50th Annual Meeting, October 26-28, 2006

FIELD TRIP INFORMATION

Sign up for field trips on the registration form.  Space is limited.  All trips depart from the Science Center first floor registration area.   Early arrivals may attend pre-conference trip 1 and/or trip 2.

 Trip 1
Mari-Mann Herb Company. 
 Thursday, October 26, 2006,  12:30 pm to 2:30 pm. 
Trip led by Maribeth King, founder of the company. 
Hosted by Dr. Neil Baird, Millikin University. 

This company, which is located 10 minutes from campus, has one of the largest herb gardens and selection of herb products in the Midwest.  Participant will tour the farm and learn about cooking with herbs and the development of non-prescription herbal supplements.  Many herbal products are available in the gift shop.  Mari-Mann website:  www.marimann.com/index.html.

Trip 2
Rock Springs Environmental Center. 
Thursday, October 26, 2006, 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. 
Trip led by Dr. Judy Parrish, Millikin University.

 Rock Springs is the largest conservation area in the county with its 1350 acres.  It is located about 15 minutes from campus.  Participants will hike to see several different ecosystems (coniferous forest, deciduous forest, tall grass prairie, and wetlands).  The historic homestead prairie farm and the visitor center with its museum rooms and ecocenter will also be visited.  Rock Springs website:  www.maconcountyconservation.org/Rock%20Springs.html.

 Trip 3
Birding at one or two of the Macon County conservation areas. 
Friday, October 27, 2006,  7:30 am to 10:00 am. 
Trip led by Dr. David Horn, Millikin University.

Participants will look for late fall migrants and early winter residents in the deciduous woodlands and restored prairie areas of Macon County natural areas.  An open discussion sharing ideas about leading student groups on birding trips will take place during the hike. 

 Trip 4
Behind the Scenes at the Scovill Zoo. 
Friday, October 27, 2006, 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.  T
Trip led by David Webster, assistant director of the zoo.  H
Hosted by Dr. Neil Baird, Millikin University. 
A $2.50 fee will be collected from each person before leaving campus.

 The 15-acre zoo, accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, is located about 20 minutes east of campus.  Participants will tour the zoo and hear from the assistant director about acquiring animals, maintaining animals, education programs in the community, training keepers, working with volunteers, and cooperative programs with other zoos.  Zoo website:  www.decatur-parks.org/zoo/index.php.

 Trip 5
Shopping Excursion to downtown Decatur. 
Friday, October 27, 2006, 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. 
Trip led by Karen Baird, Richland Community College.

 Participants will explore the 10,000 square feet of antique shops located in Decatur’s former Wabash Railroad Depot.  The group will also browse the quaint neighborhood shops of Merchant Street located in downtown Decatur.

Trip 6
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum located in Springfield, IL (one hour west of Decatur). 

 This is an optional field trip on your own before or after the ACUBE meeting.  Open for less than a year, the excellent Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum has drawn more than 500,000 visitors from all over the world.  The museum is open seven days a week from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.  Museum website:  www.alplm.org.

 Return to Meeting Home Page