Laona Heights Sugar River Colored Sands Sugar River Two Rivers Ferguson Hartley Memorial Trask Bridge Four Lakes Pecatonica River Pecatonica Wetlands Crooked River Grove Creek Seward Bluffs Klehm Forest Preserve Severson Dells Fuller Memorial Cedar Cliff Indian Hill Hinchliff Memorial Kilbuck Bluffs Trailside Kishwaukee Gorge South Kishwaukee Gorge North Rockford Rotary Kishwaukee River Oak Ridge Blackhawk Springs Deer Run Espenscheid Memorial McKiski County Line Kieselburg Roland Olson Stone Bridge Clayton Andrews Ledges Hononegah J. Norman Jensen Millrace Isle Macktown Atwood Homestead Forest Preserve Headquarters
FEATURED VIDEO >>
Our volunteers share their experience with nurturing nature in the forest preserves. You'll be inspired!
PRESERVE PEOPLE >>
A photographic series

Activities for Kids

There are lots of ways to help children engage with nature and observe the outdoor world. This page offers ideas and tools to help your child hone his observational skills and discover the wonder and awe of our local woods, prairies, rivers and ponds.

A growing body of research is telling us that time spent outdoors in nature is critical to children’s physical, social and emotional development. Research also shows that while time spent outside with parents, teachers or other adults is valuable, it is also important that children be encouraged to play on their own, to explore and simply be in nature. This unstructured time fosters creativity, emotional well-being, independent learning and problem solving; it lets kids connect with the place in which they live and the larger environment on which we all depend.

Use the suggested activities and tools below to enhance children’s experiences when visiting forest preserves.

Nature Scavenger Hunts

Spring (Coming Soon)
Summer
Fall
Winter (Coming Soon)

Habitat Bingo

Habitat Bingo Ages 4-8 (in English)
Habitat Bingo Ages 8-12 (in English)
Habitat Bingo Ages 4-8 (in Spanish)
Habitat Bingo Ages 8-12 (in Spanish) (Coming Soon)