guild Adult Member and I'd Like to Register for $31.50
- I'm a Guild Student Member and I'd Like to Register for $24.50
- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Enroll for $35.00
- I'm Not a Guild Member but I'd Like to Learn More about Membership CLICK HERE
This series of excursions is designed to give fossil enthusiasts professional guidance in the locating, collecting, and identification of specimens at legally permitted sites.
- Lake Michigan Car-Ferry Crossing and Sleeping Bear Dunes. Friday 12-Sunday 14 September 2008.This is a new Guild offering -- and one we've been eager to program for several years now. We'll be traveling by van and, from Manitowoc Wisconsin to Ludington, Michigan and back again, aboard the car ferry S.S. Badger. We'll be staying on Friday and Saturday nights in the vicinity of Traverse Bay, Michigan, and spending the bulk of Saturday at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, where we'll explore the fascinating geology, botany, and wildlife of this magnificent locale. Guild Proficiency Points: 300. Maximum number of participants: 5. Hiking up to 2 miles per day in hilly terrain and high light exposure.
If you're an active Guild member and would like a free prospectus, click here.
- Northeastern Minnesota & the Mesabi Iron Range
- Northern Iowa and Southern Minnesota
- Wisconsin's Baraboo Hills & Driftless Area
- Coral Woods Preserve, Illinois
- Starved Rock & Matthiessen State Parks, Illinois
- Shawnee National Forest & Environs, Southern Illinois
- Hyde Park District of Chicago, Illinois (architectural geology)
- Volo Bog State Natural Area, Illinois
- Kettle Moraine & Door Peninsula, Wisconsin
- The Fox River of Illinois (natural-history canoe trip)
- The Illinois and Michigan Canal (natural-history canoe trip)
- Nippersink Creek, Illinois (natural-history canoe trip)
- Orchid Growers of the Chicago Region
- Kenosha Sand Dunes Preserve, Wisconsin
- Oakwood Hills Fen, Illinois
- Legally Permitted Fossil Collecting in the Mazon Creek Region, Illinois
- Legally Permitted Fossil Collecting in La Salle County, Illinois
Guild Tours in 2004-7 Have Included
Over 700 Participants & These Venues:
GUILD "MEMBER REWARDS"
WEEKEND TRIPS
THE"FOSSIL FINDERS" SERIES
- Half- to Full-Day Fossil-Collecting Events -
Beginning this summer, we've instituted a new approach to weekend trips: we're running them as a reward to Guild members who have participated in three or more other events in the past twelve months. Costs per participant are pitched as low as possible, to just barely cover the Guild's operating and administrative costs for these tours. In other words, these trips are designed primarily as a hearty (and fun and educational) "thank you!" for NHEG members who've directly contributed to the vibrancy of our organization.
Actively participating NHEG members are encouraged to request a prospectus that delineates the itineraries, costs, lodging options, and transportation arrangements for the trips listed below.
THE "MINI-TREK" SERIES
- Nature Hikes at Scenic & Significant Sites -
To See A Listing of Previous Guild Tours,
Which Have Involved More than 1000 Participants, Click Here.
-Wisconsin's Baraboo Range and Driftless Area. Friday 24 -Sunday 26 October 2008. Last year, after we ran our umpteenth version of this trip, we planned to give it a break for at least a couple of years. But here, by Guild-member request, is our newly added 2008 version, which includes transportation by minivan. This favorite itinerary includes a look at one of the Badger State's best drumlin fields, a Louis Sullivan architectural masterpiece, Devil's State Park, Parfrey's Glen, the Cave of the Mounds, and the Platteville Mining Museum. We'll explore the fascinating Precambrian, Paleozoic, and Ice Age geology of this scenic region and explore its varied plant communities during the height of the fall-foliage season. Guild Proficiency Points: 300. Maximum number of participants: 5. Hiking up to 3 miles per day in hilly terrain and in mostly wooded locales.
If you're an active Guild member and would like a free prospectus, click here.
-Warren Dunes State Park, Michigan. Saturday 2 August 2008, 9:30 a.m.-noon. This perennial Guild favorite, in the southwesternmost section of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, features a walk up the geologically and botanically rich Mount Randall Trail, where we'll see lofty, forested dunes and breathtaking views of Lake Michigan and the giant blowouts nearby. On our return leg, we'll hike over an active dune field to examine both the science of dune formation and nature's own artistry in its singing sands. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 100.Hiking up to 1.5 miles in firm soil to loose sand, and on hilly, forested to exposed terrain.
- I'm a Guild Adult Member and I'd Like to Register for $31.50
- I'm a Guild Student Member and I'd Like to Register for $24.50
- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Enroll for $35.00
- I'm Not a Guild Member but I'd Like to Learn More about Membership CLICK HERE
-City of Stone and Clay: The Magnificent Mile, Chicago, Illinois. Sunday 2 November 2008, 1:00-3:30 p.m. Now a certified hit with Guild participants, this sequel to our springtime Loop tour is now one of our annual events. The tour begins with an ascent of the 100-story John Hancock Center, where we'll get a panoramic view of three states from the Hancock Observatory. It's the perfect place to discuss the Windy's City's geologic origins and the evolution of the Lake Michigan coastline. Then we'll take a walk down North Michigan Avenue, to explore the Magnificent Mile's architectural landmarks and the ornamental stone that adorns them. We'll find fossils from a vanished sea, evidence of continental collision and ancient mountain building, and signature examples of Chicagoland's turn-of-the-century terra-cotta artisans. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.)Guild Proficiency Points: 100.Hiking up to 0.5 mile on city sidewalks, on flat terrain.
- I'm a Guild Adult Member and I'd Like to Register for $31.50
- I'm a Guild Student Member and I'd Like to Register for $24.50
- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Enroll for $35.00
- I'm Not a Guild Member but I'd Like to Learn More about Membership CLICK HERE
- City of Stone and Clay: Racine, Wisconsin. Sunday 19 October 2008, 1:00-3:30 p.m. Beginning at Racine's waterfront, we'll consider the ancient origins of Lake Michigan and the evolution of the city's modern coastline. Then we'll stroll into Racine's downtown, where we'll find nothing less than an open-air museum of exotic ornamental stone -- including rock types that originated in the Earth's mantle, and those that, at 3.6 billion years old, are among the oldest remnant's of the Earth's crust. We will also search for evidence of how southwestern Wisconsin's challenging climate conspires to degrade the appearance and functionality of these materials.(Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 100.Hiking up to 0.5 mile on city sidewalks, on flat terrain.
- I'm a Guild Adult Member and I'd Like to Register for $31.50
- I'm a Guild Student Member and I'd Like to Register for $24.50
- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Enroll for $35.00
- I'm Not a Guild Member but I'd Like to Learn More about Membership CLICK HERE
- SIGN UP HERE FOR THE GUILD E-NEWSLETTER LISTING UPCOMING EVENTS -
-Tuttle Clarkson Natural Area, Boone County, Illinois. Saturday 19 July 2008, 9:30 -11:30 a.m. This new Guild offering features a intriguing if little-known locale with a fen and marsh boardwalk and outstanding opportunities for midsummer botanizing, nature photography, and wildlife-spotting. Located just off Route 173 and just to the east of Interstate 90 and the greater Rockford metropolitan area, the Tuttle Clarkson preserve is a site you'll quickly learn to love. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 100. Hiking up to 0.5 mile on flat, exposed terrain.
- I'm a Guild Adult Member and I'd Like to Register for $31.50
- I'm a Guild Student Member and I'd Like to Register for $24.50
- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Enroll for $35.00
- I'm Not a Guild Member but I'd Like to Learn More about Membership CLICK HERE
- Harlem Hills Nature Preserve, Winnebago County, Illinois. Saturday 19 July 2008, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Here's another new Guild venue -- and one which is among the most notable examples of gravel prairie in the Upper Midwest. This unusual habitat, a superb example of the interaction of geology and living communities, is underlain by well-drained, alkaline soils and is home to an unusual array of rare prairie plants -- some of which should be blooming during our visit. The Harlem Hills Preserve is located northeast of downtown Rockford, near Rock Cut State Park. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 100.Hiking up to 0.5 mile on hilly, exposed terrain.
- I'm a Guild Adult Member and I'd Like to Register for $31.50
- I'm a Guild Student Member and I'd Like to Register for $24.50
- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Enroll for $35.00
- I'm Not a Guild Member but I'd Like to Learn More about Membership CLICK HERE
ALSO NOTE
THE
COMPANION TUTTLE CLARKSON
MINI-TREK LISTED DIRECTLY
ABOVE!
- Warren Woods State Natural Area, Michigan. Saturday 2 August 2008, 1:00 - 3:30 p.m. No Guild visit to Michigan's Berrien County -- just an hour and a half by car from Chicago's Loop --would be complete without a lingering look at this majestic stand of old-growth, maple-beech forest. We'll examine and discuss this awe-inspiring community of giant trees, abundant wildflowers, and colorful mushrooms, and we'll also explore the role the Galien River has played in shaping the local landscape. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 100.Hiking up to 1 mile in firm to muddy soil, and on flat to slightly hilly, heavily forested terrain.
- I'm a Guild Adult Member and I'd Like to Register for $31.50
- I'm a Guild Student Member and I'd Like to Register for $24.50
- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Enroll for $35.00
- I'm Not a Guild Member but I'd Like to Learn More about Membership CLICK HERE
ALSO NOTE
THE
COMPANION WARREN WOODS
MINI-TREK LISTED DIRECTLY
BELOW!
ALSO NOTE
THE
COMPANION WARREN DUNES
STATE PARK
MINI-TREK LISTED DIRECTLY
ABOVE!
- Indiana Dunes State Park, Part I. Sunday 3 August 2008, 9:30 a.m.-noon. Here's another perennial summertime favorite. Our focus for the day is the less trammeled parkland that is the elder sibling of the adjacent National Lakeshore. This morning component is devoted to a leisurely hike on a well-defined path, from the beach parking lot over giant dunes, to observe a classic succession sequence -- from beach grasses to black-oak savanna to lowland woods. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 100.Hiking up to 1 mile in firm soil to loose sand, and on hilly, exposed to forested terrain.
- I'm a Guild Adult Member and I'd Like to Register for $31.50
- I'm a Guild Student Member and I'd Like to Register for $24.50
- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Enroll for $35.00
- I'm Not a Guild Member but I'd Like to Learn More about Membership CLICK HERE
- Indiana Dunes State Park, Part II. Sunday 3 August 2008, 1:00-3:30 p.m. The second installment of our day at Indiana Dunes takes us to a distinctly different section of the park -- one which features spectacular old-growth forest, late-summer mushrooms, and a half-mile, high-and-dry boardwalk through one of the most beautiful swamp habitats in the Midwest. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 100.Hiking up to 2.5 miles in firm to muddy soil and on a well-maintained boardwalk, on flat, forested terrain.
- I'm a Guild Adult Member and I'd Like to Register for $31.50
- I'm a Guild Student Member and I'd Like to Register for $24.50
- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Enroll for $35.00
- I'm Not a Guild Member but I'd Like to Learn More about Membership CLICK HERE
ALSO NOTE
THE
COMPANION INDIANA DUNES, PART II
LISTED DIRECTLY
BELOW!
ALSO NOTE
THE
COMPANION INDIANA DUNES, PART I
LISTED DIRECTLY
ABOVE!
- City of Stone and Clay: Lockport, Illinois. Sunday 27 July 2008, 1:00-3:30 p.m. Lockport is a town steeped in history -- both geologic and human. Situated in greater Chicagoland's famous quarry district and the old-time headquarters of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, this handsome Des Plaines River town has excellent examples of nineteenth-century commercial and church architecture, clad in ornamental stone both local and exotic. A visit to the bedrock mini-canyon in Dellwood Park will follow our stroll around the downtown area and the canal-building complex. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.)Guild Proficiency Points: 100.Hiking up to 1 mile on town street and in firm to muddy soil, on flat terrain.
- I'm a Guild Adult Member and I'd Like to Register for $31.50
- I'm a Guild Student Member and I'd Like to Register for $24.50
- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Enroll for $35.00
- I'm Not a Guild Member but I'd Like to Learn More about Membership CLICK HERE
- City of Stone and Clay: Oswego, Illinois. Saturday 16 August 2008, 9:30 a.m.-noon. The Fox River community of Oswego boasts both a number of interesting brick- and stone-clad buildings and, in a sheltered streamside locale, nothing less than the contact point between two geologic periods: the Ordovician and the Silurian. We will also discuss the Ice Age origins of the Fox River in Oswego's waterfront park. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.)Guild Proficiency Points: 100.Hiking up to 1 mile on town sidewalks and in firm to muddy soil, on mostly flat terrain.
- I'm a Guild Adult Member and I'd Like to Register for $31.50
- I'm a Guild Student Member and I'd Like to Register for $24.50
- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Enroll for $35.00
- I'm Not a Guild Member but I'd Like to Learn More about Membership CLICK HERE
- City of Stone and Clay: Lake Forest, Illinois. Saturday 20 September 2008, 10:00 a.m.-noon. This tour is the perfect sequel to the Guild's Highland Park and Fort Sheridan walkabout, held earlier this summer. World-renowned for its residential and commercial architecture, Lake Forest is also a showplace of ornamental stone, geologic processes visibly in action, and Ice Age landforms. We'll start our stroll downtown and then visit outstanding examples of architectural geology on the Lake Forest College campus. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.)Guild Proficiency Points: 100.Hiking up to 1 mile on town and campus sidewalks, on flat terrain.
- I'm a Guild Adult Member and I'd Like to Register for $31.50
- I'm a Guild Student Member and I'd Like to Register for $24.50
- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Enroll for $35.00
- I'm Not a Guild Member but I'd Like to Learn More about Membership CLICK HERE
- City of Stone and Rockford, Illinois. Sunday 28 September 2008, 1:00-3:30 p.m. It's our first Rock River Valley urban-geology walk, and what better place to start than the great residential and industrial center of Rockford. We'll meet downtown and explore the geologic origins of this historic community, and then we'll examine the ornamental brickwork, terra cotta and stone cladding of some of the city's most distinctive buildings. In the process we will discover some amazingly exotic clues to the early history of the Earth.(Please note the standard Guild refund policy.)Guild Proficiency Points: 100.Hiking up to 0.5 mile on city sidewalks, on flat terrain.
- I'm a Guild Adult Member and I'd Like to Register for $31.50
- I'm a Guild Student Member and I'd Like to Register for $24.50
- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Enroll for $35.00
- I'm Not a Guild Member but I'd Like to Learn More about Membership CLICK HERE
Upcoming Tours at a Glance: A Quick Chronological Listing
Date Day Go to the Full Description by Clicking Below
