Forest Preserve offers spring break activities in April

Here are the Forest Preserve District of Will County programs and activities for the first week of April. Online registration is available on the Event Calendar at ReconnectWithNature.org.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Exhibit: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays, April 1-30, Plum Creek Nature Center, Crete Township. Stop by during Earth Month to learn simple strategies to reduce, reuse and recycle for a greener world. Visitors can also bring used household batteries to be recycled and organic waste to be composted. All ages; free.

Clean Up The Oaks: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays, April 1-30, Hidden Oaks Nature Center, Bolingbrook. Celebrate Earth Month by helping clean up the preserve. Borrow a bucket and picker from the nature center, collect litter around the preserve and earn a prize while helping keep Hidden Oaks healthy for wildlife and visitors. All ages; free.

Spring Break Staycation – Wetland Wonders: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 1, Plum Creek Nature Center. Sample a wetland with nets and buckets while learning about water quality and the life hidden beneath the pond’s surface. Participants will identify aquatic invertebrates and learn how scientists use the data they collect. Ages 6-12; free. Register by March 29.

Spring Break Staycation – Incredible Insects: 1:30-3 p.m. Wednesday, April 1, Plum Creek Nature Center. Discover the amazing adaptations of insects and learn why spiders aren’t technically insects. Participants will create their own insect and explore the prairie with nets and bug boxes to see what species they can find. Ages 6-12; free. Register by March 29.

Spring Break Staycation – Pollination Pals: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Thursday, April 2, Plum Creek Nature Center. Explore the prairie and forest to learn about pollinators and the flowers they rely on. Participants will study pollinators up close and even try becoming one to better understand how pollination works. Ages 6-12; free. Register by March 31.

Spring Break Staycation – Sniff, Look and Listen: 1:30-3 p.m. Thursday, April 2, Plum Creek Nature Center. Explore forest, prairie and wetland habitats to discover what makes each ecosystem unique. Activities and observations will reveal what animals live in each habitat and how these environments stay in balance. Ages 6-12; free. Register by March 31.

Full Moon – Howl at the Moon Dog Walk: 7:15-8:45 p.m. Thursday, April 2, Plum Valley Preserve, Crete Township. Take a moonlit hike with your dog while learning about wild canines and their adaptations. This evening walk offers a chance for dogs to socialize while participants enjoy nature beneath the glow of the full moon. All ages; free. Register by March 31.