Take Advantage Of Forest Preserve Winter Programs

From Forest Preserve:

WINTER ADVISORY: OUTDOOR ACTIVITY IS EXCITING, HEALTHY AND UNRIVALED

Forest Preserve winter programs take advantage of season's assets. As the temperatures fall, enthusiasm for outdoor activity often falls too. But after decades of experience leading outdoor winter programs, Lake County Forest Preserve environmental educators advise that there is much to be gained by bundling up and heading outside. The winter landscape offers sensory experiences summer can’t duplicate, educators remind us.

Flashes of color and movement are more easily spotted against winter’s monochromatic pallet. Crunching boots on snow makes a sound found nowhere else. The serenity of snow acoustics and solitude in the woods is also unique to this season.

WINTER PROGRAMS

Winter programs in forest preserve settings take advantage of features nature offers when temperatures drop. Snow and ice are ideal ground cover for the Tracking and Observation program that teaches participants to identify animals by their tracks and scat, so easy to spot on a white surface.

• Sunday, January 22, 1:30 pm, Independence Grove Forest Preserve–Visitors Center, (Libertyville), for adults and families with children ages 10 and up.

The calls of coyotes and owls are best heard during the active mating season of winter, which is why the Hoot and Howl Hike is offered in winter. Sunday, January 29, 4:30 pm, Lyons Woods Forest Preserve (Waukegan), for adults and families with children ages 8 and up. Programs like Connecting Kids with Nature get kids moving with activities that involve exercise and creativity, such as building snow forts or exploring for tracks.

• Thursday, February 9, 10:30 am, Greenbelt Forest Preserve–Cultural Center (North Chicago), for children of all ages with a caregiver. Home school students and day care providers welcome. The Hikin’ Tykes February program will take advantage of winter’s white backdrop to seek out the brightly contrasting red of cardinals.
• Tuesday, February 14, 9:30 am, Ryerson Conservation Area–Welcome Center (Riverwoods), for children ages 2–4, with an adult. Wildlife courtship behaviors are the topic at the annual Romantic Night Hike program, not coincidentally landing on Valentines Day. Warm up with hot chocolate and s’mores around a fire at the end.
• Tuesday, February 14, 7:30 pm, Ryerson Conservation Area–Classroom Cabins (Riverwoods), for adults, couples/singles.

Environmental educators keep a close watch on weather conditions and modify or cancel programs accordingly. Attendees can call 847-367-6640 during business hours, or 847-968-3113 outside business hours, to check for changes. Some programs have an indoor option for participants to warm up or just stay inside if the temperature gets too cold. For a complete listing and details of upcoming education events and programs, go here.

For additional information about your Lake County Forest Preserves, visit LCFPD.org or call 847-367-6640 and request a free copy of the Horizons quarterly newsletter.

WINTER SPORTS

Your Lake County Forest Preserves also offers many winter sports locations. Before heading out, check online for winter sports updates, or call the Winter Sports Hotline at 847-968-3235 for current trail, snow and ice conditions.When conditions allow, the following activities are available:

• ice skating is offered at Lakewood (Wauconda), and at Old School and Independence Grove (Libertyville).
• sledding is offered at Lakewood (Wauconda) and at Old School (Libertyville).
• cross-country skiing is available along 166 miles of challenging and scenic trails for beginners and skilled enthusiasts.
• ice fishing is allowed on select lakes and under certain ice conditions. Check LCFPD.org/ice-fishing for details.

Photos courtesy of Lake County Forest Preserves