Forest district offers spring break activities for kids
Families looking for fun things for kids to do during spring break can check out the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, which offers horse camps, trout fishing and springtime spruce-up programs for kids.
"These programs are excellent opportunities to introduce kids to something new and different and get them outside connecting to nature," said Joseph Cantore, president of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.
Programs include:
Bread-baking class: Meets 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 28, at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. Learn how to bake bread the 1890s way in a wood-burning oven, and take home a pan of rolls with instructions and recipes. Ages 10 and older; younger than 15 with an adult. $40 per person. Register: (630) 876-5900.
Trout fishing for kids: Meets 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 28, at Wood Dale Grove, on Wood Dale Road north of Lake Street, Wood Dale. Introduce your young anglers to trout fishing at this preseason special event that's just for them. Bait provided. Ages 15 and younger with an adult. Free. Registration not required. Info: (630) 933-7668.
Volunteer workday: Meets 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 28, at West Chicago Prairie, Industrial Drive south of Hawthorne Lane, West Chicago, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday, March 28 and 29, at Springbrook Prairie, 83rd Street west of Book Road, Naperville. Help restore a natural area by removing nonnative vegetation or planting seed. Ages 8 and older; younger than 14 with an adult, 14 and older with an adult or friend. Free. Register: (630) 933-7681 at least five business days in advance. Groups of five or more must call 10 business days in advance.
When darkness falls: Meets 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, March 28, at Waterfall Glen Outdoor Education Camp parking lot off Bluff Road just east of Cass Avenue in Darien. Hike through the dark woods with a ranger and discover what it's like to use your senses like a nocturnal predator. Ages 6 through 16 with an adult. Free. Registration begins March 16: (630) 933-7248.
Camp Danada: Offered 8:30 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday, March 30 to April 2, at Danada Equestrian Center, 3S507 Naperville Road, Wheaton. Spend part of your spring break with the Danada horses. Activities include barn chores, hands-on horse time, games, crafts and supervised lead-line rides. Includes T-shirt. Ages 10 to 14. Cost is $125 for DuPage residents, $150 for others. Info: (630) 668-6012.
Spring spruce up: Meets 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday, April 2 and 3, at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. Spend part of your spring break helping with spring cleaning at the farm. Ongoing activities include cleaning the animal pens, sweeping the house and weeding the kitchen garden. All ages. Free. Registration not required. Info: (630) 876-5900.
Return of large predators: Offered 2 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 4, at Willowbrook Wildlife Center, 525 S. Park Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Learn the stories and facts behind wolf, cougar and bear sightings in northern Illinois. Ages 14 and older. Free. Registration begins March 21: (630) 942-6200.
Spring trout opener: Begins at 6 a.m. Saturday, April 4, at Silver Lake in Blackwell Woods, Pickerel Lake at Pratt's Wayne Woods and Grove Lake at Wood Dale Grove. Open to all anglers; 16 and older must possess a valid fishing license. Free. Registration not required. Info: (630) 933-7668.
Prescription burns: Held 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 5, at St. James Farm, 2S541 Winfield Road, Warrenville. Hear about the how, when and why of the forest district's prescription burn program, and see a burn in progress, weather permitting. All ages; younger than 18 with an adult. Free. Registration begins March 23: (630) 933-7248.
Visit dupageforest.org/springbreak for a complete listing.