Be a Trailblazer
Event information
Fee: Free!
Age: All ages.
Contact: 815-727-8700
Event details
Join our Be a Trailblazer digital scavenger hunt that will have you adventuring to and through the Will County preserves at your own pace and on your own schedule throughout 2025. The sights and sounds of spring will be present everywhere you visit. Will you see our spring ephemeral wildflowers on the forest floor before they disappear until next year? Will you see turtles and snakes basking in the sun on warm, sunny days? Can you snap pics of wildlife enjoying spring and its bounty? Whether you enjoy a quiet stroll in the woods or get your heart pumping on a vigorous walk, the preserves are your playground this spring.
Get started by downloading the Goosechase app to your smartphone and joining our Be a Trailblazer experience. Once you’re in, visit the preserves to complete the dozens of challenges that will have you snapping pics in nature and checking in at various spots in the preserves.
Be a Trailblazer missions will be released for summer and fall, with dates as follows:
- Summer: June 5 - August 9
- Fall: Sept. 25 - Nov. 8
Missions for the spring challenge will be released when the experience begins April 10. Complete as many as you would like before the challenge ends Saturday, May 24.
The Be a Trailblazer experience is sponsored by The Nature Foundation of Will County and throughout the year, more than $10,000 in prizes will be up for grabs.
Prizes funded by the Nature Foundation include kayaks, sleds, Fitbits, Yeti coolers, tent and sleeping bag packs, fishing equipment, hiking poles and picnic packs and more. Prizes will be connected to specific missions and those who successfully complete the mission will be entered in a random drawing for that prize.
And these generous local businesses also have provided items for the 2025 campaign:
Arrowhead Ales, New Lenox; Aurelio's Pizza, Joliet; Big Apple Café, Joliet; Channahon Lanes, Channahon; Country Charm, New Lenox; Craft’d, Plainfield; Delta Sonic Car Wash; Hamburgerseria, Joliet; Heroes West Sports Grill, Joliet/Lemont; Home Cut Donuts, Joliet; Jack’s Car Wash, Joliet; Joliet Area Historical Museum, Joliet; KidsWork Children’s Museum, New Lenox; and Ken Woody Sports & More, Joliet.
Also, Labas, Latte & Vino, Monee; Mr. Submarine, Joliet; Old Fashioned Pancake House, Joliet; Pet Supplies Plus in Plainfield; Possibility Place Nursery, Monee; Prairie Bluff Golf Club, Crest Hill; Ruby’s Burritos, Romeoville; Gina's Teardrop Café, New Lenox; The Forge: Lemont Quarries, Lemont; Town and Country Lanes, Joliet; Waffles Kafé, New Lenox; and Wild Birds Unlimited Joliet.
Event requirements
To get started, download the Goosechase app to your phone and then search for Be a Trailblazer or enter the search code PQNL75.