Outdoors

Outdoor ice rinks are a great way to have fun, fit in some physical activity and enjoy fresh air this winter.

Forest Preserve District of Will County gift shops are stocked with unique gifts for the holiday shopping season and Museum Store Sunday on Dec. 1.

Sunday, Dec. 1, through Tuesday, Dec. 31, on designated Will County forest preserve trails, run a virtual 5K. Choose one of 11 designated trails to run your own race in December.

The Forest Preserve District of Will County is seeking participants for its volunteer morning program, gathering seeds for future restoration efforts or clearing brush to give native plants room to grow.

Take in fall colors at Will County forest preserves with special hiking days or family programs celebrating the season.

Glow Holiday Festival will be shown at Joliet Slammers Stadium from Nov. 27 through Jan. 5. Show owner says festival is an event for all ages and will be 'selfies galore."

The Forest Preserve District of Will County’s Take It Outside Challenge challenges participants to complete nature-themed missions to earn points and win prizes. Two Take It Outside Meetups are scheduled for Oct. 23 and Nov. 17.

A new trail connection wraps along and under the 135th Street bridge in Romeoville on the east side of the I&M Canal, and links 14.5 miles of continuous pathway, allowing travel from Lemont to Joliet.

A traveling exhibit that focuses on old growth forests and savannas will open Tuesday, Oct. 15, at the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon.

The city held a rededication of Joliet’s Gardens and Arbors on 129th Infantry Drive Tuesday, thanks to a $25,000 grant from Canadian National.

The Nature Foundation held its first board meeting in 2014 as the Friends of the Forest Preserve District of Will County. Since then, the nonprofit has raised funds to make education programs, infrastructure improvements possible.

Hidden Lakes Trout Farm in Bolingbrook will be hosting a Trout Season Celebration beginning at 6 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19.

Fall Frolic, running Oct. 6- Dec. 24, will take people of all ages on an adventure across Will County forest preserves.

The Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves in Will and Grundy counties has received $99,439.56 from the state of Illinois for a program aimed at removing invasive species at local sites.

Wear your favorite costume and search for spooktacular natural and super-natural items in the forest at the Spooky Scavenger Hunt at Four River Education Center in Channahon.

Get into the spirit of fall by participating in the Spooky Scavenger Hunt at our Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon.

It's never too late to plant a tree and other woody plant as long as the hole is pre-dug, according to Nancy Kuhajda, Illinois Extension horticulture educator serving Grundy, Kankakee, and Will Counties.

The Rock River Valley Bike Club is looking to add more volunteers and trail miles to their already impressive system.

The Forest Preserve District of Will County is throwing a Pelican Party on Saturday, Sept. 28 at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon. Live pelican presentations are scheduled.

Goodenow Grove Campground in Crete is holding a Family Campout from Saturday, Sept. 28, to Sunday, Sept. 29. Forest Preserve District staff will help with setup and be there with entertainment.

The Nature Conservancy held its annual Autumn on the Prairie on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at the Nachusa Grasslands near Franklin Grove.

Close out summer with a fishing excursion to idden Lakes Trout Farm in Bolingbrook. Two-hour sessions will be offered at 7 a.m. and 10 a.m., on Saturday, Sept. 21.

A new kayak rental station is now up and running at Will County’s Lake Chaminwood Preserve in Channahon and is ready to go for the Labor Day weekend.

Armed with a 25-year-old film camera and a 20-year-old roll of 36-exposure film, photographer Alex T. Paschal made it his mission to take 36 individual portraits of people he met at a southern Illinois music festival. Here is the result.

Here is a gallery of film portraits taken by Shaw Local photographer Alex T. Paschal at a southern Illinois music fest – Full Terror Assault – in 2023.

Participants who hike at least seven of 10 designated trails in Will County forest preserves this fall earn a special medallion that can be pinned to a backpack or walking stick.

Tuesdays through Sundays, Sept. 1-29, at Hidden Lakes Trout Farm in Bolingbrook stop by the Tackle Box bait shop to pick up your guide to the scavenger hunt.

Fall offers its own full season of festivals and community celebrations throughout Will County. Check here for listing of special events coming up August through October.

A new paved path connecting the Lake Chaminwood Preserve in Channahon to the I&M Canal State Trail is now open. This new trail section connects via a bridge over the canal.

Explore the habitat of local bat species in Will County and watch bats emerge go out on their nightly hunt at Hammel Woods in Shorewood.

Rise and Shine Paddle will be held the morning of Thursday, Aug. 22. at the Will County forest preserve in Monee Township.

The Will County Forest District Board voted Aug. 8 to acquire 57-acres at cost of $1,037,400 to grow the forest preserve in Channahon.

There are plenty of beautiful locations in northern Illinois where you and your family can enjoy all the benefits of shoreline living

Still time to enjoy summer fun before Will County kids head back to school. These community pools have August open swim hours.

Four blues bands will be performing at Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park in Joliet from 3 to 10 p.m. on Saturday.

As summer reaches its peak, a variety of garden centers and farmstands are available throughout Will County.

Come out to the Plum Creek Nature Center to see these fascinating birds up close and check out monarch and honeybee displays at forest preserve programs.

The concert will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at 201 W. Jefferson St., Joliet.

View nesting herons, egrets and cormorants at Lake Renwick while the rookery is closed for nesting season.

Northwest Illinois is full of many gorgeous state parks, perfect for family-friendly outdoor adventures.

Backpacking 101 Part 1 – Introduction to Backpacking will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 27, at the center in Channahon, 25055 S Walnut Lane. Register by Friday, July 26.

The Will County Forest Preserve District is hosting a program at the Braidwood Dunes and Savanna in Reed Township on Saturday, July 27

Explore the stone foundations of Joliet’s once-thriving industrial plant that are over 100 years old.

A group of Kane County residents set out on a 10-day biking adventure around Lake Michigan, filled with camaraderie and exploration, covering nearly 1,100 miles and stopping at over 20 breweries along the way.

Kane County has a variety of family-friendly events to do before school begins, such as painting at Color Me Mine, visiting Primrose Farm and more.

The 62nd annual Antique Tractor and Steam Engine Show is a family-friendly festival that explores local Will County history, and celebrates the agriculture roots.

Geneva will increase efforts to reduce mosquitos after the West Nile Virus was found in a surveillance trap.

Gardening is often taught through community connections whether cultivated from our families, neighbors, community group, or our chosen families.

The Nature Foundation of Will County presented a $33,400 donation check to the Forest Preserve at the District to be used for a variety of programs and projects.

Fish at night when the water is cooler and fish are more active at some Will County forest preserves this month.