Catching Nature

December 6, 2018

Naperville Woman Finds Peace on the Prairie

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Janet LawrenceNature explorer, volunteerI live in Naperville with my husband and have three young adult kids. My youngest just started his freshman year at college, so we are new...

November 30, 2018

Dog Drives Man's Connection to Nature

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Since childhood, Kevin Keller has always been drawn to the outdoors, through photography, fishing, plants and gardening and weather watching. 

November 15, 2018

How Nature Helped One Woman Find Herself

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Katherine HowardNature Whisperer

I grew up in Idaho and Alaska, so nature has always been up close and personal for me. My favorite childhood memories are entwined with...

October 26, 2018

Greene Valley Hawkwatch Group a Dedicated Flock

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

They argue with each other, have spirited debates and freeze their tails off, but they keep coming back for more.

September 26, 2018

Woman Finds Way to Connect with, Help Wildlife at Willowbrook

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Vanessa Gallt always wanted to work with animals, and she found the perfect outlet as an animal care volunteer at the District’s Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn. She...

August 22, 2018

Volunteer Shares History of St. James Farm

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Kathy Isoda was drawn to St. James Farm Forest Preserve in Warrenville because it was an opportunity to be part of a new forest preserve, and she loved its equestrian roots.

July 16, 2018

Volunteer Finds Happiness Monitoring Bluebirds

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Helen Metanchuk rummages through the trunk of her car as she dons her vest, binoculars, tools and notebook and pen and sets out to check the 12 bluebird nest boxes on her route at

July 11, 2018

Brothers Big on Birding

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Armed with nice cameras with huge lenses, binoculars and bug spray, Eddie and Brett Kasper of Western Springs set out for a quick hike at Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve in Oak...

June 6, 2018

Shedd Volunteers Explore Fullersburg Woods Night Life

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Using a high-tech bat detector, District ecologist Brian Kraskiewicz helped participants hear five different calls from the hoary bat at a recent Shedd Aquarium Spring Volunteer...