The more you know

Orange pumpkins and one green squash sit in a lush green field. Leaves and vines surround them, creating a natural, autumnal scene.

Pumpkin Jack's excellent autumn adventure

Pumpkin Jack is having the time of his life this autumn, but are his days of fun numbered? They don't have to be if his family extends the fun by bringing him to the Forest Preserve's Pumpkin Smash events on Nov. 8.

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Four silhouetted workers stand near steaming hot metal patterns in a dark industrial setting, creating a dramatic and intense atmosphere.

Digging into the past at Joliet Iron Works

Interpretive naturalist Jenna Krukowski helps us dig into the history of the Forest Preserve District's Joliet Iron Works Historic Site.

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Autumn forest scene with colorful leaves blanketing the ground and reflecting in a still creek. Tall trees with golden foliage create a serene atmosphere.

Why do leaves change color in the fall?

What’s your favorite part of fall? Picking apples? Trick-or-treating? Those are all fun fall activities, and watching as the leaves change color each autumn is another one of the hallmarks of the season. Learn why the leaves change color each fall.

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Bright orange mushrooms grow at the base of a tree in a forest setting, surrounded by green leaves and grass.

Night light: These mushrooms glow in the dark

What's that eerie green glow in the forest? It could be mushrooms glowing in the dark.

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A bright yellow sunflower with a small insect on its center and surrounded by green leaves, creating a vibrant and lively scene.

On the move: How sunflowers follow the sun

Have you ever heard that sunflowers will follow the sun across the sky? They do in a way. The flowers are firmly rooted to the ground where they grow, but the flower heads will move throughout the day so they are always facing the sun.

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Relatively speaking: How animals are classified

How are animals related? System of taxonomy helps us understand.

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A sugar glider on a brown branch, soft gray and white fur, bright eyes, pink nose, set against a blurred green background.

Wild Relatives: The soaring sugar glider

Sugar gliders are marsupials that live in Australia and New Guinea, but they may remind you a little of the squirrels we see all over Illinois.

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A male and female cardinal perched on branches surrounded by green leaves. The male is bright red, and the female is brown and red.

Awesome animals: Learn about wildlife that represents Illinois

Illinois is home to many interesting and diverse critters that fly, crawl, swim and walk through our rivers, forests and prairies. But do you know which were chosen to represent the state?

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