February 14, 2022
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,...
Catching Nature
Read about people who catch nature in DuPage forest preserves.
Trails
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...
February 9, 2021
Woman Cultivates Connection to Nature
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Marian Pezdek has loved gardening ever since she was a little girl planting alongside her mother in her gardens.
January 20, 2021
Photographer Captures Beauty of Nature
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
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,...
January 5, 2021
Woman Cleans, Hikes the Preserves
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Paula Wallrich and her husband have lived in DuPage County for 34 years, raising two sons in what she describes as a hockey family.
December 21, 2020
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
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...
December 9, 2020
Nature Helps Couple Transition into Retirement
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
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.
November 23, 2020
Native Plants Connect Man to Nature
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
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.
November 5, 2020
Woman Catches Nature Through Photography
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Susan Nix has always had the nature bug. She has wonderful memories of taking her kids for nature walks through the woods.