Sharing a Core Memory with our Children - Fireflies! cover art

Sharing a Core Memory with our Children - Fireflies!

Sharing a Core Memory with our Children - Fireflies!

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 Here’s a look at COMLARA Park—also known as COMLARA Park & Evergreen Lake—in McLean County, Illinois. It’s a beautiful, multi-use recreational area worth exploring: https://www.camplife.com/campground/comlara ⸻ Overview & Highlights Location & Size • COMLARA Park spans approximately 1,300 acres and includes Evergreen Lake, which is around 925 acres  . Activities & Amenities • Outdoor recreation: You can enjoy camping, swimming, boating, fishing, picnicking, hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian use  . • Boating details: Evergreen Lake features a 10 hp motor limit—great for kayaking, sailboat sailing, and paddleboarding. You’ll need a watercraft registration or you can rent at the boat rental facility . • Beach & concessions: The F.R. Glasener Beach is open daily (no lifeguards—swim at your own risk), and there’s a nearby concession stand . Camping Facilities • The park offers 156 individual campsites and 2 group campsites. Types include: • Electrified sites (30 amp/50 amp) • Non-electric sites • Primitive walk-in and primitive walk-in group camps . • Most campsites are seasonal (April 1 to November 1), but sites 1–33 and group camp areas remain open year-round—except during firearm deer hunt weekends  . Reservations & Fees • Campsite reservations for the 2025 season are now being accepted via online, phone, or in-person at the Visitor Center (8 a.m.–6 p.m. daily) . • Overnight pricing (plus reservation fees): • Electric/50 A: ~$35 in person, ~$38 phone/online • Electric/30 A: ~$32–$35 • Non-electric: ~$29–$32 • McLean County residents get a $2/night discount . Wildlife & Conservation • The park participates in a White-tailed Deer Management Program. Hunting (archery and firearm) helps reduce overpopulation—deer densities can exceed 60 per square mile, far above ecological carrying capacity (15–20)  . • Hunting seasons: • Archery: October 1–November 11, 2025 • Firearm: November 21–23 and December 4–7, 2025 . • During certain seasons, parts or all of the park may close to general public access for hunting safety  . Community Contributions & Projects • Local Boy Scouts have contributed: • A bridge built by Boy Scout Ian Gresham • Fishing line recycling tubes installed by Oliver Weber • Benches added through another Eagle Scout project  . • Bluebird houses and wood duck nesting structures have also been donated by local craftspeople . Fireflies — also called lightning bugs — are one of nature’s most magical evening sights, turning summer nights into sparkling light shows. Despite the name, they’re not flies at all — they’re actually a type of beetle from the family Lampyridae. ⸻ How They Glow • Fireflies produce light through a chemical reaction called bioluminescence, which happens in special light-producing organs in their lower abdomen. • The process involves luciferin, luciferase (an enzyme), oxygen, and ATP (cell energy). • The light is “cold” — meaning it doesn’t give off heat — and can be yellow, green, or even bluish, depending on the species. ⸻ Why They Flash 1. Mating Signals – Each species has its own flash pattern so males and females can recognize each other. 2. Predator Deterrence – The light warns predators that fireflies taste bad or are toxic. 3. Communication – Some species use it to signal territory or other social cues. ⸻ Where You’ll See Them • Fireflies love warm, humid environments with lots of vegetation. • They are often found in meadows, forest edges, and near ponds, rivers, or marshes. • In the U.S., they’re common in the Midwest, South, and parts of the East — but rare in drier western regions. ⸻ Life Cycle • Eggs are laid in soil or leaf litter. • Larvae, sometimes called “glowworms,” live in the soil for 1–2 years, eating snails, worms, and other small creatures. • Adults usually live only a few weeks — just long enough to find a mate and lay eggs. ⸻ Conservation Concerns Firefly populations are declining in some areas due to: • Habitat loss (development, light pollution, pesticide use) • Artificial lighting that disrupts mating signals • Environmental changes from climate shifts ⸻ Fun Facts • Some species synchronize their flashing so hundreds blink together — a breathtaking natural display. • In Japan, fireflies (hotaru) are celebrated as symbols of love and the fleeting beauty of life. • Not all fireflies glow — some use scent instead of light to attract mates. CampH54 is a production of Birdman Media™ www.birdman.media Also check out our newest sponsor - Pinetop Coffee House & Roasting Company
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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.