Be a Trailblazer
We want you to Be a Trailblazer!
There’s a great, big world out there, and the forest preserves are the perfect place to start exploring it. With more than 130 miles of trails, we have something for everyone. Whether it's a leisurely stroll on a crushed limestone trail, a hike on a natural surface trail with some elevation changes or a bike ride on one of our paved, regional trails, there are plenty of ways to Be a Trailblazer this year. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and find your new happy place.
Need a little motivation? Go on a wild goose chase through our interactive Be a Trailblazer experience. Thanks to sponsorship from The Nature Foundation of Will County as well as dozens of local businesses, we will be awarding more than $10,000 in prizes throughout the year.
This is a great experience for all ages, where you can do as much or as little as you want. But every mission you complete within the Goosechase app counts as an entry for a prize.
Getting started with the app
To Be a Trailblazer, download the free Goosechase app to your smartphone. It's available both on the App Store and Google Play. To find the experience, search for Be a Trailblazer on the app or enter the code PQNL75. Please be sure to read the rules.
The Be a Trailblazer campaign will be divided into four seasonal sessions:
- Winter: Thursday, Jan. 16, to Saturday, March 1
- Spring: Thursday, April 10, to Saturday, May 24
- Summer: Thursday, June 5, to Saturday, Aug. 9
- Fall: Thursday, Sept. 25, to Saturday, Nov. 8
Each seasonal batch of missions will drop on the first day of that seasonal experience and can only be completed during that specific period.
Complete missions at your own pace, as there is no incentive for finishing all of them first, or even for finishing all of them. However, there is a leaderboard to show where you rank compared to everyone else, if competition is your thing.
Please note: For GPS-based missions, the location services on your phone need to be enabled for the Goosechase app.
Each mission includes instructions on how to complete it and also indicates if a specific prize drawing is attached to that mission.
We know there are a lot of missions, but you can utilize the search function on the mission list by tapping the magnifying glass in the top right corner. Also, all missions are listed alphabetically.
What's up for grabs
In addition to reaping the many benefits of being out in nature, by joining this experience you likely will find a new favorite place to explore.
But we also have an impressive lineup of prizes for participants, and many of those prizes are intended to give you new ways to enjoy being out in nature.
Prizes funded by The Nature Foundation of Will County include:
- Sleds
- Fitbits
- Yeti coolers
- Tent and sleeping bag packs
- Kayaks
- Fishing equipment
- Solo stoves
- Binoculars
- Hiking poles
The following local businesses have provided prize packs or gift cards are:
Arrowhead Ales(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window), New Lenox; Aurelio's Pizza(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window), Joliet; Big Apple Café(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window), Joliet; Channahon Lanes(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window), Channahon; Country Charm(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window), New Lenox; Craft’d,(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window) Plainfield; Delta Sonic Car Wash; Hamburgerseria(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window), Joliet; Heroes West Sports Grill(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window), Joliet/Lemont; Home Cut Donuts(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window), Joliet; Jack’s Car Wash(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window), Joliet; Joliet Area Historical Museum(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window), Joliet; KidsWork Children’s Museum(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window), New Lenox; and Ken Woody Sports & More(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window), Joliet.
Also, Labas, Latte & Vino(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window), Monee; Mr. Submarine(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window), Joliet; Old Fashioned Pancake House(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window), Joliet; Pet Supplies Plus(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window), Plainfield; Possibility Place Nursery(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window), Monee; Prairie Bluff Golf Club,(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window) Crest Hill; Ruby’s Burritos(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window), Romeoville; Gina's Teardrop Café(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window), New Lenox; The Forge: Lemont Quarries(Opens in a new windo(Opens in a new window), Lemont; Town and Country Lanes(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window),(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window) Joliet; Waffles Kafé(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window), New Lenox; and Wild Birds Unlimited Joliet.(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window)
How much time should you spend outside?
Follow the 20-5-3 rule, which was created to encourage people to take manageable and meaningful steps to improve their well-being.
These apps enhance outdoor adventures
Your phone can be useful while out exploring, whether to help identify a bird you hear sweetly singing or to find a nearby place for a hike or fishing trip.
Soak in the splendor of Lake Chaminwood
Lake Chaminwood, so named for its proximity to Channahon (CHA), Minooka (MIN) and Shorewood (WOOD), can be a hotspot when the weather is nice, which is one of the reasons why the preserve underwent a series of major improvements in 2023 and 2024 to make it more accessible for more people.
Head south for a cool shift in surroundings
If you haven’t been to the sands region of Will County, you might be surprised to see just how distinct it is from other areas of the county. The differences can be subtle at first, but the more you look the more you’ll notice that the prairies and savannas here are unique compared to elsewhere in the county.
Messenger Woods: Beautiful in any season
No matter where you start your hike, you’ll soon take notice of the trees. Messenger Woods is Will County’s oldest preserve, with the first acreage of what is now a 441-acre preserve being acquired in 1930. That means many of the trees here are old — and they look the part. If trees could talk, these trees would have stories to tell about the things they have seen.
Meet our Trailblazers
Funding for this campaign is provided by The Nature Foundation of Will County. Additional prizes are furnished by more than two dozen businesses across Will County. (Opens in a new window).