Forest preserve wants you to camp close to home
The Cook County forest preserve district is opening a campground in Palatine today as part of a $30 million initiative to bring camping to the system's sprawling land holdings.
Camp Reinberg, 1801 N. Quentin Road, is one of five campsites opening this year around Cook County. It features two-bedroom cabins accommodating up to 10 people with air conditioning and a private bathroom with a shower. Smaller cabins accommodate up to seven people, with access to modern toilet and shower facilities. There are also spots for small RVs, mulch tent pad sites and a large dining hall with two community kitchens.
“We wanted to build something that would really appeal to everyone, whether you want to be able to pitch your tent or you want some comforts of home,” forest preserve spokeswoman Lambrini Lukidis said. “We're striving for people to be able to camp in the forest preserve without having to go out-of-state to experience camping.”
The site formerly had housed a Boy Scout campground with a dining hall. Later this year, Camp Dan Beard will open at 200 Portwine Road in Northbrook. The other three campgrounds are in the South suburbs.
Each site will offer programming and special events. Gear rental, camping training, family campouts and leadership courses are available. Large groups can participate in an immersion course, which provides certification for group leaders to use donated gear.
Fees vary by season and day, ranging from a low of $20 for a weekday tent pad to $200 for a Saturday-night, 36-bed bunkhouse for county residents. Nonresidents pay $10 more. While the peak season is April through October, some camps, including Reinberg, feature four-season, heated cabins and are open except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
All sites are managed by Billy Casper Golf, the manager of the county's golf courses, have 24-hour staff and will be patrolled by the Forest Preserves Police Department.
Campground reservations can be made at www.fpdcc.com/camping, (855) YES-CAMP, or the district's headquarters, 536 N. Harlem Ave., River Forest.