The annual Winterfest 2020 will be on Saturday, January 18 . University of Illinois Extension and DeKalb County Forest Preserve collaborate each year to offer a day for families to get outside, have fun, and explore an enjoyable destination. Winterfest is from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and is held at the Natural Resource Education Center in Russell Woods Forest Preserve, 11750 IL-72, located 1 mile west of Genoa on state route 72. University of Illinois Extension staff and volunteers offer a variety of educational and recreational activities for the whole family. “The horse drawn wagon rides through the preserve are our big attraction,” said Extension Educator Peggy Doty. “The draft horses take passengers on a scenic ride through our preserve located right on the Kishwaukee River,” Doty continued, “this is a festival about the season of winter.”
Some of the day's activities will include make and take crafts, face painting, a digital scavenger hunt, and un-natural nature trail.
10am - Noon Candle dipping
10am & 2pm Staff-led hikes
10:30am Story time
10:30am Guest speaker: Brian Hale - A Talk and Walk on Winters Wild
11am - 2pm Horse drawn wagon rides
12:30pm Cordage making demonstration
The Genoa Prairie Gems 4-H Club will be offering their annual fund raising lunch and snack sale from 11am to 1pm. You can buy food for a reasonable price and help the 4-H club at the same time. The rest of the day is free but we do graciously except donations to cover materials. It is a wonderful opportunity to bring out the whole family for one activity or stay for the entire day. Join your friends for a day in the woods as we celebrate the season of winter. For questions, please call the Natural Resource Education Center at 815-784-2000.
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Source: Peggy Doty, Educator, Energy and Environmental Stewardship,University of Illinois Extension, Unit 2.