Editor’s note:  We want you to Be a Trailblazer this year, so we will be hiking at various preserves throughout the year and documenting...

Animals of all shapes and sizes leave evidence of their presence. Have you seen a lone feather on the ground? Felt gnaw marks on a tree?...

Wintertime often means snow. The white winter landscape is beautiful, but it is also revealing. Did you leave shoe prints as you stepped...

For thousands of years, people from all over the world celebrated the darkest day of the year — the winter solstice. What exactly is the...

As the weather turns cooler, some birds start migrating to warmer locations. But many of our backyard birds stay right here in Illinois....

Prairies are gorgeous, packed full of interesting sounds, details, colors and life! Summer is the best time to appreciate them. Why not...

We talk about trees a lot, whether it’s about the new buds, the changing colors or who is living inside. But what is it like being a...

An insect census is a bug count. Scientists will count insects to determine the biodiversity of an ecosystem. These surveys are taken at...

Have you ever completed a scavenger hunt? They are a great way to slow down and focus on all the details while on a forest preserve hike...

Spring is one of the best times to discover the soundscape all around you. There is so much new life happening — with chirps, tweets,...

Native plants have been getting plenty of buzz lately, and for good reason. There are many reasons to garden with native plants. For...

World Wildlife Day is celebrated every year on March 3. This day is meant to celebrate the beauty of wild animals and plants on Earth....

You’ve probably heard of birdbaths and maybe even put up a bird feeder or two at home. These are great ways to feed birds (and other...

Sculpt with snow! It’s amazing stuff that you can use to build everything from forts to sculptures. In winter, try your hand at a...

Even in the colder months it is fun to get outside and explore the world around you. There are birds visiting just for winter, mammals...

With most of the leaves gone, you might start to notice something super fun outside — all the animal homes! Come November, bird nests,...

So you want to be a birdwatcher? Great! You picked a hobby that can be done almost anywhere outside. You can watch from your yard, a...

Campfires are always fun! Maybe you are camping or just hanging out in your back yard. But almost always you are enjoying the company of...

Summer nights are a great time for fun! Bedtimes might get pushed back, the heat cools off and there are fantastic evening sights and...

A habitat is where an animal lives. So many different types of habitats exist in our world — forests, deserts, lakes and more. Even with...