The search for rare mussels

We've teamed up with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County to boost local freshwater mussel populations

Learn more

WHAT TO DO

Get moving

WHERE TO GO

Map your next adventure

FETCH A PERMIT

Plan your outing

Fish Hidden Lakes Under the Stars

July 19

Midnight Madness

July 19

Wet Exit Kayak Rescues

July 24

More events

IN THE NEWS

Hybrid turtle 'Theodorable' serves as warning: Don’t dump pets in preserves

A hybrid box turtle was removed from a Will County preserve to protect a threatened species. Now living at Isle a la Cache Museum, he serves as an ambassador to educate the public about the dangers of releasing pet turtles into the wild.

The buzz on cicadas: How this year's insects are different than last summer's headliners

That buzz you hear coming from the trees in your yard is coming from cicadas, but not the same kind of cicadas that were making headlines last year. These cicadas, called dog-day cicadas, emerge every summer, alerting us to their presence with their well-known buzzing sound.

Be a Trailblazer turns outdoor fun into a family affair

Liz Lyons of New Lenox has turned the Forest Preserve District’s Be a Trailblazer challenge into a fun-filled family tradition. From dancing in the rain to spotting tiny critters on the trail, challenge missions have become cherished memories.