My Travel Blog

Today’s young folks of Illinois people are enjoying less and less time outdoors. As parents we know we can have a profound impact on the lives of your offspring. It is your responsibility to introducing your kids to the outdoors for the first time. They may have environmental knowledge about Illinois outdoors which you may enhance or you may just make it a play date. These outside experiences might even awaken a passion for the outdoors that will stay with them forever. The first step is to take a little time for planning, it goes a long way towards a successful and safe outdoor trip. An outdoor field trip is a great educational experience for all involved. So enjoy your time with your kids.

Illinois has many state parks, natural areas, conservation areas, recreation areas, and fish and wildlife areas. You’ll find information on camping, hiking, biking, fishing, hunting, state park lodges and resorts, interpretive programs and hundreds of great ideas for places to visit and things to do in outdoor Illinois. Its best to visit dnr.state.il.us

For instance, did you know that Illinois has adopted may natural elements here a few:
Illinois State Flower - violet
Illinois State Soil - drummer silty clay loam
Illinois State Dance - square dancing
Illinois State Snack - popcorn
Illinois State Fruit - goldrush apple

Illinois many places to take your children outdoors here are just a :

1)Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve
Downers Grove at jct. Hwy. 34 (Ogden Road) & Belmont Road
Belmont Prairie is a high quality remnant of the dry to wet prairies typical of the Northeastern Morainal Natural Division. The preserve is located within the Valparaiso Moranic System on the Keenyville drift which was formed over 12,000 years ago. For the most part, the upper north and east sections of the area contain moderately well to well drained soils. But soils on the lower slopes and in scattered pockets throughout the area are poorly drained. The dry-mesic prairie has a high forb diversity and low percentage of grass cover. The dominant species are porcupine grass and Canada blue-joint grass. The small wet-mesic and wet prairie contain moisture-loving species such as cordgrass, sedges, and blue-joint grass. A few wildlife species known to occur here are garter snake, fox snake, and meadow vole. The area was protected from development in the early 2)1970’s by cooperative efforts of The Nature Conservancy and the Belmont Prairie Preservation Association. One-third of the area was preserved through a gift by Alfred and Margo Dupree of Downers Grove.

2)Kemper Park Nature Preserve
Kane County
Location and Access:
Rt. 68 and 25 in Carpentersville, head north on Rt. 25 for 1.2 miles to Hazard Rd. East (Right) on Hazard until it ends. Kemper Park is a thirteen acre nature preserve is an addition to Helm Woods Nature Preserve, a larger forested tract of dry-mesic upland and northern flatwood forests. Kemper Park Nature Preserve is contiguous to Helm Woods and is comprised of similar plant communities. The dry-mesic upland forest is dominated by white, red and black oaks while the flatwoods are dominated by swamp white oaks, ashes and elms with swamp sedge and fowl manna grass occurring frequently in the understory. Many forbs, especially spring ephemerals, sedges, grasses and shrubs can be found throughout the entire woodland complex. Garlic mustard is a major problem in this preserve. Prescribed burns have been implemented to control this invasive species.

3) Baker’s Lake Nature Preserve
Cook County
Hwy. 14 southeast about 1 mile. The nature preserve is south of Hillside Avenue and southwest of Hwy. 14.
Baker’s Lake Nature Preserve is a 209 acre area containing a 112 acre lake with an island and a stand of mature open-grown oaks. The area provides visitors with an example of a nature preserve which was dedicated primarily to protect a breeding area for rare and endangered birds rather than for its plant communities. The preserve protects a rookery for 4 species of colonial nesting birds; black-crowned night heron, great egret, double crested cormorant and great blue heron. The area also supports common moorhen, yellow-headed blackbird, and black tern. Other species, especially waterfowl, are present during migration.

One last pointer you know you kids should get outside but you are just not an outdoor sort of person. No problem their are many out door programs, classes and Illinois Summer Camps available in and around your home.

Thinking of a Summer Camps try SummerCampAdvice.com

Swift Nature Camp is a Coed Summer Camp for boys and girls ages 6-15. Our focus is to blend traditional camp programs with that of a Science Summer Camp to promote a better appreciation for nature.

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