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Recipients hold a large check.
‘A mighty force’: Nature Foundation’s decade of support helps Forest Preserve flourish
9/15/2024Read moreThe Nature Foundation of Will County presented a $393,450 check to the Forest Preserve Board on Sept. 12. The donation check and fundraiser celebrate a decade of work by the Foundation to support the Forest Preserve's mission.
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Collage of photos of people showing fish they caught.
Fish Tales Photo Contest winners announced
9/12/2024Read moreThe annual Fish Tales Photo Contest has concluded and four winners have been announced. Each winner will receive a $50 Forest Preserve gift card.
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Image showing Indige-Facts logo
Isle a la Cache presents Indige-Facts, a contemporary Native American exhibit
9/9/2024Read moreA new traveling exhibit coming to Isle a la Cache Museum will help visitors educate themselves on contemporary Native life in the United States. The “Indige-Facts” exhibit runs from Saturday, Sept. 21, to Sunday, Dec. 8.
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A swallow-tailed kite, with its white body and dark wing tips, flies in the air with a blue sky as a background.
Rare bird alert: Swallow-tailed kite lands in Will County
9/3/2024Read moreFall bird migration is in full swing, and that means we can get some rarely seen birds in the area. Most recently, a swallow-tailed kite has been spotted in and around Hadley Valley.
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A view of kayak rental lockers next to a lake.
Lake Chaminwood debuts new kayak rental station
8/29/2024Read moreA new kayak rental station is available for public use at Lake Chaminwood Preserve in Channahon. Patrons can download the Rent.Fun app to pay for the kayaks, which include paddles and life vests. The cost is $25 for the first two hours and $15 for each additional hour.
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Two adults walking on a trail.
Fly high with the 2024 Woods Walk challenge to earn an eagle medallion
8/24/2024Read moreThe 2024 Woods Walk challenge kicks off Sept. 1 and runs through Nov. 30. Participants who hike at least seven of 10 designated trails will earn a medallion. This year's medallion is an eagle to commemorate the four active eagle nests found in the Forest Preserve District this year.
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A yellow sign indicating where bikes are prohibited.
Illegal trails are ‘wounds slicing across the ecosystem’
8/23/2024Read moreThe Forest Preserve District has launched a campaign to get people to stop using or creating unauthorized trails in the preserves. The illegal paths harm the ecosystem and can cause safety issues. Signs have been installed to keep people out of sensitive natural areas.
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A pedestrian bridge over canal connects two trails.
Lake Chaminwood project is complete, trail extension now open
8/20/2024Read moreBarricades were removed Tuesday, Aug. 20, signaling the end of construction work at Lake Chaminwood Preserve in Channahon. The project included two new accessible fishing piers and the extension of the lake's loop trail to the I&M Canal State Trail via a new bridge over the canal.
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Rock Run Greenway Trail reopens along Essington, remains closed at Olympic Blvd.
8/13/2024Read moreA section of the Rock Run Greenway Trail that had been closed from Paul V. Nichols Access on Essington Road to Theodore Street has now reopened. But the trail remains closed at Olympic Boulevard.
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The large entrance sign indicating people are entering McKinley Woods.
Board approves acquisition of key parcel to expand McKinley Woods
8/9/2024Read moreMcKinley Woods in Channahon will expand by 57 acres after the Board of Commissioners voted on Aug. 8 to approve the acquisition. The purchase will make the preserve easier to maintain and restore by expanding access in a hard-to-reach area.
Events
Rec Bike Club: Messenger Marsh
Wrap up our Rec Bike Club series with a 5-mile ride through Messenger Marsh.
Take It Outside Meetup
Looking for a way to connect with fellow Goosechasers? Join us for this meetup to get to know other Take It Outside challenge participants and maybe even complete some missions together.
The Buzz
The time is now to sow native seeds for next summer's blooms
It's not too early to start thinking about next year's flower gardens. In fact, if you're thinking about adding more native plants to your landscape, now is the time to sow the seeds so they germinate come spring.
Don't miss the fall color at these preserves
If fall is your favorite color, it's time to seize the season and head outdoors. Looking for someplace new to explore? Plenty of preserves shine at this time of year.
Leave the leaves: Skip the raking this fall. It's better for the environment
Put down the rake. You can feel good about leaving your leaves wherever they fall. Letting them be is actually better for the environment and for your yard.