Forest Preserve Programs Feature Fishing, Backpacking, Prairie Exploration

Here are the Forest Preserve District of Will County programs for the week of September 9. Online registration is available on the Event Calendar at ReconnectWithNature.org.

Nature Play Day After Hours – The Prairie, from 6-7:30 p.m., Tuesday, September 10, Plum Creek Nature Center, Crete Township: Explore the prairie and all its colors, textures, smells, and sounds during this program for tots. Be prepared for indoor and outdoor activities. Free, ages three-to-five. Register by September 8.

Bug Hunt, from 5:30-7 p.m., Thursday, September 12, McKinley Woods – Frederick’s Grove, Channahon: Join a naturalist on an adventure to explore the incredible world of insects. Free, all ages. Register by September 10.

Spider Hike, from 7-8:30 p.m., Friday, September 13, Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, Channahon: Search in the moonlight for local spider species and learn their environmental benefit and some of their amazing adaptions. Free, all ages. Register by September 12.

Recycle Your Bicycle, from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. daily, from Saturday, September 14, through Sunday, September 29, at two locations, McKinley Woods – Kerry Sheridan Grove, Channahon, and Monee Reservoir in Monee Township: Clean out the garage and make a difference by recycling your bicycle! All bikes and bike parts are donated to Working Bikes, an organization that refurbishes and distributes bikes locally and globally as tools of empowerment. No bike is too old or rusty.

Fish Hidden Lakes Under the Stars, from 4-10 p.m., Saturday, September 14, Hidden Lakes Trout Farm, Bolingbrook: Fish when the water cools, the moon is full, and fish are more active. Bring a flashlight and bug repellent. The concessions building will be open for sales. Free, all ages.

Backpack 101, Part 3 – Overnight, from 12:30 p.m. Saturday, September 14, to 3 p.m. Sunday, September 15: In the third and final program in the backpacking series, participants will put their newfound backpacking knowledge to the test. The group begins at Lake Chaminwood Preserve and hikes 7.5 miles on the I&M Canal State Trail to McKinley Woods — Frederick’s Grove in Channahon, to camp overnight and then head back the next morning. Registration includes dinner on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday. Group gear will be supplied, while participants are responsible for bringing their own backpacks and sleeping gear. Cost: $10 per person; ages 12 or older. Register by September 7.