By: Lonnie J. Lorenz
Children in Illinois these days are spending little time outdoors. Parents need to step up and git their kids outdoors. This outdoor experience may have a long lasting impact on your child. For many this may be your child's first experience to Illinois natural world. By planning ahead you may tie your outdoor trip to their latest class teachings or just go for a fun play date outside. For all you know you might awaken a passion for the outdoors that will stay with your kid throughout their lifetime. An outdoor field trip is a great educational experience for all involved so go outside and have fun.
The state parks, natural areas, conservation areas, recreation areas, and fish and wildlife areas of Illinois has information on camping, hiking, biking, fishing, hunting, state park lodges and resorts, interpretive programs and many great ideas for places to visit and things to do in Illinois. I visited www.dnr.state.il.us
For instance, did you know that Illinois has adopted may natural elements here a few:
Illinois State Mineral - fluorite
Illinois State Bird - cardinal
Illinois State Fish - bluegill
Illinois State Reptile - painted turtle
Illinois State Fruit - goldrush apple
Going outside in In Illinois is easy, here are some places to go someday:
1)Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve
DuPage County
To reach it from Roosevelt Road (Route 38), turn north on Kress Road, then east on Downs Drive, then north on Industruial Drive.
Truitt-Hoff Nature Preserve is located in the Morainal Section of the Northeastern Illinois Morainal Natural Division. 120.3 acres in size, the preserve encompasses high-quality mesic prairie, wet-mesic prairie, freshwater marsh, mesic silt loam savanna, and wet prairie natural communities.
2)Kemper Park Nature Preserve
Location and Access:
From the jct of Rt. 64 and Rt. 31 in the center of downtown St. Charles, head north on Rt. 31 for 0.75 mile. The preserve is on the east side of Rt. 31 on the banks of the Fox River.
Rt. 68 and 25 in Carpentersville, head north on Rt. 25 for 1.2 miles to Hazard Rd. East (Right) on Hazard until it ends. Kemper Park is a thirteen acre nature preserve is an addition to Helm Woods Nature Preserve, a larger forested tract of dry-mesic upland and northern flatwood forests. Kemper Park Nature Preserve is contiguous to Helm Woods and is comprised of similar plant communities. The dry-mesic upland forest is dominated by white, red and black oaks while the flatwoods are dominated by swamp white oaks, ashes and elms with swamp sedge and fowl manna grass occurring frequently in the understory. Many forbs, especially spring ephemerals, sedges, grasses and shrubs can be found throughout the entire woodland complex. Garlic mustard is a major problem in this preserve. Prescribed burns have been implemented to control this invasive species.
Hwy. 14 southeast about 1 mile. The nature preserve is south of Hillside Avenue and southwest of Hwy. 14.
Baker's Lake Nature Preserve is a 209 acre area containing a 112 acre lake with an island and a stand of mature open-grown oaks. The area provides visitors with an example of a nature preserve which was dedicated primarily to protect a breeding area for rare and endangered birds rather than for its plant communities. The preserve protects a rookery for 4 species of colonial nesting birds; black-crowned night heron, great egret, double crested cormorant and great blue heron. The area also supports common moorhen, yellow-headed blackbird, and black tern. Other species, especially waterfowl, are present during migration.
Location and Access: Lemont Road north across the Des Plaines River, continue on Lemont Road to 111th Street (Bluff Road), then west and southwest 1 mi.
Cap Sauers Holdings Nature Preserve, at 1520 acres, is the largest nature preserve in northeastern Illinois. Dominant geological features include the rolling topography typical of the Valparaiso Moraine of the Morainal Division of northeastern Illinois and an esker. The Visitation Esker is one of the best defined examples of this glacial feature in the state. Most of the site is composed of young upland forests, and disturbed prairie and oak savanna communities. Much of the former prairie and oak savanna communities are now threatened by brushy native and non-native species that have advanced because fire has been suppressed. The Forest Preserve District of Cook County and The Nature Conservancy have embarked upon an ambitious project to restore much of this site to its presettlement condition.
OK, you're not an outdoorsy folk but you know you children need to get outside. No problem their are many outdoor programs, classes and Illinois Summer Camps available in and around your home.
Bio:
Find out more about Swift Nature Camp at a Overnight Summer Camps, See why we are one of the best Science Summer Camp for your child.
Article Submission by Article Submission Express
Children in Illinois these days are spending little time outdoors. Parents need to step up and git their kids outdoors. This outdoor experience may have a long lasting impact on your child. For many this may be your child's first experience to Illinois natural world. By planning ahead you may tie your outdoor trip to their latest class teachings or just go for a fun play date outside. For all you know you might awaken a passion for the outdoors that will stay with your kid throughout their lifetime. An outdoor field trip is a great educational experience for all involved so go outside and have fun.
The state parks, natural areas, conservation areas, recreation areas, and fish and wildlife areas of Illinois has information on camping, hiking, biking, fishing, hunting, state park lodges and resorts, interpretive programs and many great ideas for places to visit and things to do in Illinois. I visited www.dnr.state.il.us
For instance, did you know that Illinois has adopted may natural elements here a few:
Illinois State Mineral - fluorite
Illinois State Bird - cardinal
Illinois State Fish - bluegill
Illinois State Reptile - painted turtle
Illinois State Fruit - goldrush apple
Going outside in In Illinois is easy, here are some places to go someday:
1)Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve
DuPage County
To reach it from Roosevelt Road (Route 38), turn north on Kress Road, then east on Downs Drive, then north on Industruial Drive.
Truitt-Hoff Nature Preserve is located in the Morainal Section of the Northeastern Illinois Morainal Natural Division. 120.3 acres in size, the preserve encompasses high-quality mesic prairie, wet-mesic prairie, freshwater marsh, mesic silt loam savanna, and wet prairie natural communities.
2)Kemper Park Nature Preserve
Location and Access:
From the jct of Rt. 64 and Rt. 31 in the center of downtown St. Charles, head north on Rt. 31 for 0.75 mile. The preserve is on the east side of Rt. 31 on the banks of the Fox River.
Rt. 68 and 25 in Carpentersville, head north on Rt. 25 for 1.2 miles to Hazard Rd. East (Right) on Hazard until it ends. Kemper Park is a thirteen acre nature preserve is an addition to Helm Woods Nature Preserve, a larger forested tract of dry-mesic upland and northern flatwood forests. Kemper Park Nature Preserve is contiguous to Helm Woods and is comprised of similar plant communities. The dry-mesic upland forest is dominated by white, red and black oaks while the flatwoods are dominated by swamp white oaks, ashes and elms with swamp sedge and fowl manna grass occurring frequently in the understory. Many forbs, especially spring ephemerals, sedges, grasses and shrubs can be found throughout the entire woodland complex. Garlic mustard is a major problem in this preserve. Prescribed burns have been implemented to control this invasive species.
Hwy. 14 southeast about 1 mile. The nature preserve is south of Hillside Avenue and southwest of Hwy. 14.
Baker's Lake Nature Preserve is a 209 acre area containing a 112 acre lake with an island and a stand of mature open-grown oaks. The area provides visitors with an example of a nature preserve which was dedicated primarily to protect a breeding area for rare and endangered birds rather than for its plant communities. The preserve protects a rookery for 4 species of colonial nesting birds; black-crowned night heron, great egret, double crested cormorant and great blue heron. The area also supports common moorhen, yellow-headed blackbird, and black tern. Other species, especially waterfowl, are present during migration.
Location and Access: Lemont Road north across the Des Plaines River, continue on Lemont Road to 111th Street (Bluff Road), then west and southwest 1 mi.
Cap Sauers Holdings Nature Preserve, at 1520 acres, is the largest nature preserve in northeastern Illinois. Dominant geological features include the rolling topography typical of the Valparaiso Moraine of the Morainal Division of northeastern Illinois and an esker. The Visitation Esker is one of the best defined examples of this glacial feature in the state. Most of the site is composed of young upland forests, and disturbed prairie and oak savanna communities. Much of the former prairie and oak savanna communities are now threatened by brushy native and non-native species that have advanced because fire has been suppressed. The Forest Preserve District of Cook County and The Nature Conservancy have embarked upon an ambitious project to restore much of this site to its presettlement condition.
OK, you're not an outdoorsy folk but you know you children need to get outside. No problem their are many outdoor programs, classes and Illinois Summer Camps available in and around your home.
Bio:
Find out more about Swift Nature Camp at a Overnight Summer Camps, See why we are one of the best Science Summer Camp for your child.
Article Submission by Article Submission Express
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