Take a Haunted Hike or Smash Your Pumpkins at Forest Preserve programs

The Forest Preserve District of Will County offers a wide variety of programs year-round. Here are some of the upcoming offerings:

CRETE TOWNSHIP – “High School Hideaway – Haunted Hike,” 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, Plum Creek Nature Center. Get in the Halloween spirit by hiking a haunted trail through spooky scenes and obstacles. If you are lucky, you may even run into a ghost or two! After the hike, hang out by a crackling fire while roasting a tasty treat. Free; ages 14-18. Register at ReconnectWithNature.org or call 708-946-2216.

CHANNAHON – “Four Rivers’ Scout Adventure,” 10 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, Four Rivers Environmental Education Center. Boy and Girl Scout groups will test their skills while navigating through fun and educational activities that may correlate to badge/patch requirements. Stations will be both indoors and outdoors. Free; Scouts ages 5-14. Register by Friday, Oct. 25; 815-722-9470.

CRETE TOWNSHIP – “Pumpkin Smash,” noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, Plum Creek Nature Center. Smash and bash your pumpkin to save the Earth. Composting your jack-o-lantern will keep it out of a landfill, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create natural fertilizer. Afterward, enjoy roasting marshmallows and hot dogs over a crackling campfire. Pumpkins will only be accepted between noon-3 p.m. (Remove candles and decorations from your pumpkin before dropping it off.)

ROMEOVILLE – “Winged Souls & Milkweed,” 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, Isle a la Cache Museum. Monarchs flock back to Mexico at the beginning of November, just in time for the Day of the Dead holiday. Legend has it that the butterflies are the returning souls of loved ones past. Program participants will gather and prepare milkweed seeds for the Forest Preserve and take some home for their own gardens to feed monarchs next spring. Free; ages 10 or older. Register by Thursday, Oct. 31, at ReconnectWithNature.org or call 815-886-1467.