Stay Active this Winter

It may be cold out, but that doesn't mean you have to stay indoors to have fun. For all you outdoorsy enthusiasts, there's tons of oppurtunities to get out and enjoy the beautiful atmosphere that nature has to offer during the winter. Grab your coat and get the blood pumping with these activities:

December 17th - Soup-er Chili: Hike to Whalon Lake: Hidden Oaks Nature Center

• Where: 419 Trout Farm Road, Bolingbrook IL, 60440
• Put on your hiking boots, bring your favorite mug, and a can of soup or chili. There will be two pots - one for soup and the other for chili. Once contributions have been added to the pots, the food will be left to simmer and the hike will begin. Once back, enjoy a hot mug over the the open fire. The hike will be approximatey 3 miles round trip on a variety of surfaces. This event requires registration by Dec 16. Please call (815) 722-4121. 

December 21st - Winter Solstice Night Hike: Starved Rock State Park Visitor Center - Eagles Roost Cabin

• Where: 2768 N. Route 178, Utica IL, 61373
• Hike with Lisa Sons, Natural Resource Coordinator at Starved Rock State Park, and enjoy a night of beautiful scenery as the moonlight shines over the winter woodlands. A pre-registration email is required. Please email lisa.sons@illinois.gov. Please include full name and how many you are registering (max of group size is 4). 

December 27th - Four Rivers Story Trail: Four Rivers Enviromental Education Center

• Where: 25055 W. Walnut Lane, Channahon IL, 60410
• This program is ongoing and runs from December 27 - January 3. Enjoy the story of "Over and Under the Snow," by Kate Messner as you journey along the trail and see the creatures that are active in the winter. Each stop will be one to two pages to read. The story is appropriate for all ages. The story covers 0.4 mile of the paved trail. 

December 29th - Museum Campus Exploration Day: Isle a la Cache Museum

• Where: 501 E. 135th St, Romeoville IL, 60446
• Explore all the buildings at the Isle a la Cache Museum and learn about the French fur traders and the Potawatomi who once called this area home. End the year with fun and educational games. Indoor facilities are accessible; outdoor area are accessible via paved and limestone trails.

December 30th - Feeding time at Hidden Oaks: Hidden Oaks Nature Center

• Where: 419 Trout Farm Road, Bolingbrook IL, 60440
• Join naturalists as you feed the nature center's animals. Learn who eats what and why. There will be talks about carnivores, herbivores, grazers and oppurtunistic eaters. Aside from fruits and vegetables, the program will also include feeding live insects and frozen, thawed mice.