Teaching Kids Nature

Today's young folks of Illinois people are enjoyingan addition to Helm Woods Nature Preserve, a
less and less time outdoors. As parents we knowlarger forested tract of dry-mesic upland and
we can have a profound impact on the lives ofnorthern flatwood forests. Kemper Park Nature
your offspring. It is your responsibility toPreserve is contiguous to Helm Woods and is
introducing your kids to the outdoors for the firstcomprised of similar plant communities. The
time. They may have environmental knowledgedry-mesic upland forest is dominated by white,
about Illinois outdoors which you may enhance orred and black oaks while the flatwoods are
you may just make it a play date. These outsidedominated by swamp white oaks, ashes and elms
experiences might even awaken a passion for thewith swamp sedge and fowl manna grass
outdoors that will stay with them forever. Theoccurring frequently in the understory. Many
first step is to take a little time for planning, itforbs, especially spring ephemerals, sedges,
goes a long way towards a successful and safegrasses and shrubs can be found throughout the
outdoor trip. An outdoor field trip is a greatentire woodland complex. Garlic mustard is a
educational experience for all involved. So enjoymajor problem in this preserve. Prescribed burns
your time with your kids.have been implemented to control this invasive
Illinois is loaded with parks, natural areas,species.
conservation areas, recreation areas, and fish and3) Cap Sauers Holdings Nature Preserve Cook
wildlife areas. These areas have information onCounty Hwys. 12/20 and 45 west of Hickory Hills,
camping, hiking, biking, fishing, hunting, state parktake Hwy. 45 south 5.5 mi. to McCarthy Road,
lodges and resorts, interpretive programs andturn and go west on McCarthy Road 1.5 mi. Cap
many great ideas for places to visit and things toSauers Holdings Nature Preserve, at 1520 acres, is
do in Illinois.the largest nature preserve in northeastern Illinois.
Did you know that Illinois has adopted may naturalDominant geological features include the rolling
elements here a few: Illinois State Flower - violettopography typical of the Valparaiso Moraine of
Illinois State Soil - drummer silty clay loam Illinoisthe Morainal Division of northeastern Illinois and an
State Dance - square dancing Illinois State Snack -Esker. The Visitation Esker is one of the best
popcorn Illinois State Fruit - goldrush appledefined examples of this glacial feature in the
Going outside in In Illinois is easy, here are somestate. Most of the site is composed of young
places to go someday:upland forests, and disturbed prairie and oak
1) Truitt Hoff Nature Preserve DuPage County Tosavanna communities. Much of the former prairie
reach it from Roosevelt Road (Route 38), turnand oak savanna communities are now
north on Kress Road, then east on Downs Drive,threatened by brushy native and non-native
then north on Industruial Drive. Truitt-Hoff Naturespecies that have advanced because fire has
Preserve is located in the Morainal Section of thebeen suppressed. The Forest Preserve District of
Northeastern Illinois Morainal Natural Division. 120.3Cook County and The Nature Conservancy have
acres in size, the preserve encompassesembarked upon an ambitious project to restore
high-quality mesic prairie, wet-mesic prairie,much of this site to its presettlement condition.
freshwater marsh, mesic silt loam savanna, andOK, you're not an outdoorsy folk but you know
wet prairie natural communities.you children need to get outside. No problem their
2) Kemper Park Nature Preserve Kane Countyare many outdoor programs, classes and Illinois
Location and Access: Rt. 68 and 25 inSummer Camps available in and around your
Carpentersville, head north on Rt. 25 for 1.2 mileshome.
to Hazard Rd. East (Right) on Hazard until it ends.Finding Resident Summer Camps has never been
Kemper Park is a thirteen acre nature preserve iseasier. is a wonderful online source for information.