Forest Preserve gift shops are stocked with unique gifts for the holiday shopping season. 

The gift shops carry items from small businesses as much as possible and they are looking to add even more local vendors, said Kylee Beckwith, guest services associate at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center. 

“It saves on fossil fuels in shipping and is wonderful to be able to support local business owners,” she said. “I’ve also noticed that guests tend to gravitate towards the products that are sourced and made locally, so it’s a win-win. 

Four Rivers Environmental Education Center

Four Rivers in Channahon is focused on sustainable gifting this year, Beckwith said.

“Previously we carried handmade mugs from Utica, handmade earrings from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and local honey from Minooka, but this year we were able to add the crochet critters from Joliet and the handwoven bracelets from Plainfield,” she said. “The list is slowly growing and we’re always looking to add more.”

Examples include:

• Handwoven, nature-inspired bracelets by Knotted to Perfection.
• Natural dye kits from the Nature Atelier. The kits are made out of completely recycled materials and contain everything needed to dye your own silk scarf and bandana using all natural materials.
• Hand crocheted critters by The Monday Club. A small business from the area that includes Angela Rafac, a Forest Preserve interpretive naturalist, and her sister Teressa Briones.

Isle a la Cache

At Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville, staff are gearing up to provide a fun and affordable way for families to purchase a souvenir and to be able to remember their visit to the site, said Janet Zavoral, the museum’s facility office manager.

Items that are stocked at the museum include:

• Unique nature themed earrings by Jabebo made in the USA from recycled cereal boxes.
• Small ceramic turtle trinkets and crocheted turtles and friends. These are created in Ecuador and the supplier gives back through The Turtleman Foundation which supports conservation groups that help sea turtles.
• Kaleidoscopes, harmonicas, wooden yo-yos and carved wood animal pens. 

"The goal at Isle a la Cache Museum is to provide a fun and affordable way for families to purchase a souvenir and be able to remember their visit here," Zavoral said. 

Plum Creek Nature Center

Plum Creek Nature Center's gift shop has an expanded line of eco-friendly wrapping options including three different sizes of recycled wrapping paper that can be recycled again after use and biodegradable Christmas tape, said Marissa Jones, facility office manager at Plum Creek. 

“We also have stocking stuffers for the outdoorsy person in anyone’s life," Jones said. Items include:

• Reusable wheat straw utensils
• Recycled fire starters
• Hand soap sheets

Outsider Threads 20% off sale

And if you can't make it to one of the gift shops in time for the holidays, consider ordering some fun merchandise online at OutsiderThreads.com. The site features shirts with punny nature sayings, hats, a coffee mug, a water bottle and magnets for the nature-loving people in your life. All merchandise will be 20% off from Wednesday, Nov. 27 through Dec. 8. Use holiday code HOLIDAY20 at checkout to get the discount.

And best of all, proceeds benefit The Nature Foundation of Will County, which supports the Forest Preserve's conservation, restoration and education activities.