Back to nature

  Kane County Forest Preserve naturalist Josh Libman, far left, leads a group of first- and second-graders on a hike into the woods Thursday to learn how to build a natural fort at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles. Twenty kids attended the "Week in the Woods" camp at the preserve, studying different aspects of nature each day. So far, they've covered mammals, birds, insects and Thursday's theme was "Humans in Nature." Kids learned the importance of humans respecting the environment, what they can recycle and compost, making a craft from natural elements and building a nature fort for protection. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com

  Calvin Reed, 6, of St. Charles, left, receives guidance from Caleb Weisbeck, 6, of Batavia, center, and other teammates as to which bin he should place an item in a recycling relay race as he rushes back to the finish line during the "Week in the Woods" nature camp Thursday at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles. Kids rushed back and forth from a pile of items and had to figure out if their item belonged in a recycling, composting or garbage bin. Calvin's team won the relay. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com

  Adam Sargent, 7, of Aurora, puts the finishing touches of a leafy roof onto a nature fort he and other summer campers created at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles. Adam and 19 other children participated in the "Week in the Woods" nature camp at the preserve, studying different aspects of nature each day of the week. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com