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Fire-starting skills go beyond matches
Starting a fire can be easy as lighting a match, but it's good to know other techniques you can use when you don't have a match handy.


Wild Relatives: The colorful occelated turkey
In the bird world, there are many different kinds of ducks. There are dozens of species of warblers, and there are a lot of different owls. But there are only two turkeys. One of those — the wild turkey — is well-known to us in the eastern United States. The other — the ocellated turkey — is not so familiar. The ocellated turkey looks sort of like a technicolor version of the turkey we are familiar with.


Rough-legged hawks are winter visitors
Rough-legged hawks may not be the most recognizable hawk in Will County, but they are one of the most interesting.


Why do some animals turn white in winter?
Animals that stay active during winter in cold climates rely on many adaptations to help them survive. For a select few, their winter survival strategies include a unique adaptation: turning white.


These mushrooms jiggle like jelly
Spring and autumn are the seasons of mushrooms, with many different species showing their fruiting bodies. But some mushrooms, like jelly fungus, can be found year-round.


This state symbol really rocks!
Illinois has a state bird and a state tree and even a state mineral. Here's your chance to learn all about fluorite.


Weather vs. climate: Related but different
Weather and climate are related, but they are two different things. One simple way to explain the difference is with a well-known saying from American writer Mark Twain: "Climate is what we expect, weather is what we get."


Warm up by the fire this winter
What better way to warm up a winter day than sitting by a roaring fire. With a little know-how and help from a responsible adult, you can build and start your own fire to add warmth to a cold winter day.
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