Forest Preserves Are Still Open and They’re Saving Our Sanity
If you’ve been following awhile, you know I usually publish my Family Field Trip series posts on Friday, to give you ideas for the weekend ahead.
But in COVID reality, the weekends just bleed into the weekdays and back again. Is a Saturday all that different from a Tuesday when you’re staying home with your kids 24/7?
If you’re “lucky” enough like me to be tasked with homeschooling in any capacity, you undoubtedly know that the keys to success here are:
- Getting outside as much as possible
- Taking (very) frequent breaks
- Incentivizing/bribing/rewarding good behavior
- Finding ways to teach outside the box (or in our district’s case, the matrix)
What this translates to in our house is a lot of afternoon field trips. Whenever the weather is nice and I can break away from my work email for an hour or two, we seize the opportunity to explore within the accepted bounds of social distancing.
I use these field trips as opportunities to learn about science and nature hands-on while fulfilling our daily PE requirement. This weekend I got fancy and incorporated Spanish. (“Que animales vive en el bosque [the forest]?”) Note: I do not speak Spanish so this was interesting.
At any rate, we get outside and get fresh air as a family, and everyone fights just a little less once we return home to our regularly scheduled work/school responsibilities.
Looking for your next homeschool field trip? Here are six local forest preserves we’ve ventured out to in the past few weeks.
1. Lincoln Marsh, Wheaton
Highlights: The wooden boardwalks that sway gently in the marsh wetlands. The frogs hiding in the reeds if you look carefully enough. Cattails. The connection to the Prairie Path for more trail to hike, walk or run.
Get details and directions for visiting Lincoln Marsh Natural Area
2. Herrick Lake, Wheaton
Highlights: A secret swamp back in the trees, no doubt the result of all the recent rains. A magical Narnia-like tangle of fallen trees to climb. The stone path right at the lake’s edge.
Low point: The tick we found on Sawyer’s back the next day. Be mindful when you’re off the path in the trees … it’s not too early in the season.
Get details and directions for your field trip to Herrick Lake Forest Preserve
3. Blackwell Forest Preserve, Warrenville
Highlights: The crystal-clear water of the lake is serene and sparkling in the sunlight. The trek up to Mount Hoy tires out little legs in the best way, and the view from up there is worth the uphill climb.
Get details and directions for your field trip to Blackwell Forest Preserve
4. Mallard Lake, Hanover Park
Highlights: Two long bridges connecting the paths around the picturesque lake. Rocky shores to test your footing and improve your agility.
Get details and directions for your field trip to Mallard Lake County Forest Preserve
5. Knoch Knolls Park, Naperville
Highlights: So many climbable trees and giant tree stumps. A 500-year-old oak. Plenty of pine ones and acorns to pick up. Lots of green space and paths to run.
Get details and directions for visiting Knoch Knolls Park
6. Fabyan Windmill, Villa and Japanese Gardens, Geneva/Batavia
Highlights: Start at the windmill and walk across both bridges to explore the grounds of Fabyan Villa. Although the formal Japanese garden is closed, the grounds have all kinds of antique eccentricities to be found, including a rock cave, a bear cage, and a sun dial.
Get details and directions for visiting Fabyan Windmill Forest Preserve
Last fall, we had a ball at Waterfall Glen in Darien. Although the waterfall area is currently closed because of too many crowds, this is another pretty spot to wander during off hours to avoid congestion. (The paths are narrower here and social distancing could be a challenge in some sections. Carry face masks just in case.)
When you arrive at many of the forest preserves, don’t be alarmed if the parking lots appear packed. At all of the locations, we found there to be plenty of room to walk and explore freely without intruding into other people’s 6-foot social distancing bubbles. The beauty of all this space is freedom for my boys to roam farther than the backyard and get out their energy. If you feel more comfortable wearing your mask while you explore, you’ll be in good company with other visitors too.
Local friends, where should we visit next? We have a whole new week ahead of us and plenty of hours to fill. Share your ideas in the comments below or connect with me on social!
If you’re not local, tell me one fun semi-educational thing you’ve been doing to keep your kids occupied while we #stayathome!
Continue to be strong and be well during these tough times for all parents. Find me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook to see how we’re keeping busy, and know that I’m always here to chat if you need the ear of a mom who gets the daily struggle.
