HISTORY
In 1998 KWAG (Kennedy Woods Advisory Group) coordinated volunteers who gathered native seed from regional roadside refugee remnants and and together, amid 5 acres of ancient, open grown oaks, we reconstructed our best guess what a native oak savanna, (a grassland with scattered trees) might have been like. Incidentally, of the 27 to 32 million acres of original oak savanna in the midwest, NO EXAMPLE of high quality, deep soil savanna remained!
Between loss of habitat and the spread of invasive plants, few people have the opportunity to experience high quality natural communities that teem with native biodiversity. Everyone should have access, that's why KWAG is continuing to work with Forest Park Forever to bring the Kennedy Woods Savanna to a higher quality state.
WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW
On April 30, 2016, Kennedy Woods Advisory Group reinitiated their collaboration with the Forest Park Forever Ecology Team to revitalize the Kennedy Woods Savanna.
We have a Forest Park Forever (FPF) sponsored volunteer group that continues to work with the ecology team to improvide this unique savanna habitat.
The core restoration group gathers once a month on Saturday mornings (from September through May) from 10am-12pm. Volunteer positions can only be filled by adults over the age of 18 who are willing to undergo 3 hours of FPF training. Monthly participation is preferred.
Participants can expect to develop a greater understanding of and deeper relationship with the natural world, as we work together to improve this unique habitat. Creating a high quality, diverse savanna ecosystem is more important than ever, as it will hold the patterns of what biological diversity means into the future.
There is a core restoration group with monthly participation and a public spring planting event.
Volunteering opportunities will occur on weekends or outside normal business hours
Core Group Training
Core group members receive a 3-hour training session with Forest Park Forever. Those who receive training, will be able to participate in monthly restoration activities under the guidance of FPF and with the leadership of Gary Schimmelpfenig.
Annual Spring Public Planting
Join us for annual April KWAG spring planting. Parents with their children often attend this volunteer opportunity.
GALLERY
Enjoy these images of the Kennedy Woods Savanna from various seasons through the years
