'Night for Nature' auction celebrates DuPage forest preserves
Residents can bid on exclusive DuPage County forest preserve opportunities - from helping train a bobcat to joining a prescription burn - during a live auction at "A Night for Nature" in Wheaton.
The benefit, sponsored by Friends of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, will run from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, at the Danada House, 3S501 Naperville Road.
Proceeds will benefit natural areas, nature education and recreational programs in the forest preserves.
The evening includes dinner and silent and live auctions. Tickets are $100 and available at dupageforest.org/night-for-nature through Sept. 13. For details, call (630) 933-7097.
Guests can bid on rare experiences at Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn, such as participating in a training session with the resident bobcat or woodchuck, before taking a behind-the-scenes tour.
They also can bid on the chance to participate in a prescription burn or an electrofishing survey with forest preserve ecologists, or receive personalized instruction from a PGA pro before playing 18 holes with three friends at The Preserve at Oak Meadows in Addison.
"Our live auction will give guests several private and unique opportunities to experience the many wonders of DuPage forest preserves with their families, friends or employees," said Friends board Chairwoman Karyn Charvat.
Silent auction items include a guided spring warbler walk for 10 at Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve; a fall kayak outing for four at Herrick Lake Forest Preserve; a covered wagon ride for 10 at St. James Farm Forest Preserve; and a recreation and picnic package that includes a ranger-led archery program at Herrick Lake.
"We are grateful to the Friends for its efforts to help raise funds in support of the forest preserve district's mission to restore habitats and sustain wildlife while providing programs to connect people to nature," forest preserve commission President Dan Hebreard said.
"This benefit will not only seek additional support from some of our most engaged donors, but also recognize our community partners, including Domtar, L.L. Bean, ComEd and the DuPage Birding Club."