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 www.dupageforest.com.

Gingerbread Farm: A gingerbread replica of Kline Creek Farm will be on display with tours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday to Dec. 31 at the farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. For details, call (630) 876-5900.

Spirit of the Season: Visitors can experience the joys of the season with the greens and aroma of holiday treats during tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Monday to Dec. 31 at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. For details, call (630) 876-5900.

Feeding wildlife: While winter is a hard time for animals, DuPage County residents need to be aware that providing food for the animals may actually harm them, especially the white-tailed deer.

Feeding these deer has been illegal in Illinois since 2002 to help prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease, a fatal neurological disease of deer and elk.

Residents feeding birds and squirrels should clean and disinfect their food and water sources monthly to prevent disease.

For details, call the Willowbrook Wildlife Center at (630) 942-6200.

Blacksmith: The blacksmith will demonstrate repair of equipment and the tools of his trade from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 15 at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. For details, call (630) 876-5900.

Visit Nature Santa: Talons and Claus will feature Nature Santa and his elves from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at Willowbrook Wildlife Center, 525 S. Park Blvd, Glen Ellyn. The event includes crafts, a horse-drawn hayride and time with the raptors. Photos are $5, but the event is free. For details, call (630) 942-6200.

Hayrides: Danada Equestrian Center will offer 30-minute horse-drawn hayrides from noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 26-31 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.

Speaker's bureau: Invite one of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County's Nature's Ambassadors to speak at your next meeting.

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.

Volunteers help restore these vital lands by cutting away unwanted brush and small trees and raking in native seeds.

An adult must accompany children younger than 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 Saturday at Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve in Naperville and Elsen's Hill of West DuPage Woods Forest Preserve in West Chicago.

• 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 15 at Egermann Woods Forest Preserve in Lisle

• 9 to 11:30 a.m. Dec. 15 at Herrick Lake Forest Preserve in Wheaton.

• 9 to 11:30 a.m. Dec. 15 at Lyman Woods Forest Preserve in Downers Grove.

Permits for 2008: The DuPage County Forest Preserve District is now offering annual permits for the use of off-leash dog areas, private boats and model-boat and model-airplane facilities and private boats.

Permits effective Jan. 1, 2008, may be obtained in person or by fax or mail through visitor services at the district headquarters, Danada Forest Preserve, 3S501 Naperville Road, Wheaton. Visitor services is open 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 online at 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 ages 65 and older or active or honorably discharged military veterans are entitled to one free annual permit.

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, 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.