Group Adventures by Request

Our Group Adventure Programs

Archery
Learn techniques to improve your archery skills with one-on-one instruction. Then, practice hitting targets from a far distance. Equipment provided. $5 per person.

Oct. – March 
Monday – Thursday • 2 – 3:30 p.m. 
St. James Farm Forest Preserve in Warrenville

April – Sept.
Monday – Thursday • 2 – 3:30 p.m. 
Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville  

Backpacking
Learn how to properly pack a backpack, the clothes and shoes to wear and basic map reading. Then, grab your pack for a ranger-led hike. $5 per person.

Sept. – Oct. & March – April
Saturdays & Sundays • 10 a.m. – noon 
Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville or Churchill Woods Forest Preserve in Glen Ellyn

Camping
Learn basic camping skills — including how to pitch a tent — and about “leave no trace” principles. $10 per person.

Sept. – Oct. & March – April
Saturday & Sunday • 10 a.m. – noon 
Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville or Churchill Woods Forest Preserve in Glen Ellyn

Cast-Iron Cooking
Learn how cast-iron pots are made and how to care for them. Then, cook a meal over a campfire to eat. $10 per person.

Oct., Nov., March & April 
Saturday & Sunday • 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. 
Herrick Lake Forest Preserve in Wheaton

Fishing Techniques
Choose a fish species — bass, carp, catfish, muskie or northern pike — to fish. Then, learn about lures and advanced fishing tactics before fishing for your trophy fish on open water or under the ice. $5 per person.

Year-round
Bass at Hidden Lake Forest Preserve in Downers Grove
Carp or catfish at Songbird Slough Forest Preserve in Itasca
Muskie at Mallard Lake Forest Preserve in Bloomingdale
Northern pike at Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville

Kayaking
Learn basic or advanced kayaking strokes and techniques. $20 per person.

May – Sept.
Monday – Friday • 10 a.m. – noon 
Herrick Lake Forest Preserve in Wheaton

Night Hikes
Climb to one of the highest hills in DuPage County just as the sun sets to learn about creatures of the night. Then, take a ranger-led hike through a forest preserve. $5 per person.

Sept. – Nov. & March – May 
Monday – Friday • 1.5-hour program
Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville or Greene Valley Forest Preserve in Naperville

Prescribed Burns 

Learn about prescribed burns to manage habitat in our forest preserves. Explore the equipment and tools used by our burn crews and how wind, humidity and fuel moisture affect prescribed burns. $10 per person.

Oct. – Dec. & Feb. – March
9:30 – 11:30 a.m. 
Danada Forest Preserve in Wheaton