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Forest Preserve Board President Judy Ogalla (left) and Forest Preserve Executive Director Tracy Chapman (right) present Scott Mortensen with his 2025 Volunteer of the Year award. (Photo by Anthony Schalk) Supporting the Forest Preserve District’s volunteer services program is one of the many ways The Nature Foundation of Will County helps give people more of what they love about the preserves. In 2025, volunteers donated more than 12,750 hours of service to the Forest Preserve, allowing the District to expand its habitat restoration efforts and connect with more people through educational and recreational programs and events. In addition to helping with corporate workdays and securing funds for volunteer supplies, we provide volunteer site stewards with grants through our Restore Will County program. Since 2017, we have awarded nearly $30,000 through the program. This year, three grants were awarded. Site steward Scott Mortensen received $500 to purchase supplies and equipment he needs for restoration work at Hickory Creek Preserve, site steward John Fuqua received $500 to purchase native seed for the restoration work he’s conducting at Hammel Woods and the Forest Preserve District’s natural resource management crews received $2,000 to support various volunteer restoration projects. Scott, who was named the Forest Preserve’s 2025 Volunteer of the Year, has been a volunteer since 2000. As a site steward, his focus has been to control invasive species like honeysuckle and autumn olive as well as some buckthorn. He said he will use his Restore Will County grant to purchase chainsaw chains, bars and gloves to help “free the oaks” by removing small trees growing under large oaks so they have more space to grow. “The Restore Will County grant greatly helps stewards with the cost of equipment, equipment repairs, PPE (personal protective equipment) and supplies we need to accomplish our tasks,” Scott said. Scott is one of a dozen volunteer site stewards. These dedicated volunteers generally perform at least 40 hours a year to their projects at preserves across the county, said Julie Bozzo, recreation crew leader and volunteer liaison for the Forest Preserve District. “The dedication of site stewards is an incredible asset. We are fortunate to own the vast amount of land that we do, but our crew and contractors only have so much bandwidth,” Julie said. “Being able to ask site stewards to handle smaller projects in high-propriety areas increases the amount of restoration effort being made in our preserves. In doing so, many stewards also interact with the public and help spread the word about the important work that we do.” Julie will use the Forest Preserve District’s grant to purchase native seed to spread in areas where volunteers conduct restoration work. She is also encouraging more volunteers to get trained to support the District’s prescribed burn program, and hopes to replenish essential supplies like fire gloves and personal protective equipment. “In 2025, volunteers donated 2,200 hours of work to the natural resource management team. They helped the Forest Preserve District do more, made it fun, and kept it safe. They are all our partners in protecting nature and we are happy to support their work,” said Tara Neff, executive director of the Foundation. The Forest Preserve District offers a huge range of volunteer opportunities throughout the year. You can help them accomplish more by volunteering as much or as little as you like. Learn how to get involved here.

Pictured from left to right are Forest Preserve Executive Director Tracy Chapman, Forest Preserve Board President Judy Ogalla, Foundation Executive Director Tara Neff, and Forest Preserve and Foundation board members Julie Berkowicz and Dawn Bullock. (Photo by Anthony Schalk) The Nature Foundation of Will County donated $55,545 to the Forest Preserve District of Will County on May 14 to support preserve restoration, public programs, exhibits and visitor amenities across Will County. Foundation Executive Director Tara Neff presented the check to the Forest Preserve District’s Board of Commissioners at its May 14 meeting. “The Nature Foundation works all year long to bring funds and friends to the Forest Preserve District to supplement the budget,” Neff said. “We write grants, secure funds that are sometimes only available to 501(c)(3) organizations and can offer charitable tax benefits to our donors.” The donation included funds from the Foundation’s year-end fundraising campaign, business sponsorships, philanthropic organizations and corporate volunteer groups. The year-end fundraising campaign raised: $8,000 for Adirondack chairs, hat shop supplies and exhibit equipment for Isle a la Cache Museum $8,000 for signs at Hidden Oaks Preserve $2,000 for the Forest Preserve’s natural resource management crews for volunteer workdays; funding is provided through the Foundation's Restore Will County grant program. $3,525 for exhibit rental deposits at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center Business sponsorships included $11,500 from Old National Bank for the Fun & Food Trucks series and from Vulcan Materials Company for fishing derbies at Hidden Lakes Trout Farm. The Sgt. Thomas M. Gilbert Memorial Foundation contributed $4,150 for equipment and supplies for environmental education and public programs at Hidden Oaks Nature Center. Corporate groups also contributed $3,108 and volunteer hours through Neuco, Target Corporation and Goldman Sachs. The Foundation also received $15,270 from the estate of Jan Heideman to help fund restoration work at Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve in Crete Township. This was the final installment of the gift. “Her estate plan provided a total of over $300,000 to take care of a place she loved,” Neff said.“Her gift provided conservation with an extra $25,000 a year for about 14 years.”

(Photo by Anthony Schalk) The Forest Preserve District of Will County is dedicated to connecting people with nature, but at a few select preserves, it’s the region’s cultural history that is at the forefront. One such preserve, Isle a la Cache, includes the Forest Preserve District’s only museum. The Nature Foundation of Will County funds Forest Preserve projects and initiatives that protect nature, inspire discovery and bring people and nature together, and the Isle a la Cache campus in Romeoville is no exception. In fact, since 2015, The Nature Foundation has provided almost $85,000 in financial support to add a pollinator garden and make other facility improvements; fund exhibits; add to archival collections and storage; provide equipment and supplies for nature education; and provide animal care for their state-endangered Blanding’s turtles as well as a hybrid box turtle. “Because of that support, we’re able to create more engaging exhibits and continue improving the space in ways that feel meaningful and welcoming to our guests,” said Jen Guest, the facility supervisor at Isle a la Cache Museum. The museum, which is always free to visitors, focuses on the cultural and natural history of the Des Plaines River locally, with an emphasis on the 18th-century French voyageurs and Potawatomi who traded in the area. “The river has always been a hub of human activity,” Jen said of the museum’s focus on the Des Plaines River. “Before we had roads, this was basically the highway to get anywhere.” Recognizing its significance to both Will County’s cultural and natural history, the Forest Preserve District acquired the property in the 1980s and converted a restaurant/pub into what is the Isle a la Cache Museum today, said Forest Preserve District Executive Director Tracy Chapman. “This geographic and cultural importance, including its ties to French fur traders and Indigenous Peoples, made it a valuable property to preserve,” Tracy said. Because Isle a la Cache is the Forest Preserve District’s only museum, it adds another layer to how staff connect with visitors, Jen said. While other Forest Preserve visitor centers primarily help people connect with the natural world, staff at Isle a la Cache get to build on that by weaving in different perspectives. “We tend to lean into storytelling, helping visitors understand not just the landscape, but the people connected to it, like the Potawatomi,” Jen said. The museum’s permanent exhibits include interpretive panels about the site and region’s history as well as interactive elements, and it typically hosts several new exhibitions throughout the year, often with financial support from The Nature Fondation of Will County. Exhibits we are sponsoring in 2026 include the “I Am Not a Costume!” Story Exhibit, which ended April 12; the “Our Storytellers” basket weaving exhibit, which opens July 1; and “The Stick” traveling exhibition, which opens Sept. 23. “The museum is set up for play and exploration so you can engage with the exhibits in a more interactive way,” Jen said. Because the site is rich in both natural and cultural resources, it allows the Forest Preserve to broaden its focus and offer new opportunities to the public, Tracy said. “This specialized focus aligns directly with the District’s mission to protect and enhance both natural and cultural resources for the benefit of current and future generations,” Tracy said. “As a result, the museum serves as an important educational resource that broadens the District’s interpretive offerings beyond natural history alone.” This year, Isle a la Cache Museum was included in the state’s Passport to Illinois program that commemorates America’s 250th anniversary. Passport to Illinois encourages people to visit more than 60 monuments, museums, memorials, parks and historic markers across Illinois to learn about the people, places and events that uplift the ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence: equality, freedom and the pursuit of happiness. As part of the initiative, people can pick up a passport from participating sites, including Isle a la Cache Museum, or download one online and then document the sites they visit. Jen hopes that being part of the Passport to Illinois program will introduce the museum to new people and showcase all it has to offer to those who might not have otherwise discovered it. “I think it really speaks to how unique the site is,” she said. “You have this combination of cultural history, especially the fur trade and Native American connections, along with a really beautiful natural setting along the Des Plaines River. It’s not something you find everywhere, especially in an area like this.” We encourage you to stop by the museum to see this special and significant part of Will County’s natural and cultural heritage.

Date: Friday, April 17, 2026 Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Fee: $50 per person (includes dinner and drinks (two beer/wine tickets) Age: Ages 21 or older. Contact: 815-722-2022 Location: Heroes West Sport Grill in Joliet Have fun and support The Nature Foundation of Will County by joining us at our Trivia Night Fundraiser in Joliet! Our mission is to create a legacy of giving that supports and celebrates the preservation, conservation, education and recreation priorities of the Forest Preserve District of Will County in perpetuity. Bring your team of four to six people or show up solo and create a team with new friends.  We’ll award prizes for the first-, second- and third- place teams, and will have a variety of fabulous raffle prize drawings throughout the event. *** UPDATE: Registration for this event is now closed. Registration is required. We can't wait to see you!

Ellen Green poses in front of her Wild Birds Unlimited store in Joliet. (Photo by Anthony Schalk) If you ask Ellen Green why she supports and serves The Nature Foundation of Will County, she’ll tell you it wouldn’t make sense not to. Ellen, of Bolingbrook, joined the Foundation’s Board as its newest member in 2025, but she was no stranger to our work, having become acquainted with the Foundation through the years in a few ways. She co-owns the Wild Birds Unlimited shop in Joliet with her mother and has been a vendor at our native plant sales and the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s events. More importantly, though, Ellen and her family are big supporters of the Forest Preserve District. “My family personally enjoys what the Forest Preserve has to offer, and a lot of what the Forest Preserve has to offer is in direct relation to The Nature Foundation because they help provide that,” she said. “Being a part of that is really cool for me.” Ellen said she, her husband and their two sons enjoy fishing at Whalon Lake and Hidden Oaks Preserve and hiking and exploring the outdoors in general. As a kid, she was in Girl Scouts, and she values the foundation those experiences provided for developing a lifelong curiosity about nature and love for the outdoors. “Being around nature has always been a thing for me. It’s always been a part of who I am, what I do,” she said. “I’m a big animal lover, from the littles to the bigs.” Birds and birding are the focus of her professional life, and they are a personal passion as well. Ellen said her love for birds began as a child, when she helped her grandmother fill their bird feeders. For her, that love never died.  She hopes everyone finds something in nature they look at with the same wide-eyed wonder they had as children. We support the Forest Preserve District’s programs and initiatives that protect nature, inspire discovery and bring people and nature together – which ties in nicely with her work at Wild Birds Unlimited. She wants what’s best for birds and is committed to supporting organizations that educate people about their importance for healthy habitats and ecosystems. For her efforts to protect bird populations through education and conservation, Ellen was awarded Wild Birds Unlimited’s Save the Song Birds Hero award in her first year of owning the shop. “For me, it just made sense that I spend more time working with organizations that directly provide habitat and manage habitat and education because that’s huge here at the store too,” she said. “I think one of the most beautiful things about our customers is how much they genuinely care. They genuinely care about the birds, they genuinely care about the squirrels, they genuinely care about the insects that are in their yard.” Ellen loves that birds are often a gateway for people to grow in their love and appreciation for nature and all it offers. “You can really awaken a sleeping giant just by taking them on a bird walk,” she said. As the Foundation’s newest board member, she said she’s just getting her feet wet but is eager to bring her energy and enthusiasm to the organization. She sits on the fundraising committee and is excited to grow in that role because it suits her and her strengths. “I’m not afraid to reach out to people,” she said. “One door closes, but there’s going to be five more doors I can open. I’m not afraid to do the work.” Since joining the board, Ellen has learned more about the Foundation’s mission and goals and now that she’s learned the ropes, is ready to roll up her sleeves - she has a lot to give. “I have tons of ideas and tons of drive to do things,” she said. “I am just an overflowing pot of energy.” We are so grateful to have Ellen, a natural collaborator and dedicated supporter, on our Board and look forward to putting her positive energy to good use.

(Photo by Lydia Pond) The Nature Foundation of Will County is helping expand outdoor learning opportunities at the Forest Preserve District’s Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbroo k, thanks to generous support from Sgt. Tommy’s Kids . “For the past four years, we’ve received support from the Sgt. Thomas M. Gilbert Memorial Foundation to help scale up youth programs and activities at the Forest Preserve District’s newly acquired nature center,” said Tara Neff, executive director of the Nature Foundation. “Through 2026, that support totals $15,850.” Sgt. Tommy’s Kids was founded in honor of Sgt. Thomas M. Gilbert, a fallen U.S. Marine from Downers Grove. From an early age, Tommy loved being outside, exploring nature, and he wanted all children to have the same opportunities he did. Their mission—to promote youth appreciation and education of the outdoors and to encourage kids to be active in nature—aligns with our core pillars. “Sgt. Tommy’s Kids funding came to Hidden Oaks at the perfect time,” said Suzy Lyttle, the nature center’s program coordinator. “As a new facility, we were starting fresh with almost everything. Creating starter kits for field trips, in-school programs, and public programs has been exciting, but also a financial challenge.” Our support enabled Hidden Oaks staff to purchase the tools and materials needed to begin offering field trips for schools and homeschool students in 2025 . The equipment also supports hands-on activities such as pond dipping, bug hunts, and snowshoeing, as well as a new program, Winging It! Birding 101 . In the program, students learn about bird adaptations and birding as a hobby before putting their new skills to the test on a guided birding hike. Providing each child with their own equipment is essential for creating hands-on and interactive experiences. “Kids love having a new tool to use, and they don’t necessarily want the toy version or the ‘kid’ version,” Suzy said. “If it’s the real deal that biologists use, that’s even cooler.” Encouraging children to spend time outdoors offers numerous physical and mental health benefits. And, the more time kids spend outside, the more comfortable and confident they become in natural settings. “Nature can be overwhelming for kids—it can be dirty, hot, cold, or windy,” Suzy said. “But learning how to adapt is important. Dress for the weather and be okay with being just a little uncomfortable.” Unplugging from technology can be uncomfortable, too. That’s why we support Forest Preserve District programs that inspire discovery. By partnering with organizations like Sgt. Tommy’s Kids, we hope more children and families get outside—and fall in love with nature.

We are proud to sponsor the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s popular Be a Trailblazer campaign to help connect people to everything the District has to offer — from programs and recreational opportunities to conservation efforts that protect land and improve ecosystems. “They’ll use our $7,500 gift to promote and incentivize participation in the campaign,” said Tara Neff, The Nature Foundation’s executive director. We treated participants to coffee, cocoa and cookies at Hickory Creek Junction so they could share feedback with District staff, swap stories and hit the trails to complete missions. An Campbell of Romeoville wore a sweatshirt she made to show people she meets on her adventures that she’s a Trailblazer.  She walks to achieve her health goals and the campaign keeps her motivated to get outside and explore the preserves. “I don't particularly like walking in cold weather, but I am competitive and am hooked since these challenges come with prizes,” she said, adding that she has walked at least 2 miles a day since September. Before participating in the challenges, An spent most of her time in the preserves close to her home. Now, she can’t wait to revisit the new places she’s discovered. Chad Merda, head of digital marketing strategy/engagement for the Forest Preserve District says they are well on their way to surpassing last year’s total of 2,000 participants. “It’s important to us to continue to attract new people of all age groups, particularly families with young children,” he said. “Studies show it’s important to expose children to nature early on if you want them to develop a lifelong appreciation of the outdoors, and the Trailblazer experience can help do that.” Elyse Bryla of Lemont says the memorable experiences she has with her kids make Be a Trailblazer special.  During their New Year’s Day hike along the Veterans Memorial Trail they stopped to watch a beaver – then saw a bald eagle flying just over their heads. “The looks on the boys' faces were pure awe. They were silent for a handful of seconds just watching the eagle soar over the river and land in a tree across from us, and then they started laughing and bouncing up and down with joy and excitement,” Elyse said. “It was amazing to see, and my heart felt so full that we got to share that moment.” This is the fourth year the Forest Preserve District has offered a digital scavenger hunt using the Goosechase app.  2026 marks the second year it’s been offered as Be A Trailblazer, an iteration that encourages participants to visit the preserves on their own schedules. “We’ve heard from people that they really enjoy the casual format, where it’s not a competition but they can do as much or as little as they want,” Chad said. “That’s really part of our goal, making this as enticing to as many people as we can so they can engage and interact with the Forest Preserve District how they want.” For Elyse, the missions add a sense of purpose and accomplishment. “My boys love the challenge of finding the spots and seeing who can find the most on the mission,” Elyse said. “We all feel restored after spending the time outside and have really enjoyed getting to preserves we may not have known about.” If you’re not already blazing a trail through the preserves, what are you waiting for?  It’s easy to join!  Download the Goosechase app and search for Be a Trailblazer or use join code JYBKK4.  See you in the preserves!

From left to right are Forest Preserve Executive Director Tracy Chapman, Forest Preserve Board President Judy Ogalla, Foundation Executive Director Tara Neff, Forest Preserve Deputy Director Adam Oestmann, and Forest Preserve Board and Foundation Board members Julie Berkowicz, Elnalyn Costa and Dawn Bullock. (Photo by Glenn P. Knoblock) The Nature Foundation of Will County presented a $45,200 check to the Forest Preserve District of Will County ' s Board of Commissioners at its Feb. 11 meeting. Fou ndation Executive Director Tara Neff said the money will support a wide variety of programs and initiatives for the District, including $11,500 to purchase prizes and incentives for the Route 66  Get Your Kicks Challenge , the  Be a Trailblazer experience and the 2026  Preserve the Moment Photo Contest .  “All of these activities help encourage people to visit new places, meet new people and spend time in the preserves,” Neff said. “All of these things make people happy and healthy.”  The Foundation also will provide $9,200 for the District’s conservation department for prescribed burns. And a $5,000 donation from Pembina Pipeline will be used for invasive species management at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon. The Foundation also allocated more than $8,000 to the Restore Will County small grant program, which helps provide training tools, equipment and supplies to volunteer site stewards and the natural resource management department to help improve preserves throughout the coun ty. Another $7,500 is for visitor center exhibits including the  Federal Duck Stamp Art Display  exhibit at Plum Creek Nature Center and  'I Am Not a Costume ' at Isle a la Cache Museum.  “In addition, we are also providing funds for Isle a la Cache Museum staff to purchase supplies and archival materials to support their museum collections,” Neff said.  Foundation funding totaling $12,000 will be used for the  Willy’s Wilderness website , the care of animal ambassadors and supplies and equipment for public and nature education programs. The Foundation was created to enhance the recreational and educational opportunities of the Forest Preserve.

(Photo by Anthony Schalk) Thanks to a $5,000 Nicor Gas Environmental Stewardship Pillar Grant we received, the river views around the Forest Preserve District’s Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon will be a little more picturesque and ecologically sound. The project will enhance the viewshed and restore native plant communities in the preserve, said Judith Wallace, land management coordinator for the District. The grant funds will be used to remove invasive brush and overseed the work areas with native plant species. “The ability to start managing additional acreage utilizing outside funds is a true gift,” Judith said. To ensure the project met conservation, education, and recreation needs, Judith consulted with staff who work at Four Rivers.  The goal is to make more places useful for public and education programs. Improving biodiversity at the site begins with removing invasive brush.  Follow-up treatments to ensure it doesn’t return can be time consuming and labor intensive.  Finally, overseeding the work areas with beneficial, native plant species gives them a head start to get established so they can out-compete any new, woody growth.  Timing for overseeding is weather-dependent and yields the best results when spread over snow. If it can’t be completed this winter, it will be postponed until the end of the year. “I am often stopped by the public to chat about the work we are doing and am always thanked for creating such a beautiful space for them to visit,” she said. “The habitat restoration work funded by the Nicor grant complements work previously completed with a donation from Pembina Pipeline Corporation.  These additional investments allow the Forest Preserve District to double the amount of habitat restoration work completed at Four Rivers,” said Tara Neff, executive director of The Nature Foundation of Will County. “A wider array of plant life attracts a broader range of wildlife such as insects and birds,” Judith said. Folks from near and far travel to Four Rivers to take in the views and watch wildlife.  We know these investments make a difference and we hope you do, too!

Selfies from participants in the Be a Trailblazer experience, which is one of the many things The Nature Foundation is sponsoring in 2026. No matter how you enjoy your Will County preserves this year, The Nature Foundation of Will County helps make it better. We’ve allocated over $100,000 to restore natural areas and enhance visitors’ experiences in the preserves and visitor centers – and we’re just getting started! As the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s nonprofit partner, we receive donations from the public as well as businesses and other philanthropic organizations to help achieve our mission – to support and celebrate the Forest Preserve District’s preservation, conservation, education, and recreation priorities in perpetuity. We support the Forest Preserve District’s programs and activities that protect nature, inspire discovery, and bring people and nature together. Last year, we provided over $260,000 to help advance the District’s priorities. “We exist to help give you more of what you love about the Forest Preserve District,” said Tara Neff, the Foundation’s executive director. The Forest Preserve District exists to protect and enhance Will County’s natural and cultural resources for the benefit of current and future generations. Thanks to two private donors who love and value nature, we’re able to provide $35,000 to help the District increase the amount of restoration work they’re able conduct in 2026. Because we support the District’s work in so many ways, we help make the preserves a destination for everyone, no matter their interests. “I think getting a diverse group of visitors in the door is part of the continuum of getting people into the Forest Preserve. We are more than just trails and paths and trees,” says Lydia Pond, The Forest Preserve District’s director of visitor services. “The education and recreation opportunities we provide broaden horizons, broaden preserve access, broaden who comes through the doors.” We help the Forest Preserve District reach more people in more ways. At Hidden Oaks Preserve in Bolingbrook we’ll help get interpretive signs installed around the nature center and Hidden Lakes Trout Farm. Museum staff at Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville will purchase new historical clothing and hats for the facility’s hat shop, new storage supplies for the museum collections, and interpretive items for temporary exhibits and displays. They’re creating a new Zen space in the alcove on the front porch and we hope you’ll have a seat in one of the new Adirondack chairs we’re providing. Natural and cultural exhibits are another way to connect people to nature. That’s why we’ve been supporting their installations at visitor centers since our beginning almost 12-years ago.  Our additional funds allow staff to bring in high quality exhibits, even as the costs continue to climb each year. We’re supporting exhibits at Plum Creek Nature Center and Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in 2026. The Forest Preserve District’s newly redesigned nature education website for children and families, WillysWilderness.org , will also benefit from our continued support. And we’re bringing back two popular recreation programs that incentivize getting outside, Woods Walk and Be a Trailblazer .  We’ll help provide care for the District’s animal ambassadors and fund additional STEM/STEAM equipment and supplies at the visitor centers. Each visitor center determines whether to grow a collection, supplement educational materials, or replace worn-out equipment. Our funds allow the flexibility interpretive staff need to meet evolving needs. “We are in tune and aligned with each other,” says Pond, of the relationship between the Foundation and the Forest Preserve District. “The Foundation amplifies the mission of the Forest Preserve.” While the year-end fundraising campaign fell short of our goal, we will work throughout the year to bring additional support to all the things you love about the Forest Preserve District. Ready to help?  Visit our donation page or mail your gift to The Nature Foundation of Will County at the Sugar Creek Administration Center .

(Photo by Amy Roberts) There are so many reasons to visit the Forest Preserve District’s Monee Reservoir and The Nature Foundation of Will County just added another! With a gift from Earthrise Energy, visitors will find respite from the sun under a new shade structure that was just installed over the visitor center’s patio. The Nature Foundation of Will County received a $50,000 grant from Earthrise Energy, an independent power producer with plants in Crete and Manhattan. The donation was the largest one-time gift approved in Will County for the Rise Grant program , which was developed for company to invest and partner with local non-profits that serve people where the company has operations. The 248-acre Monee Reservoir is open year-round, and its visitor center , which includes a concession stand and bait shop, is open from March through October. The preserve is a hotspot in the summer, said Heather Van Zyl, the Forest Preserve facility supervisor for the site. Popular activities include fishing and boating, and there are two picnic shelters to rent as well as trails to explore. The District hosts public programs and events as well as scout groups, youth camps and after-school fishing clubs throughout the year, but the preserve is particularly busy in warmer months, when all recreational pursuits are available. During the summer, paddling programs are popular, and it’s common to see people boating on the 46-acre lake and fishing along the shore. The addition of a shade structure has long been on the wish list for the preserve, VanZyl said. The patio adjacent to the visitor center is the perfect spot to host programs and for visitors to relax and enjoy the views of the water. “Having shade enhances how we are able to use the space,” she said. “It makes it more user-friendly by allowing a reprieve from the sun and heat, which can be the difference between folks being able to visit us or not depending on their sun sensitivity and other health conditions.” The new shade structure isn’t the only recent improvement at Monee Reservoir. A bike repair station was also recently installed with financial support from The Nature Foundation’s donors, including the Joliet Bicycle Club . The preserve may not be the first that comes to mind for biking, but Van Zyl said they often have long-distance cyclists stop there to take breaks. Because Monee Reservoir has latrines and a concession stand, it offers a nice place for them to rest and refuel before they continue on their way.  Having a bike repair station available is another way the Forest Preserve can accommodate them on their visits. “Cycling is one of the many recreation opportunities we encourage,” she said. “A repair station keeps cyclists safe on the trails and roadways by giving them a chance to repair bikes in an emergency situation or even to provide routine maintenance if they don’t have their own tools.” “We are grateful for the support from Earthrise Energy and the Joliet Bicycle Club for investing with The Nature Foundation to make improvements at Monee Reservoir,” said Tara Neff, executive director of The Nature Foundation of Will County. “We believe outdoor recreation is essential to connecting people to nature.”

Interpretive signage will be installed at Hidden Oaks Nature Center with funding from the Vulcan Materials Company Foundation. The Nature Foundation of Will County secured a gift from the Vulcan Materials Company Foundation to install teaching gardens at the Forest Preserve District’s Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook. Thanks to the $5,000 donation the landscape got little more colorful and a lot more informative. The donation was used to add native plant gardens and interpretive signs that improve wildlife habitat and educate visitors about the ecological value of native plants, said Angie Opiola, the facility supervisor at the nature center. To help simplify, “native” means the grasses, flowers, shrubs and trees that evolved or adapted to our local climate and soil for thousands of years. They are beneficial to the ecosystem because they provide food and shelter for wildlife, plus they require less water and maintenance than many non-native alternatives once they are established. At Hidden Oaks, the new plantings are complemented by colorful signs that educate visitors about the wildflowers as well as the kinds of insects and other animals they might attract. “Since it is an education garden, there were some big ideas we wanted to get across,” Opiola said. “Not only did we want pretty plants and grasses and flowers, we also wanted to convey meaningful ecological messages with our gardens.” The project includes three garden spaces, Opiola said. The first is an introduction to milkweed as well as the animal species — monarchs and more — that rely on it. The second space is a larger garden with stepping stones that encourage visitors to have a more interactive, engaging experience. The final space is a rainbow garden — both figuratively and literally. Opiola said the garden includes plants organized in colorful bands to mimic a rainbow. A sign in the garden will explain how different species are attracted to different plants and how some are attracted to certain colors. For example, bees prefer yellow, while hummingbirds are attracted to red. The self-guided design allows visitors to enjoy the gardens whether or not the nature center is open, sort of like an outdoor exhibit. “Everything you need is outside, and the signs will guide, inform and instruct,” Opiola said.   Visitors will find reference guides as well as magnifying lenses and critter containers so they can learn more about what they are seeing.   “The Nature Foundation’s mission is to support and celebrate Forest Preserve District’s priorities. Vulcan Materials Company Foundation helped us give you more of what you love,” said Tara Neff, executive director of the Foundation. Vulcan Materials Company, which previously quarried dolomite limestone at what is now Whalon Lake, has invested more than $17,000 with The Nature Foundation since 2022.  Their gifts helped the Forest Preserve District install more benches on the trails at Whalon Lake and Hidden Oaks Preserve, as well the “School of Rock” educational and wayfinding signs at Whalon Lake. Stop by Hidden Oaks Nature Center this summer to see the newly installed gardens and learn more about the life they help support.