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An award plaque taken outside with a clear blue sky background.
Take It Outside Challenge wins Outstanding Environmental Education Program Award
5/10/2024Read moreThe Take It Outside Challenge has received an Outstanding Environmental Education Program Award from the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association's Forest Preserve and Conservation Section. The 2023 challenge drew 1,2000 participants in its inaugural year.
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Two women pose with an award
New Lenox woman named 2023 Volunteer of the Year
5/8/2024Read moreSally Wieclaw of New Lenox is the Forest Preserve District of Will County's Volunteer of the Year. Wieclaw started volunteering in 2001 to reduce stress in her life. Now she is an integral part of the District's work to protect plants, monitor butterflies and remove invasive species.
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A woman in a wheelchair pauses along a river to take in the scenery.
All-terrain wheelchair opens 'a whole new world' for nature exploration
5/3/2024Read moreThe first person to test the new GRIT Freedom Chair at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center said she loved that she could travel over grass, roots and mud and feel secure while doing so. The wheelchair is available for public use at no cost.
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A bald eagle and its eaglet in a nest.
Bald eagle nesting update: We have confirmed seven eaglets in four nests
4/23/2024Read moreThe bald eagle population has been booming in Will County in recent years, and we're monitoring four active nests.
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A man poses with a fish.
Bait your hook for some fishing derby fun at Hidden Lakes in 2024
4/22/2024Read moreAnglers will have fun competing in fishing derbies at Hidden Lakes Trout Farm in Bolingbrook this summer. The derbies will be for kids in June and all ages in September.
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A man stands on a trail in a forest preserve.
Healing With Nature: Combat veteran finds his ‘flow’ on forest preserve paths
4/22/2024Read moreThe next installment of the Healing With Nature series features Nick Wallace of Joliet. The combat veteran and former Marine sergeant picked up 70 bags of trash at a preserve recently. He said being in nature reduces his anxiety and provides pure enjoyment.
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An adaptive all-terrain wheelchair
New all-terrain wheelchair available for public use at Four Rivers
4/16/2024Read moreAn adaptive all-terrain wheelchair is now available for public use at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon. The GRIT Freedom Chair – Spartan Model can be used by people of all ages and abilities.
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A few of the Take It Outside challenge first-place winners.
800 participants get serious 'Winter Workout' in first seasonal Take It Outside Challenge
4/5/2024Read moreThe winter Take It Outside Challenge ended March 30 with more than 30 people completing all 110 missions to land in first place. The next seasonal challenge starts April 14.
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A cinnamon teal, with its brown body, is seen in the middle surrounded by blue-winged teals.
Rare bird alert: For first time ever, cinnamon teal spotted in Will County
4/2/2024Read moreA cinnamon teal has been spotted in Crete, which is the first time this bird has ever been reported in Will County.
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A large collection of fishing line waiting to be recycled.
Recycle your fishing line to avoid injuring or killing wildlife
3/17/2024Read moreThe Forest Preserve District has 30 fishing line recycling containers installed at fishing locations for anglers to properly dispose of their broken or unneeded monofilament. The goal is to eliminate fishing line from the environment and to protect wildlife in the preserves.
Events
Volunteer Morning: Riverview Farmstead 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.
Sensory Search
Turn your outdoor experience into a sensory adventure with this scavenger hunt.
The Buzz
More darkness in November means more sky-watching opportunities
We're going to be experiencing a lot more darkness come November, but the silver lining is more sky-watching opportunities.
Puffballs are one mushroom that can be hard to resist
It can be hard to resist the urge to give puffballs a little push, releasing their millions of spores into the air.
Quiz: What's your red-tailed hawk IQ?
Find out by answering these 10 questions.