Forest Preserve offers New Year’s celebration, MLK Day program, bird hikes and more
Here are the Forest Preserve District of Will County programs for the weeks of Jan. 8 and Jan. 15. Online registration is available on the Event Calendar at ReconnectWithNature.org.
The Outdoors for Beginners: 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, Sugar Creek Administration Center, Joliet. If you’re intimidated by outdoor activities, this program is for you. Learn about what kind of recreation you might enjoy and take a short hike in the prairie. Free, ages 18 or older. Register by Jan. 10.
Bonne Année – A New Year Celebration: 2-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, Isle a la Cache Museum, Romeoville. Ring in the New Year French-Canadian fur trader style with stories, games, a warm drink, a toasty fire and a vintage French craft to take home. Free, ages 6 or older. Register by Jan. 11.
Happy Mornings Yoga and Hike, 9-10:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 14, Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, Channahon. Yoga takes place in the Grand Hall and is followed by an outdoor hike. Bring a yoga matt, water and warm layers for the hike. Free, ages 14 or older. Register by Jan. 13.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service – Volunteer Morning: 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Jan. 15, Theodore Marsh Preserve, Crest Hill. Make a difference in your community by signing up for the Forest Preserve District’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service volunteer morning. Activities will include brush control. Space is limited, and registration is required. To get started, complete a waiver online. For information, contact Emily Kenny at 815-722-7364 or [email protected]. Ages 10 or older.
Taboos of the Trade: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, Isle a la Cache Museum. Bring your own beverages (wine or beer only) as adult-themed topics of the 18th-century fur trade era are explored, including relationships, alcohol and rowdy rendezvous. Free, ages 21 or older. Register by Jan. 16.
Birds and Beans: 8:30-9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, Isle a la Cache Museum. Chat with a naturalist about the birds that can been seen at the feeders through the museum’s picture window and enjoy the company of others over muffins and hot coffee. Free, ages 16 or older. Register by Jan. 18.
Winter Waterfowl Hike at Lake Renwick: 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, Lake Renwick Heron Rookery Nature Preserve, Plainfield. Join a naturalist trailside to watch winter waterfowl enjoying the chilly water. Free, ages 10 or older. Register by Jan. 19.
“Birds in Art” – Crochet for Wildlife: noon-2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, Plum Creek Nature Center, Crete Township. Get “hooked” helping wildlife with this beginner’s course on how to crochet small nests that are used in wildlife rehabilitation. Free, ages 16 or older. Register by Jan. 19.
Winter Walkers – Lake Renwick: 1-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, Lake Renwick Heron Rookery Nature Preserve. Join a naturalist every Saturday in January and February at a different forest preserve. This week, discover winter wildlife at Lake Renwick on a 2- to 3-mile hike. Free, all ages. Register by Jan. 19.
Wings on the Water at Four Rivers: 10-11:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 21, Four Rivers Environmental Education Center. Join a naturalist on the chill trails to uncover the special adaptations that allow waterfowl to make Four Rivers their winter home. Free, all ages. Register by Jan. 20.
