Homer Lake Interpretive Center
| Hours and More | Group Visits |
What Else Can I Do? |
Resources for Loan |
Adopt an Animal | Donations Needed |
The Homer Lake Interpretive Center, located at
Homer Lake Forest Preserve, features a variety of interactive exhibits, displays, live animals and a wildlife viewing area. Come see what we have to offer!
The Center is a satellite facility of the District’s Museum of the Grand Prairie.
Hours - Admission - Directions
For more information, call (217) 896-2455 or email hlcenter@ccfpd.org
Regular Hours*
April - October
Monday - Friday | 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday | 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.November - March
Monday - Friday | 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Closed Federal Holidays
*Please note that staff may be out occasionally teaching programs. If you would like to schedule a group visit, please contact us at least 2 weeks in advance. (See Group Visits)
Admission
No admission fee; donations appreciated.
Parking
Free and accessible.
Behavior
To safeguard you and your belongings, as well as the exhibits at the Center, certain behavior rules apply. For a complete list, click here.
Accessibility
The Center is wheelchair accessible. Signage is accommodated where possible to persons with low vision. Tactile and audio experiences are incorporated into most exhibits.
Location
The Center is located at 2573 S Homer Lake Road, just inside the entrance to Homer Lake Forest Preserve. Google Map
Directions
From I-74: Take exit 197, and turn south toward Ogden. Go straight through the 4-way stop sign in Ogden. About 2 miles south of Ogden, turn right (look for a small brown sign that says ‘Homer Lake’). Take the first left. The entrance to Homer Lake Forest Preserve will be on your right about a half-mile down the road. The Interpretive Center is located just inside the entrance.
Travelling east on SR 150 from Urbana: Go through St Joseph. At the 4-way stop in Ogden, turn right. About 2 miles south of Ogden, turn right (look for a small brown sign that says ‘Homer Lake’). Take the first left. The entrance to Homer Lake Forest Preserve will be on your right about a half-mile down the road. The Interpretive Center is located just inside the entrance.
Travelling west on SR 150 from Danville: At the 4-way stop in Ogden, turn left. About 2 miles south of Ogden, turn right (look for a small brown sign that says ‘Homer Lake’). Take the first left. The entrance to Homer Lake Forest Preserve will be on your right about a half-mile down the road. The Interpretive Center is located just inside the entrance.
Group Visits
Due to limited space at the Center, and to ensure that the Center is open, groups are requested to call the Center at least 2 weeks in advance of your visit. Non-school groups should contact Savannah Hampson at shampson@ccfpd.org or call 217-896-2455 for more information.
School Groups
Learning experiences at the Center can help you meet your educational goals; we have developed a packet to help you plan a self-guided visit. Contact Stacey Clementz at sclementz@ccfpd.org or
217-896-2455 for more information.
Download the Self-Guided Packet
If you are interested in a staff-led program for your students, please see our School Programs webpage.
To learn more about the natural and cultural history of the Grand Prairie region, be sure to visit the Museum of the Grand Prairie, located at Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve in Mahomet.
Resources for Loan
The Homer Lake Interpretive Center has these materials available for loan to our visitors:
Discovery Backpacks
These backpacks are available to enhance your hiking experience. Each pack contains activities to complete along the trail as well as educational equipment (binoculars, pond dipping tools, identification books, magnifiers and more!). These packs require a refundable deposit. For information, call (217) 896-2455.
Insect Backpacks
Do you want to look for insects but don't know how or don't have the tools? Well, come out to a forest preserve and borrow an insect backpack! Each backpack contains a how-to guide, insect nets, bug boxes, insect guides and much more.
They are available at several locations throughout the Preserves: the Homer Lake Interpretive Center, Museum of the Grand Prairie (formerly Early American Museum) and the Headquarters office. These packs require a refundable deposit. For more information, call (217) 896-2455.
Water Quality Kit
This kit is available to teachers and groups interested in learning about water quality in lakes and streams. Each kit contains equipment to test and measure the temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen and nitrogen of the water. Also included: pond dipping nets to investigate the macroinvertebrates of the water, and a binder with indoor and outdoor activities. This loan box is appropriate for 3rd grade to adults. Fee: $10 and $15 refundable deposit.
Aquatic Invasive Species Loan Box
The Champaign County Forest Preserve District with assistance from the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant developed this loan box to assist educators in making classroom study on aquatic invasives more hands-on and interactive. The box contains aquatic invasive specimens, activities, and information on Illinois invasive species. It requires a refundable deposit.
Bird Adaptation Loan Box
Birds have different types of beaks, eggs and feet to adapt to their unique lifestyles. Our loan kit can enhance your lessons on bird adaptations. Included are replicas of bird skulls, eggs and tracks, as well as hands-on activities. This kit is appropriate for grades K-12. It requires a refundable deposit. (Loan box was funded by the Champaign County Audubon Society.)
Audubon Materials
The Champaign County Forest Preserve District serves as the Champaign County Audubon Society’s Loan Center. We have a large selection of slides, videos and curriculum materials on a variety of birds, insects, mammals and nature-related topics. We also have the Illinois Audubon Society displays for loan. Each tabletop display includes lesson plans, worksheets and information on the topic. Three displays are available: Moths & Butterflies, Illinois Owls and Amazing Bats. The materials can be delivered to your Champaign County location and are available for one month at no cost.
"Adopt an Animal"
The Center is home to several animals used for educational purposes. By sponsoring one of our animals you support their care. Click here for more information.
Dontions Needed!
We currently are accepting donations of birdseed (black oil sunflower seed preferred; no seed mixes with cracked corn please). We could also use clean, kid-sized gloves and hats to provide to students who participate in field trips.
