Illinois Grand Prairie Master Naturalists are planning their third trails day celebration to be held Saturday, June 3, the same day as National Trails Day. The event will take place at Funks Grove between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Headquarters for the event check-in will be at Sugar Grove Nature Center in Funks Grove. The Grove has over seven miles of hiking trails where participants can enjoy the diversity of plants and animals that live in prairie, woodland and savanna habitats.
Guided hikes will take hikers along creeks and streams where birds and butterflies fly, toads hop, fish swim, herons hunt and beavers are busy building dams. Maps are also available for self-guided hikes.
Many Nature Activities Planned For Adults and Children
Many nature-related activities are planned focusing on hiking, geocaching, nature journaling, first aid, trail safety and other outdoor learning activities for adults and children.
Sugar Grove Nature Center provides a great opportunity to see and learn about some amphibians and reptiles up close within the center’s building and to watch songbirds at feeders through special one-way observation windows.
Imagination Grove lets children explore trees, streams and fields. They can dig in the dirt, wade in the stream or climb a tree (with your supervision of course).
Participants are encouraged to pack a picnic lunch and stay all day to take advantage of as many activities as possible.
For more information about this event or its location, email info@sugargrovenaturecenter.org or call 309-874-2174.
Deanna Frautschi is a local Naturalist who is passionate about connecting families with nature. Using her knowledge of wildlife and her photography skills, she helps others enjoy the nature around them. If you have any questions about exploring nature with your children and grandchildren, you may contact Deanna at Decardinal@aol.com. Join the hundreds who follow her on Facebook where she posts photographs and short video clips of birds and other wildlife taken on her travels as well as in her yard. You can also join her "Nature Lady Lessons" and "Hummingbirds Anonymous" Facebook group pages.
Photos by Deanna Frautschi.
