Lake County Forest Preserve District program lets students trying kayaking

A group of seventh- and eighth-grade students can include kayaking when they list what they did on their summer vacation.

The students participated in the Lake County Forest Preserve District's weeklong program called Adventures in Nature. Campers spent the week kayaking, biking, hiking, swimming, and running through an obstacle course at various forest preserves around the county.

At Independence Grove Forest Preserve in Libertyville, the kids learned kayaking skills while also learning about the ecosystem at the lake from environmental educators Nikki Ball-Toughhill and Kelly Morgensen.

“We are kayaking and keeping cool while learning about water quality,” said Ball-Toughhill. “They are a great group of kids. We have just been having a great time playing games and exploring.”

The young kayakers laughed and played as they tried new skills with the kayaks, some flying around the pond while others swamped their boats. Later, the group trekked around the reservoir to discover animals and vegetation interacting with the water.

“It's a lot of fun to go kayaking because I don't have a kayak,” said 12-year-old Heather McNaughton of Antioch, as she finished playing a game on the kayak course. “It's fun to go and meet new people, and you get to try new things that you usually wouldn't be able to.”

The Lake County Forest Preserve District offers several more sessions of the nature program during the summer.

For details, visit www.LCFPD.org or call (847) 968-3321.