ALLERTON CORPS OF DISCOVERY Two centuries ago the Midwest served as the start for one of the greatest exploratory endeavors undertaken on the North American continent—the Lewis & Clark Expedition. We will use the Lewis & Clark model to create a 21st century Corps of Discovery to aesthetically document this unique, diverse landscape. The Allerton Corps of Discovery consists of individuals trained in the skills of nature photography, descriptive writing, and sketching/drawing, who can then create a total picture of the river corridor, both today and into the future.
The dynamic, changing landscape of the the University of Illinois' Allerton Park provides a perfect opportunity to the document the biological diversity.
As non-scientists, we shared our 21st Century discoveries in an exhibit of our first impressions of this special place capturing our reactions in a visual story told in writings, photography and original works of art.
The Allerton Corps of Discovery consists of a group of dedicated volunteers who have been trained to document nature and work under the auspices of the Illinois Natural History Survey. Our Mission is to provide an esthetic documentation of the natural beauty and history of the Allerton Park through writing, photography, sketching, and painting, while participating as volunteers in a variety of projects.