CAMP LFOLA

“AS WE WERE CLEANING UP last year’s Cattails & Cocktails, Tyler said to me ‘Hey Heidi, what do you think of Camp LFOLA? I think that would make a great theme for next year,’” recalls Heidi Clifton, who is co-chairing the upcoming Lake Forest Open Lands Association’s (LFOLA) Cattails & Cocktails with Tyler Lisenby. “Tyler has such a deep connection to the outdoors and had the vision for the whole event this year—it’s where he shines.”

This year’s Cattails & Cocktails, “Camp LFOLA,” will take place on Friday, May 17, at the Mellody Farm Nature Preserve. Comfort foods, camp-like games (including a Jenga game built by Lisenby), and live music are planned with the goal of bringing the whole community together. The evening will end with s’mores by the fire.

“I think ‘Camp LFOLA’ is a theme everyone can relate to,” Lisenby explains. “It’s a nod to why many of us feel so connected to Open Lands and its mission. I might have some of the ideas, but Heidi is the one who gets things done! We also have the whole Associate Board supporting us and then some. It’s going to be a great time.”

LFOLA is an independently funded conservation and educational organization devoted to the acquisition and stewardship of Lake Forest’s natural landscapes, and to ensuring all generations have a meaningful, lasting connection to nature and the land. The Associate Board, composed of 34 members, supports the efforts of LFOLA’s Board of Directors.

Both Clifton and Lisenby are relative newcomers to Lake Forest, both having moved to the area with their families in the last 10 years.

“It’s such a great resource to have all of this open space— it’s what drew my family to Lake Forest,” Lisenby says. “You have a lot of choices along the North Shore, but Lake Forest is really the only place where we have so much natural open space. And I love the mission—obviously the focus on conservation is important but there is also an emphasis on education. I love that there is programming for kids starting at a young age. If you can plant those seeds early—no pun intended—that grows into a real love of nature and a desire to make good decisions about it for the rest of their lives.”

The Cattails & Cocktails committee rented the largest tent they could find for Mellody Farm Nature Preserve. It will be decorated like a camp mess hall so that guests have an authentic summer camp experience. Additionally, because sustainability is part of the LFOLA’s mission, all tableware and serving pieces will be recyclable.

“Cattails & Cocktails will take place rain or shine,” Clifton adds, hoping people will arrive in their jeans, flannels, and wellies. “But the weather is never an issue if you’re well prepared.”

In anticipation of Cattails & Cocktails, the Associate Board will once again be hosting Cattails & Kiddies on May Children attending will make artwork painting on mini oars that will be used to decorate the May 17 event.

Tickets for Cattails & Cocktails are now available for purchase. The Associate Board has discounted the ticket price for LFOLA members and built in an annual membership to tickets for non-members.

All proceeds from the event go to support LFOLA’s conservation mission to connect people to nature. Since its establishment in 1967, LFOLA has permanently preserved, restored, and maintained more than 900 acres of local native landscapes including prairies, savannas, woodlands, wetlands, and ravines for the benefit and enjoyment of the local communities.

There are more than 14 miles of walking trails that are open to the public year-round. Considered a leader among land trusts, Lake Forest Open Lands often serves as a resource to other emerging conservation groups in communities nationwide.

“We’re hoping our more casual event will encourage people to check out LFOLA and enjoy our open spaces all year long,” Clifton says. “Hopefully, we’ll see lots of new faces at Camp LFOLA.”

LFOLA is grateful to PCA for being the presenting sponsor for Cattails & Cocktails and Chalet and Knauz Autopark for being silver sponsors. To purchase your ticket to Cattails & Cocktails, to sponsor a portion of the evening, or to make a donation, call 847-234-3880, ext. 17, or visit lfola.org.