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  • A woman standing on a roof deck overlooking a forest.

    Meet a Naturalist: Suzy Lyttle, a childhood dream fulfilled

    7/28/2023

    Meet Suzy Lyttle, the program coordinator at Hidden Oaks Nature Center.

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  • A person standing on a bridge over a creek in the woods.

    Preserves We Love: Messenger Woods, for making history

    7/27/2023

    Real estate record specialist Megan Raimbault tells us why she loves Messenger Woods Nature Preserve.

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  • Sunlight shining through the canopies in a line of trees.

    Burning questions about the sun? Check out these five facts

    7/26/2023

    We have the sun to thank for all life on Earth, but how much do you really know about the star at the center of our world?

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  • A frog emerging its head from water covered in duckweed.

    Duckweed is world's smallest flowering plant

    7/24/2023

    Want to see the world's smallest flowering plant? Look no farther than your local pond.

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  • A woman standing on a trail along a wooded creek.

    Preserves We Love: Forked Creek, for its subtle solitude

    7/20/2023

    Real estate manager Sara Wittchen tells us why she loves spending time at Forked Creek Preserve.

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  • A northern saw-whet owl perched on a broken branch.

    Think you know owls? Northern saw-whet owls defy our expectations

    7/13/2023

    Northern saw-whet owls are a little different than the prototypical owl. For starters, they're only about the size of a robin, making them one of the smallest owl species in the world.

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  • A woman poses with her dog at a park.

    Preserves We Love: Hammel Woods Dog Park, for its golden memories

    7/13/2023

    Public information officer Cindy Cain tells us why she loves spending time at Hammel Woods Dog Park.

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  • A cicada on a leaf.

    What's the difference?: cicada vs. locust

    7/10/2023

    We often call cicadas locusts, but they are not even closely related insects. Learn the differences between them and why we never see locusts in Illinois or anywhere else in the United States.

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  • A person standing in a forest with a camera.

    Preserves We Love: O'Hara Woods, for its varied photo subjects

    7/6/2023

    Marketing technical specialist Glenn Knoblock tells us why he loves spending time at O'Hara Woods Preserve.

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  • A woman standing in front of a large tree trunk.

    Meet a Naturalist: Angela Rafac, a lifelong learner

    6/30/2023

    Meet Angela Rafac, an interpretive naturalist at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center.

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Current Headlines

Joliet Junction Trail section to close in December for Interstate 80 work

11/22/2024

A section of the Joliet Junction Trail is scheduled to be closed for several days in December due to an Interstate 80 improvement project. The trail will be closed from McDonough Street to Moen Avenue. 

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Healing With Nature: Crete man battling cancer finds health and hope on paths at Goodenow Grove

11/21/2024

Tom Scott of Crete is giving thanks this year for the people in his life who pushed him to start walking at Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve as he was recovering from cancer. The daily hikes have given him better health, hope for the future and a new appreciation of nature. 

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