Reconnect With Nature | Forest Preserve District of Will County

District acquires 126-acre woodland

The parcel has more than 32,000 black walnut, oak, maple, ash, pine and cherry trees planted by one family.

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Reap the rewards of the outdoors

There are plenty of ways to escape into nature in Will County.

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Knowledge is power

Learn about Will County's diverse plants, wildlife, and ecosystems through our interpretive programs.

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Conserving land for future generations

We protect and restore open space so wildlife can thrive and people can recreate.

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A limestone trail cutting through a prairie with brown grasses. Text say Trail Club: Sand Ridge Savanna

Trail Club: October at Sand Ridge Savanna Nature Preserve

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 28 | 8:00 AM TO 9:00 AM

Trail Club is back this fall. October's sessions will be at 8 a.m. Wednesdays at Sand Ridge Savanna.

Whoose Bones? for Homeschool and Remote Learners

TUESDAY, NOV. 3 | 10:00 AM TO 11:30 AM

Homeschool learners invited to become wildlife detectives in field trip program at Isle a la Cache.

Stalk, Track, Hunt for Homeschool and Remote Learners

TUESDAY, NOV. 3 | 12:30 PM TO 2:00 PM

Homeschool students can take a trip to the past to discover the skills used by Americans Indians to hunt for food in the wilderness.

Ghost of Nature’s Past: The Barn Owl

FRIDAY, NOV. 6 | 6:30 PM TO 8:00 PM

Visit Plum Creek Nature Center for an evening of science and mystery as we dissect owl pellets and learn about the barn owl.

Screenshots from a 2027 calendar, including the cover stating 2027 calendar and images of a bird, a bee, a raccoon and a landscape of flowers in a forest, on a blurred background.

Wild about Will County? Order 2027 calendar full of stunning nature photography

THURSDAY, OCT. 22 | PRESERVES AND TRAILS

Proceeds from calendar sales benefit The Nature Foundation of Will County, the Forest Preserve District's nonprofit partner.

Smash and bash your Halloween jack-o'-lanterns at Pumpkin Smash events

MONDAY, OCT. 26 | PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Two nature centers are hosting Pumpkin Smash events to raise awareness about composting and keeping pumpkins from landfills.

New audio tour brings Joliet Iron Works history to life

FRIDAY, OCT. 23 | PRESERVES AND TRAILS

Visitors can download the app for a narrated tour through the once-bustling industrial site.

Let's go batty for Bat Week

THURSDAY, OCT. 22 | NATURE AND WILDLIFE

It's time bats get their due, and that's what Bat Week is designed to do, with this annual celebration coinciding with Halloween.

Become a Centennial Celebration sponsor

Sponsors can support a century of conservation while gaining visibility throughout 2027.

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The more T-shirts you buy, the more you save

Get up to 20% off everything in our Core Collection. All orders include free shipping and 100% of proceeds go to The Nature Foundation of Will County.

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See the preserves with Woods Walk

Participants who complete seven of 10 preselected trails will earn a medallion.

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We want you to Be a Trailblazer

Go on a wild goose chase through this interactive experience that will have you exploring Will County's preserves. Thanks to sponsorship from The Nature Foundation of Will County as well as dozens of local businesses we will be awarding more than $15,000 in prizes throughout the year.

Join the Fun

Get married while surrounded by nature

Will County's forest preserves offer a variety of unique setting to say "I do" in front of your friends and family while also being an affordable option.

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Enter our Preserve the Moment Photo Contest

Here's your chance to show off your photographic skills in Will County's forest preserves. Not only are there prizes, but your photo could be featured in our 2027 calendar.

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Meet our Trailblazers: Kyle Siegel

Say hello to this Trailblazer: Operations Supervisor Kyle Siegel, who helps keep preserves running smoothly year-round.

How and why we monitor grassland birds

Across the county, staff tracks nesting and migrating birds to help protect healthy prairie habitats.

Get to know the snapping turtle

The snapping turtle has a powerful bite and is larger than the other turtles you'll see in our preserves.

District acquires 126-acre woodland

Reap the rewards of the outdoors

Knowledge is power

Conserving land for future generations

Preserves

Recreation

Volunteer

Get a permit

Upcoming events

Trail Club: October at Sand Ridge Savanna Nature Preserve

Whoose Bones? for Homeschool and Remote Learners