Bug Camp

The Visitors Center at Ryerson. Photo courtesy of Bill Ballard.

A prairie at Ryerson. Photo courtesy of Jane Zimmerman.

The Edward L. Ryerson Conservation Area is owned and operated by the Lake County Forest Preserve District in Northern Illinois. This 550 acre preserve lies along the east bank of the Des Plaines River and includes open fields, prairie restoration, mesic forests, and educational facilities. The Field Museum in Chicago has had a supportive relationship with Ryerson Woods since it was founded. In 1996, "BugCamp" was created to introduce middle school students to the field of entomology.

The Nancy Ryerson Ranney Leadership Grants Program has provided additional funding to the BugCamp program for three consecutive years. Much of the field collecting during the course takes place at Ryerson Woods. In 1997 the BugCamp students created a representative collection and pamphlet of insects common to the area, which now reside at Ryerson Woods.

In 1998 students began a more formal survey of insect diversity at Ryerson Woods. The purpose of the survey was to study the different insects present in three different sized fields over two different collecting seasons. With data collected during this time, we submitted two formal reports (Biodiversity at Ryerson report 1998 and 1999) describing the patterns in insect diversity at Ryerson Woods. Click here to see our summary and recommendations for preserving insect biodiversity at the woods.

For more information on Ryerson Woods visit their website at www.ryersonwoods.com.

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