WinterFest to return Jan. 18 to Genoa forest preserve

GENOA – The University of Illinois Extension and DeKalb County Forest Preserve will host their free annual WinterFest to celebrate winter.

WinterFest will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 18 at the Natural Resources Education Center in the Russell Woods Forest Preserve, 11750 Route 72, Genoa.

Attendees can participate in activities including an outdoor digital scavenger hunt and the Wisdom Hunt Nature Trail. Tips and tricks to feed and identify winter birds will be shared by Peggy Anesi, a University of Illinois Extension educator, at the center’s bird-viewing window.

“This is a festival about the season of winter, so it doesn’t matter if we have snow,” Illinois Extension Educator Peggy Anesi said in a news release.

A guided forest preserve hike, followed by a presentation on how to become a citizen scientist, is set for 10 a.m. Children can create a make-and-take craft and have their face or hands painted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A winter survival game show with prizes will be at 1 p.m. The center is accepting donations to help cover materials. The Genoa Prairie Gems 4-H Club also will sell lunch items to support the club.

For information, call 815-784-2000 or email mariantt@illinois.edu.