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(Photo by Glenn P. Knoblock) Will County students are headed back to class, and many of them are already looking forward to some of the most anticipated events of the school year — field trips. Thanks to our partnership with Pembina Pipeline Corporation , The Nature Foundation is supporting the Connecting Kids to Nature Scholarship program to help high poverty schools take advantage of the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s nature education programs . “We have a great partnership with Pembina,” said Tara Neff, executive director of The Nature Foundation.  “Over the past three-years, we’ve invested their $40,000 commitment to improve wildlife habitat at McKinley Woods, provide essential STEM and STEAM supplies for visitor centers, and fund the scholarship program.” Now in its third year, the scholarship program was updated to make it easier for schools to use. Instead of reimbursing schools, the scholarship will directly offset field trip transportation costs, said Jerome Gabriel, the facility supervisor at the Forest Preserve’s Four Rivers Environmental Education Center . In addition, the program can cover the cost of in-school education programs offered by Forest Preserve naturalists. “The biggest benefit for both students and teachers is being able to learn from naturalists whose expertise is in environmental education and at a location that specializes in it,” Gabriel said. “Because the Forest Preserve District invests in environmental education, we have access to the equipment, education and ongoing training to provide a much more in-depth learning experience for students beyond what a typical classroom can provide.” Teachers noted that without the scholarship program, their students would not have been able to participate in field trips.  They also expressed appreciation that the experience helped their students connect with nature in new ways, enhanced classroom learning and introduced students to a new destination in their community. The Forest Preserve offers dozens of fields trips and in-school programs for students in kindergarten through 12 th  grade at four of its visitor centers Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon, Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville, Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook and Plum Creek Nature Center near Beecher. All education programs are developed to align with Illinois Learning Standards to help teachers meet their students’ needs while leveraging the expertise of Forest Preserve staff, Gabriel said. In 2024, the Forest Preserve District reached 10,492 students through educational programs, including 429 field trips and 154 in-school programs, Gabriel said. The scholarship program helped fund more than 50 education programs serving more than 600 students from seven schools across Will County.   What an accomplishment!  Stay tuned - we expect to report record use of the program this school year.

If you have kids in your life who love to ask, “Why?” be sure to add the Forest Preserve District’s newly revamped Willy’s Wilderness website to your list of resources. The website aims to inspire discovery about the natural world and was created for kids and the adults who spend time with them — parents, grandparents, teachers and more. The Nature Foundation of Will County has provided $1,000 each year to help support Willy’s Wilderness website since its inception in 2018 and this is the first major change to the site. “In this digital age, it’s so important to find ways to connect kids to nature.  We need to reach our next generation of scientists and conservationists, and the earlier the better,” said Tara Neff, executive director of The Nature Foundation. Staff from the Forest Preserve District’s Visitor Services and Marketing and Communications departments contribute articles and activities for the website which features Willy Woodchuck, the Forest Preserve District’s mascot, as the host. There’s even a page devoted to Willy himself, where kids can learn about the mascot and his woodchuck relatives. Heather Van Zyl, facility supervisor at the Forest Preserve's Plum Creek Nature Center, said the new website is a fun, one-stop spot for families and educators alike for their nature education and exploration needs. One of the priorities of the makeover was to provide more interactive features that encourage kids and families to spend time together outdoors. These features, which will be updated regularly, can be found on the website’s activity hub. There visitors will find scavenger hunts and a backyard safari, which can be completed close to home. Kids can also challenge themselves — and their siblings, friends and parents — with age-appropriate quizzes. They’ll also have access to the seasonal activity packs that include mazes, color by number, spot the difference and more. “We know kids are curious about just about everything, and we wanted to provide an age-appropriate outlet where they can learn about and make connections with their environment,” said digital marketing coordinator Meghan McMahon, who contributes articles and oversees the website. New content will be posted weekly. Articles include information about Will County creatures big and small, plant profiles, answers to some of nature’s curiosities, instructional activities and experiments, and inspiring new ways to spend time outdoors. The website relaunch also includes Willy’s Wild Files, a monthly newsletter that highlights new information and activities from the website to encourage families to explore and engage with nature. Sign up on the Forest Preserve’s website . McMahon says that kids question the world differently than adults, and believes Willy’s Wilderness is the perfect way to spark their curiosity and inspire a love of learning.  Naturally, we agree!

(Photos courtesy of Michele Olson) The Nature Foundation hosted its first-ever Trivia Night fundraiser last week, and despite some heavy rain, it was a resounding success! Very special thanks to our event sponsors: Cultivate Power, Earthrise Energy, Brent Hassert Consulting, AJ Dralle, Village of Romeoville Mayor John Noak, and the Village of Romeoville.  "The Winners, Obviously," took first place (Ralph and Trish Schultz, Jen DeBow, Rich and Tracy Chapman). “Risky Quizness” whisked away the second-place finish (James and Ann Dralle, Josh and Sarah Hassert, Ernie and Nikki Freeman).  "Blue Dashers" dashed off with a third-place finish (John and Jamie Viebach, Phil and Tammy Reiter, and Jennifer Ruhl). Our volunteer Trivia Host Aaron Heldt kept things lively and moving along – which was no small feat, given that over 90 people registered. Questions ranged from traditional trivia questions to nature-inspired questions to keep the competition fresh. The crowd reactions told you which teams got the answers right, and which weren’t as successful. Cindy Migliavacca, a Romeoville resident said, "The questions had just the right mix of topics and levels of difficulty to make each round challenging and fun." Our friends and volunteer board members alike donated their time, talent, and treasure for a super selection of raffle prizes: Dave Babich, Julie Berkowicz, Elnalyn Costa, Marcy DeMauro, Ann Dralle, Get Into Nature, Inara Blackwood, Laura and Jim McCarthy, Ralph Schultz, Margaret Tyson, Mistwood Golf Club and McWethy’s Tavern, Wild Birds Unlimited-Joliet, and Werk Force Brewing. Ann Wetstein said, "The event was a great way to support The Nature Foundation by showing up with my friends and family and having a great time." The Nature Foundation raises friends and funds to support everything you love about the Forest Preserve District of Will County. Our community of donors and supporters helps the District carry out more conservation, education and recreation activities that improve our quality of life throughout Will County. Become part of our community by donating today at willcountynature.org !

Jennifer Gabrenya is in her second year as chairwoman of The Nature Foundation board. (Photo by Glenn P. Knoblock) Jennifer Gabrenya likes to say the forest preserves saved her during a difficult period in her life. During the COVID pandemic, the preserves were a “lifeline” for her. She would visit Lake Renwick Preserve , near her home in Romeoville, to run as an outlet from the stress in her life. And then one day while there she remembers clearly thinking, “Why isn’t this what I’m investing in?” “This is so clearly what's making me happy and what I feel like is keeping me going and where I need to go to when I'm not feeling OK,” she said of realizing how the time she was spending in the preserves was so meaningful to her health and well-being. The very day she had that realization she became a financial supporter of The Nature Foundation of Will County, but that was only the start of her commitment and involvement. From there, she became involved in the Foundation’s native plant sales. Then when she saw a notice in The Nature Foundation’s newsletter seeking board members, she decided to inquire and was later named to the Board of Directors. Now she is in her second year as the chairwoman of the board. Gabrenya is no stranger to the non-profit world, having spent most of her professional career working for non-profit organizations serving victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault. Today she is the chief executive officer of Anew: Building Beyond Violence and Abuse in Homewood. She views the duality of the two roles — leading in the non-profit sector both as a professional and in a volunteer capacity — as a positive. “With The Nature Foundation, I can pull from the experience of running an organization and working with the board and be able to provide some of that insight and then being on (The Nature Foundation) board, I feel like it really helps me when I interact with my own board, because I can speak from experience as a board member.” Since joining the board and then becoming chairwoman, Gabrenya has helped oversee the transition from the original executive director, Cindy Harn, who founded The Nature Foundation, to new Executive Director Tara Neff, who took over in 2023 when Harn retired. “That's always a tricky time for a nonprofit, when you have that changeover, so that's been really rewarding to be able to be part of that happening successfully and then to just see Tara come into her own,” she said. Looking forward, Gabrenya is eager to see how The Nature Foundation can continue to evolve its relationship with the Forest Preserve District . “Our mission is very squarely to support the programs of the Forest Preserve District, so I’m always looking forward to how we can do that in new and bigger and better ways.” Because spending time outdoors has been so therapeutic for her, she is particularly passionate about supporting programs and initiatives that help people make connections with the natural world. “Once you build a connection with nature, that's when people then think about the conservation side of it,” she said. “You have to kind of lead people along that continuum. That's my vision.” Her own personal journey along that continuum has led her to where she is today, but the road hasn’t always been a straight one. Her interest in nature and the arts began as a child, but she got away from it as a teenager and young adult. It was those runs at Lake Renwick Preserve that first renewed those passions, she said. As she started to spend more time outside in nature, she found herself curious about the world around her, and that led her to more pursuits, both as a volunteer and in her leisure time. Gabrenya is an avid native gardener and enjoys nature photography. She earned her Natural Areas Conservation certificate through The Morton Arboretum where she is also a volunteer steward leader and contracted certified forest therapy guide. Additionally, she serves as a member of the Village of Romeoville’s Conservation and Sustainability Committee. “It's really funny because I used to be absolutely convinced that I didn't have any time to volunteer,” she said. Although she never set out to live a life of service, Gabrenya reflected on lessons learned from her time studying at DePaul University where steward leadership is highly valued. Now that she has fully embraced the role of volunteer she stated, “Once you start doing something and it feels like a good fit, why would you change that?”

From left: The Nature Foundation board members Marcy DeMauro, Elnalyn Costa, and Ellen Gorski-Green; The Nature Foundation board member and Forest Preserve Executive Director Tracy Chapman; The Nature Foundation board member Laura McCarthy; Cheryl Toohey, Earthrise Energy communications and events manager; The Nature Foundation board member Donna Theimer; Talya Tavor, Earthrise Energy director of community engagement; The Nature Foundation board members Jim Flax, Margaret Tyson, Julie Berkowicz, and Ralph Schultz; The Nature Foundation Executive Director Tara Neff; and The Nature Foundation board member Jennifer Gabrenya. Visitors to Monee Reservoir will soon have it made in the shade thanks to a $50,000 gift to The Nature Foundation of Will County from Earthrise Energy. The funding received through Earthrise Energy’s RISE Grant program will be used to add a large shade structure to the patio outside Monee Reservoir’s visitor center providing respite from the sun in a spot where people often gather to eat, socialize and participate in Forest Preserve programs and activities. The $50,000 donation is the largest one-time gift for Will County in the grant program’s history, said Talya Tavor, the director of community engagement for Earthrise Energy, an independent power producer that has plants in Crete and Manhattan.  Earthrise Energy, a public benefit corporation, developed th e RISE Grant program as a way to invest and partner with local non-profit organizations that serve the populations where the company has operations, Tavor said. “After visiting the beautiful reservoir during the blazing summer, we realized all too well how helpful a shade structure would be — to both make the reservoir more accessible and offer an added safety feature,” Tavor said. “We were thrilled to support this idea.”   The financial support from Earthrise Energy allowed us to be a bit more creative in developing a project that achieves multiple objectives, said Amy Roberts, a project manager for the Forest Preserve who is overseeing the project. The custom shade structure was designed to maintain the water views.   The patio is a natural gathering spot for visitors and also a place where Forest Preserve staff meet participants for public programs, youth group activities and more, said Heather Van Zyl, the Forest Preserve facility supervisor overseeing Monee Reservoir.                                                                   The $50,000 grant for the shade structure is the continuation of growing relationship between The Nature Foundation of Will County and Earthrise Energy. “We are thankful for their sponsorship of Hummingbird Fest at Plum Creek Nature Center last year and their support for our first ever Trivia Night fundraiser this year,” said Tara Neff, executive director of The Nature Foundation. Van Zyl is thankful for the continued partnership, too. She expressed that when the project is complete, it will make a better experience for visitors of all ages, of all abilities, and of all needs to have a more comfortable space that still offers beautiful views of the lake.

Blazing your own trail through the Will County preserves was made easier thanks to an investment by The Nature Foundation of Will County. Thanks to our generous donors, the Foundation provided $13,500 for the Be a Trailblazer experience to pay for a Goosechase app subscription, participant prizes and campaign marketing. “Our goal with Be a Trailblazer is to reach as many people as possible and either introduce them to a preserve for the first time or get them to become more regular users of the preserves,” said Chad Merda, head of digital marketing strategy/engagement for the Forest Preserve. Be a Trailblazer is a digital scavenger hunt that sends participants to the forest preserves and beyond to complete missions using the Goosechase app. The experience is divided into four seasonal sessions, each with dozens of missions for participants to complete at their own pace. After two successful years with the Take It Outside challenge, the digital experience was rebranded as Be a Trailblazer with the hope of appealing to a wider range of people, encouraging a choose-your-own-adventure rather than conquer-all approach. The format change makes it easier for people to start and is no longer a competition against others. The program was promoted with large signs at select preserves featuring QR codes. “We know there are people who routinely visit a preserve by their house and may not follow us on social media, subscribe to our newsletters or check out our website, so this is a very effective way to meet people where they are and spread the word,” Merda said. Trailblazer Jay Dorn and his wife have been regular preserve visitors for years, enjoying dog walks and bike rides. After scanning a QR code sign and joining Be a Trailblazer earlier this year, they’ve visited more preserves than they knew existed. “It definitely got us out more and to new places,” he said. “That’s the draw for us.” Likewise, Trailblazer Sarah Goodin, who participates with her husband and 10-year-old son, said her family has found new outdoor gems thanks to the experience. “We've discovered a lot of new places that we wouldn't have visited otherwise and have since returned to those places on our own,” she said, adding that they enjoy that Be a Trailblazer allows them to spend time outdoors while simply enjoying being together. Staff from the Forest Preserve’s Marketing and Communications Department plan the experience, spending time in the preserves scouting missions including photo challenges, GPS check-ins and trivia questions. “For each seasonal drop, we’re mindful of having missions in all parts of the county as well as general missions that people can do anywhere,” Merda said. “We put an emphasis on having missions in preserves, but just being outside and experiencing nature anywhere is a positive, so we mix in many of those.” Since it began, Forest Preserve staff have heard from dozens of participants that the experience helped them find new places to enjoy the great outdoors. Mission accomplished!

(Photo by Meghan McMahon) Just like a visit to the zoo can spark curiosity about wildlife and the environment, so, too, can a visit to a Forest Preserve visitor center.   The Forest Preserve’s visitor centers are designed to educate and excite people about Will County’s natural and cultural history. To help accomplish that mission, several visitor centers house live animals — snakes, turtles and more — as a way to invite visitors to learn more about wildlife and the habitats they live in.   “Absolutely everyone loves live animals,” said Angie Trobaugh, the facility supervisor at Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook . “They are certainly a gateway, poster children if you will, to begin the tale of the wonders that surround us in our natural environment in Will County.”   As part of The Nature Foundation of Will County’s goals to inspire discovery and bring people and nature together, it has for many years provided funding to care for the Forest Preserve’s animal ambassadors. In 2025, the Foundation will give $2,000 to provide them with food, shelter and veterinary care.   Visitors can meet a trio of reptiles at Plum Creek Nature Center near Beecher , a menagerie of reptiles and amphibians at Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook and a quartet of state-endangered Blanding’s turtles at Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville .  While Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon doesn’t house resident ambassadors, they receive funds to help keep their outdoor bird feeders full to attract our flighty friends.   Regular care for the Forest Preserve’s animal ambassadors is provided by facility staff.  Trobaugh said the animals at Hidden Oaks — a pair of box turtles named Rex and Cera; Creed the snapping turtle; a red-eared slider named Paddlefoot; Maxine the red-footed tortoise; a tiger salamander named Ghillie; and a corn snake named Ramen — are all big eaters, so their refrigerator is stocked with all manner of animal foods, including various fruits and vegetables, worms, fish and mice.   As a general rule, the animal ambassadors get veterinary checkups annually, Trobaugh said. “But like us, sometimes they need to be seen more often. They can get sick or be under the weather, and we’d always rather err on the side of caution and be ahead of the game when it comes to the health of our animals.”   “The educational value of these animals includes the opportunity for impromptu discussions with our visitors about their species, characteristics, traits, adaptations for survival, habitats and conservation,” said Kelly Huschart, an interpretive naturalist at Plum Creek Nature Center, where resident reptiles Bluey the blue-tongued skink; Penny the ball python; and Lilo the eastern box turtle reside. Huschart said the reptiles at Plum Creek are used as an education point not just for nature center visitors but also in field trips and public programs. In fact, the Hands-on Herpetology field trip available at Plum Creek was specifically designed to be used with the resident animal ambassadors a way to bring the educational lesson to life. “By meeting Bluey, Penny and Lilo, we hope to show our visitors that reptiles are animals not to be feared and have important roles in nature,” Huschart said.   At a recent Talking Turtles and Tortoises program led by Trobaugh at Hidden Oaks, participants got an up-close look at Maxine, Paddlefoot, Rex and Cera. Through an interactive true-or-false quiz, the group of all ages learned about their diets; how they smell; and how they breathe in water. The program culminated with feeding time! Younger participants were given a chance to offer strawberries, leafy greens and worms for the turtles and tortoise to feast on.   Throughout the program, Trobaugh responded to enthusiastic questions about the different animals and their behaviors while protecting the stars of the show   “Ultimately, we want what’s best for all of our animal ambassadors, so we keep stressors to a minimum,” Trobaugh said, adding that they enjoy being able to showcase the animals in programming when it’s appropriate. “Some of them appreciate being handled more than others, so we go with that.”   Keeping the animals happy and healthy makes it easier for them to shine in their ambassador roles, which they fulfill in many different ways.

(Photo by Glenn P. Knoblock) The Nature Foundation of Will County presented a $59,525 check to the Forest Preserve District of Will County 's  Board of Commissioners at its June 12 meeting.  This Foundation contribution as the District’s 501(c)(3) charitable partner helps the District fulfill its mission of protecting and enhancing Will County’s natural and cultural resources, said Foundation Executive Director Tara Neff. “Our donors, partners and sponsors support the District’s preservation, conservation, education and recreation priorities that protect nature, inspire discovery, and bring people and nature together,” Neff said. “We’re only as healthy as the environment in which we live. That’s why protecting nature is so important – it helps keep our environment in balance to make sure our ecosystems function as they should.” This Foundation funding supports a variety of initiatives: Prescribed burns and volunteer supplies, supported through ComEd’s Dollars for Doers program A native plant sale in partnership with Nicor Gas New education supplies at  Hidden Oaks Nature Center  in Bolingbrook, funded through a partnership with the Sgt. Thomas A. Gilbert Memorial Foundation A revamped Willy’s Wilderness website for kids, launching this summer Teacher appreciation programs – including a full day of networking, yoga, crafts, kayaking, hiking and games – sponsored by ONEOK New animal pelts and the Smithsonian Pollinator Exhibit at  Isle a la Cache Museum  in Romeoville, as well as the museum’s Pollinator Party on June 14. Donor dollars also supported lunch at the District’s recent wellness day, sponsored by Mistwood Golf Club’s McWethy’s Tavern. Additional contributions funded bird feeding stations at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon and Hidden Oaks Nature Center. “Visitors can take a gander at the beautiful birds in action from inside or out – and get help identifying them,” Neff said. The Foundation continues to partner with Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund to support the fishing derby season at Hidden Lakes Trout Farm, including the June 28 Kids' Fishing Derby. Funding also supports the  Be A Trailblazer digital scavenger hunt, which encourages hundreds of people to explore the preserves at their own pace. “These funding priorities are deeply interconnected,” Neff said. “Our well-being is inseparable from the health of our environment, which in turn shapes the quality and variety of recreational opportunities available to us. To ensure that current and future generations can enjoy – and possibly even improve – these experiences, we need passionate individuals who care about both.”

Pollinator Party is an annual event at Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville that attracts people of all ages. (Photo by Chad Merda) Good things come in small packages, and that’s certainly true in the natural world, where some of our tiniest creatures play a big role in our lives as pollinators, shaping the world all around us.   Pollinators are the creatures that pollinate plants as they go about their day-to-day business. All that buzzing and flying around provides a big boon to us. How? For starters, as much as 35% of the world’s food supply — everything from chocolate to bananas to coffee — depends on pollinators . Understanding how crucial these creatures are for our own survival is particularly important because many of our pollinators are in peril, suffering devastating population losses in the past few decades . The threats are many, including habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change, and turning the tide on these losses will require a large-scale effort.   Pollinator Week is held each June to raise awareness of the important role that pollinators — including many insects, some birds and even a few mammals — play in our lives. The Forest Preserve District of Will County is getting a jump start on the celebration with its annual Pollinator Party from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville.   This year, Pollinator Party is supported by a $2,500 sponsorship from CITGO Petroleum Corporation. Thanks to the generous support from CITGO, this year’s celebration will be bigger and better than ever, said Jen Guest, the Forest Preserve’s facility supervisor for Isle a la Cache Museum. The event offers engaging and educational activities, including a Pollinator Challenge Course, face painting, live animal encounters with Incredible Bats and interactive voting in the “pollinator election” activity inside the museum.   All the activities at Pollinator Party were planned to bring the science and importance of pollination to life in a fun, family-friendly setting, Guest said.  In addition, an on-site native plant sale, hosted with help from with the Nature Foundation and Nicor Gas, encourages visitors to put some of what they learn into practice at home.  The passion and creativity that Forest Preserve staff bring to programs and events like Pollinator Party is always evident, said The Nature Foundation Executive Director Tara Neff.  “They do such a great job coming up with these ideas for their events and that helps people connect to, learn more about or get excited about what they see,” she said. “This knowledge encourages thoughtful actions that benefit both pollinators and the environment as a whole,” Guest said. “Providing these kinds of educational experiences directly supports our mission to protect and restore natural habitats while engaging the public in the value of conservation.”  This could be something as simple respecting these creatures and the role they play in our lives or making a decision to support them by adding a patch of pollinator habitat at home.

Anglers hoping to make a big splash at the annual Hidden Lakes Trout Farm fishing derbies will get some help reeling in the big one thanks to The Nature Foundation with funds received from Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund.   Hidden Lakes will host three derbies this year : the Adult Fishing Derby on May 17, the Kids Fishing Derby on June 28 and the all-ages Summer Sendoff Fishing Derby on Sept. 20.   Funds will be used to stock the ponds with several hundred pounds of fish before each of the three derbies, which helps ensure a successful event with plenty of satisfied anglers, said Angie Trobaugh, the facility supervisor for the Forest Preserve District’s Hidden Oaks Nature Center.   “Hidden Lakes is unique in that we stock from a private source for the derbies,” she said. “It wouldn’t be recommended to have the derbies without stocking because that would just simply be too much pressure on the tiny little ponds.”   The financial support from Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund helps make the popular events a success. Since 2022, The Nature Foundation has received nearly $15,000 from the Outdoor Fund to support the Hidden Lakes fishing derbies.   “They provide the opportunity for all of this to happen,” Trobaugh said. “Without them, we would have to find additional resources to ensure the stocking for the derbies.”   The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund invests in programs and initiatives that conserve wildlife and habitat and connect new audience to the outdoors. The funding comes from rounding up at registers when making a purchase.   “It’s people making an investment in their community,” said Tara Neff, executive director of The Nature Foundation. “It’s a way to help make the community better and support what they care about, which is outdoor recreation and spending time outside. That’s exactly what The Nature Foundation and the Forest Preserve try to do.”   The fishing derbies at Hidden Lakes are a holdover from when the Bolingbrook Park District owned the facility, but they are a perfect fit with the Forest Preserve’s mission to connect people and nature.   “The Forest Preserve has always held fishing derbies, and they’ve always been well-received by everyone — kids and adults, experts and novices,” Trobaugh said.   The staff enjoys the fishing derbies as much as the anglers, she said. “We love how fun they are. We have goodies, we have prizes. There’s usually ice cream involved.”   Everyone loves checking out the sizes of the fish being reeled in, but the Hidden Lakes staff also love connecting with people who are just learning how to fish and seeing the camaraderie among participants.   “The dynamic is really great because everyone tends to socialize and talk with each other and learn from each other,” Trobaugh said. At each derby, hundreds of dollars in prizes are awarded for biggest catch, with first, second and third place awarded. Not everyone can be a big winner, but Trobaugh hopes all the participants come away feeling like they gained something from the experience.   “Just like with all of our programs, all we’re trying to do is ignite a spark in people, creating a reverence for nature,” Trobaugh said. “And we simply do that by creating a comfortable, fun, inviting environment for them.”

(Photo by Anthony Schalk) Donors to The Nature Foundation of Will County got a sneak peek of the Forest Preserve’s redesigned Hidden Oaks Nature Center days before the facility reopened to the public on May 3. The nature center, which was acquired by the Forest Preserve District of Will County in 2022, closed to the public in early 2024 to undergo a $2 million renovation designed to make the site a hub for education and exploration in northern Will County. The improvements include new exhibits and exploration stations, expanded exhibit space, updated rental space and a larger reception area that includes a gift shop. Visitors will also see an expanded outdoor bird-feeding station that was funded by The Nature Foundation. At the Foundation’s preview evening, donors explored the outdoor grounds and both floors of the facility, tried out the new exploration stations, and met the animal ambassadors that call Hidden Oaks home.  Nature center staff were on hand to answer questions and pointed out all the new bells and whistles. Much to the delight of visitors, a large oak tree remains the highlight of the first-floor exhibit space. It, too, underwent improvements and many commented on how life-like the tree and its new inhabitants looked. Kim Shehorn, a Foundation donor and Forest Preserve volunteer, attended with friend Brooke Heimlich, and both were impressed with the redesigned space, starting with the oak tree. “The tree is what people remember when they think of this space, and it was here before, but it’s much better now,” Shehorn said. The oak tree was an attention-getter for young visitors too, but far from the only one. Ellen Gorski from The Nature Foundation’s Board of Directors attended the preview evening with her 6-year-old son, Michael, who found something new to enjoy around every corner. He was particularly taken with the Hidden Oaks animal ambassadors, including a salamander, a snake and several turtles, with Maxine the red-footed tortoise being the main attraction. Michael got an up-close look at each of the animals in their new tanks and enclosures, and Maxine took a moment to regard him out while he checked her out. He also had fun at the room’s two exploration stations, where he got a closer look at some critters using a microscope. Upstairs, donors had access to the exhibit “Becorns: Little Acorn People Living Big Lives” and gathered in the Quercus Room to spend time catching up with old friends, make new ones and enjoy appetizers sponsored by McWethy’s Tavern, cultivated by executive chef and Foundation Board Director, Dan Casey.  Attendee Anne Querio enjoyed getting a sneak peek at Hidden Oaks and appreciates The Nature Foundation’s efforts to support the Forest Preserve’s work to make the outdoors accessible for all. She has fond memories of being outdoors and exploring with her kids when they were young, and that’s something she wants future generations to enjoy as well. That’s why the Forest Preserve District’s work is so important,” Querio said. “They are maintaining these outdoor places for us and preserving them for the future.” For many, The Nature Foundation’s support for priorities that protect nature, inspire discovery and bring people and nature together is particularly meaningful because of what it means for the future. Shehorn said she volunteers and supports the Foundation because it’s a way to contribute to that greater good. “Educating the public, especially about the environment, that’s really important,” said Shehorn, who used to manage education programs for a museum. For Gorski, who lives nearby, returning to the nature center ended months of anticipation, and seeing Michael enjoy the new exhibits with a sense of wonder was the ultimate reward. “It starts with the kids. That’s the legacy we’re leaving behind,” she said. “If they appreciate nature, hopefully they’ll keep working on that legacy.”

Dan Casey joined The Nature Foundation board in 2024. (Photo by Chad Merda) Local chef Dan Casey hopes to blend his love of food, nature and people to strengthen the Will County community. Casey, a board member for The Nature Foundation of Will County, is executive chef at McWethy’s Tavern, a popular eatery at Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville. At McWethy’s, bringing people together with food is his focus, and he hopes to be able to accomplish the same in his role with the Foundation.  Casey joined The Nature Foundation board in 2024. He learned about the Foundation through his involvement with the Village of Romeoville’s Conservation and Sustainability Commission. Jennifer Gabrenya, a Commission member and The Nature Foundation board chair, shared with him how like-minded the two organizations are. Extending his community involvement by joining The Nature Foundation board seemed like a natural way to further his commitment to his community and conservation initiatives. “I realized The Nature Foundation was raising money for everything I love about the Forest Preserve, so it made perfect sense. Anything I can get involved with and especially with like-minded people who are passionate about what they do, I'm on board.” Casey feels a responsibility to nature and conservation causes because neither the restaurant nor golf industries are known for being green. His involvement provides an opportunity to balance those negative effects with positive impacts in this community. “Restaurants have a huge carbon footprint,” said Casey. “I’m trying to be part of the solution while still knowing I’m a huge part of the problem.” Casey has dedicated his career to food. He trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Chicago and worked at several well-known restaurants and hospitality companies, including Walt Disney World’s BoardWalk resort and the Ritz Carlton in Chicago.  He said, “landing at McWethy’s ended up being the greatest thing that ever happened to me.” For him, working in restaurants has always been about building community and connecting with people. “I never wanted a Michelin star or all these accolades, but I did want to talk to someone who ate in the restaurant the day before and sort of build a community. And that's what I have here.” His sense of community applies not just to restaurant patrons and coworkers but suppliers as well. At McWethy’s, he develops relationships with suppliers for the restaurant’s most used ingredients, from flour to pork, with an eye on sustainability and locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant also has a farm and an apiary to source the honey and some of the produce featured in many dishes. “Every sustainable vendor that we use, from a farm to a local business, we put them on our menu and give them the credit they deserve on our website. We try to hoist them up to connect to our larger community.” Casey frequently shares snapshots of his personal and professional lives with his thousands of followers on social media, and he hopes he can use his online presence to help raise the profile of The Nature Foundation. “To have a professional identity that you can use to serve your community — that’s taking advantage of it in the best way possible and I feel like that’s in line with my personal integrity.” Casey and his wife live in Romeoville with their two children.  They regularly cook together and take advantage of Forest Preserve programs and nearby O’Hara Woods Preserve.  For Casey, the outdoors is an escape from the frenetic pace of working in a restaurant kitchen, where the days are long and hard, and everything seems far removed from nature. “I feel like the hustle and bustle of the restaurant is just constant, constant, constant. With nature, you can sort of just escape and keep your mind in a healthy place.” Casey has always used nature as a restorative space, and he hopes to pass that on to his kids. As he’s gotten more involved in conservation, he’s realized how much these natural areas add value to our communities and people’s lives. His commitment to community and conservation isn’t a fleeting one. He’s in it for the long haul. “I just try to stay humble. I know that I’m being judged by the food we put out every day,” he said of how he stays focused in the kitchen. “I could do something great today, and then tomorrow I still have to come in and do many great things again.” For some people, that may seem defeating, but Casey sees it as energizing. He’s not afraid of hard work, and he hopes to bring that can-do attitude to his work with The Nature Foundation. “I’ll do whatever the hard thing is.”