Get outside, get moving, and earn an award
(July 28, 2022) — The DuPage Forest Preserve District again joins Edward-Elmhurst Health and invites you to get outside and get moving with the Healthy Driven Take a Hike! Challenge, which starts in September.
Throughout the eight-week challenge, which runs Sept. 1 – Oct. 27, participants will receive hiking tips and insights and have access to special programs. Those who complete and track six hikes will receive a Take a Hike! Blaze Award, which includes a commemorative pin or a walking stick with a commemorative medallion for first-time participants.
Sign up now for weekly emails with special event details, an interactive hiking map and more at EEHealth.org/TakeAHike. You’re also invited to join the Healthy Driven Take a Hike! Facebook group.
“Hiking is a great way for people of all ages to spend time outdoors and be active, and the Forest Preserve District is excited to again be a cosponsor of the Take a Hike! Challenge,” said DuPage Forest Preserve District President Daniel Hebreard. “DuPage forest preserves offer something for everyone with 26,000 acres and 166 miles of trails to explore.”
Get started by joining one of our upcoming hiking programs.
Fresh Air Friday
Enjoy a relaxing lunch hour of mindful walking and immersive nature-based ways to tune in to the present. Ages 18 and up. $5 per person. Register online or at 630-933-7248.
| Sept. 2 | Noon – 1 p.m. | St. James Farm |
Wildflower Walk
Meet a plant expert for a leisurely walk to enjoy the blooms of summer. You’ll learn about native flowers, how to identify them, and which varieties you can grow at home. Ages 18 and up. $5 per person. Register online or at 630-933-7248.
Meet a plant expert for a leisurely walk to enjoy the blooms of summer. You’ll learn about native flowers, how to identify them, and which varieties you can grow at home. Ages 18 and up. $5 per person. Register online or at 630-933-7248.
| Sept. 7 & 10 | 10 – 11 a.m. | Fullersburg Woods |
Summer Prairie Walk
Stretch your legs, get some fresh air, and appreciate the colorful late-summer blooms of the prairie on a leisurely 1- to 2-mile guided walk. Learn how to identify common DuPage plants and which ones you can grow at home. Ages 12 and up; under 18 with an adult. $5 per person. Register online or at 630-933-7248.
| Sept. 8 | 10 – 11 a.m. | Dunham |
Evening Forest Hike
Get some healthy exercise and enjoy the wonders of a DuPage forest preserve on a guided 3- to 5-mile hike. Ages 18 and up. $5 per person. Register online or at 630-933-7248.
| Sept. 7 | 6:30 – 8 p.m. | McDowell Grove |
| Sept. 14 | 6:30 – 8 p.m. | Fullersburg Woods |
| Sept. 21 | 6:30 – 8 p.m. | Meacham Grove |
| Sept. 28 | 6:30 – 8 p.m. | Philip State Park |
Forest Hike
Get some healthy exercise and enjoy the wonders of a DuPage forest preserve on a quick-paced 3- to 5-mile guided hike. Ages 18 and up. $5 per person. Register online or at 630-933-7248.
| Sept. 12 | 8:30 – 10 a.m. | Blackwell |
| Sept. 19 | 8:30 – 10 a.m. | Churchill Woods |
| Sept. 26 | 8:30 – 10 a.m. | Springbrook |
Bird Walk
Enjoy birding camaraderie and learn ID tips and tricks while looking for migrating birds on a casual 2-mile guided walk. Ages 18 and up. $5 per person. Register online or at 630-933-7248.
| Sept. 16 | 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. | Springbrook Prairie |
| Sept. 23 | 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. | Pratt’s Wayne Woods |
| Sept. 30 | 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. | Oldfield Oaks |
Get Your Feet Wet
Join a walk in the newly restored Spring Brook and learn the importance of streams and their inhabitants. Find out how the Forest Preserve District is restoring these valuable habitats as you search for crayfish, mussels, fish, and underwater insects. Ages 18 and up. $5 per person. Register online or at 630-933-7248.
| Sept. 17 | 10 – 11:30 a.m. | Blackwell |
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has been connecting people to nature for more than 100 years. More than 6.2 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, Instagram and TikTok pages.
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