There's no time like the summer to enjoy all the outdoors has to offer
Whether learning about monarch butterflies at the Sagawau Environmental Learning Center in Lemont or sharpening one's bow and arrow skills at an archery open house at Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville, there are plenty of reasons and opportunities to check out the outdoors this season. (photos provided)
The combination of sun, warmth and inviting natural areas in close proximity to Hinsdale is the perfect mix for outdoor fun. The DuPage County and Cook County forest preserve districts as well as the Morton Arboretum are great resources to help you head out and soak in nature's splendor. Check out one or more of these programs available in the weeks ahead.
Wild kingdom
• Learn about the monarch butterfly at the Monarchs Pop-Up at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 19, at the Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, 12545 W. 111th St. in Lemont.
A naturalist will discuss which plants support caterpillars and adult butterflies, and participants are invited to bring their own questions. The program is located outside with tables on a paved surface.
To register or for more information, visit https://www.fpdcc.com or call (630) 257-2045.
• Stretch your legs, get some fresh air and appreciate the colorful late-summer blooms of the prairie on a Summer Prairie Walk from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 1, at James "Pate" Philip State Park, 2050 W. Stearns Road in Bartlett.
Participants in this leisurely one- to two-mile guided walk will learn to identify common DuPage plants and which ones can be grown at home. The program is for ages 12 and up; lightweight clothing and a brimmed hat are recommended.
The cost is $5 per person. To register or for more information, visit https://www.dupageforest.org or call (630) 933-7248.
Healing opportunities
• Experience the healing and wellness-promoting effects of shinrin-yoku on a Forest Therapy Walk from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday, July 22 or Aug. 12, or from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 6, at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53 in Lisle.
Bathe the senses in the atmosphere of the forest, while taking a mindful walk along a woodland trail with a certified forest therapy guide. Walks will visit different locations at the arboretum and will include a variety of awareness-raising exercises.
The cost is $36 for the two-hour walk, $46 for the three-hour walk. To register or for more information, visit https://www.mortonarb.org or call (630) 968-0074.
• Take in nature's beauty while promoting personal wellness with Yoga in the Woods from 10 to 11 a.m. Sunday, July 31, at the Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, 9800 Willow Springs Road, Willow Springs. The all-levels yoga class, hosted indoors with a view of the grounds, will be led by a certified instructor. Participants should bring a yoga mat or beach towel and water, and are encouraged to take a self-guided walk on the trails afterward. The program is for ages 18 and up.
To register or for more information, visit https://www.fpdcc.com or call (708) 839-6897
Youth adventures
• Kids ages 9-12, with an adult, will learn the basics of navigating the water in Kayaking: Just for Kids from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3, at Herrick Lake, 3S580 Naperville Road in Wheaton.
All equipment will be provided as participants enjoy a kid-friendly setting. Clothes that can get wet, a towel and extra shoes are recommended.
The cost is $10 per child. To register or for more information, visit https://www.dupageforest.org or call (630) 933-7248.
• Teens are invited to learn basic camping skills at Teen Exploration Days: Camping 101 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, at Camp Bullfrog Lake, 9600 Wolf Road in Willow Springs.
This program is part of the FPDCC's summer-long series encouraging youth ages 13 and up to explore nature through adventurous, playful and relaxing activities while learning about conservation and Chicagoland's unique ecology.
To register or for more information, visit https://www.fpdcc.com or call (708) 771-1573.
Family activities
• Families can learn about archery equipment, try some of the basics with a certified instructor and talk to representatives from local archery groups at Archery: Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, at Blackwell Forest Preserve on Butterfield Road west of Winfield Road in Warrenville.
Participants must complete a waiver, which can be downloaded and filled out in advance. The open house is for all ages; registration is not required.
For more information, visit https://www.dupageforest.org or call (630) 933-7248.
• Learn which trees provide lumber for woodworking on Make With Wood, a Woodland Family Hike, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, or Wednesday, Aug. 17, at Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53 in Lisle.
Participants will make their own creative take-home pieces out of wood.
The cost is $17 per person. To register or for more information, visit https://www.mortonarb.org or call (630) 968-0074.
- compiled by Ken Knutson
