DuPage County Forest Preserve plans programs

Forest Preserve

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County will offer the following programs. No reservations are required and programs are free unless otherwise noted. For details, visit the Web site at www.dupageforest.com.

Birthday open house:Å’An open house celebrating the 148th birthday of Francis Stuyvesant Peabody and a bric-a-brac fund-raising sale is planned from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 21 at the estate, 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook. Admission is free. The event includes live entertainment, a photo exhibit and fundraiser. For details, call (630) 850-2363.

Blacksmith:Å’The blacksmith will demonstrate repair of equipment and the tools of his trade from 1 to 3:30 p.m. July 21 at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. For details, call (630) 876-5900.

Diva Days Kayak DuPage:Å’ In this series, women will lead women in learning the kayaking sport from 6 to 8 p.m. July 25 at Hidden Lake Forest Preserve, Route 53 south of Butterfield Road, Glen Ellyn.

The fee is $35 per person. Reservations are required by calling (630) 574-7700.

Auction:Å’The DuPage County Forest Preserve will hold its annual auction of confiscated, found and surplus items beginning with viewing at 7 a.m. Aug. 4 at the Fleet Services Complex at Churchill Woods Forest Preserve, 881 W. St. Charles Road, Lombard.

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and all bidders must register with a valid form of ID. Auction begins at 8:30 a.m. with large and motorized equipment at 11 a.m. All items sold as is and all sales are final. Personal checks from residents will be accepted up to $500. Items include classic trucks and items from St. James Farm as well as bicycles, rowboats, auto-repair parts, tools and office equipment, lawn maintenance and farm equipment. For a list of items and auction rules, visit www.dupageforestauction.com or call (630) 792-2112.

Farm chores:Å’Children will be able to learn about chores on an 1890s farm during programs at 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays through July at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. Chores to help mom will be tackled Mondays and with dads on Thursdays. For details, call (630) 876-5900.

Children's Story Hour:Å’Guests may bring a blanket and learn about 19th century children's literature and stories about Peter Rabbit, the Friendly Giant and Tom Sawyer from 10 to 11 a.m. Mondays through July at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. For details, call (630) 876-5900.

Family Expeditions:Å’The DuPage County Forest Preserve is offering a free program for families to become members and enjoy special events to a variety of programs. To join, submit an enrollment form by visiting the Web site at www.dupageforest.com or call (630) 933-7208.

Birthin' Babies:Å’The joys and sorrows of giving birth in the 1890s will be explored during house tours on the hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Mondays through July 30 at Kline Creek Farm. The tour includes vintage items used for babies including high chairs. For details, call (630) 876-5900.

Summer programs:Å’The DuPage County Forest Preserve offers summer programs for kids at the following locations. Program fees vary. Registration forms are available online. For details, visit the Web site at www.dupageforest.com.

•Danada Equestrian Center in Wheaton offers Horse Sense Camp for ages 10-14 to have hands-on experiences with horses and learn day-to-day stable activities. The camp includes crafts, games and supervised lead-line horseback rides. Four five-day sessions are offered through August. For details, call (6300 668-6012.

•Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn offers two programs. Students ages 9-12 can participate in Roger Raccoon Club and explore the natural history of DuPage County. Two four-day sessions are offered, each with an overnight campout at Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Darien during sessions in July. Children ages 6-8 can enroll in Hodge Podge Lodge and learn about insects, reptiles birds and mammals via games, activities and stories. Three four-day session are offered through August and each session ends with a cookout at Herrick Lake Forest Preserve. For details about these camps, call (630) 942-6200.

•Kline Creek Farm in Winfield offers Farmhands for ages 7-12 to experience life on a historic working farm including chores and games of the 1890s. Six three-day sessions are offered during the summer. For details, call (630) 876-5900.

Nature workdays: In an effort to bring back once-abundant native grasses and forbs to DuPage County and restore the natural areas of several preserves to near pre-settlement conditions, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County invites volunteers to participate in upcoming weekend Nature Workdays.

Settlers to DuPage County began to change the face of the land at the beginning of the 20th century. As the county became more populated during the last 160 years, many non-native plants were introduced and flourished. Volunteers help restore these vital lands by cutting away unwanted brush and small trees and raking in native seeds. The undergrowth is eventually cleared away, and the land begins the transformation to a more open, natural condition, ready for native plants to thrive. An adult must accompany children under age 14. Groups of five or more must make reservations two weeks prior to the event. For details, call (630) 933-7681.

•8 to 11 a.m. July 21, 25 at the Grounds and Resources Complex at Blackwell Forest Preserve nursery for ages 12 and older. Students ages 12-15 must have an adult companion.

•9 a.m. to noon July 21 at Glacial Ridge area in Churchill Woods Forest Preserve in Glen Ellyn.

•9 a.m. to noon July 28 at Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve in Naperville.

•9 to 11 a.m. July 28 at West Chicago Prairie Forest Preserve.