Forest Preserve District of DuPage County notes

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County notes

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.

Volunteer: Leap into Volunteering during an open house from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday at Danada Forest Preserve headquarters, 3S580 Naperville Road, Wheaton. For details, call (630) 933-7681

Hayrides: Danada Equestrian Center will offer 30-minute horse-drawn hayrides from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday and Jan. 20 and 27 at Danada, Danada, 3S501 S. Naperville Road, Wheaton. Ride fees are $5 per adult, $2 per child ages 5 to 12 and free for children younger than 5. Tickets are sold the day of the event. For details, call (630) 668-6012.

Winter on the farm: Guests will lend a hand with chores during programs Saturday and Sunday 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. Saturday. For details, call (630) 876-5900.

Ice fishing: A clinic for beginners is planned from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday 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 younger than 18. Reservations are required 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.

Winter sports: Winter thrill seekers can get their kicks tubing when there is at least 3 inches of snow on Mount Hoy in Blackwell Forest Preserve on Butterfield Road, west of Winfield Road in Warrenville.

When conditions are favorable, tubing is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends through February. The hill will be open for the school holidays Jan. 21 and Feb. 18.

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, $5 for others. Call the subscription line at (630) 933-7085 or view the publication online at www.dupageforest.com.

Camping and picnics: Reservations are being accepted for the DuPage County Forest Preserve District's family campground, youth-group camping areas and reservable picnic areas.

The campground will open May for Friday and Saturday nights. Additional nights of camping will be available holiday weekends.

There are 25 reservable shelters and picnic areas for family reunions and other gatherings for 25 to 300 people. Some have built-in grills and electricity.

More than 50 semi-private campsites are available at the family campground area north of Silver Lake at Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville. Each campsite includes a gravel parking pad, fire ring and picnic table.

Campsites are suitable for tents and a limited number of sites are available for trailers and motor homes. Electrical hookups are available at 19 campsites.

There are restrooms with showers, running water and refuse containers. Each site allows a maximum of eight people and two tents. Senior citizens are allowed one free permit per household.

For DuPage County residents, campsite rates are $15 per night for a site without electricity, $20 for a site with electricity. For out-of-county residents, rates are $25 per night for a site without electricity, $30 per night for a site with electricity.

• Youth-group campsites are available at the following preserves: Blackwell in Warrenville, Churchill Woods in Glen Ellyn, Greene Valley in Naperville, Pratt's Wayne Woods in Wayne and Waterfall Glen in Darien.

The sites are suitable for activities ranging from jamborees to environmental education activities. They are solely for use by recognized, nonprofit youth groups. Open year-round, all sites have picnic tables, fire rings, nearby latrines, firewood and water pumps, but no electricity.

Sites vary in size for groups from 25 to 100. Fees vary and are based on the site capacity. A cabin at Herrick Lake Forest Preserve in Wheaton is also available to youth groups.

A permit is required for picnicking or camping reservations. Permit applications may be downloaded online at www.dpageforest.com and submitted by mail or fax. Applications also may be completed at the district office at Danada or by calling (630) 933-7248.

Reservations for campsites and picnic areas can be made by phone with Visa or MasterCard, or in person at the district's visitor services office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Each permit holder must be at least 21 years old and remain on-site. Fees are nonrefundable. Holiday weekend reservations should be made several months in advance.

For details or reservations, call (630) 933-7248.

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 may be obtained in person or by fax or mail through visitor services at the district headquarters, Danada Forest Preserve, 3S580 Naperville Road, Wheaton. Permits will be issued 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 from the district's Web site, 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. Nonresident fees are $150 per year, $25 for each additional dog. Senior citizens 65 and older 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.

Speaker's bureau: Invite one of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County's Nature's Ambassadors to speak at your next meeting and learn about the benefits of forest preserves and the 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. 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.