The event schedule offers a wide range of activities that are sprinkled throughout the year to inspire patrons to revisit sites they already love and to motivate others to discover a new place to enjoy the outdoors. Art, food, nature and fitness are all on tap as we get underway for some fun in '21.
6/25/2021: Food trucks are back this summer, so grab a bite to eat while enjoying the great outdoors.
6/4/2021: Food trucks are back this summer, so grab a bite to eat while enjoying the great outdoors.
6/18/2021: Food trucks are back this summer, so grab a bite to eat while enjoying the great outdoors.
6/11/2021: Food trucks are back this summer, so grab a bite to eat while enjoying the great outdoors.
6/25/2021: Paddle the reservoir with your adult friends and certified instructors while taking advantage of the full moon lighting.
One of the most anticipated events among birders each spring and fall is the arrival of the American white pelicans at McKinley Woods in Channahon, and now is the time you'll start seeing these birds along the waterways in the area.
Fishing opportunities are available in the Will County forest preserves free of charge.
Most of us try to avoid bats, but creating a welcoming habitat for them may be beneficial.
See if you can ace the test.
Monarch populations continue to plummet, but there are things you can do to help.
The Plum Creek Nature Center offers visitors a place to explore the natural world, with hands-on exhibits and interactive play elements.
Seeing hummingbirds in the wild is a true delight, and you can attact these tiny birds to your own yard by stocking hummingbirds with food made simply by mixing sugar and boiling water.
Thanks to Journey North — a project run by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum — you can chart the hummingbirds' progress as they head our way.
The photo isn't easy to look at, but it's important to share it to raise awareness of how deadly the trash being left behind in the preserves can be to wildlife.
Osprey or eagle? Learn what sets the osprey apart from other birds of prey.
Follow these rules to protect your pup and the preserves.
You've probably seen many of these feathered friends, but how much do you know about them?
Isle a la Cache Museum immerses visitors in our cultural heritage and natural history. The museum transports visitors back to the 18th century, when "Illinois Country" was home to the fur trade.
The days have become noticeably colder and shorter, and food supplies have become more scarce for many birds. But you can keep birds visiting your yard all year long by providing the right foods.
The Nature Foundation of Will County's spring plant sale has concluded, but two more plant sales will be popping up in the coming weeks.
The American woodcock is related to the sandpiper, but you wouldn't know it based on its behavior. Woodcocks are known for their unusual antics, including elaborate and sometimes noisy 'sky dances' and a weird walk to help them find food.
The royal-sounding queen snake is common in the Great Lakes region. This snake, often seen near water, is sometimes confused with the garter snake and the northern water snake. Learn what sets it apart.
If you attend an eagle-viewing program this year or attempt to see or photograph them on your own, remember to give these amazing creatures wide berth so you do not disturb their turf.
If you know of bats living on your property or nearby, you can submit the information to researchers studying bats in Illinois.
The 52-acre Joliet Iron Works Historic Site was acquired between 1991 and 1997. The preserve is part of the Des Plaines River preservation system, which conserves more than 2,400 acres.
The preserves offer excellent canoeing and kayaking opportunities on our local waterways
The Turtle Lake access is one of three at the the 839-acre Lake Renwick Preserve, which was acquired between 1989 and 2010.
4/3/2021-4/25/2021: Explore the hidden gems of the preserve using our official safari gear including a backpack, safari hats, binoculars, critter containers, magnifying lenses, journals, reference books and more.
Hammel Woods has two shelters available, located at the Crumby Recreation Area and Route 59 Access, and a permit is required for all groups of 25 or more to use a shelter.
The DuPage River Trail is a work in progress through a partnership between the Forest Preserve District and 12 other agencies. The trail is planned to travel 40 miles from Channahon north into DuPage County.
The sound of a coyote howling in the night is enough to stop people in their tracks, but have you ever stopped to think about what they are saying?
4/10/2021-4/25/2021: This program is designed to practice environmental stewardship while helping others, which is a win-win!
Throughout Will County, the Forest Preserve District has provided paved and limestone screened trails that are ideal for biking. Whether you are seeking a leisurely ride or a serious workout, a trail is available and it is likely close to home.
That duck nest you think is in a bad spot probably isn't. The duck knew what she was doing when she built it, and moving it will cause more harm than good.
Whalon Lake has two shelters available, and a permit is required for all groups of 25 or more to use a shelter.