Catching Nature

People Enjoying Nature in DuPage Forest Preserves

Mushing Through the Preserves

Melissa Koenig spent hours exploring the woods and Lake Michigan growing up in Door County in northern Wisconsin. As a grownup, she likes hiking, dogsledding, skijoring, cross-country skiing and bikejoring.
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Man Pedals Preserves to Connect to Nature

Before he could even walk, Fred Faller connected to nature growing up in western New York. Now he prefers doing so by bicycle or cross-country skis using online maps and GPS devices.
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Teacher Immerses Herself in Nature

Nicola Germann is an educator, most recently in elementary education, including general education, special education, and English Language learners. She has also taught and coordinated coursework and corporate training for German, French, Spanish, Latin, and English as a Second Language at the community college level.
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Woman Cultivates Connection to Nature

Marian Pezdek has loved gardening ever since she was a little girl planting alongside her mother in her gardens.
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Photographer Captures Beauty of Nature

Ian McLeod and his wife moved to DuPage County from Chicago to start a family more than 20 years ago. Now they have two daughters, Emily and Katie, and two golden retrievers, Henry and Hanna, who keep them on their toes.
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Woman Cleans, Hikes the Preserves

Paula Wallrich and her husband have lived in DuPage County for 34 years, raising two sons in what she describes as a hockey family.
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Nature Refreshes Nun's Soul

On any given summer day, you might find Fran (short for Francetta) Glowinski chasing damsel- and dragonflies, experimenting with bubbles, and kayaking at Herrick Lake Forest Preserve in Wheaton.
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Nature Helps Couple Transition into Retirement

Throughout the years, nature and DuPage forest preserves have played an important role in Debby and Tom Gerhardstein’s lives as they raised their family and pursued careers.
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Native Plants Connect Man to Nature

John Opila and his wife Gail enjoy exploring DuPage forest preserves on foot or by bicycle. They’re also into native plant landscaping and gardening.
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Woman Catches Nature Through Photography

Susan Nix has always had the nature bug. She has wonderful memories of taking her kids for nature walks through the woods.
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