Forest district offers flurry of winter break activities

From day camps to ranger adventure days and animal tracking, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has a flurry of programs and camps to help kids and teens connect to nature during winter break.

"Looking for an alternative to kids spending winter break cooped up indoors? Our forest preserves can provide them with great outdoor adventures all winter long," said Joe Cantore, forest district president.

"Winter is a magical time in the DuPage forest preserves and a great time to connect to nature," said Forest Preserve District Commissioner Al Murphy, District 6.

Winter break activities include:

• Christmas Memories House Tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the hour, Thursdays through Mondays (except for Dec. 25, 26 and Jan. 1), at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. See the house decked in ornaments, savor the aromas of treats baking in the wood-burning oven, and discover the origins of holiday traditions. All ages. Free.

• The Farmhouse at Dusk from 4 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, to Monday, Jan. 2 (except Dec. 25, 26 and Jan. 1), at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. Tour the house by lamplight and discover what life on an 1890s farm was like after sunset.

• Snowshoe Hike from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, at Blackwell Forest Preserve near Warrenville, and from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, at West DuPage Woods Forest Preserve in West Chicago. Hear about the history of snowshoeing and pick up basic safety tips. Then, step into a pair of snowshoes and hit the trail with a ranger. Bring your own snowshoes to this free program or rent a pair for $8 per person. Ages 10 and older; younger than 18 with an adult. Register online or at (630) 933-7248.

• Cross-Country Skiing After Dark from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, at Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve in Oak Brook. Bring your skis and join a ranger-led tour as you learn about forest preserve plants and animals. Ages 10 and older; younger than 18 with an adult. Free. Register online or at (630) 933-7248.

• Navigation: GPS Games from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 19, at Churchill Woods Forest Preserve in Glen Ellyn. Use technology to put a modern twist on capture the flag and other outdoor games. Equipment provided. Ages 8 to 12. Cost: $5 per person. Register online or at (630) 933-7248.

• Ranger Adventure Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays, Dec. 21 or 28, at Herrick Lake Forest Preserve in Wheaton. Find out what it takes to be a ranger as you try archery, go on a guided hike and enjoy other outdoor fun while learning about plants and animals. Ages 9 to 12. Cost: $60 per person. Register online or at (630) 933-7248.

• Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides at 2, 2:30 and 3 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, Dec. 21 to Jan. 7, at St. James Farm Forest Preserve in Warrenville. Enjoy the scenery on a 20-minute ride. Rides are first-come, first-served and use wagons if there's not ample snow on the trails. All ages; younger than 13 with an adult. Cost: $5 per person ages 5 and older, free for younger children.

• Animal Evidence from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 22, at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook. Learn about tracks, scat and other evidence animals leave behind, then look for critters on a guided hike. Ages 5 and older with an adult. Free. Register online or at (630) 933-7248.

• Camp Danada: Winter Break from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, Dec. 27 to 30, at Danada Equestrian Center, 3S507 Naperville Road, Wheaton. Warm up in the barn with chores and hands-on horse time and enjoy games, crafts and supervised lead-line rides at this four-day camp. Ages 10 to 14. Cost: $125 per DuPage resident; $150 for others. Register online or at (630) 668-6012.

• Camp FBW: Winter Break from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27, or Wednesday, Dec. 28, at Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center, 3609 Spring Road, Oak Brook. Join a four-hour adventure with experiments, wildlife, games, winter crafts and more. Ages 4 to 9. Cost: $60 per DuPage resident; $75 for others. Register online or at (630) 850-8110.

• Nature: The Video Game from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 29, at Churchill Woods Forest Preserve in Glen Ellyn. Experience nature with your iPhone or similar Apple device with mobile data access by playing an augmented-reality game with environmental clues. Ages 9 to 14 with an adult. Cost: $5 per person. Register online or at (630) 933-7248.

• New Year's Day Hike from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 1, Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Darien. Ring in the New Year with a ranger-led hike. Ages 8 and older; younger than 18 with an adult. Free. Register online or at (630) 933-7248.

• Winter Adventures from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Jan. 4, at Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center, 3609 Spring Road, Oak Brook. Cure cabin fever and spend part of your winter break with our naturalists and rangers. Ages 7 to 9 with an adult. Cost: $5 per child. Register online or at (630) 850-8110.

• Volunteer Restoration Workday from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Jan. 4, or Saturday, Jan. 7, at Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve in Naperville. Help improve a forest preserve prairie by collecting seeds or removing nonnative plants. Ages 8 and older; younger than 18 with an adult. Free. Register online or at (630) 206-9630 at least five days in advance (10 days by phone for students fulfilling requirements and groups of five or more).

• Animal Tracking from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Sunday and Monday, Jan. 8 and 9, at Greene Valley Forest Preserve in Naperville, or 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15, at Willowbrook Wildlife Center, 525 S. Park Ave., Glen Ellyn. Learn about the signs animals leave behind and how to identify their tracks. Ages 6 and older with an adult. Cost: $3 per person. Register online or at (630) 942-6200.

• Critter Chat from 12:30 to 12:50 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8, at Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center, 3609 Spring Road, Oak Brook. Stop by the visitor center to meet some of the toads, snakes and turtles that call Fullersburg Woods home. All ages. Free. Registration is not required. For information, call (630) 850-8110.

For a complete listing of all district programs, visit dupageforest.org.