10 new things to try this year

Feeling cooped up? Tried starting a new year’s resolution and it’s not sticking? Here are a few new ideas to try and get you outside, get your body moving and your mind out of the February winter slump. 

Go for a night hike

Screech owls begin breeding in February. Breeding season is a good time to listen for owls in the woods. Other things to be on the lookout for include coyote yips, shooting stars, constellations and the full moon.

Will County Forest Preserve District naturalists are hosting a series of full moon programs this year! Next up is the Full Moon: Eclipse Hike on March 3 at Plum Creek Nature Center.

Give snowshoeing a try

Did you know you can rent snowshoes at Plum Creek Nature Center? After a snowfall of 4 inches or more, come on out to rent snowshoes. Renters must be 18 years old and bring a valid driver's license or state ID. The cost is $5 per day for those older than 12. Kids younger than 12 are free.

Tap a tree for maple sap

For this, you will need the days to have freezing temperatures at night and above freezing temperatures during the day. Then, once the temperatures are perfect, you call drill a hole into a maple tree at a 45-degree angle. Put a spile in, hang a bucket and you are one step closer to maple syrup!

Words to know

Coordinate: A group of numbers used to indicate a position of a point, line or plane.

Majestic: Having impressive beauty or dignity.

Spile: A small wooden peg.

Learn more about the maple syrup process at Plum Creek Nature Center’s Maple Syrup Magic event on March 14. 

Find a bald eagle

Bald eagles will migrate in the winter to somewhere that has a lot of fish. Any waterway that isn’t frozen is a good place to look, but Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon is almost a guaranteed place to spot the majestic birds. 

Flip a log to find a salamander

Salamander courtship begins in late February if temperatures are in the 30s. Find a log, roll it slowly and gently toward your feet and take a look underneath. Look for bright yellow or blue spots on a small, slimy creature! Don’t forget to gently roll it back to where you found it. Putting the log back guarantees you protect future salamander homes! 

Track an animal through the snow

Isle a la Cache Museum has a great track table so you can practice identifying tracks before you go for your hike.

Look for signs of wildlife feeding on twigs and saplings

During winter, food can be scarce. A lot of animals like deer and squirrels turn to twigs and saplings during the harsher winter months. Check out our upcoming hiking programs to get some insight on wildlife in winter.

Look for deer sheds

Did you know deer don’t keep their antlers for life? They lose or shed their antlers every year around January and February. When you take a hike, make sure to look where you step because you might be lucky enough to see one! Remember, in the Will County forest preserves you must leave nature the way you found it, so do not take anything you find. 

Start a list of all the birds you see and hear

People who go birding create a life list and a yearly list of birds they see and/or hear. Start your own list and see how many birds you can find in one day! Want some help? Download the Merlin Bird ID app to your smart device. It can help you identify bird calls as well as walk you through how to identify a bird by sight. 

Go geocaching

Have you ever gone geocaching? A geocache is a container that holds a number of fun items that is hidden at a location where the coordinates are posted online. 

Placement of a geocache at the preserves requires a permit, which may be obtained by submitting the Geocaching Permit Application or by visiting Sugar Creek Administration Center in Joliet.

As always, you can do these activities and more in your Will County forest preserves. To access the preserves at night, check out our Event Calendar

to see if there are any evening programs near you.