The Forest Preserve District has a new challenge for the new year: Be a Trailblazer!

The experience starts at 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, and features four seasonal sessions and a wide range of missions designed to get people out on the trails exploring nature. More than $10,000 in prizes will be awarded randomly to participants who can pick and choose which missions they want to complete on their own time schedule. 

"This is a fun and leisurely way to get people out on the trails, whether it's a neighborhood path or trails farther away that they haven't visited before," said Chad Merda, head of digital marketing strategy/engagement. 

The goal is to get more families and children involved by having it be a fun, laid back experience, and hopefully they inspire others to join them on their journey, he added.

"We're hoping this self-paced challenge encourages more people to sign up and head outside to discover new activities and make meaningful memories," he said. 

As part of this campaign, there will be a corresponding digital marketing campaign highlighting the forest preserves, trails, and wide variety of recreational opportunities they can enjoy, whether or not they are participating in the app challenge. 

"We believe this multi-step approach will increase awareness of the many different ways people can experience nature throughout Will County," Merda said. "Some people may routinely walk a trail near their house, or only kayak or fish in one of the many lakes we have. But if we can open them up to other types of recreation and in different locations, it can help expand their healthy outdoor habits while also gaining a greater appreciation for the tens of thousands of acres of open space in the county."

The challenge is possible due to generous funding from The Nature Foundation of Will County, which is also sponsoring items in the prize pool that will help people explore nature further. Dozens of gift cards donated by generous local businesses also will be awarded to participants. (See below.)

Get started

To become a Trailblazer, download the free Goosechase app to your smartphone. 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 experience can be joined prior to Jan. 16, but the missions won't populate and go live until 9 a.m. on that date. 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

Pick which missions you want to complete within each seasonal session and tackle them in whatever order you want. Missions will include snapping selfies and photos of flora and fauna, visiting Forest Preserve sites and events and taking part in recreational activities offered by the District. 

Those who join and complete missions will reap the rewards of being in nature including more physical activity, increased camaraderie with other trailblazers, and increased knowledge and appreciation of the Will County preserves. And let's not forget, a chance to win prizes!

Ten points will be awarded for each completed mission, and there will be a leaderboard for those whose competitive juices run strong. But no one will win a prize based on points. While random prizes will be tied to specific missions, not every mission will have a prize. Participants can win multiple prizes. Also, every mission a participant completes each week during the seasonal experiences will count as an entry in weekly giveaways for a Be a Trailblazer T-shirt. 

Plentiful prize pool

Prizes funded by the Nature Foundation include kayaks, snow tubes, Fitbits, a Yeti cooler, 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.

 "We're hoping the recreational equipment prizes will lead to longterm positive experiences in nature," Merda said. "By taking part in this experience and winning kayaks, camping equipment or a Fitbit, you have the tools to enjoy being outdoors and push yourself to spend more time in nature." 

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; Hamburgerseria, Joliet; 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; 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. 

Restaurants and shops are donating gift cards, Wild Birds Unlimited is donating gift baskets and Ken Woody Sports is donating quarter zip pullovers embroidered with the Be a Trailblazer logo. Forest Preserve prizes include: three half-day boat rentals and three family packs at Monee Reservoir. 

“We are extremely grateful for the support and generosity shown by local businesses as well as the Nature Foundation of Will County," said Laura Kiran, Forest Preserve director of marketing and communications. "They exceeded our expectations and really are why we able to offer a wide variety of prizes to our challenge participants. I hope those who participate in the challenge will patronize these businesses, because they support our mission and make initiatives like this possible.”