An outdoor “social district” around Joliet's new City Square is still early in discussion, city officials said.

Two Oswego favorite spring events will be coming back this weekend to Prairie Point Community Park.

Bloom Lockport and the Lockport Township Park District are the latest Will County community organizations to launch a community garden initiative, designed to help residents grow their own produce.

Backpack Biologists meets 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, May 1-31, at Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook:

The photo was captured at Whalon Lake in Naperville. Laurie Lasseter captured a dramatic moment between a bald eagle and a herring gull.

Free, all-ages activities will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 25 at the Will County forest preserve.

Will County’s best bike trails are for casual riders or serious cyclists.

Downtown City Square will be the site of live music, story times for kids, community celebrations, Star Wars Day and the return of Race Fan Rally.

Illinois youth turkey hunters set a new record, harvesting a preliminary total of 2,318 birds during the 2026 Illinois youth season.

From 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Hoover Forest Preserve, located at 11285 W. Fox Road, Yorkville, will host a Earth Day event. Earth Day was started on April 22, 1970, to show the importance of protecting the planet’s resources.

The presenter for the Those Were The Days program at the Oregon Depot on Saturday, April 25, will be Oregon resident Mark Herman, a Nachusa Grasslands volunteer.

A plan to build five flexible amenity areas in downtown Downers Grove appears to have the support of the majority of the Village Council with opponents raising some concerns about cost.

The three Will County forest preserve projects and engineering for the Lockport Trail are being funded by the 2025-2030 Capital Improvement Program.

U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Naperville, was able to secure $250,000 in federal funding for the Bentley Road Pathway Connection, which is part of the DuPage River Trail

Search for spring wildflowers on Tuesday, April 21 at Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook. Check out Birding for Beginners on Saturday, April 25, at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center.

A limited number of free oak tree saplings will be given away to Ogle County residents at the Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department.

The Forest Preserve District of Will County purchased almost 106 acres north of Bruce Road and east of Cedar Road around Messenger Woods Nature Preserve in Homer Glen.

Online training is again being offered starting June 30. The self-guided course is for Illinois residents and can be taken from the comfort of home on a desktop, laptop or tablet.

The annual Kids’ Fishing Day is set to return for the opening morning of spring trout season this Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at the Bird Park quarry, sponsored by the Northern Illinois Anglers Association.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources staff will continue to monitor the lake and will reopen it once it reaches safe navigation levels, the department said in a Monday.

The Natural Land Institute on March 17 closed on 149 acres of land surrounding its 4-acre Beach Cemetery Prairie Nature Preserve in Ogle County.

The Forest Preserve District of Will County has announced its program schedule for the first week of April.

Work is nearing completion on the Mary M. Subat Nature Center in the Subat Forest Preserve in Plano and the Hoover-Fox River Bluffs trail connection.

Explore the stone foundations of Joliet’s once-thriving industrial plant during a one-mile guided tour at the Joliet Iron Works.

Join a naturalist to search in Will County forest preserves for early spring wildflowers like anemone, Dutchman’s breeches, trillium and hepatica, while learning about these fleeting blooms.

We get a real treat here during winter with the birds that use the Midwest for their wintering grounds.

The donation will go towards Forest Preserve District of Will County programs, conservation efforts and exhibits.

The U.S. Forest Service did not say when the controlled burns would start. County emergency management officials will be notified when burning begins.

The sun is rising a bit earlier each morning, and setting a bit later each evening. Frosty mornings are still common, but there are fewer of them in March, and the cold snaps aren’t quite as cold nor do they last as long.

The Rock Run Greenway Trail from Black Road to Essington Avenue in Joliet will be closed on Thursday due to a prescribed burn.

Enjoy The Bard Among the Bark from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays, March 1-April 30, at Plum Creek Nature Center:

Individuals who are passionate about nature, conservation and strengthening their communities are invited to apply for the Illinois Master Naturalist Program, now accepting registrations for its spring 2026 training cohort.

Monthly winners receive prizes and advance to the final round for a shot at top honors in the forest preserve district's “Preserve the Moment” photo contest.

Sample different mocktails, learn about their connection to the Will County forest preserves, enjoy activity stations and more at Isle a la Cache Museum.

Chuck and Lydia Roberts of Rochelle, who have been married for 53 years, have been ski instructors together for all of those years and just recently started their 50th year of ski instruction at Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin.

Free webinar examines how invasive species threaten Illinois ecosystems

Much has been in the news lately about “exploding trees”, caused by the extreme cold temperatures. But is this something to be worried about?

Putnam County Conservation District's Prairie Land Event Center offers a rustic setting for indoor or outdoor weddings and receptions. The event center can also be rented out for showers, meetings, parties, and more.

Bird watching can provide a lot of nature connectivity for all ages. It also boosts environmental literacy, awareness of nature, and stress-reduction through mindfulness and curiosity.

Space is limited and registration required. Forest Preserve District volunteer morning programs are held from 9 a.m. to noon and are for ages 10 and older.

Hundreds of bird enthusiasts brave the cold and rain to attend Four Rivers Environmental Education Center’s annual Eagle Watch on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2025 in Channahon.

Staying physically active is one of the best ways to improve your mental and physical health during winter months.

The Forest Preserve District of Will County has announced its schedule of programs for the week of Jan. 12.

This year’s free, all-ages bald eagle celebration is set for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon.

The Forest Preserve District of Will County has announced its 2026 event calendar, featuring a year of art exhibits, festivals, live music, educational programs and outdoor experiences across Will County.

Harper was a renowned American illustrator known for his minimalist approach. His art has been featured in Ford Times magazine and Golden Books.

Permits are required for groups of 25 or more and encouraged for smaller groups that want to ensure the use of a specific shelter location.

Launch snowballs, test a blubber glove in icy water, explore the northern lights and warm up with hot chocolate at the Illinois State Museum.

Join the Will County forest preserve district for Trail Club, a winter walking series that promotes fitness and community.

The program will be held 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 27 at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center. Register by Friday.