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A few of the Take It Outside challenge first-place winners.
800 participants get serious 'Winter Workout' in first seasonal Take It Outside Challenge
4/5/2024Read moreThe winter Take It Outside Challenge ended March 30 with more than 30 people completing all 110 missions to land in first place. The next seasonal challenge starts April 14.
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A cinnamon teal, with its brown body, is seen in the middle surrounded by blue-winged teals.
Rare bird alert: For first time ever, cinnamon teal spotted in Will County
4/2/2024Read moreA cinnamon teal has been spotted in Crete, which is the first time this bird has ever been reported in Will County.
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A man organizes plants for sale.
Stock up on native species this spring with Foundation's online plant sale
3/28/2024Read moreThe Nature Foundation of Will County's online spring plant sale runs through April 27 with plant pickup dates on May 18 and 19 at Isle a la Cache in Romeoville. An in-person plant sale will be held on the plant pickup dates.
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Illustration of an earth and tree being held in hands
Celebrate Earth Day month with a Forest Preserve program
3/22/2024Read moreThe Forest Preserve District will offer a variety of Earth Day month programs that are focused on clean-ups, recycling, upcycling and invasive species control.
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Three volunteers clean up brush in a forest.
Sign up for a Volunteer Morning program to get fresh air and make a difference
3/21/2024Read moreThe second quarter 2024 Volunteer Morning programs have been released. Program participants get fresh air and exercise and they enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded individuals who want to make a difference in their communities.
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A large collection of fishing line waiting to be recycled.
Recycle your fishing line to avoid injuring or killing wildlife
3/17/2024Read moreThe Forest Preserve District has 30 fishing line recycling containers installed at fishing locations for anglers to properly dispose of their broken or unneeded monofilament. The goal is to eliminate fishing line from the environment and to protect wildlife in the preserves.
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A dump truck hauling dirt driving through a construction zone.
I&M Canal State Trail and Lake Chaminwood loop trail sections closed for connection project
3/15/2024Read moreSections of the I&M Canal State Trail and the Lake Chaminwood loop trail in Channahon are closed for a Forest Preserve District trail connection project.
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A white and brown dog walks on a path
Leash your dog in the preserves or risk being ticketed
3/8/2024Read moreOff-leash dogs are not allowed in the forest preserves other than inside the dog parks. If your dog is loose, you could be ticketed. Off-leash dogs scare other preserve visitors and their pets and the loose dogs could be harmed themselves or do damage to the environment.
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There are plenty of reasons to join our Take It Outside challenge. What's yours?
3/4/2024Read moreThe first seasonal challenge of this year's Take It Outside campaign has seen many new participants as well as returning participants from last year as the community of nature lovers continues to build up steam.
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Where the Wildflowers Are hikes expand opportunities to see spring blooms
3/4/2024Read moreThe Forest Preserve is offering a series of wildflower hikes this spring at multiple preserves and at different times of the blooming season to show the wide variety of flowers in bloom at different times.
Events
First Time Fishing
Learn rod-and-reel fishing basics, safety and ethics plus try some shoreline fishing for yourself in this program for beginners.
First Time Fishing
Learn rod-and-reel fishing basics, safety and ethics plus try some shoreline fishing for yourself in this program for beginners.
The Buzz
Migration watch: Orioles have landed in Will County
Time to stock up on oranges and grape jelly. Baltimore orioles are back in Will County for the season.
Holey moley: Yellow-bellied sapsuckers leave distinct clues of their presence
The yellow-bellied sapsucker is the only woodpecker in the eastern United States, so their time in northern Illinois can be fleeting. Look for them in the spring and fall as they migrate through our area.
Brooding about cicadas? Here's the reason for all the hype this year
To not have heard the buzz about this year's cicada emergence you would have to have been where the cicadas themselves are right now — underground. Why all the hype? This year is the first time since 1803 that two broods of cicadas will have emerged in Illinois at the same time.