Nature Quilt Exhibit and Lisa's Nature Library

 

The Nature Quilt Project of Macomb, Illinois has created 4 quilts with the help of over 400 students from 5 schools.  The Nature Quilt Project is the story of two dreams:  a dream of protecting and expanding the Children's Eternal Rainforest of Costa Rica and a dream about engaging youth in protecting habitat in their own backyard.   The mission of the project is to “sew partners together to help kids understand the interconnection between people and the natural world around them and to protect or restore native habitats at home and abroad.”

They have created four quilts:  1. The Rainforest Quilt in 2008;  2. the Rivers & Streams Quilt in 2009; 3. the Prairie Quilt in 2010; and 4.  the Woodlands Quilt in 2011-12. 

LLA met the quilt volunteers through the Prairie Land Conservancy in Macomb, Illinois. and we are very fortunate to have these quilts  on extended loan.  The members of the Quilt Project have also provided us with children's books that relate to the topic of each quilt.  We have used these as the foundation of our Youth Library, named for Lisa Stocking Gruver, located in the second floor open area.  A generous gift from the 577 Foundation and the Stocking Family allow us to purchase additional books and develop programs for young people.  The work we do would not be possible without the support of organizations and friends like these.

About Lisa

Before settling in Macomb, Illinois, Lisa Gruver worked in Costa Rica with students on environmental education projects concerning the threatened Monteverde Cloud Forest.  In Macomb, she brought her love of the rainforest along and became the driving force in the creation of the first quilt.

In the process, she realized that the kids did not know the "nature" of their own homeland.  So, to help them appreciate their local landscape, more quilts were planned.  Lisa studied Aldo Leopold.  The tall yellow flower in the middle of the prairie quilt is a compass plant, a favorite of Aldo's.  It was with these connections in mind that the quilts were loaned to Burlington.

Project History

The Project started in April 2008 when Rachel Crandell, President of Monteverde Conservation League, U.S. gave a presentation about the Children's Eternal Rainforest at Macomb Illinois' annual Earth Day Fair.  One of the activities at the fair was quilt square painting.  Two months later over 200 children in the area had participated in making a two sided 6.5 ft. by 7 ft. quilt.  The quilt centerpieces features two children's books on tropical rainforests, while surrounding squares were hand-painted by children.  It was a celebration of the Children's Eternal Rainforest of Costa Rica--a 54,000 acres preserve which children from 44 countries helped to establish in the late 1980's.  Sponsorship of quilt border squares by local individuals, organizations, and businesses raised money to contribute to the Children's Eternal Rainforest, local conservation projects, and purchase the library of children's conservation books that accompany the theme of each quilt. 

Other quilts have followed a similar format and continued to make donations to the Rainforest and local conservation projects.  The creation of each quilt was accompanied by guest speakers and student field trips.  Besides creating the artwork, students participated in water quality studies, helped to plant a prairie, read, wrote poetry, sewed, and acted out the story of one of the conservation books.   Students from 5 grade schools, the YMCA program, Wesley Adult Day Care, and Earth Day Celebrations all worked on quilt squares.  It is estimated that about 400 youth participated in creating the Rivers and Streams Quilt which includes 294 squares.  

If your organization or school class is interested in creating your own conservation quilts, The Nature Quilt Project has created an excellent hand-out for you.  It lays out a timeline of quilt work and suggested activities throughout the year.  We will post it here, but in the meantime, if you would like a copy, just email bushbaby56@hotmail.com and we will send it to you. 

We thank the Nature Quilt Project for loaning the quilts and books to us.  They are on display in the Leopold House and have stimulated much conversation about Leopold's continued relevance for today's youth.

 

Lisa's Nature Library

     Bookcases by woodworker, Philip Eves.  Bird Carvings by artist, Dean Hurliman.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictured above is the “Prairie Quilt” created by The Nature Quilt Project                                                    and students (3rd through 7th graders) in the Macomb, IL School District. 

 

The Rivers and Streams Quilt