Tours

- 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.

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

-Legally Permitted Fossil Collecting in the Mazon Creek Area, Northeastern Illinois. Sunday 20 April 2008, 11:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. This is the Guild's most popular fossil dig, with frequent early reservation sellouts -- so reserve without delay! On this foray we will visit two productive sites in this world-famous locale. In past years, these spots have yielded many 290-million-year-old, Pennsylvanian-period plant and animal fossils, including more than one Tully monster. As always, we'll meet in their own vehicles at a clearly delineated rendezvous spot just off Interstate 55 in southern Will County. The we will proceed by car caravan the short distance to our first dig site. On the day of the event all participants receive detailed maps and fossil-identification handouts at no extra charge. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 100.

- 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 4 May 2008, 1:00-3:30 p.m. Last year, the Guild dramatically expanded the range of its popular urban- and suburban-geology hikes, to introduce residents in a variety of communities to the origins and significance of their own neighborhoods. The response was gratifying, so we're presenting a full slate of venues again in 2008. The lovely town of Elmhurst is 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.

- 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

- Kettle Moraine and the Door Peninsula, WI. Friday 16-Sunday 18 May 2008. Join us for one of the Guild's longest-running and most popular weekend tours -- which we always make a point of doing in Mid-May, before the horde of other visitors arrives beginning with the Memorial Day weekend. We first visit Horicon Marsh for superb birdwatching (typically including sandhill cranes and bald eagles) and the northern unit of Kettle Moraine State Forest. There we'll examine a sphagnum bog and one of the planet's best places to see such Ice Age landforms as kames, kettles, and eskers. Then we'll explore the Door Peninsula's magnificent state parks and sanctuaries, and see exquisitely rare wildflower species, endemic to the northern Great Lakes, in full bloom. Guild members may obtain a free copy of the tour prospectus by contacting Ray. If you're not a member, you can order a printed copy for the postage-and-processing fee of $15.00, which will be refunded if you attend the tour. The tour fee does not include lodging, park entrance fees, or shared fuel costs. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 300.

- I'm a Guild Adult Member and I'd Like to Register for $229.50

- I'm a Guild Student Member and I'd Like to Register for $178.50

- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Enroll for $255.00

- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Order a Prospectus

- I'm Not a Guild Member but I'd Like to Learn More about Membership 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

- Nachusa Grasslands Preserve, Illinois

- Marengo Ridge Preserve, Illinois

- Illinois Beach State Park, Illinois

- Downtown Chicago, Illinois (architectural geology)

- 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

PLEASE NOTE: Natural History Exploration Guild members receive significant fee discounts on tours in this section. If you'd like to register for a tour, do so by clicking the appropriate "Add to Shopping Cart" button below and using either your credit card or your PayPal account. Also, you can contact Guild Director Ray Wiggers for instructions on how to mail in your check or money order instead.

-Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin. Thursday 19 -Sunday 22 June 2008. Simply put, this is the jewel in the Guild's crown of weekend tours. Our exploration of Minnesota's geologically and botanically incomparable North Shore is bracketed by intriguing stops at such scenic Wisconsin locales as Amnicon Falls State Park and Castle Rock -- a spine of Cambrian sandstone that was once an island in Ancient Lake Wisconsin. Our extended leg in Minnesota includes a variety of park stops along the Lake Superior littoral, as well as a foray into Mesabi Iron Range and a visit to the underground Soudan State Park mine. Guild members may obtain a free copy of the tour prospectus by contacting Ray. If you're not a member, you can order a printed copy for the postage-and-processing fee of $15.00, which will be refunded if you attend the tour. The tour fee does not include lodging, park entrance fees, or shared fuel costs. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 400.

- I'm a Guild Adult Member and I'd Like to Register for $346.50

- I'm a Guild Student Member and I'd Like to Register for $269.50

- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Enroll for $385.00

- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Order a Prospectus

- I'm Not a Guild Member but I'd Like to Learn More about Membership CLICK HERE

- City of Stone and Clay: Evanston, Illinois. Thursday 26 June 2008, 6:30- 8:30 p.m. This walking tour, offered as part of Oakton Community College's Emeritus Program, is similar in format and scope to the Guild's "City of Stone and Clay" events (see above).We'll meet in Evanston's Centennial Park, just south of the Northwestern University campus, and first discuss the geologic origins of Lake Michigan and the terrain that borders it. Then we'll proceed downtown to examine excellent examples of architectural cladding and ornamentation that incudes exotic stone types from the Old World as well as beautifully crafted terra cotta decoration. And we will also see how the forces of climate and weathering conspire to degrade the attractiveness and functionality of these structures. For more information and to register, call the Oakton Emeritus Program office at (847) 635-1414. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 100.

-Starved Rock State Park, Illinois. Saturday 19 April 2008, 9:30 a.m.-noon. This perennial Guild favorite features three short hikes: to the top of Starved Rock and up two awe-inspiring sandstone canyons. We'll learn fascinating aspects of this famous park's geology; we'll also take a good look at the impressive spring wildflower community here.(Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 100.

- 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

-Matthiessen State Park, Illinois. Saturday 19 April 2008, 1:00-3:30 p.m. This site, not as well known as nearby Starved Rock, is a scenic, secluded paradise for geologists and botanists. Its canyon vistas are even more impressive, and the park's location, perched atop a great downwarp in the Earth's crust, reveals secrets of ancient history hard to discover elsewhere in the Midwest. A must for every naturalist! (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 100.

- 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

-Illinois Beach State Park, Illinois: Southern Unit. Saturday 31 May 2008, 9:30 a.m.-noon. The end of May is the glory time of Illinois Beach: native blue lupines, wild phlox, Indian paintbrush, and a host of other fascinating prairie and savanna plants are in full bloom. This morning component of our full day devoted to this ecologically priceless park will be held in the southern-unit nature preserve. The locale is renowned for its well-preserved beach ridges -- one of the geologic highlights we'll discuss -- and for its amazing biologic diversity. Here's your perfect chance to see why this stretch of the Lake Michigan is so beloved of naturalists -- and why it offers important clues to the original appearance of Chicago, thirty-five miles to the south. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 100.

- 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

-Illinois Beach State Park, Illinois: Northern Unit. Saturday 31 May 2008, 1:00-3:30 p.m. This less frequented visited section of the park -- once Camp Logan, a Civil War prisoner-of-war camp and later an army-tank training facility -- is nothing less than a revelation to those who have only visited the southern unit. Our afternoon stroll features sweeping views of the northernmost stretch of Illinois' lakeshore, abundant wildlife (everything from coyotes and sandhill cranes to orioles and ant lions) and outstanding wetland, prairie, and savanna communities of plants, mushrooms, and lichens. Among the highlights of this hike is a first-hand look at the modern advances and challenges in restoring a fragile ecosystem. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 100.

- 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 Loop and Environs, Chicago, Illinois. Saturday 10 May 2008, 9:30 a.m.-noon. This tour of the Loop and South Michigan Avenue is the walk that started it all. Join us on this perennial favorite of a tour as we take a lingering look at some of America's greatest architectural masterpieces from the perspective of the materials they're made of, and the natural processes that work upon them. We'll also discuss the role of ancient Lake Chicago and the notoriously unstable sediments in which the city's soaring skyline stands. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 100.

- 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: Kenosha, Wisconsin. Sunday 1 June 2008, 1:00-3:30 p.m. Beginning at Kenosha's waterfront, we'll consider the ancient origins of Lake Michigan, the Pike River, and the terrain that borders them. Then we'll stroll into Kenosha's downtown -- an interesting mixture of older neighborhoods and new attempts at urban revitalization -- and look at some excellent examples of architectural terra cotta and ornamental stone. And we'll also see how the forces of climate and weathering conspire to degrade the attractiveness and functionality of these materials. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 100.

- 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: Highland Park and Fort Sheridan, Illinois. Sunday 29 June 2008, 1:00-3:30 p.m. Beginning at the Highland Park waterfront, we'll consider the ancient origins of Lake Michigan and the terrain that borders it. Then we'll stroll into Highland Park's downtown area to discuss the use of ornamental stone and other architectural materials. In the tour's second half, we'll drive in our own vehicles just up the road to Fort Sheridan, where we'll visit its Army cemetery, one of Lake County's most fascinating historical sites. Our scrutiny of Its headstones will provide insights into American history and cultural patterns, and into economic geology and the relentless forces of climate and weathering as well. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 100.

- 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