Colorful backpacks filled with exploratory tools for nature adventures are waiting for visitors to Isle a la Cache preserve in Romeoville.

The new Bugs, Birds, By the River and Tree backpacks can be checked out for free at Isle a la Cache Museum and they are chock full of fun ways for children ages 5 or older to investigate nature, said Jenna Krukowski, an interpretive naturalist at the museum. 

For instance, the bug backpack includes bug boxes with magnifying lenses. 

“If you see something really cool on the trail, you could pick it up put it in the box, look at it a little closer and – if you’re really ambitious– try to identify it before releasing it back into the preserve,” Krukowski said. “The backpack has a bug ID book for more in-depth identifications or an infographic for a quick way to see if you have an insect or an arachnid.”

The backpacks also contain folders with activities and some of those sheets can be taken home to complete. 

The bird backpack includes binoculars, a bird ID guide geared for children and a build-a-nest challenge. 

“The backpack contains plastic eggs and information on different types of nests,” Krukowski said. “The challenge instructions tell people to use what they think a bird might use to build a nest. If they’re walking, they could pick up grass, mud or twigs on the ground to make their own nest.”

Families or groups that take the challenge could see who can build the best nest and make it into a competition, Krukowski added. 

“Maybe the challenge will make people think differently about the things they see on the ground,” she said.

The By the River backpack also contains bug boxes for insect analysis.

“A lot of people don’t know that you can find bugs in the water and there are just as many in the water as there are on land,” Krukowski said. 

There are two versions of the tree backpack based on the seasons. The spring and summer tree backpack features wildflowers and the fall backpack includes information and activities related to fungi. 

“One of the coolest worksheets we have in the backpacks shows people how to tell how old a tree is without cutting it down,” she said. “So we have a tape measure and a guide, and it does involve a little math.” 

The backpacks also include story books and drawing and coloring activities, a Go Find It game that has cards with different missions for participants to find something black, or flat or twisty, for example. Another game encourages kids to touch something rough, wet, soft, warm, sticky, prickly or dry. 

Children also are encouraged to find animal tracks in the preserves using a guide and they can continue the fun inside with the museum’s animal tracks display. 

Many activity options are available in each backpack and people can pick and choose what interests them, Krukowski said. 

“It’s totally up to you what you want to do,” she said. 

To check out a backpack you must be 16 years of age or older and have a valid driver’s license, state ID or vehicle keys, which will be locked away by staff and returned upon return of the backpack. 

Backpacks are available first come, first served. Checkout times correspond with museum hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.

The nature backpacks are made possible by the generosity of The Nature Foundation of Will County and Pembina.