Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County improves the quality of life for all DuPage County residents. Its 26,000 acres of woodlands, prairies, wetlands, and waterways contribute to cleaner air and water, help with flood control, create vital habitats for wildlife, and provide safe spaces where people can boost their physical and mental health. More than 5.5 million people visit its 60 forest preserves, 175 miles of trails, seven education centers, and scores of programs each year.

July 21, 2022

Artist Inspired by Danada Horses

Volunteering at Danada Equestrian Center in Wheaton the last six years has been a blessing for Deb Yatka.

June 21, 2022

Birding, Volunteering Connect Woman to Nature

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Nancy Allured has been a DuPage Forest Preserve District volunteer since 2003, first at the native plant nursery at Blackwell Forest Preserve, then bird monitoring at Timber Ridge...

May 20, 2022

Woman Connects to Nature through Art

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Rachel Davis has found many ways to connect to nature. She’s an independent artist who works in paint, print and textile processes; she teaches classes in natural dye at Morton...

April 29, 2022

Woman Visits 55 DuPage Forest Preserves in One Year

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Sheila Liss was looking for new pastimes after retiring from her job as a high school special education teacher. She and her husband had raised their family and lived and worked...

March 31, 2022

Horses Bond Woman to Nature

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Erika Hoffmann has developed quite a bond with Austin, a mustang at Danada Equestrian Center, since she started volunteering in 2021.

March 8, 2022

Woman Pursues Passion for Nature

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Stephanie Scurtu lives in DuPage County with her husband, Brian, their corn snakes Jimmy and Timmy, and their rats Teddy and Phoebe.

February 14, 2022

Mushing Through the Preserves

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

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,...

January 25, 2022

Man Pedals Preserves to Connect to Nature

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

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...

January 3, 2022

Teacher Immerses Herself in Nature

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Nicola Germann is an educator, most recently in elementary education, including general education, special education, and English Language learners. She has also taught and...

November 30, 2021

Love of Nature Fuels Woman's Activism

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

One of the paths Lonnie Morris took into nature was gardening as a kid with her father. Her family’s history of gardening has roots in her grandfather’s strawberry farm. Her...