Forest Preserve Offers History, Nature, Boating Programs

Forest Preserve District of Will County programs in mid-March feature Postcard Palooza, nature hikes, and a program on Native American Women in Illinois history. Online registration is available on the Event Calendar at ReconnectWithNature.org. Here is the lineup…

Endangered Species Quest, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays, March 14 – April 30, plus from noon-4 p.m., on Sundays, Plum Creek Nature Center, Crete Township: Grab a quest card at the nature center, then hit the trail to do your best to find endangered animals. Return to the nature center to earn a prize. Free, all ages.

Spring Break Safari, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays, also March 14 – April 30, plus from noon to 4 p.m., on Sundays. Pick up an adventure pack at the concessions building to begin your own safari through the preserve. Using official safari gear, discover the hidden gems our natural areas hold. Free, all ages.

Woodcock Walks, from 6:30-8 p.m., Friday, March 17, Plum Creek Nature Center, Crete Township; and Thursday, March 23, Hickory Creek Preserve – LaPorte Road Access, Mokena: Discover how amazing the woodcock is, and then hike to view the courtship flights of the male. Free; registration is required.

Morning Bird Hike, from 8-10 a.m., Saturday, March 18, Hickory Creek Preserve – LaPorte Road Access, Mokena: Join other birders on this guided hike to look for early spring migrants in the preserve. Free, ages 16 or older. Register by March 17.

Boat America, from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, March 18, Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, Channahon: Get a head start on the boating season with this U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary class, which is required for those born after 1998 who operate a motor vessel on public waters. Ages 12 or older; $40 per person. To register, call Bob Allen from the Coast Guard Auxiliary, at 630-621-5544.

Rivers of Color – Birding for Beginners, Color, from 9-10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 18, Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, Channahon: Learn how to use color as a primary tool to identify birds. Free, ages 12 or older. Register by March 17.

Singing Bird and the Importance of Native American Women in Illinois History, from 1-2 p.m., Saturday, March 18, Isle a la Cache Museum, Romeoville: Illinois Humanities Road Scholar Kim Sigafus, an award-winning Ojibwa author, will present a history of the natives in Illinois, with a focus on native women. Her primary emphasis will be women, such as Singing Bird (Blackhawk’s wife) and Hononegah. Free, ages 18 or older. Register by March 16.

Journey Stories – Postcard Palooza, from noon-3 p.m., Sunday, March 19, Isle a la Cache Museum, Romeoville: Drop by the museum to learn a brief history of postcards, then create your own. After decorating a postcard, view the on-loan Smithsonian exhibition “Journey Stories” to see vintage postcards. Free, all ages.

Spring Things! Vernal Equinox Hike, from 1-2:30 p.m., Sunday, March 19, Plum Creek Nature Center, Crete Township: Celebrate the wonderful things the vernal equinox brings. Join a naturalist to explore the sights and sounds of the season. Explore vernal ponds to find frogs, salamanders, and more. Free, ages 10 or older. Register by March 18.

For more information on the Forest Preserve District of Will County, visit ReconnectWithNature.org.