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Man in black coat stands along trail with river in the background.
Walking the Des Plaines: One man’s quest to navigate his hometown river
1/27/2023Read moreA Forest Park man attempting to walk the length of the Des Plaines has been amazed by the size of the river in Will County. His quest has taken him from the river's origin in Wisconsin to its confluence near McKinley Woods in Channahon.
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Image of phone featuring Goosechase app and sign in background
Go on a wild goose chase with our Take It Outside app challenge
1/22/2023Read moreAs part of the Forest Preserve District's Take It Outside campaign, the app challenge will have you traversing the county and hiking trails, while earning points with each completed mission.
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Take it Outside logo
'Take It Outside' campaign launched to spark your trek into nature
1/10/2023Read moreA yearlong campaign called 'Take It Outside' is designed to entice you to get back to nature or to discover it for the first time. Look for a special smart phone challenge coming later this month and a focus on showcasing the various preserves and recreation activities throughout the seasons.
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Screen images from digital newsletter on birds
Hey bird nerds! Sign up for our new Flock and Feather digital newsletter
1/3/2023Read moreNow is the time of year when people make resolutions and, this year, ours is to keep finding new ways to connect with the public and share our love of nature.
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Common goldeneyes
Four Rivers hosts yearlong celebration of color
12/23/2022Read moreLearn the language of color by attending a Rivers of Color program at Four Rivers this year. The series culminates in the fall with a 'Golden Opportunities' traveling exhibit from Denver Botanic Gardens.
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Two men and a child get ready to fish
Forest Preserve surpasses 23,000-acre mark with 2022 acquisitions
12/19/2022Read moreFour acquisitions pushed the Forest Preserve over the 23,000-acre mark in 2022. Land acquisitions will continue in 2023 with the $3 million that is left in a land preservation program fund.
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A bald eagle flies overhead with nesting material.
Save the dates: Forest Preserve announces 2023 event, exhibition schedule
12/15/2022Read moreThe Forest Preserve's 2023 event and exhibition schedule starts off with Eagle Watch in January and continues with food trucks, hummingbird and pelican events; and exhibitions on movement in America, fly fishing tackle and the science behind the color yellow.
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Aerial view of Lake Chaminwood
Forest Preserve Board approves balanced 2023 budget
11/14/2022Read moreThe Forest Preserve District's 2023 budget is balanced and its tax rate will drop 6.46% next year. The spending plan includes money for operations, maintenance and preserve improvement projects.
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Red-spotted sunfish in a tank
Something fishy is going on at Four Rivers
11/9/2022Read moreA dozen state-threatened redspotted sunfish have been added to a 'gorgeous' new 2,000-gallon aquarium at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center. The fish ambassadors will educate visitors about the plight of threatened and endangered fish species in Illinois.
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Aerial view of water at Rock Run Rookery
Boat launches close Nov. 1 for the season
10/11/2022Read moreAs the Forest Preserve District prepares for winter, drinking fountains have been turned off, boat launches will close Nov. 1 and Monee Reservoir Visitor Center will close for the season.
Events
Volunteer Morning: Monee Reservoir
Get some fresh air and exercise while helping to make a difference in your community by attending one or more of the Forest Preserve’s volunteer mornings.
Volunteer Morning: Kankakee Sands Preserve
Get some fresh air and exercise while helping to make a difference in your community by attending one or more of the Forest Preserve’s volunteer mornings.
The Buzz
Step carefully: Cooler weather sends stink bugs indoors
With summerlike temperatures on the way out, it's the time of year when stink bugs start making their way into our homes. Resist the urge to stomp on or squish them or you'll quickly learn how these insects got their name.
Not guilty: Stop blaming wolf spiders for invading your home
Wolf spiders tend to get a bad rap in autumn for invading your house as the weather cools, but they are mostly being falsely accused.
Ring of fire: Will County will experience partial effects of annular solar eclipse on Oct. 14
You don't have to wait until dark to catch the biggest sky event in October because the month's biggest event will be in the middle of the day, when the annular solar eclipse occurs on Oct. 14.