After an exciting two-hour trek on the CTA, the nomadic class arrived at LaBagh Woods on the Northwest side of Chicago.
One of Chicago’s forest preserves, LaBagh woods is an oak savanna situated within feet of the Edens expressway. Joni Martin,
Education Coordinator for Friends of the Chicago River, a local non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and improving the River, met the class on site to serve as a guide. While sitting next to the lazy north branch of the Chicago River, Joni gave us a history of the river, its politics and its pollution. Bringing the class up to date to the present day, Joni discussed the unacceptable current state of the river, problems with diffuse non-point source pollution and combined sewer overflows. After walking a bit of the trails, the class examined some benthic macroinvertebrates, organisms that are key to measuring the water quality of a given area. Some other highlights of the tour include close encounters with bats, brave deer and a skilled bird caller.

Elizabeth Santori