DuPage Co. forest preserve 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 the Web site at www.dupageforest.com.

Volunteer: Leap into Volunteering during an open house from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 20 at Danada Forest Preserve headquarters on the west side of Naperville Road at 3S580 Naperville Road, Wheaton. For details, call (630) 933-7681

Spring cleaning: Kline Creek Farm will feature Spring Cleaning house tours on the hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 27 to April 14 at the farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. The tours are free. For details, call (630) 876-5900.

Concert: acapellago will present an a cappella concert, "Escape to Wonderland" from 7:30 to 9 p.m. March 29 at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 Oak Brook Road, Oak Brook. The concert features fairy tales and fantastic stories. Tickets are $14 for adults, $11 for students or seniors. For details or reservations, call (708) 484-3797, ext. 2.

Summer programs: 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 from June through August. Fees are $203 for DuPage County residents, $232 for non-residents. For details, call (630) 668-6012.

• Children ages 9-12 can join the Roger Raccoon Club at the Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn. Participants will explore DuPage County's natural history during two four-day sessions in June and July. Each session includes an overnight campout at Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Darien. Fees are $75; members of Willowbrook Wildlife Foundation receive a $10 discount. For details, call (630) 942-6200.

• Children ages 6-8 can enroll in Hodge Podge Lodge and learn about insects, reptiles birds and mammals via games, activities and stories at Willowbrook Wildlife Center. Three four-day session are offered in June, July and August and each session ends with a cookout at Herrick Lake Forest Preserve in Wheaton. The fee is $75 per session; members of Willowbrook Wildlife Foundation receive a $10 discount. For details call (630) 942-6200.

• Kline Creek Farm in Winfield offers Kline Creek Farmhands for ages 7-12 to experience life on a historic working farm including chores and games of the 1890s. Seven three-day sessions are offered from June through August. The fee is $75 per session. 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.

• 9 a.m. to noon March 29 at West Chicago Prairie Forest Preserve in West Chicago

• 9 a.m. to noon March 30 at Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve in Naperville