Outdoors stories in northern Illinois
It's never too late to plant a tree and other woody plant as long as the hole is pre-dug, according to Nancy Kuhajda, Illinois Extension horticulture educator serving Grundy, Kankakee, and Will Counties.
Close out summer with a fishing excursion to idden Lakes Trout Farm in Bolingbrook. Two-hour sessions will be offered at 7 a.m. and 10 a.m., on Saturday, Sept. 21.
Goodenow Grove Campground in Crete is holding a Family Campout from Saturday, Sept. 28, to Sunday, Sept. 29. Forest Preserve District staff will help with setup and be there with entertainment.
A new kayak rental station is now up and running at Will County’s Lake Chaminwood Preserve in Channahon and is ready to go for the Labor Day weekend.
Armed with a 25-year-old film camera and a 20-year-old roll of 36-exposure film, photographer Alex T. Paschal made it his mission to take 36 individual portraits of people he met at a southern Illinois music festival. Here is the result.
Here is a gallery of film portraits taken by Shaw Local photographer Alex T. Paschal at a southern Illinois music fest – Full Terror Assault – in 2023.
Participants who hike at least seven of 10 designated trails in Will County forest preserves this fall earn a special medallion that can be pinned to a backpack or walking stick.
Tuesdays through Sundays, Sept. 1-29, at Hidden Lakes Trout Farm in Bolingbrook stop by the Tackle Box bait shop to pick up your guide to the scavenger hunt.
Fall offers its own full season of festivals and community celebrations throughout Will County. Check here for listing of special events coming up August through October.
A new paved path connecting the Lake Chaminwood Preserve in Channahon to the I&M Canal State Trail is now open. This new trail section connects via a bridge over the canal.
Explore the habitat of local bat species in Will County and watch bats emerge go out on their nightly hunt at Hammel Woods in Shorewood.
Rise and Shine Paddle will be held the morning of Thursday, Aug. 22. at the Will County forest preserve in Monee Township.
The Will County Forest District Board voted Aug. 8 to acquire 57-acres at cost of $1,037,400 to grow the forest preserve in Channahon.
There are plenty of beautiful locations in northern Illinois where you and your family can enjoy all the benefits of shoreline living
Still time to enjoy summer fun before Will County kids head back to school. These community pools have August open swim hours.
Four blues bands will be performing at Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park in Joliet from 3 to 10 p.m. on Saturday.
As summer reaches its peak, a variety of garden centers and farmstands are available throughout Will County.
Come out to the Plum Creek Nature Center to see these fascinating birds up close and check out monarch and honeybee displays at forest preserve programs.
The concert will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at 201 W. Jefferson St., Joliet.
View nesting herons, egrets and cormorants at Lake Renwick while the rookery is closed for nesting season.
Northwest Illinois is full of many gorgeous state parks, perfect for family-friendly outdoor adventures.
Backpacking 101 Part 1 – Introduction to Backpacking will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 27, at the center in Channahon, 25055 S Walnut Lane. Register by Friday, July 26.
The Will County Forest Preserve District is hosting a program at the Braidwood Dunes and Savanna in Reed Township on Saturday, July 27
Explore the stone foundations of Joliet’s once-thriving industrial plant that are over 100 years old.
A group of Kane County residents set out on a 10-day biking adventure around Lake Michigan, filled with camaraderie and exploration, covering nearly 1,100 miles and stopping at over 20 breweries along the way.
Kane County has a variety of family-friendly events to do before school begins, such as painting at Color Me Mine, visiting Primrose Farm and more.
The 62nd annual Antique Tractor and Steam Engine Show is a family-friendly festival that explores local Will County history, and celebrates the agriculture roots.
Geneva will increase efforts to reduce mosquitos after the West Nile Virus was found in a surveillance trap.
Gardening is often taught through community connections whether cultivated from our families, neighbors, community group, or our chosen families.
The Nature Foundation of Will County presented a $33,400 donation check to the Forest Preserve at the District to be used for a variety of programs and projects.
Fish at night when the water is cooler and fish are more active at some Will County forest preserves this month.
The largest summer event in Batavia, the three-day Windmill City Festival begins this weekend with live music, food, carnival, games and contests.
Oswego Country Market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. nearly every Sunday through Sept. 29.
At the June 25 Oswego Village Board meeting, trustees approved the village’s urban forestry management plan, prepared by Great Lakes Urban Forestry Management.
Experience the rush of a 13,000 feet freefall as you jump from an airplane with Skydive Chicago.
Here are three less common native groundcovers to consider; all have attractive foliage and unique flowers and are resistant to browsing by deer and rabbits
The Forest Preserve District of Will County’s spring Take It Outside Challenge ended with seven first-place winners and hundreds of fun memories and accomplishments for participants.
Batavia Plain Dirt Gardeners club will hold its garden walk featuring seven gardens from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 13.
There is still plenty of summer left to get out for a good bike ride along these Will County trails.
The Kane Forest Preserve Foundation will host its Golf Outing Thursday, Sept. 12.
July is National Park and Recreation Month, and the Batavia Park District will celebrate with a variety of activities for residents of all ages and abilities.
Along North River Street from 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday until Oct. 26, visitors come to enjoy the sounds of acoustic guitars, try out the different food trucks, and shop from local vendors.
From outdoor adventures to family fun, check out the area’s natural beauty, historical homes and a local art scene, there are plenty of ways to spend the day in Sterling, Rock Falls and surrounding communities.
Cloggin’ Craze Dancers and Stacy Sienko will perform Thursday as part of "Concerts on the Hill" at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet.
Tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease, are on the rise because of the increased exposure to humans and animals. What can we do to protect ourselves?
If you're looking for a summer adventure, try rafting the Vermilion River’s rapids.
These are the Forest Preserve District of Will County programs for the week of June 24. Online registration is available on the Event Calendar at ReconnectWithNature.org.
Oswego's outdoor concert venue will host Midwestern band Red Wanting Blue at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 22.
Isle a la Cache Museum hosts a drop-in for a self-guided exploration of the campus on Sunday, June 22. Visit the 18th century-era Traders Cabin or peek inside the Native American longhouse.
The Forest Preserve District of Kane County will host a "Rusty Rodeo" to collect rusty crayfish, an invasive species, from waterways.