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 www.dupageforest.com.
Gingerbread Farm:ŒA gingerbread replica of Kline Creek Farm will be on display with tours on the hour from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Mondays to Dec. 31 at the farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. For details, call (630) 876-5900.
Spirit of the Season:ŒVisitors can experience the joys of the season with the greens and aroma of holiday treats during tours on the hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Mondays to Dec. 31 at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. For details, call (630) 876-5900.
Blacksmith: The blacksmith will demonstrate repair of equipment and the tools of his trade from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. For details, call (630) 876-5900.
Hayrides: Danada Equestrian Center will offer 30-minute horse-drawn hayrides from noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 26-31 and noon to 3 p.m. Jan. 6, 13, 20 and 27 at Danada, Danada, 3S501 S. Naperville Road, Wheaton. Ride fees are $5 per adult, $2 per child ages 5 to 12, free for children under 5. Tickets are sold the day of the event. For details, call (630) 668-6012.
Archery: An introduction to archery is offered with equipment provided for ages 5 and older with an adult from 1 to 3 p.m. Jan. 6 at the Youth Group Cabin at Herrrick Lake Forest Preserve, Butterfield and Herrick Lake road, Wheaton. Reservations are required by calling (630) 933-7248.
Winter on the farm:ŒGuests will lend a hand with chores during programs Jan. 12-13 at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. Activities include pruning the orchard from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and making sausage at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Blacksmith demonstrations are from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 12. For details, call (630) 876-5900.
Ice fishing: A clinic for beginners is planned from 1 to 3 p.m. Jan. 13 at Herrick Lake Forest Preserve youth group cabin in Wheaton. Fishing will follow the workshop, weather permitting. Equipment and bait will be provided. An adult must accompany children under 18. Reservations are required after Dec. 28 by calling (630) 933-7248.
Amazing Race: Ages 6 and older will follow the clues, tackle roadblocks and win prizes like the TV show from 1 to 4 p.m. Jan. 20 at Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center, 3609 Spring Road, Oak Brook. For reservations, call (630) 850-8110.
Ice Harvesting: The importance of ice before the days of refrigeration is the focus of a program from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 24, 26, 27 and 31 at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. For details, call (630) 876-5900.
Speaker's bureau: Invite one of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County's Nature Ambassadors to speak at your next meeting for 30-minutes, and learn about the benefits of forest preserves and the ample opportunities in conservation, education and recreation.
From November to mid-April of every year, the district provides this public service for citizens of DuPage County. Half-hour presentations are free and include a question-and-answer session. Program topics include Open Spaces, Restoring Nature's Treasures, Wildlife Neighbors, Pathways to Education, Volunteers Make a Difference and Hunters of the Sky as well as those of special interest. Reservations for programs must be made at least 10 business days prior to the speaking engagement. A speaker will meet with groups of 15 or more. The fee is $75 for Hunters of the Sky, which is available only during daytime hours and features raptors of DuPage County. For details, call (630) 933-7246.
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.
• 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Egermann Woods Forest Preserve in Lisle.
• 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Herrick Lake Forest Preserve in Wheaton.
• 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Lyman Woods Forest Preserve in Downers Grove.
Winter sports: Winter thrill seekers can get their kicks tubing when there is at least three inches of snow on Mount Hoy in Blackwell Forest Preserve, Butterfield Road west of Winfield Road in Warrenville.
When conditions are favorable, tubing is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends through February. The hill will be open for the school holidays including Dec. 22 to Jan. 6, Jan. 21, and Feb. 18. The hill will be closed Dec. 25.
Only forest preserve district inner tubes are permitted and may be rented for $4 per tube per day. Tube rental ends at 3:30 p.m. To hear current tubing conditions, call the district's outdoor report at (630) 871-6422.
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are available when conditions permit at the following forest preserves: Herrick Lake and Danada in Wheaton, Blackwell in Warrenville, Waterfall Glen in Darien, Greene Valley in Naperville, West DuPage Woods in West Chicago, Fullersburg Woods in Oak Brook and Springbrook Prairie in Naperville. All trail users are asked to take care not to damage tracks that have been set. To hear a trail-conditions report, call (630) 871-6422.
Frozen lakes provide opportunities for ice skaters and anglers. At least 4 inches of ice is recommended for any ice activity. Rangers do not monitor ice thickness, and all ice-related activities are done at the user's own risk. In addition to regular state and district fishing regulations, each individual is permitted to fish from no more than two ice-fishing holes at one time, and holes may be no more than 10 inches in diameter. Due to water-level issues, ice skating and ice fishing are prohibited at Spring Creek Reservoir Forest Preserve in Bloomingdale.
Visitors are welcome to sled at their own risk at any forest preserve location unless otherwise posted. Sledding is always prohibited at Mount Hoy at Blackwell, the closed landfill sites at Green Valley and Mallard Lake forest preserves and any slopes at Spring Creek Reservoir Forest Preserve.
A calendar of events is listed on the district's Web site and in the district's quarterly publication, The DuPage Conservationist. Subscriptions are free to DuPage County residents and $5 for out-of-county residents. Call the subscription line at (630) 933-7085, or view the publication online at www.dupageforest.com or call (630) 933-7200.
Permits for 2008: The DuPage County Forest Preserve District is offering annual permits for the use of off-leash dog areas, private boats and model-boat and model-airplane facilities and private boats now. Permits effective Jan. 1, 2008, may be obtained in person or by fax or mail through visitor services at the district headquarters, Danada Forest Preserve, 3S501 Naperville Road, Wheaton. Visitor services is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Visa and MasterCard are accepted. In addition to annual permits, daily permits are available. For details, call (630) 933-7248.
Permit applications also can be downloaded at www.dupageforest.com and submitted in person.
Off-leash dog areas are in forest preserves at Blackwell in Warrenville, East Branch in Glendale Heights, Greene Valley in Naperville, Mallard Lake in Hanover Park, Mayslake in Oak Brook, Pratt's Wayne Woods in Wayne and Springbrook Prairie in Naperville. For DuPage County residents, off-leash dog area annual permits are $40 for the first dog, $8 for each additional dog. Non-resident fees are $150 per year, $25 for each additional dog. Senior citizens 65 years and older and/or active or honorably discharged military veterans are entitled to one free annual permit. Dog owners may have permits for as many of their dogs as they wish; however, owners may only have three dogs at an area at one time.
Model aircraft fields are at Springbrook Prairie and Pratt's Wayne Woods, and model-helicopter fliers may utilize the field at Fullerton Park Forest Preserve in Addison. Those with model gliders or sailplanes may fly them at Greene Valley in Naperville when the hill is open. Model-boat enthusiasts are welcome at Riverbend Pond at Cricket Creek Forest Preserve in Addison. Annual permits for model aircraft cost $35 for residents, $45 for others; model-boat annual permits cost $25 for residents, $35 for others. Senior citizens are entitled to one free model-craft permit.
Privately owned boats may be launched at Silver Lake at Blackwell, Mallard Lake at Mallard Lake Forest Preserve, Deep Quarry Lake at West Branch Forest Preserve in Bartlett and Round Meadow Lake at Hidden Lake Forest Preserve in Glen Ellyn. Boats may be a maximum of 20 feet in length overall and shall be propelled only by rowing, paddling, sculling or electric trolling motor. Inflatables must be multi-chambered with a factory installed hardened floor and transom. Sailboats are permitted only at Silver Lake. Blackwell's Silver Lake has a boat launch, but only carry-in boating is allowed at Deep Quarry, Round Meadow and Mallard lakes. For carry-in boating, trailers are prohibited and boats must be transported on or in a vehicle and carried from the parking lot to the lake. Annual boating permits cost $35 for residents, $45 for others. State watercraft registration is also required. Senior citizens are entitled to one free private-boating permit. For details, visit www.dupageforest.com or call (630) 933-7200.
Feeding wildlife: While winter is a hard time for animals, DuPage County residents need to be aware that providing food for the animals actually may harm them, especially the white-tailed deer. Feeding these deer has been illegal in Illinois since 2002 to help prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease, a fatal neurological disease of deer and elk. Residents feeding birds and squirrels should clean and disinfect their food and water sources monthly to prevent disease. For details, call the Willowbrook Wildlife Center at (630) 942-6200.