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 the Web site at www.dupageforest.com.

Blacksmith:ŒThe 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.

Stream restoration: DuPage County Forest Preserve will focus on the stream restoration at Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve from 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday at the parking lot, 83rd Street between Route 59 and Book Road, Naperville. A workday is planned from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday. For details, call (630) 876-5929.

Bird feeders: From Trash to Treasure, make a bird feeder out of recyclable materials form home from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center, 3609 Spring Road, Oak Brook. For reservations, call (630) 850-8110.

Holiday candy: The recipes for creating colorful hard candies will be available for visitors from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 24-25 at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. Guests will take home recipes. 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 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Herrick Lake Forest Preserve in Wheaton.

• 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Elsen's Hill at West DuPage Woods Forest Preserve in West Chicago.

• 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Lyman Woods Forest Preserve in Downers Grove.