Sunset Show: Dustin Norder
Saturday, September 2
Harry L. Swartz Campground, Middle Fork River Forest Preserve, 5-6:30 p.m.
Sit back and enjoy this intimate solo show featuring local artist, Dustin Norder. Enjoy as Dustin plays a variety of folk and bluegrass songs as the day winds down. FREE. For more info: (217) 586-2612 or [email protected].
Lake of the Woods StoryWalk
NEW! LAKE OF THE WOODS FOREST PRESERVE STORYWALK ®
Museum Meander Trail, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Open Daily
Did you know that Lake of the Woods has a new StoryWalk ® trail? We are excited to partner with the Mahomet Public Library to offer this opportunity for visitors. New stories will be displayed for the months of August, September, and October, and then will be updated on a bi-monthly basis beginning with November-December. Park in the Museum of the Grand Prairie parking lot and look for the StoryWalk ® entrance sign located directly east of the Museum. Be sure to join us and the Mahomet Public Library on September 9 (during the “Prairie Stories” event) for a ribbon cutting to celebrate this exciting new addition to Lake of the Woods!
Prairie Stories
Saturday, September 9
Museum of the Grand Prairie, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
All are welcome to go back in time and experience some pieces of life from nineteenth century east-central Illinois! In collaboration with the University of Illinois YMCA, this year’s event will be a part of Welcoming Week. Through Welcoming Week, organizations and communities bring together neighbors of all backgrounds to build strong connections and affirm the importance of welcoming and inclusive places in achieving collective prosperity. The day begins with artisan demonstrations, including blacksmithing and outdoor cooking. Join us and the Mahomet Public Library from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for the grand opening of the new StoryWalk® on the Museum Meander Trail across from the museum parking lot. Explore the StoryWalk® to read a bilingual story and take part in fun activities with library staff near the trail. Hands-on activities like candle dipping and butter churning begin at noon. We will also feature live American folk music and dancing! Enjoy 19th century schoolhouse lessons, discover many methods of textile work, and more! Many of the event’s informational materials will be available in multiple languages as well as include pictorial displays to welcome our new friends who are celebrating Welcoming Week. FREE. For more info: (217) 586-2612 or [email protected].
Curate Champaign County's Cabinet of Curiosity
Friday, September 15
Curate Champaign County's Cabinet of Curiousity
Museum of the Grand Prairie, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Learn how to curate your own miniature collection! Participants will curate miniature artifacts that tell the history of Champaign County that will go into their own cabinet of curiosity. Throughout this interactive experience, participants will explore their creativity and learn about a collection of artifacts that highlight the history of Champaign County. $10 per person. Ages 6-10. Space is limited; registration required by September 8 at ccfpd.org. Register for the Friday or Saturday Session. For more info: (217) 586-2612 or [email protected].
Capturing the Night Sky: An Intro to Astrophotography
CAPTURING THE NIGHT SKY: AN INTRO TO ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY
Activity Center, Middle Fork Forest Preserve, 7:30-9 p.m.
A clear night sky full of stars is one of nature’s most mesmerizing snapshots. Join us for this novice program and learn the basics of astrophotography - the art of photographing stars and other celestial objects. Bring your camera and tripod if you wish, but they aren't necessary to participate. We’ll meet at the Activity Center at 7:30 p.m. where experienced astrophotographers will provide a presentation on the basics of astrophotography. Then we will venture outdoors to try our hand at capturing photos of our own! Please check the CCFPD Facebook page for weather updates regarding this program. Program may be canceled due to inclement weather. $5 per person. Space is limited; registration required by September 14 at ccfpd.org. Current campground guests may RSVP with the campground host, or register online at ccfpd.org. For more info: (217) 586-2612 or [email protected].
https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/.../search/detail/1697
Saturday, September 16
Bike with a Naturalist
Thursday, September 28
Kickapoo Rail Trail, Urbana Wal-Mart Access Point, 6-8 p.m.
This month’s Walk with a Naturalist is being converted to a “Bike with a Naturalist” program, in honor of C-U bike month and to celebrate Take a Child Outside Week! Join us for an engaging 6.7-mile bicycle tour of the trail as we stop along the way to discuss local natural and cultural history. The tour will begin at the access point near the northern end of the Urbana Walmart’s parking lot, and end near The Wheelhouse restaurant in St. Joseph. Bring your own bike; participants should make arrangements to return from St. Joseph. FREE. Ages 10 and up. Space is limited; registration required by September 26 at ccfpd.org. For more info: (217) 896-2455 or [email protected].
Raptors 101
Saturday, September 30
Activity Center, Middle Fork River Forest Preserve, 11 a.m.- 12 p.m.
We are excited to welcome the Illinois Raptor Center back to Middle Fork River Forest Preserve this fall! During this presentation, the Illinois Raptor Center will introduce the audience to four different families of raptors - hawks, falcons, owls, and an "other," to be revealed during the program. This program will be presented in a way that makes learning fun for all ages. FREE. No registration required. For more info: 217-896-2455 or [email protected].
Not So Spooky Self-Guided Nature Walk
Sunday, October 1-Friday November 3
NOT SO SPOOKY SELF-GUIDED NATURE WALK
Oak Burl Trail, Middle Fork River Forest Preserve, daily during preserve open hours
Visit our Not-So-Spooky Nature Walk to learn more about what goes on in nature in the fall, some of the tricks that nature plays on itself, and on us! This self-guided activity involves signs set up along the Oak Burl Trail where visitors are invited to walk and read one sign at a time along the trail. FREE. All Ages. For more info: (217) 896-2455 or [email protected].
Wilderness Living Skills
Friday, Oct. 6 (6:00 pm CST)-Sunday, October 8 (12:00 pm CST)
WILDERNESS LIVING SKILLS WORKSHOP
Burr Oak Group Campground, Middle Fork River Forest Preserve
Spend 3 days camping in the hardwood forests of Illinois where you will learn to make use of the landscape around you. This is an exciting class with lots of hands-on practice in the essential skills of wilderness survival. Participants will learn to make rope, light fires with fire-by-friction, build a shelter that will keep you warm and dry, find food in the wild, and techniques of cooking food over a fire. All this while sleeping in the comfort of your own tent. Our instructors for this workshop are the highly experienced co-founders of Wild Nature Project. They have led this workshop at our location for 9 years, and we know you will enjoy them while learning so many new skills! $220 per person. Adults only. Space is limited; registration required by September 29. For more info: (217) 896-2455 or [email protected].
For more information about the campground: http://www.ccfpd.org/forest-preserve/middle-fork-river-champaign-county
Note: To help keep costs down, we do not provide food in this course.
Harvest Fest
Saturday, October 7 Harvest Fest
Museum of the Grand Prairie, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, 1-3 p.m.
Autumn activities await you! Enjoy the fun traditions of the season, including pumpkin carving and decorating, hay-rack rides, apple peeling, not-so-scary stories by the fire, and more! Register by October 4 at ccfpd.org to reserve a pumpkin. Pumpkins will be $5 each and quantities will be limited. All other program activities will be free of charge. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For more info: (217) 586-2612 or [email protected].