When Meg and Kevin McEvilly of Joliet both retired due to his stage four cancer diagnosis, they started exploring nature in cities outside of Will County.

But after joining the Forest Preserve District’s online scavenger hunt challenges, they realized they didn’t have to travel far.

“We used to go to Dixon and Kankakee and Starved Rock all the time as we had no idea there were so many great places to hike and bike in nature right here in Will County,” Meg McEvilly wrote in an email.

Now Meg and Kevin are avid fans of the Be a Trailblazer seasonal challenges and previously participated in the Forest Preserve's Take It Outside challenge.

“This truly has been a blessing especially since the program initially began during COVID,” she said. “It was a great way to get outdoors and exercise. Our vet even said our dog, who passed away last year at 16, was one of the fittest dogs he’s ever seen at that age.”

The summer Be a Trailblazer session runs through Saturday, Aug. 9. To join, download the free Goosechase app and search for Be a Trailblazer or enter code PQNL75. Participants complete photo and location-based missions at forest preserves to earn entries into prize drawings.

Sponsored by The Nature Foundation of Will County, the experience offers more than $10,000 in prizes annually, including kayaks, Yeti coolers, Fitbits, sleds, hiking gear and more. Prizes are tied to specific missions, with winners chosen randomly from successful submissions. More than two dozen local businesses have also contributed to the 2025 campaign. 

Before getting started with the Be a Trailblazer challenge, check out the list of prizes and the rules. 

'Just enjoy nature' 

Meg believes the active lifestyle inspired by the challenge has helped support her husband’s health. 

“It’s made us want to explore nature even more,” she added. “We’ve even gotten a national parks pass and have gone to many of those parks, too.”

She appreciates that this year's experience allows for flexibility while still offering rewards.

“A lot of people have work or kids in school or other obligations, and they can’t go out to the park every day,” Meg said. “This allows them to go out and do some of challenges and just enjoy nature and have a chance to win without having to be super competitive to win a prize.”

Overall, she said she’s grateful for the opportunity to explore and win.

“Of all the ways I’ve seen my tax dollars at work, this has to be my favorite,” she said. “I just won a Yeti tundra cooler, which is awesome, but even if I didn’t I would say I won by just being able to participate in this great program.”

'In tears with the beauty'

Trailblazer fans Roxy and Terry Summers of Lemont won a kayak in the spring session, but like the McEvillys, the Summers value the experiences more than the prizes. 

“We have met so many wonderful people and several which we call friends through these missions,” Roxy wrote in an email. “Once Terry recovered from hip replacement, he joined me to keep moving and limber.”

The couple, once mostly limited to neighborhood walks, now explores preserves across the county.

“We have enjoyed seeing all the forest preserves, animals, as well as all the forests have to offer,” she said. “We love to check out the eagles at a few of the preserves, especially from February and March before the trees begin to fill in.”

Roxy said she and her husband love watching animals in their native habitats. 

“This January we saw a pair of white swans or geese come into the (Rock Run) Rookery as well as a beaver swimming around near the bridge. Isle a la Cache is close to home and a perfect place to destress! Love watching and listening to the water flowing by. Centennial Trail is also very close."

Deer and turtles are easy to spot. But the challenge has made the couple work harder to spot less common creatures, for instance the Eastern eye click beetle.

Some missions led to even more wildlife sightings.

“In the early mornings of summer, I’ve been in tears with the beauty at Whalon Lake/Hidden Lakes,” Roxy wrote. “Great sunrise views, deer, coyotes, beavers, muskrats, variety of birds, and just starting the day with beauty!”