Buy rubber ducks now for Oct. 21 race with $500 prize
(Oct. 8, 2020) — Help the DuPage Forest Preserve District provide inviting habitat for native plants and animals and inspiring places for visitors by donating to a virtual “Night for Nature” Oct. 19 – 22
The fundraiser is hosted by the nonprofit Friends of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, which hopes to raise $12,000 for the Forest Preserve District’s conservation efforts and projects that connect people to nature.
“Restored habitats create areas where plants and animals can thrive and provide improved urban services, such as clean air and water and greater stormwater management,” said Karyn Charvat, the Friends’ board chair. “This is an opportunity to contribute to a sustainable environment that enhances the quality of life for ourselves and our children.”
Donors can start by purchasing rubber ducks for $25 each for a race that will take place Oct. 21 at St. James Farm Forest Preserve with $500 going to the winner. Only 250 ducks are available for purchase at dupageforest.org/night-for-nature-2020 until 12 p.m. Oct. 20.
Then, starting Oct. 19, the Friends will share stories over four days on the Forest Preserve District’s Facebook page on the District’s work to conserve state-endangered Blanding’s turtles, bring threatened native freshwater mussels back to local waterways, and return nature riffles, pools and turns to rivers in some of the most popular DuPage forest preserves.
The fundraiser will culminate on Oct. 22 at 6 p.m. with a “Night for Nature” video on the Forest Preserve District’s Facebook page, which will also announce the winner of the duck race.
“We are very grateful to the Friends for its efforts to help raise funds in support of the Forest Preserve District’s mission to restore habitats and sustain wildlife while providing programs to connect people to nature,” said Forest Preserve District President Daniel Hebreard.
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has been connecting people to nature for more than 100 years. More than 4 million people visit its 60 forest preserves, 166 miles of trails, six education centers and scores of programs each year. For information, call 630-933-7200 or visit dupageforest.org, where you can also link to the District’s e-newsletter, blog, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.